"Boss, it's been a while since we've had any business."
"Hahaha, luck is on our side! Look at that easy target. Let's follow him, knock him out, take all his money, and then sell him off!"
"As expected of the boss, always thinking ahead!"
The two hiding behind the tree roots exchanged malicious grins and chuckled.
Takumi, riding on his bubble car, soon arrived at the bubble park, situated between Groves 30 and 39.
Although it was called a park, it was essentially a massive amusement area.
As Takumi stared at the various rides and attractions, debating whether to enter and pass some time, a silver needle laced with anesthetic flew toward him from behind.
Takumi tilted his head slightly, letting the needle whiz past him and embed itself in the grassy ground nearby.
The two men, hiding in the shadows, were stunned.
"Huh? How did he dodge that? Was that just luck?"
"It had to be luck! Watch me, boss, I'll get him with the next one!"
Without hesitation, one of them grabbed his blowpipe and fired another needle at Takumi.
Takumi turned to look toward where the two were hiding.
Calmly, he raised his hand and caught the second needle mid-air, then crushed it effortlessly with Armament Haki right in front of their eyes.
"We've been spotted! Boss, let's get out of here!"
"Run? Are you an idiot? There are two of us, and he's just a kid. What are you scared of? Hmph! Now that we've been noticed, let's just deal with him!"
"Wait, boss, hold on..." the shorter man, Yous, tried to stop his partner, but it was too late.
Bakk, the taller man, drew a double-barreled gun from his waist and aimed it at Takumi's head. He charged forward, shouting, "Kid, if you know what's good for you, hand over all your money. If not, I won't be so nice."
Takumi: "..."
"Hey, I'm talking to you! What's the matter, cat got your tongue?" Bakk was now only a few meters away from Takumi.
Remaining calm, Takumi raised his right hand, formed a circle with his thumb and forefinger, and blew a bubble through his fingers. The bubble drifted out of the bubble car and floated toward Bakk under Takumi's control.
He was eager to test his new Water Release: Bubble Technique.
"Huh?" Bakk was momentarily stunned before irritation took over. "What, you think blowing bubbles is gonna scare me? You expect that thing to explode or something?"
Takumi smiled slightly. "Actually, yes, it will explode."
"What?" Bakk thought Takumi was bluffing. Just as he was about to mock him further, the bubble reached him, and, with a pop, it exploded under Takumi's command.
"Ah!" Bakk screamed as his body was flung backward, slamming into the tree roots near his partner, Yous.
"Boss, are you okay?" Yous rushed to his side and checked his pulse. With a sigh of relief, he muttered, "Whew, he's still alive."
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Yous quickly glanced at Takumi, who was still looking their way. Terrified, he immediately dropped to his knees, trembling as he pleaded, "Please, sir! We were wrong! We won't do this again! Please, show mercy!"
Takumi ignored him, continuing to ride his bubble car forward.
Once Takumi had left, Yous finally relaxed, wiping the cold sweat from his brow. With a wry smile, he muttered, "Are all young people this ruthless nowadays? Yesterday we almost got done in by that blond kid with the hat, and today we run into another tough one... What kind of luck is this?"
Takumi continued riding his bubble car, passing through the bubble park and heading toward Groves 1 to 29, a much shadier part of Sabaody. This area was filled with human traffickers and slave auction houses.
The auction he needed to attend in seven days was in this very district, near Grove 1.
Just like before, Takumi's presence quickly caught the attention of several traffickers who lurked in this area.
"Hmm, coming here alone? Bold move, kid."
"He's a bit on the skinny side, but that face... could fetch a decent price. Maybe 5,000 Berries."
"Wait a minute, is that a sword he's carrying? Could he be a swordsman? Hey, that sword looks kinda familiar..."
"Give it a rest. Everything looks familiar to you. Anyway, I haven't had any work in a while—this one's mine!"
"Hahaha, no way! I'm taking this kid, don't try to stop me!"
The voices of those around him filled the air, but Takumi heard every word.
Before long, a muscular man with a thick beard stepped in front of him, blocking his path. With a smug expression, the man said, "Kid, you're not going anywhere. Just give up."
Takumi didn't even slow down. With a thud, his bubble car rolled over the man's face, knocking him to the ground as Takumi continued on his way.
"Eh?"
The onlookers were dumbfounded.
The man, whose face had been crushed under the bubble car, let out a pained scream as he lay sprawled on the ground.
He hadn't expected the kid to actually run him over.
Furious, he leapt to his feet and yelled, "You little brat! You're dead meat! I'll make you pay for messing with my handsome face! If I don't beat you half to death today, I'll take your last name!"
"Haha, looks like Dewey's serious. This'll be fun to watch."
"Go for it, man. We won't fight you for this kid, just don't disappoint us."
"Yeah, Dewey, put on a good show! I'm betting on you!"
His companions, no longer interested in claiming Takumi, began to cheer Dewey on like it was some kind of show.
Fueled by their encouragement, Dewey gripped two knives, spinning them skillfully in his hands before glaring at Takumi. Without hesitation, he flung both knives at Takumi's back.
Takumi: "..."
These guys are really starting to get on my nerves.
Takumi was about to retaliate when suddenly, a boy with short blond hair wearing a large hat and goggles dashed out from a nearby alley. In a flash, the boy twirled a long pipe in his hand, effortlessly deflecting both of the thrown knives.
"Huh?" Dewey hadn't expected someone to intervene, and neither had the other traffickers. When they saw who it was, fear flashed across their faces.
************
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