The team led by Wang Shi soon appeared outside the casino.
The casino's bodyguards and the gang's bouncers stood ready, their foreheads sweating as they watched the Marines and Clone Soldiers.
Damn it!
Neither the North Blue's infamous Clone Soldiers nor the Marine soldiers representing the World Government's justice were opponents they could provoke.
If they dared to attack the Marines, it would cause huge trouble, and even Sopegi Kingdom, an Allied Nation of the underworld, wouldn't be able to protect them.
Issho stood among the bodyguards, also considering whether to fight for the casino and its Boss.
After all, he sold himself to the casino just to have a relatively stable place.
With his Observation Haki, would he lose money gambling?
With his strength, if he wanted to leave, could the casino stop him?
This Royal Offender, due to his homeless wandering, finally ended up on this chaotic island where gangs were legal, lost money, sold himself, and found a stable place to eat.
And incidentally satisfy his little gambling habit.
If this Royal Offender, already a fugitive, dared to attack the Marines now, a bounty would definitely appear on his head.
Then his life would be even harder.
Further away from the dream in his heart.
...
Just as these bouncers and bodyguards were extremely tense.
"Where is your Boss? Is it not allowed for this Emperor to come here and play a few hands?
"Or does your casino not want to make money?"
Wang Shi, leading the way, stopped at the casino entrance and smiled with a relaxed expression.
Behind him, the Clone Soldiers and Marine soldiers stopped in unison, their expressions solemn.
The Casino Boss, observing the situation from behind and ready to escape at any time, heard Wang Shi's words and his eyes darted around, pondering Wang Shi's purpose.
But in the end, he gritted his teeth and came out.
After all, if Wang Shi wanted to act, he wouldn't need to be so polite; he could just act directly.
"Welcome, King Wang Shi, to our casino. We will surely provide Your Majesty with the most perfect service."
The Casino Boss, with a fawning smile, bowed and cautiously greeted Wang Shi.
At the same time, his hands behind him quickly gestured, telling the ignorant bouncers and bodyguards to quickly disperse.
Lest they displease Wang Shi.
"I just had a sudden urge to play. Boss, just treat me as an ordinary customer."
Wang Shi's amiable smile was like a spring breeze, completely devoid of the Emperor's domineering presence and majesty.
This made the Casino Boss feel a deep sense of relief.
Fortunately, there was no armed confrontation; otherwise, he would have truly scared himself and suffered an undeserved calamity.
Among the scattered bodyguards behind, Issho also didn't expect this King of Exile to be so gentle.
Was this still the demon who defeated the North Sea Overlord Germa, as people said?
In fact, Wang Shi was also inadvertently observing Issho.
It seemed his move had earned this fellow a bit of approval.
"How can that be, Your Majesty? You are our most honored guest. Please follow me to the VIP room to enjoy yourself."
The Casino Boss quickly fawned, inviting Wang Shi to the casino's most luxurious and distinguished area.
Aramaki seemed to have also noticed the blind Issho standing among the bodyguard team.
But he had no intention of acting, instead first going to protect Wang Shi and awaiting Wang Shi's instructions.
"Hehe, His Majesty wants us to play, so let's play."
Eric, the old fox, said with a smile and a relaxed expression, walking into the casino with quite the aristocratic demeanor.
Meanwhile, Van Auger, Zoro, and Saka observed their surroundings, searching for hidden dangers and powerful individuals.
"Just trust His Majesty."
Reiju, with Baby5, Nami, Nojiko, and Kaya, smiled as they walked into the casino.
Tashigi, however, looked serious, leading the Marines and Clone Soldiers to set up camp outside the casino, appearing very earnest and ready for anything.
Issho heard the hushed discussions of the bodyguards nearby and deliberately avoided these Marines.
His strength meant he completely fearless of these Marines, but the benevolence and justice he upheld in his heart subconsciously made him, a Royal Offender, want to avoid the righteous Marines.
It was like a 'fugitive fears meeting soldiers' feeling.
'I didn't expect that the Goa Emperor, this East Blue Overlord, could be protected by the Marines throughout his travels in the West Blue.'
'This Emperor's power is considerable.'
Issho pondered in his heart, as Wang Shi had exiled Vinsmoke Judge, subdued the Jerma Evil Corps, and actively combated pirates in the East Blue.
This caused Wang Shi, the brutal Emperor who had invaded six nations, to suddenly have his reputation turn for the better.
It was said that the Allied Nations of the East Blue were all praising Wang Shi, scrambling to form alliances with the Goa Empire through marriage.
Even the citizens of those six fallen kingdoms were very satisfied with their current Goa Empire identity.
Their sense of belonging was stronger than with their original kingdoms, and their lives were getting better and better.
From a certain perspective, Wang Shi was actually a good Emperor.
Moreover, a unified imperial ideology called 'great unification' seemed to be circulating in the East Blue.
Without the boundaries of kingdoms, there would be no wars, and people could live more peacefully and safely.
This was somewhat similar to the World Government's alliance system, but also seemed different.
After all, the Allied Nations under the World Government were allowed to wage war, as long as they paid celestial tribute.
However, the great unification ideology in the East Blue, as a single country, did not allow internal wars.
This concept of great unification was quite in line with the world in Issho's heart.
Issho's homeland, Cang Country, located on the Grand Line, was also an Allied Nation that constantly waged war, but ultimately it was destroyed by war.
As a Royal Offender, Issho truly did not want to see large-scale wars erupt again.
How much he wanted to change all this from the top down, to reduce the casualties caused by war.
But now, as a Royal Offender, he could neither become an official of the World Government nor join the military to become a Marine; he was even listed as a fugitive by the World Government and the Allied Nations.
There was truly no way out, no escape.
He also didn't want to become a pirate, hated by commoners, nor did he want to become a Revolutionary Army member who overthrew kingdoms and instigated wars.
So he could only wander and give up.
From the day he actively gave up and sold himself to the casino, he felt that his life might just be aimless until the day he died.
Meanwhile, in the casino's luxurious VIP room.
The Casino Boss, with the idea that losing money to make Wang Shi happy was a profit, personally joined the game to play with Wang Shi.
As a result, he found that he had not held back and still lost 800 million Berries.
This made his scalp tingle a bit.
He was truly afraid that this Emperor would bankrupt him.
"Boss Sheng Xin, I had a lot of fun this time. I'll return these 800 million Berries to you, and I'll even give you an extra 200 million Berries.
A total of 1 billion Berries, I just need to redeem one of your bodyguards!"
Wang Shi looked at the Casino Boss, who was forcing a smile, and showed a faint smile, as if everything was under control.
"Really? Which bodyguard does Your Majesty wish to have?"
"No, no, no, any bodyguard Your Majesty fancies, you can take them all!"
The Casino Boss's eyes lit up, and he was extremely excited in his heart. As long as he could make Wang Shi happy, who cared about any bodyguard.
Besides, he could even earn an extra 200 million Berries.
None of his bodyguards were worth that price.
"I only need a blind bodyguard named Issho. These 1 billion Berries are his ransom. I hope Boss Sheng Xin will invite him over for me."
Wang Shi piled the 800 million Berries he won, plus the 200 million Berries he put out himself, onto the gambling table.
The pile of money looked quite impressive.
...