One year after the dissolution of the Roger Pirates.
Sabaody Archipelago.
"Yi-ge, have we saved enough money by now?" Shanks asked, munching on some food while walking behind Fang Yi.
"Yeah~~ I think we're close. Based on the price Kiki mentioned for the Treasure Tree, Adam, we should have just enough saved up," Fang Yi, leading the way, nodded in reply.
"I don't get it... How big a ship are you planning to build that we need this much Beli?!" Buggy grumbled, dragging along two unconscious pirates, pouting in frustration.
They had been living in Shakky's bar on the archipelago for the past year. When they weren't training with Rayleigh to grow stronger, Fang Yi and Shanks helped capture bounty targets. Buggy, being the only one among the three not yet wanted by the Marines, would turn them in for bounty money.
As a result, Buggy had become somewhat well-known in the bounty-hunting circles.
"Yi-ge, it's almost been a year. I wonder how the captain is doing now," Shanks asked with a hint of worry in his eyes as he walked beside Fang Yi.
"Mhm." Over the past year, Fang Yi had grown taller again and no longer looked like a child. He was beginning to take on the form of a young man.
The three of them arrived at the local Marine branch. Buggy went in to exchange their latest captures for bounty money, since he was the only one without a bounty himself.
"How'd it go?" Shanks asked with a grin when Buggy came back out.
"Got the goods!" Buggy replied with a smile, patting the box in his hand.
Claiming bounties from the Marines was simple. As long as the identity was confirmed, the Marines paid up—but only if the target was alive. Just the head would net much less money.
That's why the three of them rarely killed anyone. They'd just knock their targets out and let Buggy deliver them.
"Let's stop by and grab some liquor for Mr. Rayleigh on the way home. We've been staying at their place for a whole year—it feels kind of bad," Fang Yi chuckled.
"Tch! That old man's booze for the whole year has been on us. What's there to feel bad about?" Buggy scoffed.
"Hahaha… Buggy, you know what Mr. Rayleigh is like. Unlike us, he's already settled into retirement and isn't going to go looking for trouble," Fang Yi said, amused.
Buggy rolled his eyes and muttered, "Yeah, right! Didn't he just wreck that slave market a few days ago?"
"Hmph! Those guys had it coming for selling slaves in broad daylight. Even if Mr. Rayleigh hadn't done anything, I'd have taken them out myself sooner or later!" Shanks said coldly.
"Anyway, let's not worry about that now. There are only a few days left until the date we agreed on with the captain. Let's stay in Sister Kiki's shop until then and avoid going out," Fang Yi said, shaking his head with a smile.
The three chatted as they made their way back to Shakky's bar, but as they approached the entrance, something felt off.
"Huh? Trouble?" Fang Yi frowned. He could already hear yelling and rowdy laughter from inside.
"You old hag! Just one drink, and you're charging this much?! What kind of scam bar is this?!" a rough voice shouted inside.
"Who the hell is making a scene in Sister Kiki's bar? Got a death wish?" Fang Yi demanded as the three of them stormed in.
"What's this? A brat trying to be a hero? Scram before I mess you up too!" snarled a burly, bearded man, glaring menacingly at Fang Yi.
"Wait... Captain! Look at that guy... isn't that... gulp... that bounty hunter... Buggy the Clown?" one of the pirates beside him stammered, fear written all over his face.
The big guy's forehead started sweating instantly. He'd recognized Buggy, too. But not wanting to lose face in front of his underlings, he shouted back, "So what if he's Buggy the Clown?! I've got a 12-million-Beri bounty! You think I'd be afraid of him?!"
"Gahahaha… You made it to the Sabaody Archipelago with a 12-million bounty? Seriously? How the hell did you even get here? Has the first half of the Grand Line fallen this far?" Buggy mocked, full of flair.
The pirate gulped audibly. But he had no choice now—he couldn't back down. Gritting his teeth, he shouted, "Boys! Take them out!"
"Hmph." Shanks let out a cold snort—his Conqueror's Haki exploded through the bar, knocking out more than half the pirate crew instantly.
"Wh-what the hell?!" Their captain staggered, clueless about what had just happened. His head spun in confusion.
