Chapter 37 - CHAPTER 37 - Daz Bones Takes Up the Blade

Rosen scanned the entire venue and quickly spotted Balm. He was leisurely watching the banquet from the eighth floor. Noticing Rosen's gaze, Balm didn't bother to hide his emotions. Instead, he grinned, revealing a cruel smile. His time was running out. He was waiting—for someone, for an opportunity. Rosen remained calm, lighting a cigar and exhaling a smoke ring. Internally, however, his vigilance rose. At the entrance earlier, Balm had still maintained surface-level etiquette. But now, with no one paying attention to them, did Balm think he no longer needed to keep up appearances? Was he so confident that Rosen's wariness didn't matter? There was only one explanation—his preparations were nearly complete. However, it was unlikely he would act during the banquet. Making a move now would be akin to destroying his own establishment. After all, many of the guests were also his clients. But once the banquet ended, things wouldn't be so simple. Still, Rosen wasn't concerned. If anything, this suited him just fine. The more dangerous the viper, the more important it was to eliminate it quickly. If he had absolute confidence in his success—and if he weren't wary of Moris, Rear Admiral Harry, and others—he might have even chosen to strike first during the banquet. After all, this wasn't his event, so he had no reason to hesitate. Anyone who sought his life would receive no mercy. Even if Balm didn't act tonight, Rosen would begin preparing to take him down. He had no interest in living with an enemy constantly lurking in the shadows. "Daz Bones, go up there and hone your skills. "If possible, bring back the Devil Fruit." Rosen sat beside Daz Bones. The entire estate was already growing restless. The shouts and roars from the crowd created an atmosphere of frenzy. The first floor housed an enormous arena—capable of holding over a hundred people—since most of the space was left open. Where there weren't open areas, there were various entertainment facilities. But what entertainment could be more thrilling than a battle to the death? At the command of their masters or employers, towering bodyguards stepped onto the stage. In mere moments, over a hundred contestants had gathered, with only a few stragglers yet to arrive. "The rules are simple—this is a battle royale. "Guns and explosives are prohibited, but beyond that, there are no restrictions. "The last one standing is the champion. "Those who die or are thrown out of the ring lose." The host reiterated the rules. "Hmm? Even the Marines are participating?" Rosen noticed two Marines stepping into the arena, presumably representing Rear Admiral Harry and Captain Luca. It seemed unusual. "A Devil Fruit is worth a fortune. "Each of the three major wineries contributed 100 million berries to purchase it. "If any of us claim it, it's a net gain of 200 million berries. "Why wouldn't we fight for it?" Rear Admiral Harry replied flatly. He was seated nearby, with Robin positioned between him and Rosen. "Looks like this will be quite the battle," Rosen remarked, sipping his drink. With most contestants now present, the merchants and pirates in the audience had begun placing their bets. Who would win? Who would fall? Each observer made their predictions. And with a 300-million-berry prize at stake, this was no small matter. For most merchants, this was more than they could earn in a single trip. Only a handful of major tycoons could dismiss such an amount. As for the three major wineries—they didn't particularly care. But if they could get a Devil Fruit for free, why refuse? "BOSS, you seem interested in this Fruit. "Rear Admiral Harry mentioned earlier that it's a Zoan-type—specifically the Boar-Boar Fruit." Robin provided the information upon noticing her captain's interest. "That's right," Harry confirmed. Not being a Devil Fruit user himself, he preferred relying on pure combat techniques. He had no desire to acquire a fruit's inherent weakness. His strength lay in swordsmanship, martial prowess, and Haki. Of course, if it were a Logia-type fruit, then... that might be a different story. "Oh my, Mr. 1, since when did you start using weapons?" Robin was surprised to see Daz Bones retrieving a gleaming longsword from the weapon storage area. Even Rosen was taken aback. Daz Bones was already a living weapon. He had rarely, if ever, used external weapons before. Daz Bones remained expressionless but answered Robin's curiosity directly. "Recently, my physical capabilities have improved significantly. "My ability has undergone slight changes. "I have some ideas I want to test in real combat." "The subordinates of a Warlord truly are exceptional," Rear Admiral Harry commented with a hint of admiration. He could feel a certain pressure from Daz Bones. If they fought, Harry believed he could win—but it wouldn't be easy. "Winning doesn't matter. "Just bring me the liquor. "Besides, Marines and pirates are equally annoying. "If you want to kill them, go ahead. "In an arena match, no one will hold you accountable." Moris spoke lazily, unconcerned. He hadn't even bothered choosing his representative for the fight. Instead, he had someone randomly pull a contestant from the estate to fill the spot. The Devil Fruit? The banquet? None of it mattered. As long as there was alcohol, that was enough. Everything else would unfold as it should. "Understood, Boss! "I won't let you down! "This prize belongs to Meckdo Winery!" A tall, frail-looking man responded with unwavering determination. "Oh, great. "Why are you still here? "Go get my drink already." "Right away!" Dolly hurried off in response. "Krit, once you're in the ring, make sure to humiliate that Warlord. "Kill his subordinate." Balm gave cold instructions to his second-in-command. Before making his move, he wanted to weaken Crocodile's forces openly. When the time came, it would increase the chances of Rosen's downfall. "The match begins!" Boom! As the host's voice fell, the chaotic melee erupted instantly. Several contestants were cut down and thrown out of the ring in mere moments. Those who fell were quickly tended to by medics. But in such a chaotic battle, occasional fatalities were inevitable. In this era, no merchant who braved the seas was a pushover. They watched the brawl with keen interest. Though few among them possessed great strength themselves—after all, they were businessmen. Despite the presence of merchants from across the world, their representatives changed frequently. Powerful merchants didn't personally attend such events. They sent subordinates in their place. As a result, few of the bodyguards stood out. Instead, the true displays of power came from the representatives of the three major wineries. Which was expected. Displaying strength deterred troublemakers. After all, not everyone was here solely for business. Some were simply waiting for the right moment to strike and profit. The number of contestants dwindled rapidly. After just over ten minutes, only seven remained. One Marine. One from Meckdo Winery. Two from Bordeaux Winery. And two representing individual merchants. The two contestants from Bordeaux exchanged a glance—then both set their sights on Daz Bones. One wielded a massive hammer. The other, a greatsword. Daz Bones' expression hardened. These two weren't weak. Especially Krit, the swordsman—his bounty exceeded 89 million berries. Fighting one-on-one would have been manageable. But with the addition of Nate, a strong opponent in his own right, the situation became more challenging. "Marines! "Let's play for a while. "Don't ruin everyone's fun." Meckdo's contestant set his sights on the Marine. Meanwhile, the two merchant bodyguards clashed with each other. With others engaging in targeted battles, they hoped their rivals would wear each other down. Then, they could swoop in and claim the prize. (End of Chapter)