At the same time.
In a tavern with marine-themed decor.
On the stage, a beautiful and graceful mermaid girl was performing a passionate dance.
Shano sat in an inconspicuous corner, holding a newspaper in one hand and sipping a cocktail with the other, appearing very relaxed.
Clearly, the tavern was doing well, yet the seats around Shano were all vacant.
The pirates drinking there would rather squeeze next to burly men than come near him. No one even dared look in his direction.
Some timid ones had already paid in advance and fled.
"Almost two billion, huh?"
Shano put down the newspaper and took a sip of his drink.
No wonder they were so scared. For the average pirate, a bounty like this was just as intimidating as the Four Emperors.
And the title "World's No. 1 Swordsman" was far more terrifying than "Tachi Swordsman."
The Navy's intentions were obvious.
Could it be that Hawkeye was really lured here?
Also, everyone's bounty had increased a lot—including Nami's. Looks like she wouldn't be disappointed.
He raised his head and glanced at the hospital across the street.
He was sitting here because of a powerful aura he had sensed entering the hospital. It would be difficult to meet the person directly inside.
So instead, he waited outside—enjoying a drink and reflecting on his recent gains.
His gaze fell on the dark blue system panel that appeared before him:
[You sacrificed the broken arm of Pluto Rayleigh and got 5500 points]
[You sacrificed the cowboy hat of Chaton Kaji and got 2200 points]
[You sacrificed the hairpin of mermaid Camie and got 100 points]
The right hand of the Pirate King's right-hand man really was valuable.
Kaji's was decent too.
As for Camie… he had only run into her on the street.
The poor little mermaid girl, who in the original timeline was kidnapped and sold to Sabaody as a slave and attracted the attention of the Celestial Dragons, was only twelve now. Her family seemed poor, and she was already selling ice cream on the streets.
Someone like her wasn't even worth targeting anymore for Shano.
But his muscle memory betrayed him—he had snatched her hairpin just walking past her and sacrificed it before realizing it.
He almost slapped himself.
Damn me!
As compensation, he bought out her whole cart and gave it to the surrounding mermaid children who had been eyeing the ice cream eagerly.
Anyway.
His guilt had eased a little, and his total points rose from 41,200 to 49,000.
As for when he'd break 50,000...
"It's now."
Shano turned off the system panel and looked up calmly.
As expected, several figures were approaching.
The leader wore glasses and had a gentle and elegant demeanor—if you ignored the bizarre pineapple-shaped hairstyle...
"Hey, hey! It really is you, Brother Shano!"
Marco's eyes lit up with joy. He laughed and pulled out a chair to sit across from him.
"I just walked out of the hospital and felt a terrifyingly strong aura. If it weren't unfamiliar, I would've thought Jinbei was back..."
"I saw your ship earlier and got curious, so I came to take a look."
Shano nodded frankly and smiled, snapping his fingers for the bartender to bring more drinks.
"I just didn't expect the leader to be you—Marco, the famous Whitebeard veteran, captain of the first division... but aren't you being a little too enthusiastic?"
"Ah, sorry, I probably did overreact."
Marco scratched his head sheepishly.
"It's just that we've been seeing you in the newspapers a lot lately. Every time my dad reads something about you, he praises you so much that I kinda feel like you're already one of us. So when I saw you, I just got excited, haha..."
"Whitebeard praises me?"
Shano raised his glass in amusement. "He praised me multiple times? What for?"
"Totally true!" Marco laughed.
"He said you're just his type—reminds him a lot of Oden!"
Pfffft!
Shano spat out his drink.
Marco blinked behind dripping glasses, wiped his face, and laughed bitterly.
"Geez, bro, was that really necessary?"
"Sorry, sorry."
Shano handed him tissues, his mouth twitching.
"But who? Who did you say I reminded him of? Oden? Kozuki Oden?"
"Yeah."
Marco put his glasses back on and blinked.
"Dad said you're just like him—crazy powerful at a young age, rushing to help people in need, and brushing off the World Government's offers."
"..." Shano didn't know what to say.
Is the mold you use that forgiving?
Whatever.
He actually had a decent impression of Marco. The guy was sincere, and Shano didn't feel like badmouthing Oden in front of him.
Just then, the bartender brought over a tray of cocktails. Shano nodded to have them distributed, then turned his gaze to the others.
Aside from Marco, there were only three more.
One was a stranger, probably an ordinary crew member—stoic and quiet. The two exchanged polite nods.
Another was a tall, shark-like fishman who looked familiar and pale.
And the last one—
"Hahahahaha!!!"
A big man with several missing teeth lifted his glass and grinned widely.
"Thanks for the drink, Brother Shano—no, someone like you who's admired by my dad deserves more respect. I should call you Lord Shano! I'm an old crewmate of Captain Oden—Marshall Teach. Just call me Teach!"
"Nice to meet you, Teach."
Shano gave a bright, sincere smile.
Then he looked at the shark-like fishman.
"I'm Namur, Lord Shano."
The fishman gave a weak smile.
"Captain of the eighth division. I won't drink this wine—still recovering from an illness. Sorry. Marco and Teach accompanied me here for treatment."
"I can tell," Shano said, glancing at the medicine pile in Namur's hands.
"Namur has a rare blood disease, one that only affects fishmen and mermaids. We've tried everything," Marco explained.
"Luckily, Teach had the idea to visit Fishman Island. And sure enough, the doctors here had a specific cure. A full recovery after a course of treatment!"
"Yeah..." Namur nodded gratefully. "It's all thanks to Teach and Marco…"
"Hahaha!"
Teach scratched his head shyly.
"Partners should help each other. It's nothing! You can just buy me a drink later, like Lord Shano here!"
