Chapter 41

"Interesting." Sin smiled when he sensed the malicious intent from Boka.

The old man looked grim at his loss, but since a bet was placed in front of so many people, he had to maintain the appearance of someone who honours his words.

He allowed his Crew to step forward and let Bart make his pick, and the large man unceremoniously picked up two people.

"What's interesting, Captain?" Bepo curiously asked after he heard his Captain's words.

"Did you see how Boka's body moved when Bart beat him?" Sin asked, and both his men recalled what they had just witnessed. "Was it not strange?"

"Yes. It was as if his entire body was taut, before it immediately regained its flexibility and he managed to avoid being flung over." Bepo spoke.

"Yes."

"Is it the Six Styles technique?" Hachi softly whispered near Sin's ear.

"I doubt it." Sin shook his head and then suddenly jumped over the fence and started walking toward Bart and Boka, catching everyone's attention. "You are weak, Old Man." He contemptuously spoke as he grabbed Boka by his collar and threw him away, keenly observing how his body would react.

Sin did not see Boka's muscles reacting in the same way a normal person's muscles would have when taking the fall. It was as if he was not made of flesh but rock, and now it made sense how he must have earned the epithet "The Rock."

"You!"

Infuriated at being shamed like that, Boka rushed at Sin with his fist and swung it at his face.

A dull thud sounded out, stirring everyone's heart, and then everyone's eyes widened in shock at what they witnessed next.

Sin's fist was embedded in Boka's abdomen, and his face was contorted in agony.

The old man dropped to the ground in disbelief and pain, so harsh, that he had not experienced it in years. And he could not help but utter a painful groan.

"Weak must know their place, Old Man." He taunted and then crouched before leaning against the old man's ear. "You ate the Hard-Hard Fruit. Didn't you?"

Sin caught the brief hint of shock before the man masked it.

"What?" Boka feigned confusion as his face was still contorting in pain.

"Nothing." Sin chuckled before he picked the man up by his collar as if he was a child. "Get lost." And then he threw the man out of the Arena with such ease that it made people gulp in fear.

Bart too frowned at Sin, and he had a bad premonition in his heart when the young man turned to meet his eyes.

The difference in their size was too much. It was actually quite funny.

Bart was easily five metres as he stood straight, and Sin was only a little over two metres in height. But those who were witnessing the scene could not help but feel that Sin seemed to be looking down on the taller man even though he was looking up.

It was a weird and terrifying feeling, yet it felt so right to everyone.

"Hey!" Sin suddenly smiled, and Bart narrowed his eyes, preparing himself for any sudden attack. "Do you want to join my Crew?"

The question made everyone look at him in disbelief. Even Bepo and Hachi were taken aback by Sin's words. But their shock only lasted for a moment before they looked at the large man in a new light.

Bart kept looking Sin in the eyes, and a sense of dread started pressing on his heart.

"I have my own Crew. Sorry."

"You are weak. And weak don't get to choose." Sin grinned, and Bart felt his heart constrict. "Join me."

Silence reigned in the Arena for a good minute before Bart clenched his fists.

"Fight me. If you beat me, I will join you." Bart showed his stance, but Sin's next words truly irked him.

"Welcome to the Crew!"

"Damn you!"

The large man stepped forward and drew his fist before swinging it ruthlessly at Sin.

Again a terrific thud sounded out, but this time, it was because Sin had blocked Bart's fist with his left arm.

The force behind the attack was so great that Sin was forced a couple of feet away, and it shocked Hachi, who had never once managed to achieve it against him.

Bart was stunned too that his attack had been blocked with such ease, and then he proceeded to attack Sin with all he had.

Everyone watched in dismay as Sin effortlessly blocked all of Bart's attacks, and now, he would not even budge from his place as Bart ruthlessly punched him again and again.

This was something that disheartened and Infuriated Bart at the same time, and the large man roared before recklessly starting to unleash a more ruthless barrage of fists on the young man, who was mocking him with his irritating smile.

