Chapter 30: The Bounty Hunters
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In the afternoon, Rei's boat could be seen moored at the island pier. The island was actualy the one he had seen at the horizon earlier that day.
Humming a little tone, Rei walked on the pier wooden deck. On his way seeing the current bustling island inhabitants finishing their job and returned towards their own home, he felt surreal.
Some people there noticed Rei walking on the pier towards the town.
They could be seen whispering towards each other as Rei walked pass by, Rei peculiar appearence was truly eyecatching, white long ponytail, coupled with the new black formal yukata he got from the system, he looks like someone from noble decents other than his small horns of course.
The orange glowing sunlight shone on his back brightly, Rei ignored the whispering townfolks as he looking for a place to rest. A couple bottles of booze would be perfect, he thought.
After following the paved road, he found himself stood in front of the bar.
"W-Brothers?" Rei mumured when he saw the sign atop the front door, he then proceed to enter the bar.
'Jingling'
The sound of small chime appeared as he opened the front door, the bar was quite spacious, several table with wooden stools could be seen aranged neatly, the bar also quite clean which gave Rei a very good impression.
The bearded bartender wiping the jug behind the counter, when he heard someone entering his bar, he turned his face up and said welcome,
"Welcome, we just open." He squinted his eyes as there was someone walking over wearing a formal black yukata with long silver hair ponytail. He paused for a moment when he saw the stranger's has silvery eyes and 2 small horns.
Feeling familiar, the bartender couldn't help but asked, "Scuse me, have we met somewhere before?" And proceed to put down the jug from his hand.
Rei raised his eyebrow, he glanced towards several wanted posters on the counter left side notice board and smiled a little.
"No, we haven't met before." Answered Rei.
"Okay, scuse me for asking, what do you want? We have best liquor in town here!" The bearded bartender simply shrugged his feeling off and proceed to handling Rei's order.
"Give me something strong, don't worry about the money." Rei said generously, then he pulled several bills from under his sleeve and put it down on the bar's counter.
Seeing the Bellies on the counter, the bartender couldn't help but widen his eyes, with a smile he took the bills and nodded,
"Sure will, just find yourself a table. I'll bring your order shortly."
Rei nodded and turned around, he saw an inconspicuous corner at the bar which several sofas were placed neatly over the wall, then he decided to sat there, relaxing himself.
Not taking too long, the bartender brought several bottles of liquor and also some snack to accompany it.
"Please enjoy, these are the strongest liquor we have here, also this snack as compliment." He said with rough voice.
He put those at Rei's table and looked towards the later with interest for a few moments. Noticing his behavior Rei looked up and smiled slightly towards him.
The bartender felt awkward for a few seconds, and finaly left after saying apologize to Rei.
Rei shook his head slightly, then he opened the first bottle cap and poured the murky yet sparkling liquor inside into his jug.
"ah* Nice alcohol..." Rei actualy wasn't quite a drinker in his past life, however since he got reincarnated, he felt that alcohol tasted better when travelling.
Within the quiet bar, only Rei and the bearded bartender whom occasionally glanced towards the former were staying. As the night getting late there was a boisterous laughter with several other rough voices coming closer to the bar from outside.
'JINGLING'
The front door was suddenly oppened roughly resulting the chime to jingle wildly, then Rei saw several rough men with lousy manner carrying weapons entered the bar.
"BOSS! Give us something hard! We'll get wasted tonight boys!" Said the seemingly their leader of the group hoarsely with laughter.
"Sure will, wait a moment!" Answered the bearded bartender, seems like he was familiar with these thugs.
The leader was a tall man carrying a huge saber at his back, he has pale skin with a patched-like horizontal scar on his forehead. Wearing knee and elbow pads, a blue and brown top, and also has bandages wrapped around his body. Furthermore, he also wore beige pants and a purple garment around his waist.
Seeing the bunch means no harm and only wants to enjoy the alcohol civilizedly, Rei continued to enjoy his share at the inconspicuous corner without being a busybody, as he saw the familiar face in one of the wanted poster plastered on the wall, it says Billy with 5 million bellies as his bounty prize.
The leader took the head seat at the round table and followed by his henchemen surrounding him.
As the group began to drinks like there was no tomorow, the front door opened once again with the melodious jingle accompanied it.
Now, Rei saw two men entered the bar throwing occasional glances towards Billy and his bunch. The two newcomers tried to look a place for a seat, and decided to sit down besides the wall only 1 table away from where Rei's currently seated.
"Interesting..." Rei murmured faintly and continued to drink.
The two newcomers were actualy very familiar to Rei, both carried big sword at their waist. One of them was wearing a black shirt with a green coat and red headgear. He has plaid yellow boxer shorts over unshaven legs and dark shoes and also smokes a cigarete.
And his partner was using eyeshades even though it was currently night time, his expression always seen scowling. He has black hair and a black tattoo on his left cheek that reads "sea" in kanji.
Rei faintly smiled as he heard the duo whispering to each other loud and clear for his ears.
"Yosaku, its a big risk! We could die!" Said the man with eyeshades seemingly persuading his partner to curb their intentions.
