Cursed Seas and Slashing Tides

The Age of Dreams

Bellamy approached Ryomen, his steps deliberate, a confident smirk tugging at his lips.

“Who's that?” Luffy asked, scratching his head in confusion.

“Looks like he’s got business with you, Ryomen.” Zoro remarked, eyeing the approaching pirate.

“Yeah…” Ryomen responded, his gaze steady as he studied Bellamy’s approach.

“You're the guy with a sixty-million bounty, right?” Bellamy began, extending his hand with a crooked grin. “Bellamy. Fifty-five million.”

Ryomen looked at the hand for a second before shaking it. “Ryomen.” He replied, maintaining his cool.

Bellamy turned to the bartender with a casual wave. “Give me your most expensive drink—and whatever he wants.”

“A lemon juice.” Ryomen ordered calmly.

Bellamy chuckled as the bartender poured their drinks. “I heard my crew caused you some trouble earlier. Gotta make things right, so...how much do you want?” He leaned against the bar, his arrogance plain as day.

In the background, Sarquiss and the blonde woman exchanged uneasy glances, knowing they had been the ones to provoke Ryomen earlier.

“I don't need your money. Just apologize to my captain, and we’ll call it even.” Ryomen replied evenly, accepting the glass from the bartender.

Bellamy snorted, waving off the suggestion. “Apologize? That’s not really my style, even if it’s to someone on my level.”

Ryomen’s calm demeanor didn’t waver. “Captain?” Bellamy repeated, suddenly more cautious. “Who’s that supposed to be?”

Ryomen gestured toward Luffy, who was still standing beside him. “Him.”

For a brief moment, Bellamy looked surprised, but his shock quickly twisted into disdain. “You’re following him?” He sneered.

Just as Ryomen was about to take a sip from his glass, Bellamy’s hand shot out, slamming his face into the bar, shattering it on impact.

“Hahaha! What a joke! Following someone weaker than you? You really are a coward!” Bellamy laughed, leaning back with his arms crossed.

“The hell do you think you're doing!?” Zoro barked, his hand already on his sword hilt as he stared daggers at Bellamy.

“Yeah! Do you want us to beat you into the ground!?” Luffy added, fists clenched in anger.

Ryomen slowly stood up, dusting off his clothes. “Relax, both of you.” He said, his tone eerily calm. “We’ve got more important things to worry about.”

“Oh?” Bellamy raised a brow, clearly amused. “And what’s more important than this?”

Luffy's voice cut through the tense silence. “We’re going to the Sky Island.”

The entire bar fell silent for a moment before erupting into laughter. Every patron, pirate, and bystander in the room doubled over in amusement.

“Hahahaha! Sky Island? You’re serious?” Bellamy chuckled, wiping a tear from his eye. “What kind of idiot believes in that old legend? You been living under a rock?”

Zoro and Ryomen exchanged glances but stayed quiet.

Bellamy shook his head with a disappointed sigh. “You know, new currents get discovered on the Grand Line all the time. One of those is the ‘knock-up stream’ where ships get flung into the air before crashing back down into the sea. Some fools saw that and decided, ‘Oh, there must be a whole world up there!’” He grinned. “What a waste of time.”