One Piece: I Have a Billion Skill Points

In the crowd, a group of men started discussing their plan.

"Boss, should we make a move now?" asked a man with sharp features, his gaze fixed on the giant golden pillar.

"Idiot!" snarled their stocky, bald leader. "That gold is huge! Even if we manage to grab it, we can't smuggle it out quietly. No, they're here to exchange it for money—let's just wait and take the cash instead. Much simpler."

"You're right, Boss!" The sharp-featured man grinned, realizing the strategy, and praised, "You're really clever!"

The bald leader surveyed the area with a slight frown. "Still, you've got a point. More people are gathering, and I heard the Vratsch gang is on their way too… if they try to interfere…" He trailed off, his eyes cold with menace.

The other gang members, feeling the tension, glanced nervously at each other. They knew their boss was ruthless and hoped the Vratsch gang wouldn't cross him. With guns at their waists, they watched Ron and his crew, ready to act as soon as they saw money change hands.

Across the street, Vratsch's men had already alerted their leader, and his eyes lit up at the news of a rich target. Without hesitation, Vratsch made his way over with his gang. As two of the most notorious groups in Water 7 showed up, smaller gangs backed off, choosing to watch from a distance, hoping to benefit if a brawl broke out.

At the bank entrance, Ron and the girls waited until Nami and Kaya returned with a bank staff in tow.

"This is the gold I want to exchange" Nami pointed to the pillar Ron was holding.

The bank employee's eyes widened at the sight, utterly stunned by the sheer size and amount of gold.

"This… this much gold… it's incredible!" the staff member stammered.

"What's the hold-up?" Nami asked. "Let's get this sorted. Ron has been carrying it for ages now."

"Oh, right away!" The employee snapped out of his stupor, realizing how much attention the gold was attracting. Knowing this wasn't something he could handle alone, he called for the bank manager to assist with the transaction.

"Please follow me," the staff member said, leading Ron and the others through the back door and into a private courtyard where Ron placed the gold pillar. Then the staff member hurried off to get the manager.

Soon, a middle-aged man in a suit with a neat mustache arrived, his face lighting up in welcome.

"Welcome, esteemed guests! Thank you for choosing our bank for such a significant exchange." He glanced at the pillar in awe. "We'll have someone test the gold's purity and weigh it for an accurate valuation. Please, follow me to the VIP room where refreshments have been prepared."

Ron set the golden pillar down, dusting off his hands. "Alright, just don't keep us waiting too long."

"Of course! This way, please." The manager gestured respectfully.

Ron wasn't worried about them trying any tricks. The sheer size of the gold meant they couldn't move it without him knowing, and he was confident in his ability to ensure they dealt with him honestly.

"Your face seems familiar," the manager said, studying Ron's features. "Might I ask your name?"

"Me?" Ron replied nonchalantly. "I'm Ron, captain of the Sword and Rose Pirates."

"What? Ron? Captain Ron?!"

The manager's eyes widened in shock, his legs going weak. He recognized Ron's name immediately.

Ron—captain of the Sword and Rose Pirates, the same Ron who defeated Mihawk, one of the Seven Warlords, and even took down Crocodile. The bounty on his head recently soared to two billion Beri after he single-handedly fought two Marine Admirals, sinking dozens of their warships in the process. This record was so staggering that even hearing about it was terrifying. And now, the man himself was here in person?

A chill ran down the manager's spine as he realized the full weight of who he was dealing with. Don't mess this up, he warned himself. He knew this exchange had to be flawless—one wrong move could mean the bank's destruction.

"Captain Ron, please, right this way!" The manager's tone was nothing short of reverent.

Ron nodded calmly, turning to the girls. "Let's go see if the drinks and pastries are any good."

"Yes!" Kaya cheered, pulling Nami along. "In a city this fancy, the food must be amazing!"

"This lovely lady won't be disappointed," the manager said, noting the beauty of Ron's crew. His memory flashed to recent news articles describing the Sword and Rose Pirates. The girls were renowned for their beauty and were said to represent the "Rose" in the crew's name, while Ron, as the swordsman, represented the "Sword." Now seeing them, he understood why the press had praised their elegance.

As Ron and the girls entered the bank, the other employees stared in shock, wondering what had caused their usually strict manager to treat these customers with such reverence.

"What kind of VIP must they be?" a curious employee asked.

"Yeah, I don't think I've ever seen Mr. Chris look so humbled."

"I think…" One of the female employees hesitated, glancing at Ron with a stunned look. "I think that's Ron. Captain Ron of the Sword and Rose Pirates, with a bounty of two billion Beri!"

"What? That Ron?"

"Oh my god!"

"He's so… handsome!"

Some of the female employees sighed, looking wistfully at the girls in his crew. They knew they didn't stand a chance.