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Chaporos's words caused the eyes of everyone present to flicker slightly.
A single statement from someone in the New World was enough to make even people as far away as Mock Town strive to carry it out. One could imagine that the force backing the Slender Shad Casino was far from ordinary.
"Have you found out who's behind it?"
"I'm afraid you'd have to ask the casino's owner about that." Chaporos replied with a grin.
"Any other useful information?" Trens asked.
"All I know is that the force behind the casino is very likely one of the major powers currently competing for dominance in the New World. Because of that, the other factions on this island are wary of it and don't dare provoke it."
"But as for exactly who it is, I have no idea. After all, I haven't resorted to any extreme methods yet."
Shrugging, Chaporos spread his hands.
Beside him, Daz Bonez looked somewhat surprised. It was his first time witnessing Chaporos's methods. He hadn't expected that this usually unserious fellow actually had a knack for intelligence gathering. All he had done was take Daz around the island once, have a few drinks in several bars, and gamble a few rounds in casinos, yet he had managed to uncover information like this.
This seemingly unreliable guy was surprisingly capable.
"That's already quite impressive."
Trens nodded. He knew very well what Chaporos meant by "extreme methods," so he chose not to pursue the subject.
"Dina's father is being held in a room connected to the underground casino. He receives three meals a day, along with wine and meat. He's being treated very well."
Trens finally added.
"That's rather interesting. The father gets kidnapped and ends up living in comfort." Rojen said with a laugh.
"Perhaps whoever is backing this operation gave specific instructions." Trens laughed as well.
"Can it be handled?" Rojen looked at Trens and asked softly.
"There won't be any problem. Chaporos and Daz can easily take care of it." Trens nodded.
"Dragon-Elephant Squad, the six of you go along as well. Rescue Dina's father." Rojen gave the order.
Naturally, the crew had no objections. This was hardly a difficult task for them. The combat strength found in the first half of the Grand Line posed no challenge to them whatsoever. The only thing worth paying attention to was the force backing the casino.
However, after informing Rojen of the matter, they had clearly seen that he showed not the slightest concern. As a result, they had nothing more to say.
After the group departed, Rojen stopped paying attention to the matter.
During the journey here, he had already formed certain suspicions about the place where Dina's father was being held, so the news did not surprise him.
As for the forces within Mock Town, they were even less of a concern to him. No matter how powerful the organization behind them might be, it could not affect him in the slightest at this moment. Besides, once he reached the New World, a confrontation with such people would be inevitable sooner or later.
He continued wandering around the island, seemingly strolling leisurely while actually moving at a rapid pace. Eventually, he even went to the shoreline to inspect the conditions of the rising air currents.
Using air currents to ascend into the sky was quite an extraordinary phenomenon, and Rojen found himself looking forward to experiencing it. Moreover, as his strength had grown, he had become somewhat more laid-back. Whenever there was something that did not require his personal involvement, he simply could not be bothered to act.
…
Meanwhile, a major incident erupted within the Slender Shad Casino, shaking the entire island.
Bang!
An immense burst of air pressure swept outward. The heavy curtain covering the casino entrance was suddenly whipped by a powerful gust, flapping violently in the wind.
The curtain continued shaking for nearly ten seconds before finally settling down.
From that alone, one could tell just how powerful the person who had launched the attack was.
…
Time rewound slightly, back to the Slender Shad Casino.
The gamblers who were engrossed in their games, faces flushed and tempers running high, were suddenly startled awake by the group that had entered. They immediately looked up.
Then they saw a squad blocking the entrance, their expressions cold and tinged with contempt.
The members of the group all looked different. Leading them was a young man dressed in a peculiar black military uniform, carrying a black bundle over his shoulder. Behind him was a man with a pompadour hairstyle slicked back with hair gel, grinning mischievously at everyone. Following them were six strange-looking men.
"We're here to take care of some business. Anyone not involved, leave." The young man at the front spoke coldly.
His voice was not loud, yet every word was heard clearly.
The casino instantly erupted into chaos. Those who had already been losing money and were full of frustration immediately exploded in anger.
"Damn it! Who the hell are you?!" One man suddenly turned around and attacked Trens directly.
These people were lunatics of the sea, true desperadoes who would kill over a single insult.
Many others stopped gambling and watched with cold smiles.
Did this group not know what kind of place this was? To cause trouble so openly here? Once the casino owner appeared, they would be in for a world of pain.
However, what happened next shocked every gambler present.
In the next instant, one of the six men standing at the rear suddenly stepped forward.
With his left foot as a pivot and his waist providing the force, he spun sharply and unleashed a sweeping kick.
The kick was powerful and lightning-fast. It appeared before the attacker almost instantly, moving even faster than the man's punch.
The wind from the man's fist had only just reached Trens when Dragon-Elephant One's kick smashed into his waist.
Bang!
A dull impact echoed through the casino.
The attacker's body spun wildly through the air, doing twenty-four full rotations in an instant, before he was hurled out through the doorway. The force of his flight whipped the entrance curtain high into the air, leaving it fluttering for a long time before it could settle.
The entire casino fell silent.
Everyone was stunned.
After a full three seconds, the sound of people gasping filled the room.
"Gasp!"
"That guy was Steel Fist Colon, with a bounty of twenty million Berries!"
"But he got taken down with a single kick!"
"Then... who exactly is the guy who threw that kick?!"
Cold sweat began to appear on people's foreheads as they swallowed nervously.
Ignoring everyone's reactions, Trens spoke indifferently. "Where is the owner of this casino?"
Chaporos immediately shouted: "Hurry up and tell the owner to get his ass out here. My boss wants to have a word with him."
As soon as he finished speaking, the curtain covering the casino's inner doorway was pulled aside.
"Heh heh, which great pirate has honored us with his presence? I'm truly flattered." A short man stepped out with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. As he walked forward, his gaze swept across Trens and the others.
When he saw the six Dragon-Elephant members, his expression remained unchanged.
But when his eyes passed Chaporos and landed on Trens… His pupils suddenly contracted.
His entire face froze.
Even his steps came to a complete stop.
He stood there as though someone had nailed him to the floor, unable to move forward even a single step.
Dense beads of sweat emerged on his forehead.
He wanted to speak, but as he stared at that cold, expressionless face, not a single word would come out.
"So you're the owner of this casino?" At that moment, Trens spoke calmly.
An enormous pressure seemed to descend upon the owner. His lips moved as though he wanted to explain something, but after several attempts, he still could not force the words out.
"Answer me." The indifferent command made his entire body tremble.
Gathering what little courage he had left, the owner finally spoke.
"My lord... I... I've seen you before."
That single sentence caused everyone in the casino to stare in disbelief.
(End Of This Chapter)