The delicacies of the heavens begin with obtaining gem meat.

Chapter 186 The Tavern in the Alley

Strolling through the streets and looking at the now peaceful town of Rogge, Jiang Yan couldn't help but marvel at how adaptable people are.

After turning a few corners, the surrounding houses became denser and the streets narrower. The lively sounds of people gradually disappeared, leaving only quiet old alleys where you couldn't even find anyone to ask for directions.

"Damn, we're completely lost."

Jiang Yan stopped, kicked at the pebbles under his feet, and scratched his head helplessly.

Just as Jiang Yan was about to turn around and walk back to ask someone for directions, he suddenly saw a wooden sign.

The sign was old, with most of the paint peeling off and the sun and wind turning it black, but the words engraved on it were still clear: "Gol D. Roger".

Jiang Yan was stunned. In this secluded alley, there was a sign with the name of One Piece hanging there?

Upon closer inspection, below the sign was an old wooden door with a small brass bell hanging under the eaves, indicating it was a tavern.

Some vague impressions seemed to flash through my mind, but I couldn't recall the specifics.

After thinking about it, since we've come all this way, there's no reason not to go in and take a look.

So Jiang Yan walked towards the tavern. The moment he pushed open the wooden door, the copper bell under the eaves rang out softly, the clear sound particularly noticeable in the quiet alley.

The tavern was dimly lit, a world apart from the bright sunlight outside.

The air was thick with the pungent smell of cheap rum, the acrid smell of burning tobacco, and the faint musty smell of old wood.

The wooden floorboards creaked underfoot, the tables and chairs were worn smooth, and the walls were covered with rusty nautical equipment, indicating that the place had been in operation for many years.

In the entire tavern, only five men were sitting at the middle table.

The five men had their chests exposed, revealing their sun-darkened skin. Their arms and shoulders were covered with crisscrossing scars, including deep cuts from knives and old bullet wounds. It was clear at a glance that they were likely pirates.

All five men had scimitars and short daggers tucked into their waistbands, the leather sheaths of their weapons worn smooth and shiny. Empty rum bottles lay scattered haphazardly on the table, and the rough laughter and curses emanated from them intermittently.

After Jiang Yan entered, the five people only glanced at him before continuing to drink their wine, completely ignoring him.

Deep inside the tavern was a long bar counter, behind which sat an old man, so thin he looked like a withered log.

The old man wore a knitted hat, his sparse, gray hair sticking messily to his scalp, and the deep wrinkles on his face looked as if they had been repeatedly carved with a chisel, bearing the marks of time.

-

With his eyes lowered and his cloudy pupils half-closed, his fingers unconsciously stroking the wine glass in his hand, he only glanced at Jiang Yan for a moment longer when he arrived.

Jiang Yan's gaze fell on the ornament in the center of the bar.

It was a huge skull, twice the size of an ordinary person's skull. The bone was white and lustrous, clearly having been cleaned and maintained over the years. However, there was a deep, visible split mark across the frontal bone.

Jiang Yan casually pulled out a high stool in front of the bar counter. The wooden legs made a soft squeak as they rubbed against the floor. He sat down casually and tapped the smooth bar counter surface with his fingertips.

"Could I have a glass of water, please?"

After a pause, Jiang Yan continued to ask.

"Also, I want to go to the execution platform, but I've gotten lost in the alleys. Could you please tell me how to get there?"

The old man slowly raised his eyes, his cloudy gaze sweeping over Jiang Yan's face, but he didn't say anything.

He picked up his glass, took a sip of the remaining wine, and the liquid slid down the wrinkles around his mouth, dripping onto the bar.

After putting down his wine glass, the old man spoke in a hoarse voice.

-

"There's only rum here, no water."

"Then forget it."

Jiang Yan waved his hand dismissively.

Upon entering, it was clear that the store only had low-quality rum, which smelled pungent, spicy, and sour, with a musty smell from old wooden barrels.

Let alone drinking it, just smelling it made him lose all interest.

Seeing this, the old man did not enthusiastically promote his product like a typical shopkeeper.