"Alright, Buggy, take it outside. Make it quick. Don't dirty Sister Kiki's bar. And don't bother bringing him to the Marines—a 12-million bounty isn't worth it," Fang Yi said, not even interested in making a move himself.
"Gahaha! Fine by me! If you guys don't want him, I'll take him. Not sharing the bounty, though!" Buggy grinned. He was starting to enjoy this bounty hunter thing.
"All yours," Fang Yi shrugged, then turned to Shakky with a smile. "Mr. Rayleigh not around again? And I even brought him some nice liquor today."
"Ah~ that guy said he was going out for a walk. I heard some cute young girls recently came to the island, so he went to check things out," Shakky replied, smoking her cigarette with a chuckle.
"Sister Kiki, you need to keep an eye on Mr. Rayleigh! He's married and still this shameless! If we were still on the ship, I bet Teacher Yamon would've knocked some sense into him!" Fang Yi said, shaking his head.
"Hahaha… I can't control him," Shakky said, totally unfazed. "By the way, Shanks, your Conqueror's Haki is getting sharper."
"I've still got a long way to go. Compared to Mr. Rayleigh and the captain, I'm not even close. If I was stronger, we wouldn't need Buggy to handle that guy just now," Shanks said with some embarrassment.
"Don't compare yourself to them—they're way older. At your age, neither of them had your level of strength," Shakky said warmly.
"Yo~ it's lively in here today!" A man in ordinary clothes and glasses walked in with a smile.
"Mr. Rayleigh..." Fang Yi and Shanks both stood and greeted him respectfully.
"No need to be so formal—we're not strangers," Rayleigh waved his hand. Then he raised a brow. "What's Buggy doing outside?"
Shanks quickly explained the earlier incident.
"He's becoming quite the name, huh? You guys planning to stay bounty hunters?" Rayleigh chuckled.
As for the troublemakers? He hadn't paid them any mind. Even without Fang Yi and the others, those guys would never be a match for Shakky.
Shakky was no pushover—she'd been a pirate in the same era as Rayleigh. Unfortunately, her crew was destroyed in an ambush by the Marines. She barely escaped with her life and later settled here, opening her intelligence shop.
"Come on, you know that's not it. We're just waiting for the captain to return. Once everything's settled, we'll start our crew," Fang Yi said with a light smile.
"Hahaha… Well then, I look forward to your name shaking the world!" Rayleigh laughed.
"What's everyone laughing about?" A voice rang out—familiar, yet slightly changed.
"Captain!" Fang Yi and Shanks stood up in excitement, staring at the man entering the shop.
"Old friend, long time no see..." Roger stood at the door, grinning broadly at a stunned Rayleigh.
"Yeah… long time no see, Captain," Rayleigh replied, visibly moved but quickly composing himself.
"Gwahahaha! Fang Yi, Shanks! Long time no see! But don't call me captain anymore—the Roger Pirates are no more," Roger said with a grin.
"Captain is still captain. It doesn't matter if the crew's disbanded. That's a fact—even if you don't acknowledge it," Fang Yi said seriously, stepping forward to hug Roger.
The system chimed again: "Congratulations, check-in successful: Gol D. Roger."
Shanks nodded vigorously in agreement.
Roger smiled but didn't argue.
The four of them spent the evening drinking and catching up, recounting stories from the past year. After serving food, Shakky quietly left to give them space.
Later, when Buggy returned and saw Roger, he immediately burst into tears.
They had a joyful reunion that night. The next morning, Fang Yi finally asked:
"Captain, what's the plan with Barrett?"
"I'm going to turn myself in. I'll trade myself to the Marines in exchange for Barrett's release. They'll agree for sure," Roger said with a calm smile.
Only Fang Yi had mentally prepared for this. The others were stunned.
"Captain, what are you talking about? We can think of another way to save Barrett—it doesn't have to be like this."
"I don't have long to live."
Roger cut Shanks off, still smiling.
"Using the life of a dying man to secure Barrett's future… that's a hell of a deal, don't you think?"
He laughed lightly, as if his impending death meant nothing.
Captain... Fang Yi, Shanks, and Buggy all fell silent, their mood instantly darkening. Even Rayleigh had no words.