As Morrow walked out from the general store, he was greeted by a crowd.

""Welcome to Whiskey Peak, traveler!""

"I run a hotel down the street, would you like to book a room?"

Ah, the welcoming committee. How to do this? Pretending to play along for a free feast might be fun, but I've got other things to do before nightfall. Ah, let's go with the unexpected then.

"Spare me the charade. I used to be a bounty hunter and I've heard of Whiskey Peak."

They looked taken aback at their effort going down the tube like that, but after a bit of shock they all pulled blades out of nowhere.

"Damn, it's been a long time since a worthwhile bounty came here. We'd have liked to do this the easy way, but you asked for it!"

"I can assure you, you wouldn't profit from a fight. Put the weapons away and I'll let you go."

"You're the one who's cornered here!"

Morrow sighed and pulled out the trident as more bounty hunters swarmed from the alleyways, joining the growing mob.

I've never been good at convincing others to stand down, especially small thugs like these. They always dig in their heels and bark like they have a death wish. Do I look weak or something? No way, objectively speaking I should be pretty intimidating....

"Charge! Don't worry about taking him alive!"

".....idiots."

Morrow's first fight in the Grand Line turned into a disappointing affair. After hearing their erstwhile leader's order to kill him, Morrow had lost all pretense of mercy himself and massacred anyone who got within reach before they lost the stomach for it. He had long since learned through experience that the best way to deal with mobs like these is a display of brutality. Once they learned they had no safety in numbers, they would second-guess whether it was really a good idea to rush the giant fishman rather than think about revenge.

Good, at least they have some self-preservation instinct.

He'd only had to kill a dozen for the rest to decide that he was a bad deal before running away. Morrow couldn't tell if they were going for reinforcements or not, but he damn well wasn't leaving just yet. He had seen a ramen stall with a good smell on his way to the shop, and it demanded being checked out....

He left the crumpled bodies where they lay.

Ah, that hits the spot...

Morrow had to admit he hadn't been a big fan of ramen before reincarnation, preferring spaghetti and chicken alfredo for most of his pasta needs, but it had grown on him over the years. The stall owner either wasn't in with the bounty hunters or he hadn't heard yet, because he served up an extra large helping in a container he could take with him with no fuss. Morrow slowly walked while carrying the thick paper tub filled with still-steaming ramen in the crook of his arm. He'd enjoy it back on the ship.

When he made it back to the docks, there was yet another crowd there, all up in arms.

""Revenge for Haj!""

Don't you guys ever learn? My poor hot food.....