C12 Frost Moon Village's Bandit Higuma's Provocation

Confronted with a relentless stream of questions from Zoro and Guina, Lin Mo made it clear he had no interest in engaging with them. True to his word, he remained indifferent despite their playful antics and cutesy behavior.

Out of options, Guina had a sudden inspiration. "Lin Mo, if you just tell us, I'll use all my saved-up allowance to buy you wine. How's that sound?"

"Not interested," Lin Mo replied, unimpressed. "I've got my own money."

"Don't be so stingy," Zoro grumbled under his breath.

While they were talking, they had reached the liveliest night market street in Frost Moon Village. The air was filled with the sounds of vendors and the hustle and bustle of the crowd—it was a vibrant scene. Lin Mo remained cool and collected, while Zoro and Guina, with their cheeks flushed with excitement, eagerly took in the sights.

"Look over there," Guina pointed to a row of stalls on the left side of the street, where a middle-aged woman was selling from a cart. "That's Aunt Sanben. Her home-brewed wine sells out the fastest. If we're even a little late, it'll all be gone."

As they spoke, a crowd had already gathered around the modest cart, queuing up to purchase the limited supply of wine. Lin Mo and his companions quickly joined the end of the line.

"Why don't you two go have fun?" Lin Mo suggested, preferring not to have the pair tagging along.

"Aunt Sanben's wine is limited edition," Guina said with a smile. "Each person can only buy one small jar, but with Zoro and me here, we can snag you two extra jars."

No sooner had Guina finished her sentence than a rough-looking gang bulldozed through the crowd to the front of Sanben's stall. Their leader was a tall man with a cross-shaped scar on his forehead and a sword at his waist—Higuma, the notorious bandit.

He was the same man who had once brazenly splashed wine on Red Hair Shanks, a future member of the Four Emperors. Although Shanks had been magnanimous enough not to retaliate at the time, Higuma and his crew had not yet encountered Red Hair and his gang in Windmill Village, according to the current timeline.

Seeing the line, Higuma boasted, "With a turnout like this, the wine must be good. I'll take the whole cart." His voice dripped with conceit.

The villagers around them all backed away in fear.

"But, my family's wine is in limited supply. Each person can only buy a small jar," Sanben stammered nervously. "If you'd like to purchase some, could you please form a line?"

"Line up?" Higuma scoffed with contempt. "I'm a bounty hunter worth eight million Berry. You expect me to queue up?"

Sanben was so frightened he was nearly in tears, and the villagers were seething with anger, yet none dared to speak up.

A bounty of eight million Berry was no laughing matter. These villagers, powerless as they were, wouldn't dare to cross paths with such a criminal.

At that moment, Zoro and Guina simultaneously reached for the shinai they were carrying.

Guina's voice, cool and clear, cut through the tension. "I don't care how much your bounty is; this is Frost Moon Village, and we won't tolerate your lawlessness."

"Exactly!" Zoro gripped his twin shinai tightly, his nerves on edge. "We're not going to let you run wild here."

Higuma turned his head, casting a derisive glance at Lin Mo and the others, while his henchmen laughed uproariously.

"Hahaha, look at these kids trying to stir up trouble. They really don't know what's good for them."

"Take a hint from our boss's mood and scram!"

"Our boss is destined to be the Bandit King. Smart folks would stay clear!"

As they faced Higuma's brazen crew, Zoro whispered to Guina, "Can we take them?"

Guina glanced at Lin Mo, who remained silent, and inhaled deeply before responding, "We have to fight, even if we're outmatched. We can't let them have their way in Frost Moon Village!"

"Hey!" Guina fixed Higuma with an icy glare, her words laced with scorn. "You're just a gang of bullies preying on the weak. Bandit King? You're nothing more than a scourge that preys on the defenseless. I refuse to let you wreak havoc here!"

"What?" Higuma's brow furrowed at her challenge.

Seeing the tension, Sanben urged anxiously, "Guina, please, no more talk. You all should get out of here."

Even though Guina's swordsmanship was among the finest at Isshin Dojo, defeating many adults, she was still just a child. How could she possibly stand a chance against such brutal bandits with nothing but a shinai?

The villagers of Frost Moon Village were all deeply concerned, urging Guina and the others to avoid further confrontation with Higuma.

"Thinking of leaving?" Higuma drew his sword and aimed it at Guina's forehead. "Sure, you can leave—if you're willing to part with an arm."

Guina's jaw tightened.

Zoro quickly pulled her to safety behind him, brandishing two shinai. "Guina, step back. I'll take this guy on!"

Guina protested, "You idiot, you're not as strong as I am. I should be the one to fight him!"

Higuma burst into laughter. "How touching, two people eager to meet their end. Fine, I'll grant your wish and send you both to your graves!"

As Higuma's words hung in the air,

Lin Mo interjected, "Isn't there a line?"

The villagers fell silent, no one daring to utter a word.

Silence was taken as consent.

Lin Mo turned to Higuma, "You're late to the party. Get in line behind me."

With that, Lin Mo nonchalantly strolled past Higuma.

A collective gasp rose from the crowd.

All eyes were on Lin Mo as he reached the cart brimming with liquor.

"How much for a jar?" Lin Mo inquired.

Taken aback, Shannan automatically responded, "Fifty Berries a jar..."

Without fuss, Lin Mo handed over two Berries to Shannan.

He then grabbed a jar, uncorked it, and took a swig in front of everyone.

"Not bad," Lin Mo nodded in approval.

Higuma's face turned a shade of green, his glare fixed on Lin Mo with venomous intensity.

Lin Mo paid him no mind and turned to a still-dumbfounded Zoro and Guina, "You two, weren't you supposed to be buying me wine?"

Snapping out of their daze, they hastily set down their shinai and hurried over.

Higuma pressed his sword to Lin Mo's neck, his voice dripping with irritation, "Hey, kid, who said you could buy wine!"

Lin Mo gave him a cool glance, "Take your sword away."

Against all expectations, Higuma actually withdrew his sword.

In the blink of an eye, a malicious glint appeared in his eyes as he swung his sword toward Lin Mo's neck.

"Ah, Lin Mo, run for it!"

"This is it, the kid's done for."

"Can anyone save this boy? Where's Koshiro? Mr. Koshiro, is it too late to call for him now?"

Their ears were filled with the anxious cries of the villagers.

Zoro and Guina both broke into a cold sweat.

Lin Mo, however, stepped back just in time as Higuma's blade nearly grazed his neck.

The sword's tip missed his throat by less than half a centimeter.

A spasm of irritation flickered across Higuma's face. When had he ever been so dulled, especially by a mere kid?

Now, he was seething with rage.

"You little pest! You're begging for death!" Higuma snarled, lifting his sword with a vengeance, poised to strike Lin Mo down.

Yet Lin Mo paid him no mind, turning instead to Zoro and Guina, "Time to buy some wine."

"Seriously? You're thinking about drinking at a time like this?"

Despite her words, Guina dutifully handed over the money and, together with Zoro, each hoisted a jar of wine.