Chapter 116

Adrian was seething with anger. "I have never encountered such a shameless person!" he exclaimed.

"Where is your honor? Where is your chivalry?" he demanded, his frustration evident on his face. "What's with this pretense of being an old-time gambler?"

The situation was driving Adrian to the brink of madness.

Issho was not the most challenging adversary Adrian had faced on the open seas, but he was certainly the most annoying.

Adrian hesitated to even consider him an 'enemy.' From the start of their confrontation, it had always been Adrian initiating the attacks while Issho passively resisted…

But this kind of sticky and troublesome person was truly exasperating!

You can't scare him off, you can't reason with him, and if you end up killing him, he'll probably find a way to blame you and tag with you!

In a fit of rage, Adrian released a ghost energy bullet from his fingertips.

A dazzling blue energy bullet zipped past Issho's ear and exploded in a sand pit behind him, causing him to involuntarily shrink back.

"Don't follow me anymore, Issho!" Adrian shouted.

After his declaration, Adrian disappeared from sight.

Issho, who was perched on top of the cliff, touched his slightly warm earlobe. He could faintly smell the burnt scent of his hair that had been singed by the ghost energy bullet.

"But my mission is to keep an eye on your every move in the Kingdom of Arabasta, Lord White Ghost…" Issho murmured faintly.

His voice was carried away by the billowing sand.

The disheveled wanderer, stepping through the wind and sand, vanished into the horizon.

The chase had persisted for over half an hour.

No matter where Adrian flew, as long as he remained within Arabasta's borders, Issho would inevitably find and pursue him.

Upon seeing Issho's round face once more, Adrian was at his wit's end.

Suddenly, Adrian, materialized expressionless before Issho. With a swift motion, he drew his sword, Yubashiri, and pressed its formidable edge against Issho's neck.

The blade, sharp enough to slice through strands of hair, made the skin beneath it prickle and left a superficial nick.

Issho, unflinching, inquired with a hint of confusion, "What do you intend?"

Adrian's voice was icy as he commanded, "Come with me!"

"And where might that be?" Issho questioned.

"To Rainbase," Adrian declared.

…

The Kingdom of Arabasta was a typical desert Kingdom, its vast expanses dominated by endless dunes.

However, Rainbase is an exception.

Revered as Arabasta's "Dream City," Rainbase was an oasis of verdant grass and greenery, boasting freshwater reserves that were nothing short of miraculous in the arid wasteland. Its inhabitants and visitors reveled in what felt like a slice of paradise

This favorable environment fostered economic growth, which in turn spurred the flourishing of various service industries.

Rainbase was not only Arabasta's "Dream City" but also its "Entertainment Capital," "Fashion Capital," and "Romantic Capital." Above all, it was renowned as the "City of Gambling"!

At the heart of Rainbase city stood The Rain Dinners, a colossal pyramid-shaped structure that housed the largest casino in the Arabasta Kingdom.

Adrian, his face a mask of frost, led the way into the luxurious establishment. Trailing him was a figure whose smile brimmed with excitement and anticipation.

Inside the casino, the atmosphere was lively, with well-dressed guests passionately shouting with flushed faces, sleeves rolled up.

A palpable tension hung in the air, punctuated by the lively chatter.

Chandeliers cast a kaleidoscope of light across the room, while crystal donation boxes on the walls overflowed with the glint of gold coins. The dealers' calls, laden with allure, wove through the clamor, promising fortune with every beckoning gesture. An array of dazzling and innovative games unfolded ceaselessly.

The person with the eager grin surveyed the familiar scene, hands clasped and rubbing together in barely contained glee. "White Ghost, so you revel in these pleasures too…" he remarked.

After exchanging their currency for chips, the pair split up to seek their own versions of amusement.

Adrian made a beeline for the gambling pool's epicenter, where the roulette table was.

Roulette, a staple in the realm of chance, featured a wheel with 37 numbered slots. The croupier would set the wheel spinning and launch the ball into its orbit. The slot where the ball eventually nestled dictated the victor.

Should the ball come to rest on the zero, the house claimed all stakes.

A pale gold chip danced between Adrian's fingers as he observed the wheel's hypnotic rotation, its black and red segments blurring into one. With a nonchalant flick, he sent the chip sailing into the black partition.

The roulette wheel, devoid of distinctive markings, was a testament to chance. Not even the most seasoned dealer and gambler could guarantee the ball's final resting place.

Yet, with an even split of red and black numbers, the odds were a novice's delight—a fifty-fifty shot at glory for even the greenest of players.

The dealer, clad in seductive attire, deftly maneuvered the wheel before releasing the ball into its fateful spin.

As the roulette wheel's final spin slowed, the ball miraculously settled into the black section.

"Beginner's luck," Adrian murmured with a chuckle, collecting the chips the dealer pushed his way.

He lingered at the tables, alternating between wins and losses, though the latter prevailed. As his newly acquired chips dwindled, Adrian's initial frustration ebbed away.

With a subtle gesture, he closed his eyes and tapped into Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki). Across the casino, he noticed Issho (Fujitora) engrossed in a dice game with fellow patrons.

A smirk played on Adrian's lips. "In such a big casino and he's still playing dice. How much does he love dice games? No wonder later on, he always carried a dice with him. When he encountered pirates he didn't want to capture, he'd casually throw the dice, to determine them whether to let go or not. Then, he would solemnly talk about 'divine will'..."

Adrian beckoned over two glamorous hostesses with a casual wave. Handing them his remaining chips, he instantly curried their favor. With one on each side, he approached Issho.

"How's fortune smiling on you today, venerable gambler?" Adrian inquired, as a spectral white ghost flickered into existence on his palm before vanishing. He gave Issho's shoulder a light tap.

"Positive ghost: Elixir!"

"Positive ghost: Burning Body!"

"Positive ghost: … "

A host of spectral entities, brimming with icy malice and vengeful delight, surged into Issho's frame in a single, overwhelming wave.