Sabaody Archipelago, District 13 — Shakedown Bar.
After the disbandment of the Roger Pirates years ago, Rayleigh and Shakky had drifted here and eventually opened this little bar together.
As for whether the Navy knew Rayleigh was here… they probably did.
They just pretended not to.
After all, to capture someone of his caliber would require several top-tier fighters—and the collateral damage alone would be unimaginable.
Or perhaps Roger had negotiated something with the Navy before he turned himself in.
Either way, Rayleigh had lived here peacefully for years now, without major trouble.
Behind the counter, Shakky was busy as usual. When she heard the door creak open, she looked up to see Rayleigh return.
"Lost everything again?"
She didn't even hesitate before asking.
But she quickly noticed something was off about his expression.
"What's wrong?"
Rayleigh sat down at the counter and motioned for a bottle.
"Looks like we might have a little problem coming our way," he said after taking a swig.
"What kind of problem?"
Shakky froze.
For Rayleigh to say that—it had to be something serious.
"I ran into a few people. One of them was Mihawk."
"The world's greatest swordsman?"
As an information broker, Shakky knew Mihawk well.
"That man's not to be taken lightly. Shanks mentioned him once."
Rayleigh nodded faintly.
At the casino, the way Mihawk had looked at him had been… unsettling.
He could tell the swordsman had been itching to draw his blade right then and there.
"Wait—if I recall correctly, Mihawk's currently traveling with that Don fellow, isn't he? Along with some guy who can summon meteors."
Shakky frowned thoughtfully.
"Don, huh? Another troublesome man."
Rayleigh sighed.
He hadn't met Don himself, but Crocus at Twin Cape had once mentioned an encounter with him—and apparently, Don had even said his name out loud.
Not only that—he'd fought against two Marine Admirals.
And he wasn't even a pirate… but a bounty hunter.
"That man who can summon meteors—I think I saw him too," Rayleigh murmured, recalling the blind man sitting at the casino table.
"So the intel was real," Shakky said, lighting a cigarette. "I also got word that Don had landed here on Sabaody recently… though it seems he's already left again."
Her tone grew heavy.
Three people like that showing up together—no power or faction could afford to ignore it.
"I just can't figure out what they're after. Don's a bounty hunter, Mihawk's a Warlord of the Sea—what business do those two have together?"
Rayleigh downed the rest of his drink and set the bottle down with a thud.
"Mihawk's easier to read. He loves dueling swordsmen. That's how he became friends with Shanks."
"Hmm, that does make sense."
Rayleigh nodded.
"But Don… he's had dealings with more than one Warlord. Back in Alabasta, he was seen with Crocodile."
Shakky rifled through her mental catalog of intel.
"Is that so?" Rayleigh mused, eyes narrowing with thought.
The more he heard about this Don, the less he understood the man.
"Don't forget," Shakky added, "he's also met Monkey D. Garp—more than once, too."
Rayleigh exhaled slowly. "Then maybe it really is trouble this time."
"Maybe, maybe not," he said after a pause. "I've been retired for years now. Maybe they're just passing through—heading for the New World."
"Or maybe they're here for you," Shakky said evenly. "You are the Dark King, former right hand of the Pirate King."
Her tone was half teasing, half wary.
But the tension in the air was unmistakable.
If these men truly were coming for Rayleigh, it could only mean one thing
a fight.
Because when pirates meet… it almost always ends in a clash.
Rayleigh groaned, running a hand through his silvery hair.
"Ah, what a pain."
"Still, they might not even know you're here," Shakky offered.
But before her words finished leaving her lips, Rayleigh suddenly stood, turning sharply toward the entrance.
"They're here."
He shot Shakky a knowing look.
She had just said they wouldn't find him—and here they were already.
"My sword?" he asked.
Shakky pursed her lips, put out her cigarette, and reached under the counter.
With a sigh, she placed a sheathed blade on top of it.
A moment later, the bar's closed door swung open.
Enel poked his head inside first, eyes darting curiously around before stepping aside.
Then Mihawk entered, long sword strapped to his back, followed by Issho, his head bowed slightly as he walked in.
"Silvers Rayleigh," Mihawk said flatly—his hand already moving to the hilt of his blade.
"You really plan to start a fight here? What'll you do if Don returns and finds the bar wrecked?" Issho said quietly without even looking at him.
Mihawk froze mid-motion, then glanced at Issho… and at Rayleigh.
After a moment, he released his grip on the hilt.
Both Rayleigh and Shakky blinked in surprise.
That tone—those words…
Did that mean Mihawk had joined Don's crew?
"My apologies," Issho said, stepping forward to face them.
"We're here to wait for someone. It might cause you some inconvenience for the next few days."
He spoke seriously, his demeanor calm but respectful.
Rayleigh and Shakky exchanged a look.
Shakky lit another cigarette.
"And if I say no?" she asked.
Issho's expression didn't change.
"If you don't allow it, we'll wait outside. Our meeting point with Don is this bar."
"This bar?" Rayleigh repeated, blinking.
"Yes," Issho nodded. "When we arrived on Sabaody, Don had something else to take care of. He told the three of us to disembark first and meet him later here—at Shakedown Bar."
His tone was firm, and he seemed to be telling the truth.
"What's your goal here?" Rayleigh asked, eyes narrowing slightly as he glanced between them—his gaze lingering on the tall, silent man scanning the bar's interior.
Whatever these people were up to, it was far from simple.
"I can't say," Issho replied. "Only Don can answer that."
"I see," Rayleigh said after a pause. "Then wait if you must—but I'm not offering you lodging."
"That's fine," Issho replied with a small smile. "Just some food and drink will do."
Shakky snorted. "My stuff doesn't come cheap, you know."
Issho chuckled. "No problem. I won quite a bit at the casino these past few days."
At that, Rayleigh's expression darkened instantly.
So he was the reason for his empty pockets tonight.
"Shrimp-hearted bastard," he muttered under his breath.
END OF CHAPTER
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