Having run a tavern in Loguetown his entire life, he'd seen all sorts of people—arrogant pirates, rigid marines—

Whether he drinks alcohol or not is irrelevant to him.

Clearing his throat, the old man prepared to explain the route to the execution platform and send Jiang Yan away.

At that moment, a muffled thud abruptly interrupted the old man's words.

Among the five people drinking, a bald, burly man suddenly slammed his hand on the table and stood up.

The bald, muscular man was at least two meters tall, with bulging muscles all over his body. When he stood up, the wooden table he was carrying wobbled, and the remaining half bottle of rum fell directly to the ground, shattering into pieces.

The bald, burly man paid no attention to this. He strode heavily to the bar and slammed his large, fan-like hand down on the bar, making the empty wine glasses bounce.

"Old man! Get us some rum! Hurry up! Can't you see we've almost finished it all!"

Facing the bald, burly man, the old man showed little expression, clearly accustomed to such scenes and perhaps even somewhat nostalgic for them.

His tavern was on the verge of closing down because of Smoker.

Fortunately, after Smoker left, he found business again.

The old man bent down and pulled a case of bottled rum from under the bar, handing it over casually.

The bald, burly man grabbed the rum and was about to turn back when, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of the huge skull in the center of the bar.

So the bald, burly man stopped and stared at the skull for a long time, then couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement.

"I noticed it before! What kind of bone is this?"

Upon hearing the question, a smile suddenly appeared on the old man's previously blank face.

His smile held a hint of nostalgia.

--------

He stretched out his withered fingers and gently tapped the white skull, producing a soft tapping sound.

"This is what the guy known as the 'Giant Slayer' left behind at the end."

At this moment, the old man's voice carried a completely different quality than before.

"This guy was infamous back in the day. Throughout the East Blue, whether they were civilians or pirates, no one could help but tremble at the mention of his name."

"The number of pirates who died at his hands is at least 100, just on record."

He paused, picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and his boastful tone became even more pronounced.

"But this infamous character met Gol D. Roger in this very town of Loguetown back then."

"With a single blow, Roger sent the 'Giant Slayer' to his doom."

"This cleavage mark was left by Roger back then."

After saying this, the old man held up his wine glass, looked up at the bald, burly man, and his eyes were filled with expectation.

Over the years, every customer who has walked into this tavern and heard this story has been filled with amazement and has been pestering him to ask more about Roger's legendary tales.

This is the pride he has guarded for most of his life, the only remaining connection he has with that magnificent era.

The bald, burly man did not disappoint the old man. His eyes widened in amazement, and his voice rose several decibels.

"He's actually a match for Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King!"

Not only the bald, burly man, but also the other four people who were originally drinking at the table were drawn to these words and gathered around, staring at the skull and exclaiming in amazement.

The look in their eyes as they looked at the old man held a hint of expectation.

The old man's smile grew even more smug. He cleared his throat, preparing to continue his story, recounting how Roger used to drink in his tavern and telling the legends of that era.

But just then, Jiang Yan, who was sitting to the side, suddenly spoke slowly.

"Speaking of which, this guy called 'Giant Slayer' killed 100 pirates, so he should be considered a good person, right?"

As Jiang Yan finished speaking, the tavern fell silent.

The old man's proud smile froze on his face, as if he had been punched hard in the face, leaving him completely stunned.

The five pirates also turned around and looked at Jiang Yan, who was sitting at the bar, with surprised expressions.

The old man was stunned for several seconds before he reacted. The smile on his face vanished instantly, his brows furrowed tightly, and he looked at Jiang Yan with great dissatisfaction.

"What nonsense are you spouting! This is a murderer who killed 100 pirates, a heinous villain! And you're saying he's a good person?"

"Is there a problem?"

Jiang Yan shrugged, leaned forward slightly, rested his elbows on the bar, and looked at the exasperated old man, speaking slowly and deliberately.

"No matter how you look at it, pirates are the real villains, aren't they?"

"Don't tell me you think pirates are good people!"

"The giant-slayer's actions should be called 'fighting evil and protecting the innocent,' right?"

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