Minutes passed, and eventually, the half-hour mark was crossed.

Bart, who had finally realised that he could not get past Sin's defence, disengaged the attack and stepped back, looking at his opponent apprehensively.

"You lose." Sin smiled.

"Fight me!" He angrily shouted, and soon regretted his words when Sin lunged at him at a terrifying speed and buried a punch in his stomach. He did not even get the time to react.

The sheer force behind the punch knocked his breath out and he stumbled back in disbelief at the pain that shot through him.

"Impressive." Sin smiled when he watched the man manage to bear the pain and stay on his feet, but then he lunged at him again and used even more force this time.

Bart's eyes widened in pain and dismay when he felt his feet leave the ground and his body being propelled backwards.

He crashed into the fence, but the force was not completely nullified and he ended up crashing into the spectators, crushing them as he rolled his way to a halt.

Panting heavily, he sprawled on the ground and stared at the sky above, showing no intention of getting back on his feet. He could stand up again, but he knew that it would not change the outcome of this battle.

The difference between them was just that great.

"Are you convinced now?" Sin suddenly appeared before his eyes, standing on his chest and still wearing his bright smile.

"Yes," Bart replied, feeling no shame in admitting that he had lost.

"Good." He nodded. "I will give you a few hours to deal with things on your end. Make sure you are at the docks by sunset."

"Aye, Captain." Bart half-heartedly said and kept lying there even after Sin left the place with Hachi and Bepo.

Those who had just been crushed by Bart were back on their feet, glaring at him, and quite a few of them wanted to jump at him to beat him up, but they had all heard what Sin had said.

He was now a member of the Blackstar Crew, and they feared that if they harmed him, the Devil would come after them.

They had only heard rumours about him, and today, they saw a glimpse of his strength too, which was enough for the wiser ones to understand that he was not someone they could mess with.

But the world lacked people with wisdom and some still wanted to make trouble for Sin after gathering their numbers.

"He's strong." Bepo happily smiled as he followed Sin. "Bonney and Hancock would love their new punching bag." And then he evilly spoke, wishing Law was here to witness the miserable days that were in store for Bart.

"Where are we going next, Captain?" Hachi, who was grinning too, expectantly asked.

"That old man named Boka has an interesting Devil Fruit on him." Sin lightly said.

"Which one?" Bepo frowned.

"Hard-Hard Fruit." He told them. "It allows the user to harden their body as well as any solid object they touch. It's quite a handy Fruit and will fetch a lot of money."

"Is it really that good?" Hachi was confused.

The power sounded very convenient, but Boka was nothing but a disappointment.

"That old man has not worked on his Powers. He's a shame." Sin shook his head in disappointment. "Find Robin, and tell her that we will be snatching that Fruit."

"Hai, Captain!" Hachi nodded and then rushed forward to find the girls.

Sin took Bepo and walked around the Town, eventually finding a bar and walking inside it.

The lovely atmosphere stagnated as soon as he entered. It was because the Bar was fully occupied by a single Pirate Crew, who were not pleased when they heard the door open.

However, seeing who it was, they did not shout on impulse and watched Sin as he approached the counter and smiled at the bartender.

"I heard you have the best whiskey in town."

"Yes, Sir!" The old man nodded and immediately crouched down to pick up a bottle from a cabinet.

He then cleaned up a glass and poured some for Sin, asking him to taste it and see if he finds it to his liking.

"It's good. How much stock do you have on you?" Sin asked and smiled as he watched the old man tremble. "I will pay."

That seemed to relieve the man and he honestly told him about the three dozen bottles he had on him right now.

"That will be 90,000 Berries." The old man expectantly said and gulped when Sin looked him in the eyes. "It is what I paid for them." He painfully added.

"I see." Sin nodded and was about to reach for his pocket when someone decided to die.

"I want all those bottles, Old Man."

It was the Captain of the Pirate Crew that was occupying the bar, and right now, all the Pirates were up on their feet, ready to jump on Sin.