Observing the young man before him filled Akainu with joy.
"When you head out for a drink, might you run into Ace?" he inquired, pleased at the prospect.
"Is that so?" he added, intrigued.
Success in capturing Ace today would enable the Marines to proceed with their subsequent plans smoothly.
"Fire Fist Ace, it's regrettable that you escaped last time. There is no Rayleigh here today to shield you?" Akainu rose with a smile, gradually advancing towards Ace.
"It seems luck isn't on my side today, boss. I'll have to drop by for a drink another time," Ace replied with a grin as he left the tavern leisurely.
Even as a Devil Fruit user, facing a Marine Admiral alone was not a risk Ace was willing to take.
Moreover, any altercation would inevitably summon Marine reinforcements.
Therefore, the prudent action was to swiftly flee the scene.
"You can enjoy wine later, as long as you evade capture," Ron commented, smiling. "Oh, and remember, all brawls are strictly prohibited in the tavern and within a five-hundred-meter radius, or else you'll bear the consequences."
The tavern represented Ron's establishment in this world. If it suffered damage due to a fight, Ron wouldn't hesitate to provide Akainu and Ace with a stern lesson.
However, Akainu was currently indifferent to such concerns.
As he pursued Ace out of the tavern, his body transformed rapidly into lava, his arms enlarging several times.
"Since a fight is what you seek, then a fight it shall be," he declared.
Confronted with the imminent threat from Akainu, Ace didn't dare to be careless. Flames surged beneath his feet, expanding infinitely and scorching the flora in their path.
In the following moment, the flames gathered and coalesced into a colossal fireball hovering above Ace's head.
This move represented Ace's ultimate power, capable of obliterating an entire city.
"One last reminder: if you intend to fight, do it elsewhere. This is a tavern, not a battlefield," Ron interjected calmly, stepping out.
"If the tavern is damaged, you can seek compensation from the Marines," Akainu retorted coldly. "Should you persist in obstructing my mission, I won't hesitate to take you to Marine Headquarters!"
With those words, Akainu's lava-formed arm stretched out suddenly, aiming an attack at Ace.
"Great Eruption!"
The moment has arrived; the decision had been made!
Today presents the prime opportunity to seize Ace, especially with Rayleigh absent. Missing this chance would mean an extensive and arduous pursuit.
"Marine's quite benevolent," Ace sneered, feeling a pang of guilt simultaneously.
With a resounding "boom," the immense Great Fireball overhead struck Akainu.
"Great Flame Ring, Great Fireball!"
As the fireball collided with the colossal lava fist, a figure suddenly materialized between Ace and Akainu like a specter.
"What?!"
"Boss, move aside!"
Both Ace and Akainu's hearts sank simultaneously. They were aware of Ron's formidable strength, but facing two of the most powerful attacks simultaneously would undoubtedly prove fatal. And the attacks had spiraled out of control.
Even if they desired to retract their moves, it was now too late.
Ron slowly extended his right hand towards Ace, and a potent suction force emerged once more.
Instantaneously, the massive fireball rapidly diminished, visibly shrinking before their eyes...
In a swift motion, Ron produced an ice-cutting knife, enveloping it in Conqueror's Haki.
With a resonant hum, an intense energy surged from Ron's body.
Gripping the knife in a reverse hold, he pivoted, stepping back before executing a crosscut toward Akainu and Ace, unleashing a crimson sword energy.
Bathed in a burst of swordlight, the incoming colossal lava fist halted mid-air before crashing to the ground. The once-enormous fireball vanished into thin air, having shrunk significantly.
The scattered lava transformed the once lush grassland into scorched earth.
Observing this spectacle, Akainu's mouth gaped involuntarily, his eyes wide with horror.
There were no dazzling explosions or thunderous reverberations.
Ron's approach to countering these two attacks appears straightforward and unassuming...
Is it perhaps too casual?
"It's chilling..." Ace unconsciously echoed Kizaru's famous phrase.
Meanwhile, Akainu, who stood opposite, finally grasped the essence of it.
He comprehended why Sengoku insisted on recruiting Ron into the Marines and treating him with such high regard. Besides the ability to wield a fruit capable of rending the skies and earth asunder, Haki, particularly Conqueror's Haki, stood as the most formidable force in this world!
"I don't mind how you choose to fight, but refrain from causing a ruckus at my tavern's doorstep," Ron said casually. "Consider this a warning. If there's a next time..."
Ron chose not to elaborate further; everyone present was astute enough to comprehend his implied message.
"There won't be a next time," Ace inquired curiously after a wry smile. "Boss, what technique did you use just now? My most powerful move vanished."
"It's simply a defensive measure, nothing for you to concern yourself with," Ron replied with a smile, waving it off.
As Ron finished speaking, a distinct sound emerged from behind a large nearby tree.
"Snap!"
The trio turned their attention towards the sound, only to witness Rayleigh, with a perplexing expression on their faces.
And what about this self-defense method? Was there no limit to it?
Akainu furrowed his brows and questioned in a deep voice, "So, you wouldn't mind if I depart from the tavern's vicinity?"
Ron nodded in confirmation.
"Little devil, haven't you had enough fighting last time?" Rayleigh advanced slowly, unsheathing the longsword at his side.
A glint of cold light gleamed in Akainu's eyes.
Rayleigh was incensed.
After leaving the tavern earlier, Rayleigh had discreetly followed Ace. However, Ace bolted after devouring a meal...
Truly fitting for an exceptional individual culled from the thousands who sailed with Roger, as unyielding as Roger himself!
"You guys keep busy; I'll take my leave now. See you another day," Ace waved at Akainu and swiftly turned to run.
Observing Ace's departure, Akainu gestured to pursue him. However, his movement was halted by Ron.
"Are you really starting a conflict with the Marines?" Akainu asked icily.
"You're overthinking it," Ron replied with a smile. "Before chasing Ace, don't you need to settle the bill for the drinks and the damaged floor?"
"How much?" Akainu inquired.
"It's not much—50 million Berries in total. That's peanuts for a Marine Admiral like you," Ron said softly.
"!!!" Akainu's eyes widened at the price.
A shady establishment!
This was undoubtedly a shady business!
If it weren't for Sengoku's desire to recruit Ron into the Marines, Akainu would have wanted to obliterate the tavern with a Meteor Volcano.
"You're extorting me!" Akainu glared at Ron.
Ron shrugged. "Honorable Marine Admiral, you wouldn't want to default on your payment, would you?"
The tavern's current revenue stood at fifty million. With today's "negotiation" adding another 50 million, he'd be short by only 400 million Berries to upgrade the tavern.
Akainu's expression darkened; grinding his teeth, he muttered, "Fine, I'll pay up!"
However, as Akainu threw a card toward Ron and prepared to chase Ace, he realized that Ace had already made his escape.
Fuming with anger, Akainu had no choice but to instruct the Marines to scour the area around the tavern using their phone bugs.
Meanwhile, within the largest clubhouse on the Sabaody Archipelago...
A man sporting a pink feather coat and sunglasses entered the opulent hall as a servant swung open the double wooden doors.
His black pointed shoes strode over the wool carpet embroidered with golden patterns until he settled onto the golden leather sofa.
Throughout, he cursed loudly, "I've spent copious amounts and fattened numerous Celestial Dragons in the sea for years, all for this moment!"
"But even now, they can't manage this damn thing?!"