"Hm?"
A squad of Marines burst through the tavern door.
Leading them was a burly man with a beard strikingly similar to the old tavern keeper's.
He rushed to the bar, eyeing the old man anxiously. "Father, you okay?"
This was the old man's son, the brewer—a Marine branch captain known as "Big Beard Colonel."
When Big Beard heard Sora's crew had landed on Prosius, he wasn't too worried.
Headquarters' intel pegged them as pirates who didn't harass civilians.
Plus, his own strength wasn't enough to tangle with high-bounty pirates like them.
For branch Marines like him, the job was to monitor Sora's crew and avoid conflict.
Arresting them? That was for Headquarters' Rear Admirals and Vice Admirals.
But when word reached him that Sora was at his family's tavern, he couldn't sit still.
He rallied his men and raced over.
Sure, Sora's crew seemed to spare civilians, but pirates were pirates. If they snapped, his father could get hurt.
The moment the Marines entered, the old man's calm demeanor tensed.
He ignored Big Beard, his eyes locked on Sora.
Sora, clocking Big Beard's entrance, pieced together the old man's deal.
Grinning at the scene, he teased, "Am I that scary?"
The Marines trailing Big Beard stared nervously at Sora and Kuina.
Silence hung, making the tavern tense and heavy.
The old man studied Sora, then relaxed. At his age, he read people well.
"It's not you that's scary—it's your bounty!" he said. "In all my years, I've never seen a pirate with a price like yours!"
His witty tone broke the tavern's tension.
Sora swiveled his chair, scanning the Marines, then fixed on Big Beard.
"Marines, am I that scary?"
His mild tone didn't ease their nerves.
Big Beard glared, swallowing fear, and boomed, "Pirate, don't get cocky! Justice's Marines fear no pirate!"
His voice grew louder, stance straightening.
Staring Sora down, he roared, "Justice will prevail!"
"Justice will prevail!" the Marines echoed, standing tall.
Sora met Big Beard's gaze, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "Relax. Don't bother us, and we'll buy our stuff and leave."
He admired Big Beard's grit. Marines like him—scared yet standing firm for the people—were the good ones.
Ignoring Big Beard, Sora turned to the old man, grinning. "Gramps, we're law-abiding folks. Never take a stitch from villagers. Name your price."
The old man, back to his breezy self, puffed his pipe, eyes glinting. He raised his right hand, five fingers spread, holding it before Sora.
"What, only 50,000?" Sora exhaled, relieved. "Thought it'd be steeper."
As he reached for his wallet, the old man spoke.
"Kid, it's 500,000, not 50,000."
"What?!"
Sora's eyes bulged, staring at the old man, stunned.
"Say that again, Gramps?"
He flashed a mock-snarl.
His shift spooked the Marines.
Sweating, they gaped, thinking, Gramps, don't provoke a big-shot pirate!
The old man, unruffled, took his pipe, tapping it on the bar—tap, tap-tap!
The crisp sound hit the Marines like a drumbeat, their bodies stiffening as they watched.
Ignoring their panic, he said firmly, "500,000. Not a cent less."
"Guh!"
The Marines' hearts raced, expecting Sora's wrath.
But no rage came.
Instead, Sora and the old man launched into a haggling match, like market aunties.
"Gramps, I've put up with you long enough! Don't push it!"
"Push it? So what?"
"Hit me, then!"
"Price is 500,000, take it or leave it."
"I'll show you who's boss!"
Sora rolled up his sleeves, trading verbal volleys, finally cutting the price to 300,000.
Dejected, he paid up.
The old man, smug, counted his cash with glee.
In this price war, Sora got schooled. Old ginger's sharp.
---
The Marines exhaled only when Sora's crew left the tavern.
Not that they were cowards—Sora's bounty was just too terrifying!
The old man glanced at Big Beard, puffing smoke.
He tapped his pipe on Big Beard's head.
"They're gone, quit gawking! Go back to work. Or you staying for dinner?"
Snapped back, Big Beard grinned excitedly.
"Father, are you some hidden master? You bantered with that pirate like it was nothing! So cool!"
"He even paid up!"
Big Beard analyzed, "No wonder folks always sought your booze—you're a secret legend!"
Nodding, he gave a knowing look, as if he'd cracked the code.
The old man's face darkened, freezing.
After a beat, he shook his head, raising his pipe to whack Big Beard.
"You idiot! Didn't you see I was nervous at first?"
"Master? I'll crack your skull!"
Big Beard dodged, bolting out with his men.
The old man lowered his pipe, gazing through the smoke at the empty tavern, lost in thought.
Then he sank back into his rocking chair, puffing clouds, eyes half-closed.
The tavern returned to its dim, quiet state.
From the bar came the old man's first words to Sora, echoing softly.
"These youngsters today… they're something else."
(End of Chapter)