From the shadows, countless eyes followed the backs of Bacardi Maude and his crew as they walked away.
To these observers, Maude was practically a walking pile of Berries—a tempting prize that made their fingers itch.
Yet whether to act on that impulse was another matter entirely.
After all, risk and reward always came hand in hand.
If they weren't afraid of death, they could give it a shot.
If they succeeded, they'd live in luxury.
If they failed, they'd wave goodbye to this beautiful world.
Among those eyeing Maude were opportunists contemplating his bounty, but others were more concerned about the potential havoc the Maude Pirates might bring.
One of them was a man with fan-like blades on his head.
His name was Buffalo, a high-ranking officer of the Donquixote Family and a Devil Fruit user who wielded the powers of the Spin-Spin Fruit.
Buffalo had come to Leviathan Island in pursuit of a Devil Fruit.
"Bacardi Maude…"
Buffalo watched as Maude and his crew entered the city, debating whether to request reinforcements from the family.
Normally, Buffalo wouldn't have been this cautious or worried.
However, the atrocities Maude had committed recently at Twin Island were the source of his unease.
To Buffalo, anyone capable of such actions had to be a bloodthirsty killer, a madman, or a violent lunatic—none of which boded well.
People like that were the most terrifying.
You might run into them on the street and get shot for no reason.
The more Buffalo thought about it, the more uneasy he became, and the more gory and violent Maude seemed in his mind.
"Ugh…"
As he imagined the worst, Buffalo couldn't help but shiver.
After a moment, he shook his head, chastising himself.
He was a high-ranking officer of the Donquixote Family, for goodness' sake. He couldn't let himself be so useless.
"Hey, I'm Buffalo, a Donquixote officer!"
"Bacardi Maude? What's there to fear?!"
Using self-hypnosis to overcome his fear, Buffalo muttered to himself repeatedly.
Nearby, a few passersby noticed Buffalo talking to himself.
"That guy, the one who looks like a round ball… he's not mentally ill, is he?"
"Total weirdo. Let's steer clear."
Casting him sympathetic glances, the onlookers quickly detoured around him, keeping their distance.
At the crossroads in the heart of Dick City, a toothless boy named Benny led Maude and his crew through the streets.
As their guide, Benny took his role seriously, explaining the layout and key features of the city.
According to him, Dick City was crisscrossed by four main streets that formed a giant "X."
These streets—named North, South, East, and West—were collectively referred to as the Crossroads.
The Thomas Shipyard, Maude's destination, was at the very end of North Street, nestled at the edge of the "whale's mouth," against a sheer cliff. It was essentially a dead end.
Maude initially found it puzzling that the shipyard would be located in such an out-of-the-way place.
Benny quickly provided an explanation.
Within the shipyard, there was a hidden sea current tunnel that led directly out of Leviathan Island.
Every ship built at the yard departed through this secret passage.
"See that large pillar ahead? The one leading to the top of the 'whale's head'? That's the royal and noble 'manual elevator,' one of the restricted areas I highlighted in the sightseeing guide," Benny said.
"The king's soldiers guard it around the clock. Don't get too close, or they'll kill you on sight."
"Next to the manual elevator is the arena. If you're interested, I can take you there. There are plenty of entertainment activities, and I heard they're hosting a big event soon with some generous prizes."
Benny pointed to a massive stone pillar up ahead.
Chains suspended four elevator cars, which moved up and down the pillar, powered by human labor.
The pillar reached all the way to the "whale's head" at the top of Leviathan Island, where the capital city of the Ahab Kingdom was located.
The pursuit of "higher ground" seemed to be a universal obsession among kings.
Whether it was a throne or a palace, they always placed it at the highest point.
The Ahab Kingdom took this to the extreme, building its capital directly on the whale's head instead of creating terraces within the island's belly.
Not far from the pillar stood the arena.
As Maude glanced at the arena's circular structure, he found it resembled the Roman Colosseum, albeit twice as large.
"A grand event at the arena? Is it some kind of martial arts tournament?" Maude asked Benny.
This ten-year-old boy spoke with a maturity far beyond his years, which Maude appreciated.
"I'm not sure, but the arena usually focuses on beast fights," Benny replied cautiously.
His eyes darted toward Maude's shoulder, where a weasel-like creature named Bailey sat.
Bailey, noticing Benny's gaze, bared its teeth and glared fiercely at him.
"Sorry! I'm sorry!"
Terrified, Benny's legs began to wobble again, a reaction he'd struggled to suppress throughout the journey.
Smack!
Maude slapped Bailey on the head, silencing the mischievous creature.
Bailey pouted but quickly stopped glaring.
With Bailey behaving, Maude turned back to Benny and smiled. "Let's forget about the arena for now. Take us to the Thomas Shipyard."
"Right! Of course!"
Benny took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
These big brothers and sisters were the best clients he'd ever had. He couldn't afford to mess this up!
With a bright smile, Benny led the way again.
Finally, they reached the Thomas Shipyard at the end of North Street.
As soon as they arrived, a sharply dressed man in a suit stepped forward to greet them.
The man wore a polite smile and addressed Maude with deference. "You must be Bacardi Maude. I've heard so much about you. It's an honor to meet you—"
"We're here to commission a ship," Maude interrupted curtly.
Unfazed, the man maintained his respectful demeanor and gestured toward the shipyard's guest room. "Of course. Please follow me to the VIP lounge for a detailed discussion."
The man, named Keynes, was responsible for negotiations at the shipyard.
Having dealt with countless pirates over the years, Keynes had honed his skills in handling even the toughest clients.
A few minutes later, Keynes led Maude's crew into an opulent VIP lounge.
Benny, overwhelmed by the grandeur, fidgeted nervously.
Keynes, ever the professional, treated even Benny with the same courtesy, offering him tea alongside the rest of the group.
This thoughtful gesture left a favorable impression on Maude and his crew, while Benny felt both flattered and out of place.
After two brief exchanges, Keynes had pegged Maude as a man who valued directness. He wasted no time getting to the point.
"You wish to commission a ship made of Treasure Tree Adam?"
Hearing Maude's request, Keynes frowned slightly.
"Is that a problem?" Maude asked calmly.
Keynes straightened up and replied, "Please rest assured that the Thomas Shipyard has the skills to meet your request. However, Treasure Tree Adam is an extremely rare material. Its cost alone is no less than four to five hundred million Berries. Often, even with money, it's hard to obtain. May I ask…"
"Oh."
Before Keynes could finish, Maude signaled Jim, who promptly placed a massive sack on the table and untied it.
The sack spilled out a mountain of cash, along with gold and jewelry.
Benny, mid-bite of a pastry, froze in shock, nearly choking as his eyes bulged.
Gaya handed Benny a cup of tea to help him recover.
Keynes stared wide-eyed at the pile of wealth before him.
He had dealt with countless pirate crews over the years, but never had he seen a rookie crew produce such an enormous sum.
No wonder they'd asked for Treasure Tree Adam.
Shifting his gaze to Maude's calm expression, Keynes felt an inkling of something extraordinary about this man.
"Is this enough?" Maude asked evenly.
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