Chapter 26 - CHAPTER 26 - Hiding Dirt and Filth

This place, once a grand palace with a deep history, has long since crumbled. The houses that were once neatly arranged are now in ruins, their walls and foundations broken down by time. What remains are makeshift wooden huts built near the massive stone columns and deep pits, where various thieves, bandits, and pirates have made their home. The terrain here is complex: to the south lies a dense forest, to the north a vast and undulating basin, to the east the sea, and to the west a rugged canyon. With such a layout, there are escape routes in every direction, making it nearly impossible to surround the area. Even if they brought in the full force of three thousand naval soldiers, it would still be impossible to fully encircle it. In one of these makeshift camps, a few armed thugs with knives and guns are seen keeping a wary eye on their surroundings. They're tasked with guarding the children they control, who generate a steady stream of income for them. The rest of the group is playing cards with the boss. "Break that kid's legs and make him beg tomorrow. It's been three days, and he hasn't sold a single bottle of alcohol. The others are selling two or three bottles a day," says a man over five meters tall, his thick, muscular legs standing out, pointing at a scrawny boy. "Boss, if we keep this up, we'll become beggars ourselves. Eight people have turned into beggars this month already." One of the men is reluctant. After all, even selling one bottle of alcohol a week is not that bad. "I don't want to do this either, but Captain Anlin said if we don't pay up two hundred million beli in six months, we'll all be dead," the boss replies with a hint of bitterness. "Besides, begging doesn't always pay less than selling alcohol. People these days have hearts of stone; they don't have any pity for kids anymore. Maybe we should make the kids look even worse off, huh? Ha ha ha," the one-eyed man laughs cruelly, mocking the coldness of the people around them. "Seems like the locals know these kids are under our control now. They're not giving money as freely anymore. We'll have to send the kids after the newcomers to Whiskey Peak," a pirate says while cleaning his gun. After wiping the gun clean, he raises it and aims into the distance, adjusting the sights. He notices a thug returning with a group of kids. This thug is in charge of managing the children on the streets. "Let's wait a few days before checking the civilian area for some new recruits. The more kids we bring in, the more money we'll make," the boss says. "Boss, this might be difficult. The Navy's been cracking down on missing persons lately," another man warns. "Just pick some poor, nameless civilians. No one will report them missing, and we won't have any problems," the boss says, his eyes narrowing. "Got it." "Boss, Goupi is back with the kids. Looks like he did well today," one of the men reports, noticing that none of the kids are holding bottles. Given how early they've returned, it's likely they sold all their alcohol. "Really? Then tonight, we'll be able to drink some good wine," the boss says, his mouth watering at the thought of the fine wine from the three major wineries. For a moment, the boy who was about to have his legs broken is spared, as they suddenly notice Goupi is followed by two unfamiliar faces. "Wait a minute, this doesn't seem right. There are two people I've never seen before. Are they new recruits?" the boss asks, his suspicion growing. "I didn't bring them," one of the men denies. "Me neither," another man responds. "These two... I feel like I've seen them somewhere before." There are countless famous pirates in the world, and it's impossible to recognize every one of them. Even Crocodile, one of the Shichibukai, isn't known to everyone. It's the same with famous figures in any country—only a few people can remember all of them. "Boss, help me!" Just then, Goupi shouts, running towards the boss in fear, his legs trembling. He had been doing his usual rounds, keeping an eye on the kids to prevent any from escaping or causing trouble. He would occasionally pocket a little cash himself. However, today he encountered two men who gave off an incredibly dangerous aura. These two men were so terrifying that just standing there and speaking to him was enough to send chills down his spine. Under threat, he was forced to bring them back to the headquarters, thinking that with so many people there, it would be easy to deal with them. "How dare they pick a fight with us? Boys, it's time to work," the boss stands up, his towering figure making the nearby tree seem weak in comparison. A massive man, his shoulders broad and his muscles like a beast, had already taken down countless troublemakers before. Many of them thought they were the "good guys," but after facing the boss's powerful kicks—capable of breaking rocks—they were either dead or begging for mercy, turned into his playthings. "Move in, leave one alive to talk," Rosen says coldly to Bones. Bones nods, his feet turning into blades as he slides toward the fleeing thug, like ice skating. "Shatter Slash!" Swoosh! Goupi's body is instantly covered in deep gashes, some so deep they expose bone, blood splattering as he crashes to the ground. "He's a Devil Fruit user! Everyone, be careful and fire!" the boss' face darkens, his expression turning even more savage. Bang! Bang! Bang! A barrage of bullets is fired, filling the air with a dense hail of fire. But the bullets just strike Bones' body, sparking off harmlessly. Iron Man, a body impervious to blades and bullets alike, not even Zoro's techniques could pierce his defenses, let alone these measly bullets. In the blink of an eye, this infamous bounty hunter from the West Blue charged into the group, his movements as quick and lethal as a tiger among sheep. Each strike left a blade of light, and the average pirates were quickly cut down one after another. Watching his men fall one by one, the boss knows that if this keeps up, he will be left standing alone. No—more accurately, he will be left as a single man, abandoned by Bones. "Die, you bastard! Falcon Burst Kick!" the boss roars, taking his chance when Bones finishes off the last of his subordinates, launching a powerful kick at his head. Bones, without hurrying, catches the kick with the corner of his eye, still calm. When the boss' mighty leg, capable of breaking stone, connects with Bones' head, a loud crack resounds. However, instead of crushing Bones' skull, the boss's own leg breaks with a loud snap, sending waves of pain through his body. His once unshakable confidence falters as his strongest attack fails, and his leg is shattered. (End of Chapter)