The only person who seemed remotely normal in this bar was the bartender. He wore tight cotton socks that reached his calves, topped by slightly looser trousers, a long, buttoned-up jacket, a simple waistcoat, and a cream-colored shirt, sans tie. Seeing Fang Senyan and the other two crowd over, he responded with detached indifference: “Only rum and beer. How many rounds?”

Fang Senyan decisively swept a handful of Gold Louis onto the bar: “We’re pressed for time, so your recommended port wine doesn’t really appeal to us. What I’m hoping for is to hear some news directly from your mouth.”

The bartender gave a cold, thin smile, pocketed the Gold Louis without speaking, and continued: “We only have rum and beer here. How many rounds would you like?”

Fang Senyan’s expression shifted: “We aren’t here to drink.”

The bartender revealed a cunning grin: “Then please leave.”

Fang Senyan suddenly burst into loud laughter: “Interesting, very interesting. It looks like you’re planning to fleece me, aren’t you?”

The bartender sneered: “Ferrer. We have troublemakers here.”

At the bartender’s shout, several stout, bulky men who had been clinking glasses in the distance walked over. They cracked their knuckles with loud pops, then cocked their heads, scrutinizing Fang Senyan and his companions with ill intent. The leader, a big man with curly chest hair, must have been Ferrer: “Are you going to scram right now, or do I have to toss you out myself?”

The bartender suddenly hissed conspiratorially: “These clueless newcomers don’t know the rules, trying to buy information straight from me? Hmph? Though they are quite generous with their coin—consider it an extra bonus for me. For the sake of this Gold Louis, Ferrer, just break one of their hands and throw them out.”

Fang Senyan was short on time and had no patience for haggling. He sighed and shook his head.

However, Kanbi, his face already grim, stepped forward first, letting out a roar: “You bastards! Anyone who disrespects the boss has to die!”

The thick-waisted Ferrer’s eyes widened instantly, feeling his authority challenged. He immediately threw a vicious punch toward Kanbi’s face. Kanbi, equally swift, threw a punch straight back to meet the attack. The two similarly brutish and ferocious figures were poised for the most violent clash!

For Ferrer, whose Strength stat was a formidable 40 points—a figure that usually allowed him to completely suppress or crush other Contractors whose average highest attributes hovered around thirty—this was far from enough to impress Kanbi, who was equipped with the powerful Ogre Gauntlets!

Kanbi suddenly exerted all his might in this punch. With a sharp crack, Ferrer’s arm twisted completely as if it were a matchstick. The massive momentum that followed slammed Ferrer backward violently. His face turned beet red as his heavy body struck a supporting pillar in the bar with a dull thud, then slumped limply to the floor, blood beginning to bubble uncontrollably from his mouth…

Instantly, the entire bar seemed to shudder violently, dust raining down. In the previously chaotic bar, no one had paid attention to this corner, but Kanbi’s move immediately made him the focal point of everyone’s gaze!

Ferrer’s lackeys hadn't grasped the situation. Seeing their leader beaten, they lunged forward. Kanbi, clearly experienced in bar brawls, laughed wildly and surged forward, driving an elbow into the chest of the man to his right. Amidst continuous, sharp crunching sounds, the man’s chest instantly collapsed inward, spraying a torrent of blood that added a fresh note of gore to the bar’s already foul air.

However, another thug managed to grab an iron rod and bring it down hard on Kanbi’s head. After a dull thump, Kanbi staggered, and Fang Senyan immediately noticed that Kanbi’s health had suddenly dropped; clearly, wearing the gauntlets had significantly weakened his defense and survivability.

But how could Fang Senyan and his crew stand by while Kanbi was ganged up on? Fang Senyan lashed out with a kick, sending a thug flying half a meter into the air, crashing through God knows how many scattered items in the darkness. Reef and Morgana were not to be outdone; with a few quick punches and kicks, they downed the bar’s bandits.

Seeing things turn sour, the bartender tried to flee. Black Widow, raising a pistol with one hand, fired five quick shots that pierced his thigh. He immediately pitched forward, face-planting, losing his front teeth, and blood streaming from his nose. Only then did the patrons realize that this bartender, known as “Black Widow,” who had intended to cheat and extort newcomers, had just kicked an iron plate.

