Dirty canvas tarps hung above the alleyway, crisscrossing and blocking out most of the light from the glowing Suspended Lantern Vines.
A man wearing a dirt-yellow coat and a matching hat walked into the shadows, tilting his head slightly as he glanced at the wristwatch-like Den Den Mushi on his arm.
"I understand."
Two seconds later, a deep male voice echoed from the other end of the line.
The communication was cut.
The man in the coat closed the Den Den Mushi's cover and pulled down his sleeve, concealing its existence.
"A Devil Fruit as a tournament prize…"
His hoarse voice carried through the alley, tinged with a faint, sharp edge that bordered on femininity.
"This is going to be quite the spectacle."
He adjusted the brim of his hat with one hand and turned to glance in the direction of the tavern.
Few people knew that the mastermind behind the arena in Dick City was actually the king residing in the royal capital atop the island's great whale-shaped structure—a king who rarely descended to Dick City.
However, during the monthly gladiator tournament, the king never failed to attend.
This time, to make the tournament even more exciting, the king was willing to offer a Devil Fruit as the grand prize.
In addition, he established a prize pool of 50 million berries.
Such lavish rewards naturally attracted many outsiders.
In just about a week, the docks prepared specifically for visitors from beyond the island were nearly filled to capacity.
It was well known that the open "U-shaped" harbor in the mouth of Leviathan Island's great whale was the largest area on the island.
Even so, the harbor couldn't accommodate the endless influx of ships.
The increasing number of visitors also caused a surge in the profits of Dick City's shops.
How much of that revenue would eventually flow into the royal treasury was anyone's guess.
After one last glance at the tavern, the man in the coat stepped deeper into the shadows.
Inside the Tavern
The stir caused by the arrival of Maude gradually dissipated.
The pirates, now relaxed, resumed drinking and loud conversations.
Before long, the tavern was once again abuzz with noise.
Most of their talk revolved around the gladiator tournament scheduled for two weeks later.
What drew their fervent interest was not only the mysterious type of Devil Fruit up for grabs but also the minimum prize of 50 million berries.
Winning the championship would mean gaining both power and wealth in an instant.
Arthur felt utterly drained.
Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine that Maude would nonchalantly swindle the Eternal Pose* to Little Garden right out of his hands.
He had severely underestimated Maude's audacity.
Without the strength to overturn the situation, Arthur could only swallow his bitterness.
Yet, he still felt unwilling to accept this outcome.
He had sought a reliable partner, only to have his Eternal Pose snatched away.
"That Eternal Pose cost me my life savings…"
Arthur began lamenting his plight.
"Sigh, I get it. This meal's on me," Maude said with feigned sincerity, pouring Arthur another drink.
"…"
Arthur stared blankly at Maude, whose expression remained calm and composed.
Defeated, Arthur sighed.
"You win."
He managed a bitter smile.
Maude blinked innocently, feigning confusion.
Filled with frustration, Arthur downed his drink in one gulp, casting a sidelong glance at Bailey, who was busy enjoying a meal.
"Maude, are you planning to enter that weasel into the gladiator tournament in thirteen days?"
"Yes," Maude replied with a nod.
In truth, Maude knew next to nothing about the tournament. He had come to Leviathan Island solely for the shipyard.
Until now, he wasn't even aware that the tournament's grand prize was a Devil Fruit.
Even so, he played along effortlessly with Arthur's remarks.
When it came to conversation—whether bluffing or pretending to know more—Maude never worried about killing the mood.
To show his gratitude for the Eternal Pose "gifted" by Arthur, Maude filled his glass with more wine.
"Will it… really work?"
Arthur glanced at Bailey, who was pretending to be an innocent and docile pet, even eating more neatly than usual.
"Whether it works or not, we'll find out soon enough," Maude replied, adding a few evenly sliced steaks to Bailey's plate with a fatherly smile.
Arthur hesitated, unsure whether to say more.
For years, his sole focus had been obtaining a Devil Fruit.
When he heard rumors of an Ancient Zoan-type Devil Fruit on Leviathan Island, he had been ecstatic.
But he knew nothing about gladiator combat and had no chance of claiming the championship.
With one path blocked, he had turned his sights on the two Giant Pirates on Little Garden, both with bounties exceeding 100 million berries.
If he could claim their bounties, he could use the black market in the Underworld to secure a Devil Fruit.
But now…
Sigh.
That path was blocked too, thanks to the scoundrel in front of him.
Drowning his sorrows, Arthur refrained from revealing further information about the tournament, choosing instead to drink his misery away.
Maude, ever attentive, refilled his glass.
Around their table, the atmosphere was strangely warm and cheerful.
In a corner of the tavern, Buffalo rose, having eaten and drunk his fill. He glanced subtly at Maude's table before heading toward the door.
Creak.
Buffalo pushed open the door and walked out, oblivious to the enigmatic gaze following him.
Outside the tavern, Buffalo headed straight for the casino.
"I wonder if that Devil Fruit really is an Ancient Zoan…"
Lost in thought, Buffalo's unique fan-shaped hairstyle began to spin.
"Well, regardless, Young Master's orders are clear. If there's even a slight chance, we must secure that Devil Fruit."
Grinning, Buffalo revealed the Donquixote family's insignia on his attire.
"Wait, wasn't there something else I was supposed to do? Eh, I'll worry about it later!"
With that, he quickened his pace toward the casino, gambling urges fully taking over.
Dick City's Inner Bay
A string of bubbles suddenly broke the surface of the shimmering waters near the docks.
Moments later, a small yellow submarine emerged, sending water splashing.
The damp wooden hatch on the submarine's deck opened, and a tall man carrying a long sword stepped out.
A white bear dressed in clothes followed him, walking upright.
"Wow, so those are the Suspended Lantern Vines!"
The bear looked up at the glowing plants hanging upside down from the cavern ceiling, speaking in amazement.
The tall man also gazed at the vines.
"Yes, those are the Lantern Vines—Ahab Kingdom's national treasure. But what does it matter? To stop that 'plague,' I'll claim the poisonous roots of the Lantern Vines."
A cold smile formed on the man's lips.
"So cool!"
The bear's eyes sparkled as he stared at the man in admiration.
Thud.
The man, unimpressed, lightly knocked the bear on the head with his sword's hilt.
Then he glanced toward the figures still in the submarine's cabin.
"Shachi, you guys stay and guard the ship."
"No problem!"
"Bepo, let's go ashore."
The man called the bear's name and jumped onto the dock with ease.
Bepo grinned mischievously at the others in the submarine before running off to follow.
"That Bepo…"
The crew left behind sighed in exasperation.
The yellow submarine sank back beneath the waves.
The man carrying the sword led the bear toward the city.
Had Buffalo seen the man, he likely would have exclaimed his name without hesitation—Trafalgar Law!
[TL/N: My apologies. I previously translated the Eternal Pose in the previous chapter as Log Pose.]
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