A dark aura swept through the entire tavern.
The pirates in the entire tavern could not help but shiver. Just as they were nervous, they saw the man who entered the tavern, and their expressions relaxed in an instant.
"Lord Kakuzu!"
"Lord Kakuzu, are you back?"
"Lord Kakuzu, would you like a glass of fruit juice?"
After Kakuzu walked in, the entire tavern became lively again.
Although they would be exploited by Kakuzu every month, Kakuzu was honest when doing things, and his attitude toward some loyal customers was very friendly.
To be honest...
If Kakuzu were willing to give up being a pirate, with his dedication to money and his attitude toward treating others, he would certainly be a successful businessman.
"No, I have something to deal with first."
Kakuzu nodded to the pirates present, his eyes fell on the three Straw Hat Pirates, and slowly frowned, "Straw Hat Luffy, 130 million beli; Roronoa Zoro, 65 million beli..."
Obviously, the Straw Hat Pirates couldn't pay the money.
After Luffy and Zoro saw Kakuzu coming in, their nerves tensed up in an instant because they knew that there was a dangerous aura coming from Kakuzu in front of them!
It was a danger that couldn't be ignored!
Just as Nami was trembling with fear and thought that Kakuzu was looking for trouble with Luffy and Zoro, she heard Kakuzu's heavy question.
"Is Nami from the Straw Hat Pirates here?"
"Eh?"
Nami was confused, and her face instantly shed a drop of cold sweat, "There is... no reward on my body! No, I am not Na..."
"Eh? Are you looking for Nami?"
Luffy raised his thumb and pointed at Nami beside him. He casually said, "Hey, Nami, someone is looking for you..."
"AHHHH... Shut up, idiot!"
Nami punched Luffy in the head. She was so angry that her whole body trembled. It was definitely not a good thing for this Shichibukai called Kakuzu to find her!
She was just a navigator!
And she was a weak woman!
"Don't worry."
Kakuzu calmly explained, "I didn't come to find trouble with you. I remember that you knew a man named Uehara Naraku, and it happened that I had a good relationship with him. He entrusted me to take care of you. Your Straw Hat Pirates do not need to pay protection fees..."
"Uehara... OHHHH..."
Hidan's eyes suddenly lit up.
Just as Hidan was about to say something, Kakuzu's palm suddenly shot out, sealing his mouth.
"Uehara Naraku..."
Nami's expression immediately stiffened.
That guy was really her fated enemy!
Every time Nami met Uehara, nothing good happened. Now, she did not expect that guy would actually ask a Shichibukai to take care of her...
That guy...
Is his conscience still intact?
But it seems that she can borrow that guy's name?
Uehara's one word...
It could actually save Luffy's 130 million beli, Zoro's 60 million beli, and Robin's 290 million beli!
She did not expect that Uehara's face was actually so big!
If they did not need to pay such a high amount of protection fees to Kakuzu, this would avoid the conflict between them and Kakuzu!
As a practical person, Nami naturally would not let go of this opportunity!
"That's right, that's right."
Nami nodded her little head like a chick pecking rice. A sunny smile instantly appeared on her face. She said with some nostalgia, "Uehara and I have known each other for many years. The two of us have been good friends for many years. I didn't expect him to know Mr. Kakuzu..."
"Well, I have already promised him."
Kakuzu nodded and slowly said, "It just so happened that he told me that you have always been poor, and you even owe him a billion beli. You can't afford the protection fee at all.
So since your Straw Hat Pirates entered the Grand Line because of his face, I didn't plan to charge you protection fees. "
"Yes, yes..."
Nami nodded seriously, and her expression gradually relaxed, "I am the accountant of the Straw Hat Pirates. We are indeed very poor, and we still owe him money..."
Although Nami didn't know why Uehara said that she owed a billion beli, this reason was enough for Kakuzu to give up on collecting protection fees from their Straw Hat Pirates!
You don't have to offend Shichibukai...
It was great for Nami!
Kakuzu looked at Nami and slowly nodded. He suddenly changed the topic and said coldly, "But half a month ago, Uehara made me lose one billion beli. So he tells me to come directly to you and ask for it..."
This matter was not made up by Kakuzu.
Because half a month ago, Uehara took Ace away and directly caused Kakuzu to lose the one billion beli bounty. According to Kakuzu's theory, all the pirate's bounties in the first half of Grand Line should belong to him...
And...
When Kakuzu raised doubts about Uehara and thought that Uehara was really wasteful, Uehara also gave Kakuzu a way to compensate for the loss.
