"How about this? Let's have a swimming race to see who reaches Water 7 first. The last one to arrive pays the bill. What do you say?"
Xia Luo suggested as he put his arm over the Red Count's shoulder.
The distance between this island and Water 7 was quite far. However, it was very easy for powerful people like them.
The Red Count glanced at Bru who was foaming at the mouth and reluctantly nodded.
"Hahaha! Great! Then I'll count to three and we'll start together!"
Xia Luo said to the Red Count excitedly without waiting for a reply.
"One, two, three, charge!"
Xia Luo dived into the water and swam towards Water 7.
The Red Count also put aside his reserve, placed his umbrella on his back, and dived in too.
Their arms were swinging vigorously like spinning 'Feng Huo Lun' (mythical fiery wheels in Chinese culture).
"Brü! Brü, wake up quickly!"
Wells shook his small boat frantically.
He actually forgot that his boat had been knocked unconscious too.
Watching the pirates Xia Luo and the guy called the Red Count getting closer, Wells' face turned ashen.
Meanwhile, Kong of the Steel Bones and Sengoku, who were sitting in the Admirals' office at the Navy Headquarters, also witnessed this scene.
"Jump off the boat, Wells! Jump off quickly!"
Kong of the Steel Bones shouted anxiously through the Den Den Mushi.
He couldn't just watch as Rear Admiral Wells sacrificed himself right in front of him.
Wells didn't know if he heard or not. He was paddling the boat with his hands.
"Faster! Faster! Faster!"
Wells was on the verge of tears. The boat just kept spinning in circles on the sea and didn't move forward.
As Xia Luo and the Red Count got closer and closer, Wells felt the threat of death approaching.
Splash! Splash!
Just as Wells closed his eyes waiting to die.
Two rapid splashing sounds came from beside the boat.
After a long while!
Wells opened his eyes tremblingly.
"Wow! I'm not dead! I'm not dead!"
Wells exclaimed in surprise as he felt all over his body.
"They didn't kill me?"
Wells was confused. Was it because they didn't notice him? Wells quickly shook his head. It was impossible not to notice him when they passed right by his side.
Then why didn't they attack?
Kong of the Steel Bones in the Admirals' office at the Navy Headquarters heaved a sigh of relief.
It was good that Wells wasn't dead!
Bang!
"Damn kids, so arrogant! So incredibly arrogant! They simply don't take our Navy seriously!"
Kong of the Steel Bones couldn't believe that Xia Luo didn't notice that Wells was sent by the Navy to monitor him. Just ignoring him like that was simply a provocation to the Navy.
Sengoku and Tsuru exchanged a look and both saw a bitter smile in each other's expressions.
Meanwhile, the race between Xia Luo and the Red Count continued.
Both of them were swimming very fast. If you looked from afar, you would see two trails of waves left by their movements on the sea.
Xia Luo and the Red Count were still in a close race with each other.
Overall, though, Xia Luo was a bit faster.
He was half a body length ahead of the Red Count.
Although the Red Count was desperately trying to catch up, he still lagged behind by half a body length.
The Red Count even suspected that Xia Luo was holding back, deliberately staying half a body length ahead of him.
Swimming at a very fast pace, they covered most of the distance in the blink of an eye.
It was already the sprint stage.
The Red Count and Xia Luo exerted their strength again simultaneously, putting all their might into swimming forward.
With the assistance of Observation Haki, they weren't afraid of deviating from the course at all.
Even if they deviated, they would make timely corrections.
"Look! What's that thing on the sea!"
Many people on the seaside of Water 7 had already spotted the two splashes on the sea.
"It seems that there are two people swimming!"
A sharp - eyed person exclaimed!
"How is that possible! How can a person swim so fast!"
After hearing this, someone immediately didn't believe it.
"They're getting closer! They're getting closer! Oh my god! It's really two people swimming. What monsters!"
After they got within a hundred meters, almost everyone on the shore could see the two figures in the splashes.
Splash! In the blink of an eye, Xia Luo was the first to reach the shore.
"Hahaha! Red Count, you lost! Hahaha!"
Xia Luo was in a great mood. He had won the swimming race!
Just as Xia Luo stepped onto the shore, the Red Count followed suit right after him.
However, his face looked extremely ugly. He couldn't believe that he had lost.
"Pay up! Pay up! Pay up!"
Xia Luo ignored the Red Count's ugly expression and shouted beside him.
A bit cheeky!
"Humph! Let's go! Pick a tavern yourself. I'll treat you!"
Even though the Red Count was extremely reluctant, a loss was a loss.
"Hahaha! Well, you said it. I'm going to get you drunk!"
Xia Luo said to the Red Count with a smile.
"Humph! Let's have a drinking competition then. Let's see who'll be the last one standing!"
The Red Count sneered. Apparently, he wasn't the type to admit defeat easily.
Ignoring the people gathering in front, Xia Luo walked straight into the depths of Water 7. With the help of his Observation Haki, he had a clear picture of the city's layout in his mind. Finding a tavern would be a piece of cake.
The Red Count glanced at the sailors and such who were gathering around, showing a look of disgust on his face.
Because he could sense the dirty thoughts in these people's minds.
Among them, there were even slave traders who wanted to capture them and sell them to the Celestial Dragons.
After hearing these thoughts, the Red Count sneered disdainfully.
He ignored them and quickly followed beside Xia Luo.
Moreover, he also understood one thing: it wasn't that his Observation Haki's mind - reading ability had lost its effect; it was just that it had no effect on Xia Luo.
This both relieved him and made him a bit regretful.
He wanted to know what was going on in Xia Luo's mind, but unfortunately, he had no way of knowing.
However, it was okay like this. It was quite relaxing.
The few slave traders glanced at each other and instantly understood what the others meant. They nodded.
They quietly stepped back.
Xia Luo led the Red Count to the center of Water 7. This was the commercial street, very bustling with people coming and going.
Xia Luo was extremely delighted when he saw this.
But the Red Count's face darkened. There were so many filthy things here that he didn't want to listen to them, yet they involuntarily drilled into his mind.
Seeing the disgusted expression on the Red Count's face, Xia Luo understood.
Xia Luo quickly dragged the Red Count to a tavern.
Because he smelled the aroma of wine here, which was different from the ordinary wines on the continent and was a kind of precious liquor.
"This is the place!"
Xia Luo led the Red Count to the door of the tavern.
The Red Count looked at the name of the tavern.
"Anke Tavern!"
The Red Count read out the name of the shop.
"Let's go in!"
Xia Luo kicked open the tavern's door.
This made the Red Count roll his eyes. How could he have run into such a childish brat!
But he still helplessly followed in.
"Boss! Bring me all the good wines in your place! I've got plenty of money!"
As soon as Xia Luo entered the tavern, he shouted at the top of his voice.