Chapitre 30: Chapter 30: Formidable Foe
"Is this the place?"
"Yes, according to the information from that merchant, he comes to this restaurant for lunch every day."
Hiding in the attic of a villa across the street, Rosinante and Vergo conversed while carefully observing the luxurious restaurant, "Gilded Rose," in front of them.
Located in the upper district, it was the most extravagant, sophisticated, and expensive restaurant in town!
Through the heavy doors and huge floor-to-ceiling windows of the restaurant, they could see the elegant tables and chairs, the exquisite bar, a pianist playing soothing music in the corner, and gracefully dressed men and women laughing softly...
Compared to the garbage processing area filled with thick smoke and the port area saturated with sweat and sea breeze, this place felt like a completely different world!
"He's here."
They didn't have to wait long, as just as the intelligence indicated, a man wearing a brown suit, a tie, and a top hat, with a high-bridged nose and deep-set eyes, strolled towards the Gilded Rose.
"That's 'Batter' Joe!"
One of the combatants from the Jaidi Family, responsible for smashing the heads of the unlucky guys, numbering not one thousand, but eight hundred—definitely infamous.
It was apparent that this man named Joe paid great attention to etiquette. Whether it was his gestures when ordering food or the use of the cutlery, every move exuded an air of sophistication. Rosinante found it quite distasteful.
In this world, what use did these meaningless things have?
Well, Rosinante hoped that this guy's combat ability matched his appearance—just a lot of show.
---
Upper district,
Rose Manor,
Paul, also known as "Moneybags," walked into the magnificent hall, wearing a scarf and a windbreaker. His usual smiling face was now serious as he held the intelligence report in his hands.
"Mr. Thompson, the report has arrived."
"Read it,"
Seated in a large, lordly posture on a couch made of sea creature leather, the portly businessman waved his hand, and Paul promptly opened the report.
"The two individuals who rescued the Four-Color Family are brothers."
"Their names are Doflamingo and Rosinante Nandi..."
"They boarded the Pinta Maru at 'Red Port' in the New World, initially as laborers..."
"After entering the North Sea, there was a dispute between the ship's captain, navigator, and first mate, leading to their mutual destruction. The two brothers seized control of the Pinta Maru and, after delivering the passengers and sailors to their destination, sailed to Spadea Meruzzo..."
"After establishing contact with the merchant Whisk, they later clashed with the Four-Color Family. The reason for their subsequent audacious challenge to us was most likely to acquire the 'Devil Fruit' in the possession of the Four-Color Family..."
"Hmm, they are indeed talented."
Mr. Thompson raised an eyebrow, exuding an aura of authority that belonged to someone in a high position.
To have risen from being mere slaves and to take control of a ship, even snatching it from his grasp, was not something that could be explained merely by "luck."
***Note: There was an advertisement in the original text. Skipping it.***
Unfortunately—
"Although they have some talent and managed to acquire a ship, they think they can rival my Jaidi Family?" Even if they escaped onto the sea, Thompson was determined to capture those two and, after torturing them to the point of collapse, he would use their skulls as wine glasses!
"Mr. Thompson, there's one more thing."
An irritated Paul reported to the boss, "Due to those two mixing with the Four-Color Family, we didn't want any unexpected incidents to occur before we found out their exact whereabouts. So, I ordered the leaders to gather at the manor."
"But that guy, Joe, he actually went out alone. Just to have a meal?"
Facing Paul's indignant complaint, Thompson smiled and waved his hand.
"Let him be. Joe has always been like this."
Others might not know, but Thompson knew very well:
Joe was once a "slave," the type of slave who demanded you to kneel and never allowed you to stand. Due to his good looks, he was bought by a swordsman to serve as... a personal male attendant.
Or perhaps "bedroom toy" would be more appropriate.
Later, the swordsman was bludgeoned to death by bandits, and his family was too busy fighting over the inheritance, with no one caring about the truth. When "Joe" appeared again in front of people, he had transformed into a charming gentleman.
Besides Thompson, no one else knew about the violent past hidden beneath the gentlemanly façade of "Batter" Joe.
This layer of "gentleman" was a castle built by Joe to forget his past.
Poor guy, he can't even enjoy the services of a woman~~
Caressing the beautiful woman kneeling at his feet, the head of the Jaidi Family showed a moment of pity for his subordinates—about 0.1 seconds.
Thompson was always very generous towards capable subordinates. Even if Joe just went out for a meal, or even bought the restaurant, it didn't matter.
---
"Mr. Joe, please take your time."
With the respectful bow of the waiter, "Batter" Joe finished his lunch and left.
Immaculately dressed in a suit, his shoes spotless, he walked each step as if measured by a ruler—not too fast, not too slow, just right.
"?!"
"This guy is not simple."
Rubbing his chin, Rosinante on the attic across the street looked serious.
"...Isn't that obvious?"
Even the usually solemn Vergo couldn't help but feel annoyed by Rosinante's nonsensical chatter.
As a combatant of the Jaidi Family, Joe was naturally formidable. Otherwise, why would the Four-Color Family's group of four prefer to act together to avoid being isolated and killed?
Especially after Toile Bowl, a devil fruit ability user, severely injured them:
"Rosinante Nandi, your ability is to 'erase sound,' right?"
