One Piece: Peace Shattered By Roger (Completed)

It was late at night.

All the other drunks had finally staggered out of the tavern. If they didn't go home soon, their wives might storm in with rolling pins in hand.

"Hahaha! What a night!"

Kaizen and his new drinking companion were sprawled on the ground, arms slung around each other's shoulders, leaning against the bar.

"You're a real character. If we'd met sooner, I'd have had you on my crew for sure!" the stranger declared, his face flushed from the rum.

"Crew? Are you saying you're a pirate?" Kaizen asked, his arm still draped around the man.

"Hahaha! That's right! And not just any pirate—the most notorious of the lot!"

The man spoke without restraint, clearly proud of his title as a pirate.

"I see," Kaizen replied with a calm smile. He wasn't one to judge people based on their path; adult life, after all, was filled with all kinds.

"Do you hate pirates?" the man asked.

"Not particularly," Kaizen replied.

"Glad to hear it." The pirate gave a nod of satisfaction.

"What about you?" Kaizen asked, smiling knowingly. "Do you despise being branded a 'notorious pirate'?"

"For the sake of my dream on the open seas, I'd bear any title—even if it meant death. As long as I sail, my life will be worth it."

The two looked at each other and grinned.

"To hell with titles and danger—tonight, it's all about the drink!"

They clinked their glasses together and drank every last drop.

As the night grew deeper, they were the last two left in the tavern. Even Ai, the barmaid, had fallen asleep with her head resting on the counter.

Suddenly—

BANG!

The wooden door of the tavern burst open.

"Curse it all, I capsized in these cursed waters!" a gruff voice yelled.

"Hey! Where's the drink?"

A group of tall, rough-looking men with unkempt hair and scowling faces filed into the small tavern, their presence instantly filling the room.

"Oi! Where's the owner? Did he croak or something? If he doesn't get out here now, I'm gonna smash this place to bits!" barked the hulking figure in the lead.

"Ah... coming, coming!" Ai woke with a start, her usual courage faltering as she quickly brought over a tray of drinks.

Without so much as a glance, the man smacked the tray from Ai's hands. The drinks spilled across her, and the glasses shattered on the floor.

"I'm... I'm so sorry," Ai stammered, bowing apologetically.

"Sorry? You mocking us?" he sneered. "Bring us the whole barrel!"

"I... I apologize. We're out of wine. The ones you just spilled were the last."

Trembling, Ai realized these men were relentless troublemakers, likely bandits known for prowling coastal towns at night to rob and terrorize.

"No wine? Hahaha! What kind of tavern runs out of wine?"

The leader's companions laughed along, jeering.

"That's right! You can't keep a tavern open without booze. What a joke!"

"Hey, sweetheart," one bandit sneered. "You'd be better off working somewhere that actually suits you—if you know what I mean."

Ai bit her lip, trying to hold back tears as she endured the insults.

Meanwhile, Kaizen and his drinking companion, though still seated, had grown noticeably tense, a dark fury building beneath their calm exteriors.

Suddenly, the man beside Kaizen rose to his feet and staggered towards the intruders, face flushed as if in a drunken haze.

"Evening, gentlemen!" He slurred, putting on an exaggerated grin.

"Huh? Who's this drunkard? Get outta here! You're blocking my view!" the bandit leader spat.

"Looking for a drink, are you?" the man whispered, drawing closer.

"If you've got one, then bring it out!" the bandit leader barked, stepping forward with a menacing look. "But if you're messing with us, we'll throw you to the sharks!"

"Right here," the man said, tapping his belly with a grin.

For a moment, the room fell silent as the bandits tried to make sense of his words.

"You...!" The bandit leader's patience broke, and he swung a fist into the man's face.

The man staggered back, crashing onto the floor, yet he only laughed as if unfazed.

"That's it!" Kaizen said, stepping forward and clapping a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Let me handle these lowlifes."

"Oh, you want some too?" The bandit leader smirked, sizing him up, his cronies stepping in to flank Kaizen.

Most people would've backed off by now, but Kaizen simply grinned, unfazed.

"Time to teach some manners."

He picked up an empty bottle and smashed it across the leader's head.

CRACK!

The bottle shattered with a crisp, satisfying sound, and the bandits erupted in anger, lunging at Kaizen.

The tavern descended into chaos, tables and chairs overturning as Kaizen used anything within reach to fend off his attackers. He restrained himself from unleashing his full strength—dealing with such scum hardly seemed worth it.

Meanwhile, his drinking companion laughed heartily from his place on the floor, enjoying the show.

Ai, desperate, threw a glass of water into the laughing man's face. "Wake up! Kaizen needs help!" she pleaded, shaking his shoulders.

The man blinked and, snapping back to reality, mumbled, "Oh right! I still have to get to Loguetown to surrender… wouldn't want the Marines penning another report on me."

With a grin, he grabbed a nearby platter and narrowed his gaze.

"Divine Departure!"

In one powerful movement, he smashed the platter into the wall, which exploded outward, sending dust and debris into the street. The bandits dropped to the floor, unconscious, with only Kaizen and his friend left standing.

Kaizen and his drinking partner shared a knowing grin, as if they'd reached an unspoken agreement.

"DIE!"

A shadowy figure leapt from the rubble—it was the bandit leader, wielding a blade aimed straight at Ai.

Time seemed to slow as the blade closed in on her, too fast for her to dodge.

"STOP!" Kaizen and his friend shouted simultaneously, unleashing a wave of Conqueror's Haki.