But this method...
It seemed that it was not very friendly to Nami.
Nami's face paled.
These guys... were actually demons!
Why was she so eager to admit that she and Uehara were friends just now? Why did she just accept the reason that Kakuzu gave her?
One billion beli...
Why ask her for it!
Even if she combines Luffy, Zoro, and Robin's bounty, it would not be enough to pay half of it. How was that bastard Uehara still conscience? He was clearly a demon in human skin!
"Wait! Listen to my explanation!"
Nami frantically shook her head, her face full of sincerity as she explained, "Actually, I'm not familiar with Uehara Naraku at all, and I've never borrowed any money from him."
"Aren't you friends?"
Kakuzu frowned and said, "I will ask him to verify this in the future. Since you are not friends, before everything, let's settle the protection fee of the Straw Hat Pirates this month. The total is 480 million beli..."
"..."
Nami shook her head and looked at Kakuzu again, "No, I'm good friends with Uehara Naraku, but I've never borrowed his money..."
"Huh?"
Kakuzu frowned with displeasure and said in a deep voice, "Then please wait here for a while, wait until Uehara comes down from Sky Island!"
"Uehara... is on Sky Island?"
A hint of doubt flashed across Nami's face.
'Wait, why can't Uehara be on Sky Island?'
'Sky Island is where the City of Gold is located. According to Uehara's personality, he must have gone to Sky Island to find gold!'
"Then let's go to Sky Island too!"
Luffy clenched his fists and revealed a bright smile, "Since Uehara has already gone up, we can't fall too far behind. Nami, Zoro, let's go!"
"You can't leave yet."
Kakuzu suddenly stretched out his arm and blocked their way. His voice was hoarse as he said, "The Straw Hat Luffy, Uehara also asked me to tell you a piece of news..."
Kakuzu looked at Luffy and calmly continued, "Your brother Portgas D. Ace and Sabo have been captured by the marine."
"What kind of joke is this?"
A trace of astonishment flashed across Luffy's face. In the next moment, his expression became unprecedentedly ugly and gloomy, "I just separated from Ace and Sabo not long ago..."
Kakuzu coldly interrupted Luffy and calmly continued to explain, "Two months ago, the Revolutionary Army's Chief of Staff Sabo was arrested in Loguetown. This is the latest news headline at that time;
Half a month ago, Portgas D. Ace was arrested in Alabasta. This is the news headline that just appeared today..."
"It seems that there is such a thing..."
A pirate opened his eyes drunkenly and said, "I don't know about that Ace, but it seems that a big shot from the Revolutionary Army was caught... Is Lord Kakuzu also paying attention to this matter?"
"..."
Luffy clenched his fists tightly!
The next moment, when Luffy was about to rush out of the tavern, Nami hurriedly stopped him, "Hey, Luffy! Even if you leave now, you still don't know what's the situation, right?"
Nami turned to look at Kakuzu and hurriedly asked, "Hey, what is the purpose of you telling us this news? No, what is Uehara's purpose?"
"I am not too clear."
Kakuzu calmly looked at the three people from the Straw Hat Pirates who had changed their faces and shook his head, "Uehara only asked me to stop you. He asked me to tell you that if you want to know how to save Portgas D. Ace and Sabo, then wait for him in Mock Town."
After Kakuzu finished speaking, he slowly stepped aside and said in a deep voice, "If you want to leave after I finish speaking, then feel free to leave..."
"..."
Luffy calmly sat down.
Zoro and Nami looked at each other and slowly sat next to Luffy.
Just at this time, Usopp and Sanji rushed into the tavern and looked at all the pirates present.
When Usopp and Sanji saw Luffy and the other two, they finally let out a sigh of relief, as if they had an urgent matter to discuss with them.
"Usopp, Sanji, what happened?"
"The latest newspaper from the News Coo in Mock Town!"
Usopp hurriedly waved the newspaper in his hand and shouted with an ugly expression, "Luffy, something big is going to happen!"
The Straw Hat Pirates, who have been sailing on the sea all the way, finally learned the usefulness of buying newspapers from News Coo; that was, they could know the news happening on the sea at any time.
Just when the Straw Hat Pirates know the usefulness of News Coo, the news headlines on the sea had just finished the special topic of the Revolutionary Army and published more important news.
[Fifteen days of fierce battle; the battle comes to an end and Uchiha Sasuke is repelled! The most evil blood in the world, Portgas D. Ace, was arrested!]