The guy even blushed.
Honestly, the best actors are the ones who believe their own performance.
Shano was impressed and sipped his wine just as a commotion broke out outside.
"Hey! Is this for real?"
"A whale wearing a crown—that vehicle... no mistake!"
"His Majesty, the Sea God, is walking among us!"
Shano, Marco, and the others looked out.
The street fishmen bowed in awe.
A massive figure swam closer—more than ten meters tall. It was Neptune, king of Fishman Island.
Crown on head, trident in hand, his solemn appearance truly resembled a Sea God—until he bent to enter the tavern—
BANG!
Neptune slammed his head against the door. His crown flew off.
"With that ten-meter frame, don't even think about entering, Your Majesty," Marco muttered, picking up the crown.
Neptune rubbed his swollen forehead.
"Whitebeard's people have come, led by Marco himself. How could Neptune not greet them personally? That would be too rude!"
Just as Shano was about to roast him for referring to himself in third person, Neptune turned and saw him.
He paused, then gave a surprised look and bowed slightly:
"So you're also on Fishman Island? It's a pleasure to meet you, Lord Shano."
Look at this guy.
He can't act for his life.
Shano had already seen the guards react in panic at the entrance valve and send messengers to report up the chain...
"Pleasure's mine."
Shano smiled. The man clearly didn't want to offend him. No need to expose him.
Neptune was thrilled.
So this terrifying pirate was actually quite easygoing!
Maybe his reputation was exaggerated!
He coughed and regained composure.
"Captain Marco, I heard of your arrival. I must host you at Ryugu Palace."
He turned to Shano.
"To meet you here is fate. You seem to be getting along well with Captain Marco—may I extend the same invitation to you?"
The surrounding fishmen and mermaids gasped.
"Ryugu Castle?!"
"As expected of Whitebeard's men and the World's No. 1 Swordsman…"
Marco and Namur exchanged smiles.
"Then we'll gratefully accept."
Whitebeard owed Neptune, and this much face made it hard to refuse.
Shano also smiled: "Since His Majesty is so kind, I'll accept."
Who would refuse wool being delivered to the door?
"Please, follow me."
They exited the tavern under the envious eyes of onlookers.
...
Not long after, they arrived at the palace.
The grand structure carried ancient majesty. Schools of colorful fish swam past, and dragon statues adorned the roof.
It all felt so familiar...
Shano looked up.
No trace of the Poseidon relic.
But—what's that?
A black dot was rapidly approaching.
Whoosh!
A massive axe flew forward, cutting through the bubble shield, turning through the corridors, and heading straight for a side hall.
Shano frowned, flashed forward, and kicked.
CRACK!
The axe stopped mid-air and shattered into pieces.
"..."
Neptune turned around and his expression darkened.
"What's wrong, Your Majesty?" Marco asked.
"Just... a training accident," Neptune said, forcing a smile. "A soldier must have messed up."
"Thanks for the help, Lord Shano."
"I'll accept the thanks, but... Your Majesty, isn't that excuse a bit lame?" Shano smiled. "You don't want to be honest? It's fine by me—but then we're not leaving peacefully. Right, Marco?"
"Right!" Marco echoed immediately.
"With Father's bond with you, why treat us like outsiders?"
The others joined in with their complaints.
"This…"
Neptune finally sighed.
"It's a long story. Let's talk during the banquet."
...
At the feast table.
After hearing Neptune's explanation, everyone was furious.
"That creep Vanda Decken has been harassing Princess Shirahoshi for years?!"
"And now he's throwing weapons at her just because she won't respond?!"
"Your Majesty, you should've told us earlier!"
"I couldn't ask for your help when I've already received so much," Neptune said bitterly.
"And that guy is tough—he hides deep in the sea and never shows up. Even Jinbei has searched for half a month without finding him."
"What a disgusting coward…"
Even Marco and the others looked troubled.
Shano popped a grape into his mouth and thought.
In the original timeline, Decken showed himself out of ambition and tried teaming up with Hody Jones.
But if he just keeps hiding, he's impossible to find.
Even with Haki and underwater movement, Shano couldn't beat the local fishmen's terrain knowledge.
Even Jinbei couldn't catch him...
Muir, the fishman captain, looked frustrated and helpless.
"There is another way," Shano suddenly said.
"Huh?"
Everyone looked at him.
"If it's hard to deal with the source, then we handle the target."
He smiled.
"Give Shirahoshi a Logia-type Devil Fruit. Then she can dodge any attack by becoming an element—she won't have to hide or be afraid anymore."
That's it!
Neptune's eyes lit up.
Right! Even if Decken had Haki, he couldn't infuse it into weapons thrown from so far away!
And if she became intangible, she'd be safe!
She'd lose her swimming ability, sure—but better than being a prisoner!
"Thank you, Lord Shano!"
He turned to Marco, "If you find any Logia Fruit, let me know. No matter the cost, I'll buy it!"
"We'll try," Marco nodded. "But it could take time…"
"No need."
Shano's voice cut in again.
"I've got one right here."
He smiled, opened a bag, and dumped out three Devil Fruits.
The first one to roll to a stop was the Sand-Sand Fruit.
And then...
Teach's eyes widened. His expression froze.
Boom.
He stared blankly at the Devil Fruit. All color drained from his surroundings—except for that single purple fruit.
Boom, boom.
Could it be?
It looked just like the photo in his memories. The pattern was only slightly different...
But surely that didn't matter, right?
This had to be it.
It had to be it!
Boom, boom, boom...
All sound disappeared—except the deafening drumbeat of his own heart.
Boom. Boom! Boom Boom! BOOM BOOM BOOM!