Alvida was in disbelief, as well as feeling humiliated and dejected. She couldn't believe that she, the beautiful and powerful Alvida "Iron Mace", had been defeated by... by a stupid boy!
When she remembered the young face with black hair and eyes under that ridiculous straw hat, the woman felt her anger rising again, so much so that she was forced to throw the beer mug against the wall of the room with a frustrated cry, shattering it and making startle those present; however, no one dared to say anything to her, too intimidated by her fame and by the enormous and lethal iron club next to her. In the silence that followed, only a young male voice dared to speak up, accompanied by a derisive laugh: - Wow Alvida, it seems like you've had a bad day, huh? -.
- Rizzy... -, Alvida let out a frustrated sigh as she noticed that familiar presence approaching her, - It's not really a good time, so scram! -, she ordered him angrily, but the young man with black hair, unruly and as long as his back, simply sat next to her without worrying about it. - Calm down darling, I'm not here to bother you, on the contrary! I got you a present -, he smiled kindly at her, placing a square-shaped package on the table.
The woman gave him an annoyed look, but her curiosity and the fact that she knew that the boy had no interest in getting her into trouble given their past convinced her to take a look at the contents of the package; her eyes widened, her red-painted mouth opened into a satisfied grin, even if a hint of uncertainty and suspicion suggested her to be cautious and made her slowly push the "gift" away from her.
- What do you need in return? -, she inquired, fixing her dark eyes on Rizzy, trying to notice the slightest trace of deception.
The brunette feigned a wounded expression, placing a hand over his heart:
- Alvida! You hurt my feelings... Do you think I can give you a gift and expect something in return? -.
- You always do, Rizzy. Nothing is free for you - she replied, and after a few seconds of silence the boy had to nod knowingly. - Okay, you're right. I never give anything for nothing, it's true. But not this time - he reiterated, lightly pushing the package towards the woman again - I heard what happened days ago. It must have been really bad for you to have been abused like that. Is it true that you left your crew? -, he asked, not caring that he was putting salt on an open wound, turning towards the bartender and ordering two more mugs for them.
Alvida's eyes glared at him, but nevertheless the woman had to nod: - Yes, I needed some time to be alone... And above all I need better men who can support me in my revenge, not like that gang of incompetents I had before -.
- Seems reasonable enough -, commented Rizzy, calmly sipping the beer that had just arrived and waiting for the woman to do the same, before asking her another question, - Why don't you tell me something more anyway? Who was the degenerate who dared to put you in trouble? -.
- A young boy... -, Alvida confessed, gritting her teeth, - A stupid braggart with black hair, a stupid face and a stupid straw hat on his head! -.
- Are you serious? -, Rizzy let out a surprised exclamation, accompanied by an incredulous laugh, - Did you let a kid beat you? But how? -.
- He wasn't just any kid, you idiot! He had Devil Fruit powers. None of my blows with the club seemed to have any effect on him, his body was like it was made of rubber! -.
At the woman's response, Rizzy's smile died on his face, while his dark eyes and his expression suddenly became serious.
- Made of rubber? In the sense that he could stretch as he wanted? -, even his voice had lost the joking tone of a few moments before, hiding a strange and indecipherable note.
- Exactly... why, you know him? -, Alvida looked at him questioningly, amazed at that sudden change in mood. Rizzy never seemed troubled by anything, no matter what news was told to him or what secrets he learned about while hanging out in the various bars on the islands; yet at that moment it seemed as if she had just told him that the world would end the next day.
- I guess... -, the young man drank again, his gaze lost in an imprecise point in front of him; then he jumped up, placing some coins on the table and pointing to both those and the package: - Pay the bill and hurry up and take advantage of my gift Alvida. You'll need it from now on, trust me -.
- What are you talking about? HEY! -, Alvida watched him go away in amazement, unable to understand the meaning of those words; her gaze then moved to the contents in the box.
She slowly reached out for it, brought it in front of her face, weighing it and its possibilities.
One bite after another, she ingested the entire Devil Fruit.