Why play cards without a weapon?

"This is what a pathetic murderer like you, who kills innocent people for fun, deserves."

Nicholas retracted his hand, allowing Jack's smoking body to collapse on the ground.

Taking care of the four supernovas, the entire process from start to finish barely even counts as warming up for Nicholas.

If it weren't for the sake of entertaining himself with them, those guys could have been finished the moment they met him.

After all, the first half of the Grand Line is called Paradise for a reason. These supernovas are the most dazzling among the countless pirates who set sail this year.

But if these people were to enter the New World, they wouldn't stand a chance against the monsters there, let alone the veteran pirate crews that have been thriving in the New World for years.

After all, in the New World, where Haki prevails, these rookies from Paradise are nothing.

"Oh, there's one more."

Nicholas casually pulled out a few wanted posters and quickly found one with a different style from the others.

"Gambler Tony, bounty 65 million berries."

Nicholas raised an eyebrow as he glanced at the wanted poster. He wrinkled his brow; this guy was so handsome, he could have been a male model.

But since these supernovas lingered in the Sabaody Archipelago waiting for him, he had to meet them and bring the sincerest regards from the veterans of the sea.

Nicholas then headed towards the Sabaody Archipelago.

But before he went, he took some time to disguise himself.

Walking through the bustling shopping area of the Sabaody Archipelago, Nicholas couldn't help but feel a sense of déjà vu. After all, this place was just like the Big Apple City in the future United States—a paradise for some and a hell for others.

"Hmm?"

As he passed by a person dressed in a black robe, Nicholas felt a slight sense of strangeness and paused.

"A woman... seems familiar."

Nicholas raised an eyebrow slightly, unable to see much of the person's face due to the robe, except for her hair, skin color, nose, and mouth visible beneath the hood.

Although obscured, Nicholas felt that the woman looked somewhat familiar with just a glance.

Seemingly aware of Nicholas's gaze, the woman lowered her head and promptly disappeared into the crowd.

Nicholas calmly watched the woman leave, trying to recall the familiar feeling.

Soon, a vision of a mature woman with silver hair flashed through his mind.

Nico Robin?

Impossible.

At this time, she would barely even be an embryo.

Huh?

Nicholas suddenly thought of someone who resembled Nico Robin: Olvia.

renowned archaeologist from Ohara, the archaeology sacred land in the West Blue, and also Nico Robin's biological mother.

So, was Olvia already out exploring and searching for clues to the true history?

"Could it be Olvia?"

Nicholas watched the direction in which the woman in the black robe had disappeared, lost in thought.

However, he soon continued on his way to his destination. After all, Olvia didn't hold much value for him except for being Robin's mother, and the rest of it didn't matter much to Nicholas.

In a world where strength reigns supreme, people without power who try to uncover the hidden truths of history and challenge the World Government's rule are simply courting death.

And those scholars from Ohara, despite knowing that the World Government expressly forbade the study of true history, persisted in their research. They not only brought destruction upon themselves but also upon their entire island, with only an eight-year-old Robin surviving.

It was one thing to pursue the truth, but it was foolish to endanger themselves and their entire community by conducting their research openly.

Putting these thoughts aside, Nicholas arrived at a shop called "One-Day Girlfriend" and walked in.

As soon as he entered the shop, two young women in maid costumes bowed gracefully and greeted him, "Welcome home, Master."

Ignoring them, Nicholas went straight to the second floor and kicked open the door of one of the rooms.

A handsome guy who was flirting with a dozen girls in various outfits froze as Nicholas entered.

Hearing the commotion, several other rooms in the corridor immediately filled with hurried footsteps, and dozens of people crowded the hallway.

"Hey, what are you doing, you guy?"

"Damn it, do you know who our boss is?"

Taking a few steps forward, Nicholas suddenly stopped and turned to look at the guy who had just spoken, then lifted his finger and sent a bolt of lightning directly at him, killing him on the spot.

"Don't!..."

Seeing Nicholas's actions, the handsome guy, realizing Nicholas's identity, was about to speak up to stop him but was a moment too late.

"Are you Tony the Gambler? What did you just say?"

Nicholas looked at Tony, who was sitting among a group of panicked girls, and asked calmly.

Tony's expression tightened.

Unlike those other guys with him, Tony knew Nicholas was a pirate, and not just any pirate, but one who stood at the top of the sea. While it was common for pirates to gain fame by taking down their peers, it depended on who the opponent was.

So when Ralph invited him, although Tony had agreed verbally, he had no intention of actually going.

In his view, if he didn't go, Ralph wouldn't be able to do anything to him. Both of them were supernovas this year, although there might be a slight difference in strength. But to say who was afraid of whom, that was nonexistent.

However, Tony had never expected Nicholas to come looking for him. Did his appearance here mean that Ralph and the others were done for?

And was Nicholas here to kill him?

Thinking of this possibility, Tony felt a surge of panic.

"You all go back. This has nothing to do with you."

Knowing that his crew staying here would serve no purpose, Tony ordered them to return to their respective rooms.

Once the crew had left, Tony warmly welcomed Nicholas into the room and personally poured him a drink.

"I wonder what business Nicholas-sama has with me."

After pouring the drink, Tony smiled and asked. If certain wealthy women saw him like this, they would go crazy.

"Do you think I'm joking?"

Seeing Nicholas's expression, Tony reluctantly took out a deck of cards and asked some of the girls to join them.

"345678910JQKA."

"Uh..."

Looking at the royal flush on the table and Tony's empty hands, Nicholas fell silent.

"Cough, Nicholas-sama, can I..."

"Another round, or gamble with your life."

Seeing Nicholas's expression, Tony picked up the cards again and shuffled them, then dealt them out.

"345678910JQKA."

"..."

Looking down at the cards on the table and then at Tony's hands, Nicholas silently placed his cards directly on the table.

Seeing Nicholas's silent response, Tony felt a surge of relief.

"Change of game; let's play 'In-between'."

Nicholas said it seriously.

Soon, seeing three aces in his hand, Nicholas revealed his cards and quietly drew out his knife.

Just like fishing with a helmet, eating with the back against the wall, and climbing mountains—why play cards without a weapon?