However his partner seems determined as he squinted his eyes towards Billy and the gang, then he turned his face towards his partner and said,
"Johnny! Listen to me! We won't make it big if we keep targetting the small fries! Now we have a chance! There's Billy the pirates here with 5 million bellies bounty!"
"Yes! But its 5 million! 5 million is big Yosaku! He must be a tough nut to crack! We are only small timer bounty hunter now, don't underestimate him dude!"
Yosaku clicked his tongue in displeasure, he then said , "5 million is big you says? Come on! Nowadays East Blue has more pirates with bigger bounty than him! Buggy the clown, Krieg, Arlong! And not to mention that White Ghost who has the biggest bounty among them all!"
Rei smiled hearing himself being mentioned by the others, especially someone familiar to him. If only Johnny and Yosaku has more awareness, they would find the man whom they called as "White Ghost" was currently sitting only a table away from them!
Imagining what face would they make if they realized he was currently sitting behind them made Rei chuckled in amusement.
Just a moments later, the front door opened once again, this time only one man entered. When Rei saw who was it, his smile grew larger. The newcomer paused for a while and glancing around the bar, and Rei was sure he had locked his eyes with him for a few seconds there.
The newcomer this time actualy carrying 3 swords on his waist. He looks exhausted, worn out from his travelling. With muscular body and average height, he has slightly tanned skin and short green hair, the man also wearing a worn out white shirt with distinctive green haramaki wrapped around his hip. There was also a black cloth wrapping around his arm swaying freely when he moved.
Yosaku and Johny both frowned when he saw the newcomer, they witnessed the green haired swordsman sat at the counter and heard.
"Food, a lot of food and alcohol." Said the newcomer.
The bartender frowned and asked, "Do you have money? We don't put a tab here."
"Don't worry about the money, once i collect the bounty from the guy behind me, i'll pay you full." Spoke the green haired swordsman once again.
Once the green haired swordsman said his piece, the rowdy bunch of Billy and his pirates paused, Billy suddenly stood up after he slammed his jug on the table.
With large stride, Billy moved closer towards the counter.
"Well, well, do you think you're something when you saying shit like that?" Grunted Billy towards the newcomer.
The green haired swordsman turned his stool around and tilting his head seemingly in confusion, "Who are you? What do you say?"
Vein popped out Billy forehead, he squinted his eyes in threatening manner, "You just said you'll have money after you collect my bounty? I applaud your bravery there bastard."
"Is that so?" The green haired swordsman asked indifferently seemingly doesn't care with Billy.
Billy anger rose, he pulled out his great sword from his back and swung it down all of sudden towards the indifferent swordsman in front of him!
'CLANK!'
However, the green haired swordsman blocked the incoming attack with ease. Holding the sword with white handle by only his left hand.
"You also have bounty? How much?" Asked the green haired swordsman.
Billy tried to put his strength into his great sword, however the man in front of him didn't even budge from his seat, then he shouted!
"I AM BILLY! AND I HAVE 5 MILLION BELLIES AS BOUNTY! YOU'RE NOBODY AND WILL SOON BE DEAD!"
Billy was already drunk when he said that. Because if he was not, he'll think twice to continue the skirmish as the strength discrepancy between them were so jarring.
The green haired swordsman jolted his hand and made Billy took several steps back, then he said, "Is that so? Then i'll have you as appetizer."
With a swooshing sound, the green haired swordsman suddenly appeared behind Billy, right after, everyone inside the bar witnessed Billy suddenly slumped down with large sword wound on his chest!
Witnessing all of this, Billy's fellow pirates doesn't retaliate! They stood up and just fled from the bar leaving their captain bleeding body behind!
Just as when the green haired swordman wanted to face towards the bar inconspicuous corner, Johnny and Yosaku stood up abruptly.
"Wait a second!" Exclaimed both of them.
The swordsman paused and glanced towards Johnny and Yosaku, both of them flinched slightly by his indifferent expressions. However, gathering their courage both Johnny and Yosaku walked closer towards him.
"Are you the infamous 'Pirate Hunter' Roronoa Zoro?" Asked Johnny,
The swordsman called Roronoa Zoro only glanced at him without answering, then he heard Yosaku spoke.
"I'm sorry 3-swords wielding demon, we were the one who found Billy first, And so we must abide by the "bounty hunter rules" first come first get, i demand you to give us Billy's body to ours as per the rules."
Johnny crossed his arm trying to make himself bigger and Yosaku does the same while puffing out the smoke. And yet Zoro shrugged them off and pulled out the cloth from his arm, with trained movement he wrapped a black bandana around his head.
Zoro glared at Yosaku and Johnny and said, "Move away! I don't care about that Billy whatever!"
Hearing Zoro, Johnny and Yosaku exchanged glances with seemingly victorious smile on their faces. Then they heard Zoro spoke once again.
"...I never thought i would meet a big fish over here! Why don't you stand up now?" Zoro paused slightly as he passed the duo.
Smiling, Rei raised his jug towards the menacing Zoro whom stood not far from the corner and said cheerfully, "Cheers!"
"...White Ghost..." Zoro grunted as he bit his Meitō sword "Wadō Ichimonji" on his mouth.
Johnny and Yosaku were aghast when they heard what Zoro had said towards the man sitting at the corner of the bar.
"..Wh, wh, white ghost?"
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Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone