Has this newly appeared shop paid its taxes?
Has it fulfilled its protection fees?
Illegal operations like this fall directly under Marine jurisdiction.
As Captain Nezumi’s subordinate in Marine Branch 16, the officer immediately perked up, his face filled with arrogant excitement.
In his mind, these villagers and commoners were nothing more than people who should obediently obey Marine authority.
Thinking this, he swaggered straight into the shop without hesitation.
Inside, the first thing he saw was a black-haired young man quietly seated, leisurely drinking tea as though nothing in the world concerned him.
Xia Wen lifted his gaze slightly at the Marine uniform in front of him, then calmly placed his teacup down on the table.
“This shop only sells jars.
One jar costs 100,000 berries.
First come, first served.”
“Huh?”
The Marine officer frowned deeply, then suddenly pointed at the broken clay jars displayed on the table, his voice rising in disbelief.
“These pieces of trash… you’re selling them for 100,000 berries?!”
Even if someone gave them to him for free, he would still consider them useless clutter.
Only a complete fool would buy something like this.
Feeling as though he had been mocked, the Marine officer’s expression darkened immediately.
He raised several accusations in succession without hesitation.
“So this is fraud!
Illegal business operation!
Tax evasion!”
“Before I even entered, I heard strange noises coming from this place.
I suspect you are colluding with pirates or hiding them here!”
However, his tone suddenly shifted, revealing a greedy and calculating expression.
“However… if you are willing to pay a 100,000 berries deposit, I can ensure you avoid imprisonment.”
Having served under Captain Nezumi, extortion had become second nature to him, just like the corrupt dealings seen in various East Blue branches.
Xia Wen raised a slight eyebrow.
Someone was trying to extort him?
Interesting.
At the same time, he began thinking internally.
“System… can I force customers to buy jars?
For example, drag them into the shop or injure them so they are forced to pay for treatment through jars?”
The System responded immediately.
[Ding!
Warning: All jar transactions must be conducted under free and conscious will of both parties.]
[Any form of coercion, mental manipulation, or forced consumption is strictly prohibited.]
[Violation will result in confiscation of all related jar benefits.]
Seeing this restriction, Xia Wen could only sigh inwardly and abandon his earlier idea.
Originally, he had considered provoking a guest into attacking him, then activating the Shop Owner’s invincible privilege within the shop to suppress all opposition instantly.
However, the consequence would be becoming a wanted criminal in the world governed by the Marines and World Government.
At this moment, the Marine officer’s gaze fell again on the jars.
The more he looked at them, the more displeasing they became.
Since this shop claimed to sell jars, then he would simply destroy them all and expose the fraud.
He had long relied on intimidation tactics against civilians, and it had always worked.
Without hesitation, he suddenly stepped forward and threw a heavy punch toward the nearest clay jar.
But the expected outcome did not occur.
Instead of shattering, his fist felt as if it had struck a massive iron boulder.
“Ah!!
My hand!!
Why are these jars so hard?!”
The Marine officer staggered back while clutching his swollen right hand in shock and pain.
Seeing that Xia Wen still maintained his calm expression without the slightest reaction, humiliation and anger surged within him.
Grinding his teeth, he immediately shifted his stance and swung his leg viciously toward the table leg.
Since the jars could not be broken, he would overturn the table itself.
However
“Crack!”
A sharp bone-breaking sound echoed through the silent shop.
The Marine officer froze completely.
Pain erupted violently from his shin.
His leg bone had snapped.
“What kind of material is this table made of…?!”
Cold sweat poured down his face as he trembled in disbelief.
Xia Wen glanced at him casually and spoke in a calm, almost polite tone.
“Are you alright, Guest?
Perhaps you should try opening a jar.”
“Whether it’s a healing spray that instantly restores injuries, or food that accelerates recovery, everything can come from a jar.”
“Nothing is impossible.
Each jar only costs 100,000 berries.”
Everything inside the shop was protected by its indestructible property.
Naturally, that included all objects within it.
And the jars themselves could not be opened before purchase.
At this point, the Marine officer’s frustration reached its peak.
Even after everything, this man was still promoting his jars.
His hand instinctively moved toward his flintlock pistol.
For a moment, he truly wanted to show this calm shop owner who held authority.
But the strange events, the unshakable shop environment, and Xia Wen’s unfamiliar presence compared to Cocoyasi Village residents all weighed on his instincts.
He hesitated.
This man was likely not an ordinary villager.
Possibly a newly arrived outsider.
He needed to report this to Captain Nezumi immediately.
With a cold snort, he forced himself to retreat.
“Hmph!
No one will ever buy your jars from this shady place!”
After leaving behind his final threat, he limped out of the shop.
Xia Wen watched his figure disappear, leaning slightly against the wall, his gaze deep and unreadable.
“I hope you can bring enough value.”
Not long after, Nami returned quickly, carrying her carefully collected Berries.
She had been worried that someone might discover or buy out the jars before her return.
However, as she approached, she saw a Marine limping out of the shop.
The Marine briefly glanced at her before hastily fleeing.
Nami’s heart tightened instantly.
That look… something was wrong.
Has the shop already been noticed?
“Tomorrow… I must bring Nojiko here as well.”
If these jars truly could change fate, then she could not allow them to fall into the hands of Marines or the Arlong Pirates.
This time… she would open everything she could.
Entering the shop, her eyes immediately locked onto the remaining nine jars.
Her gaze almost turned into Berries themselves.
Treasure maps… Devil Fruits… anything would be acceptable.
Even something for Nojiko.
“Shop Owner, I’m here to open jars again!”
“Mm.”
Xia Wen nodded calmly as he watched her approach the jars.
However, she soon discovered she could not move them before payment.
“Pay first, then open jars.”
“Ah yes!”
Even though this was her second visit, Nami still felt a small sting in her heart.
Reluctantly, she placed 900,000 berries on the counter.
However, a portion of the notes had faint blood stains.
Before Xia Wen could reach for them, Nami quickly pulled them back and replaced them with clean bills while laughing awkwardly.
“Haha These got a little ketchup on them earlier.
Anyway, let’s open them!”
Without hesitation, she struck the edge jar.
“Smash!”
The jar shattered instantly.
A smooth, round fruit with an orange-red gradient rolled out.
Nami froze.
“This… this… another Devil Fruit?!”
She stared at her hands in disbelief.
Two legendary items in a row?
Was her luck suddenly abnormal?
Or were Devil Fruits actually common here?
Xia Wen looked at the fruit and fell briefly silent.
Then he spoke.
“Sunset Fruit: a common fruit from another world.
Restores a small amount of stamina when eaten.
Taste similar to an apple.”
“Note: Genshin… start.”