novelraw 50: No? It is now.
50: No? It is now.
Hey! You huddled in the corner!
"I'm talking to you! You idiot descendant of the fraudster Montblanc! Nondomar!"
The bearded pirate smashed the empty wine jug on the ground, and it shattered into pieces with a loud crash.
He tilted his head, scrutinizing Nongdoma, his rough, hoarse voice cutting through the tavern's noise:
"We're laughing so hard, and you're making a face longer than a donkey's. Aren't my words funny?"
Upon hearing this, the noise in the tavern instantly quieted down, and all the pirates turned their gazes to the corner.
A classic moment of drunken madness, while the still-sane pirate crosses his arms, ready to watch the show.
The one who wasn't fully awake had already rolled up his sleeves, clearly not intending to let this "disappointing" guy off easy.
The young man in the corner slowly raised his head, revealing a pair of bloodshot eyes, filled with anxiety and exhaustion.
His lips moved, as if he wanted to explain something, but he only gripped the compass in his hand tighter, his voice hoarse as if it had been sanded:
"It's nothing... I just don't find it funny."
"Not funny? That's all?"
The bearded pirate seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world. He walked a few steps to the Nongdoma table and kicked the table leg.
The table suddenly shook, knocking over the water glass on it. Water dripped down the edge of the map, and Nongdoma hurriedly tried to wipe it up, but the bearded pirate grabbed him by the collar.
"Do you know who I am? In Demon Valley Town, anyone who dares to talk to me like that is fucking fed to the fish with their bones crushed to dust!"
The bearded pirate's face was extremely close, his breath reeking of alcohol as he sprayed it onto Nondoma's face.
"Say it again, isn't it funny?"
Nondoma's shoulders trembled slightly, but he still held his neck straight, his eyes revealing a stubbornness:
"The Golden City does exist; Montblanc Nolando didn't lie..."
"Hahaha! The Land of Gold?"
The bearded pirate seemed to have heard the most absurd thing, and he let go of Nondoma, pushing him backward into a chair.
The surrounding pirates burst into laughter; some threw leftover bones at Nongdoma, while others slammed their fists on the table and shouted:
"Take his map and burn it! Let him know what reality is!"
A tall, thin pirate reached for the map on Nondoma's table, but just as his fingertips touched the edge of the paper, a soft "snap" was heard.
The blond man sitting in the middle of the tavern clapped his hands, and the tavern fell silent instantly.
The drunken pirates suddenly froze, and even the sober pirates dared not move when the sudden silence came.
The next second, the bearded pirate's fist slammed into the face of the tall, thin man next to him.
Another pirate, who was about to steal a wallet, suddenly twisted his ankle and fell forward, crashing into a barrel on the bar. The barrel tipped over with a "bang," splashing amber-colored rum all over him.
Chaos erupted instantly.
For some unknown reason, the drunken pirates suddenly started fighting each other. Some were beaten black and blue, while others knocked over tables, shattering dishes all over the floor.
Those pirates who were still normal shrank back in fear, and no one dared to step forward. It was obvious that the blond man had done something.
However, it's better to sacrifice a friend than myself; as long as I don't harm them, it's fine.
Oro then stood up, holding the unfinished glass of wine in his hand, and slowly walked to the table in the corner.
Ignoring the pirates still fighting next to him, he pulled out a chair opposite Nondoma and sat down, his gaze falling on the old map.
"Descendants of Montblanc?"
Nondoma hadn't yet recovered from the chaos. Upon hearing this, he abruptly turned his head, his bloodshot eyes filled with astonishment:
"You, you, no! Who are you?"
Oro took a sip of his drink, the spiciness spreading on his tongue. He set down his glass and lightly tapped the two blurry words "Shandora" on the map with his fingertip.
"Orikum Oro, that's my name. And I am the one who will soon find the Land of Gold."
Nondomma's body tensed instantly, and he appeared very nervous.
"My name is Montblanc Nondomar."
"This map was left to me by my ancestor Montblanc Nolando, and it depicts the golden land of 'Sandora'."
He paused, his eyes filled with anticipation:
"What is your basis for seeking the Land of Gold?"
Instead of answering directly, Oro changed the subject:
"Have you always lived on the island?"
Nondoma shook his head, reached out and touched his now empty wallet, his eyes dimming slightly:
"I came here two years ago following in the footsteps of my ancestors. Before that, I saved up some money in Beihai before taking a boat here."
His fingers gently traced the sun symbol on the map:
"I've lived in caves by the sea on the island, repaired boats for the dockworkers, and gathered herbs in the jungle..."
"Our savings are almost gone, but there's nothing on this island except rocks and seabirds."
"Are you leaving?" Oro asked.
Nondoma nodded, his expression a mixture of helplessness and determination:
"If we can't find any more clues, we'll have to leave and go make some money."
"But I believe that even if I can't find it, my descendants, the descendants of the Montblanc family, will one day find Sandora!"
"This proves that our ancestors were not frauds! And that we are not a family of frauds!"
After listening, Oro nodded and stood up:
"It won't take that long, and you won't need to trouble your descendants."
Seeing the astonished look in Nongdoma's eyes, he said firmly:
"You only need to stay for two more months. One day within those two months, you will hear the bells of the Golden Land."
"Wh...what?"
Nondomah suddenly stood up, the chair legs scraping against the floor with a screeching sound:
"Are you telling the truth? You really have a lead?"
Oro didn't explain. He walked up to the pirates who were still fighting and patted them on the shoulder again.
The pirates, already bruised and battered from fighting, collapsed to the ground as if all their strength had been drained, none of them daring to look up at Oro.
"Among you, who isn't a member of the Bone-Smashing Pirates?"
Oro's voice softened, as if two acquaintances were greeting each other:
"No, raise your hand."
The pirates looked at each other, hesitated for a few seconds, and then all of them raised their hands in unison.
Even the fiercest bearded pirate from before covered his swollen face and quickly raised his hands.
Oro raised an eyebrow and raised his hand to slap.
Seeing his action, one of the bolder pirates quickly scrambled to his feet and spoke tremblingly:
"W-Sir...we really aren't from the Bone Crusher Pirates!"
He swallowed hard, his eyes darting between Oro's hand and his own, as if afraid the other might slap him.
"The Broken Bone Pirates went out to hijack a ship early this morning. I heard they're going to steal a merchant ship from the West Blue."
"This tavern is indeed their territory, but everyone here today is here to drink, and everyone in Magic Valley can testify to that!"
He pointed to the bartender hiding behind the bar:
"Even that bartender is only half a member; he's just an employee who pays protection money to the Shattered Bone Pirates every month!"
Upon hearing this, the bartender quickly peeked out from behind the bar and nodded repeatedly to Oro.
"Yes, yes! Sir, I'm just an employee, I have nothing to do with the Bone Crusher Pirates!"
Looking at the panicked pirates, Oro didn't think they were lying, so he didn't bother to verify it with the gold thread.
It seems today isn't "Villain Family Bucket Day," and there's no "beating the little ones and then the old ones come" plot.
But it's okay:
"You are now."
One sentence stunned all the pirates.