Although Kanbi was as docile as a lamb in front of Fang Senyan, he now revealed the savagery of a pirate. Rubbing the large lump on the back of his head, his eyes blazing fiercely, he first grabbed the man who hit him with the iron rod and slammed his head against the unforgiving corner of the bar counter! Amidst the man’s agonizing screams, Kanbi did not stop until the man was smashed dead!

Then Kanbi clapped his hands, strode over to “Black Widow,” who was writhing in a pool of blood, grabbed him by the hair, and yanked his upper body clear off the ground. Face-to-face, he spat out the words one by one: “I hear you were just about to chop off our hands and throw us out?”

“Black Widow’s” eyes were full of venom. He grit his teeth and snarled: “Do you know whose establishment this is? If Mr. Barbossa finds out about this, he’ll skin you and hang your hide from the chimney! All the women in your family will be sold into…”

Before he could finish, Kanbi slapped him across the face with a sharp crack! The sheer force of this blow was immense; it likely shattered the bartender’s facial bones. Blood began to trickle from Black Widow’s ear. As he struggled to say more, Kanbi raised his hand again.

“Wait a moment!” Fang Senyan said softly.

“Black Widow’s” eyes lit up with relief, and he began to laugh hysterically, his words slurred: “You’re scared? Get on your knees and beg my pardon a thousand times right now, and maybe I’ll spare your worthless life.”

Fang Senyan ignored him completely and said to the confused Kanbi: “I still have questions for him. Remember not to kill him, but he can hear and speak—do whatever you want with the rest.”

The (smug) and broken laughter of “Black Widow” immediately choked in his throat as Kanbi grinned savagely, hauled him up, and pinned his right arm onto the bar. Black Widow finally felt true terror. His pinned right hand flexed and spasmed, fingers trying desperately to break free, but they were no match for Kanbi’s monstrous strength.

The next second, a supremely piercing scream ripped through the air. Kanbi smashed his fist onto Black Widow’s exposed upper right arm. The power of this punch was beyond imagination; Black Widow’s right arm snapped like a dry twig with a loud crack, and Kanbi casually grabbed and tore. Amidst a geyser of blood, the right arm was ripped clean off.

Under such torment, “Black Widow” finally broke, screaming for mercy. Fang Senyan crouched down, feigning interest: “Well? Now are you interested in telling me?”

Black Widow’s face was a mess of blood, saliva, and snot mixed with dust—as wretched and humiliated as one could possibly be. He seemed too exhausted even to speak, his only recourse being to nod his head vigorously like a pecking chicken.

Fang Senyan said coolly: “Has anything unusual happened on the island recently?”

Black Widow gasped, speaking with difficulty: “If you’re talking about… what’s been rumored hotly in Tortuga… it’s the fact that all the major shops are buying up rare and precious items at high prices.”

Fang Senyan: “Is that so? That piece of information doesn’t seem worth the seventeen Gold Pounds I tossed you.”

Kanbi added menacingly from the side: “I think adding two eyes, one nose, and two ears would be closer to settling the debt.”

Black Widow shivered violently: “Wait!! Actually, the people buying up all these rare and precious things are ultimately selling them to the Cigans! They often make two or three times the profit in one transaction!”

Fang Senyan looked skeptical: “Really?”

“Really!!” Black Widow trembled. “I swear on my ancestors’ graves!”

The so-called Cigans were another name for the Romani people in the real world—they excelled at metallurgy, wandering, and fortune-telling. Tarot cards and caravans were the hallmarks of this people.

At this moment, the three of them received a prompt from the Nightmare Mark: “Hidden Main Quest Turning Point: Triggered.” “You have two choices.” “First: Seek out reliable, large shops to inquire about information regarding rare and precious items.” “Second: Seek out the buyers among the Cigans and trade directly with them to gather intelligence on rare and precious items.” “Warning: Choosing the second option will further increase the mission difficulty.”

The difficulty level for Fang Senyan and his crew entering this world was B minus. After triggering the Hidden Quest: Turning Point, the difficulty immediately rose to B. If they chose the second branch, the difficulty would undoubtedly escalate to B plus, putting it on par with eliminating the direct forces of the Queen of Blades in the Starship Troopers world.

However, considering that Reef could advance to the level of a Colonial Hunter at any moment, and Fang Senyan’s personal faction was already taking shape, a B plus difficulty was certainly not unacceptable.

Therefore, the three of them directly selected the second option. Indeed, just as Fang Senyan had speculated, this Hidden Main Quest had a time limit, closely tied to the Cigans who would depart at sunrise!