Having fought side by side, Vergo, as a future undercover marine and elite vice admiral, could easily guess Rosinante's ability.
"This ability has little effect on 'Batter' Joe."
"With our combined strength, it's challenging to take him down—"
Vergo was not afraid of death, but he was not willing to throw his life away meaninglessly.
"Don't worry, I'm not eager to die."
Though Rosinante said that, there was no fear in his expression as he turned to head towards the planned ambush location for "Batter" Joe.
"If things don't work out, I have a 'secret weapon.'"
Secret weapon?!
Vergo furrowed his brow, but he didn't ask further.
After all, just two days ago, they were still enemies.
---
The sunlight spread across the earth.
Regardless of the darkness hidden in this town, it would not change the sun's nature.
After finishing lunch, Joe would go to inspect the family factory located in the garbage processing area. His life was extremely regular, to the point where it felt like a "creed."
Thus, when he strolled at a leisurely pace down a small path leading to the processing area, the silence around him caused him to stop.
"Come out,"
As soon as Joe, donned in a suit and a top hat, spoke, a child wielding a sailor's knife leaped down from the adjacent rooftop!
The sailor's knife shimmered with a cold light, thrusting straight towards Joe's top hat. There was not even the slightest sound, it was as silent as it could be—
Swish!
At this moment, the man standing on the path put one hand on his top hat and the other on his waist. A glimmer flashed as the metal baton in his hand reflected the sunlight!
Bang!
The child who leaped to assassinate him seemed to be hit by an invisible giant hammer, and he flew sideways, slamming into the nearby building. The sturdy brick wall cracked into a spider web amidst a loud rumble.
"Heh,"
The next second, a cruel smile appeared on Joe's face as he held the metal baton in his hand.
"You mice actually came back for death."
The metal baton swayed as Joe blocked the dagger aimed at him from bottom to top.
"Thought you rodents had escaped to the sea—"
With a raised brow and deep-set eyes, Joe's lips curled slightly, revealing a cruel smile.
"You actually came back to deliver yourselves to death."
With a swift twist of the metal baton, Joe deflected the dagger in Rosinante's hand. He then stepped forward and swung the metal baton like a sword, aiming it at Rosinante's face.
Although it was just a "slick" ball bat, under the terrifying power released by the opponent, it effortlessly crushed bones!
Snap!
Before he could retract the dagger, his other hand shot up to parry, blocking the opponent's ball bat.
Such formidable strength!
Although he managed to block the attack, the force behind the ball bat still surprised Rosinante.
This didn't seem like the strength an "ordinary" man of this build should possess; he was even on par with Pica, who stood over two meters tall. Moreover—
Swish!
As the ball bat in his hand contracted, there was no need for a visible "retraction" motion. Instead, in a rapid "contraction and stab" movement, the opponent's ball bat once again whistled towards Rosinante's chest.
"Zero Style: Fang Tusk Tooth!"
?
Bang!
The next moment, to his surprise, Rosinante was struck in the chest. He was sent flying several meters away.
"Hmph,"
Sending Rosinante flying six or seven meters away with a single strike, "Batter" Joe frowned dissatisfied.
Because as his weapon made contact with the opponent, the little boy had already pushed off the ground and actively retreated.
"Cough, cough... Such formidable strength and agility beyond the ordinary."
Flipping over and leaping up from the ground, Rosinante held a dagger in front of him, coughing a few times with traces of blood at the corner of his mouth.
If he hadn't retreated on his own, he probably would have had countless broken ribs.
Meanwhile, Vergo, who had been slammed into the wall by the opponent's baton, had just landed. With a sailor's knife in his hand, he leaned forward, blocking Joe's path from the front, and Rosinante blocked from the back.
"Where are the others?"
Confronted by Rosinante and Vergo's encirclement, "Batter" Joe nonchalantly twirled the metal baton in his hand, looking around with his head held high.
"Only you two? Even if you despise others, there should be a limit!"
Unyielding, Rosinante immediately retorted.
"We haven't finished yet, so what's your hurry, dog!"
---
At the Rose Manor,
Thompson, dressed in exquisite high-end suits and boasting a big belly, opened his eyes suddenly while lying on the sofa, eyes fixed on the scene.
"Bold! You actually dare to come back—"
Bang!
He kicked the "bedroom toy" in front of him aside, and amidst the girl's mournful sobbing, the plump businessman abruptly stood up.
"Men, come here!"
As he gave the command, the door was burst open!
Vincentso, covered in weaponry, and Paul, wearing a scarf and windbreaker, led a group of fully armed thugs into the room.
"Let's go! Someone has made a move against Joe."
?
"Mr. Thompson, do you think Joe..."
Since their boss said so, there must be enemies on Joe's side.
But Paul, the "Batter," was concerned that by the time they arrived, that guy might have already been—
"It's impossible,"
"Joe's strength won't be easily defeated."
Thompson had full confidence in "Batter" Joe. During the time Joe was treated as a "toy," he managed to learn the abilities of the swordsman who bought him and ultimately killed him.
Even those two brats, along with the Four-Color Family's operatives, wouldn't be able to take down Joe in such a short time!
---
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(End of this chapter)
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
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