Sandy leaned back in his chair, feet propped up on the desk, mulling over the list of factions that had been present in Loguetown at the time.
He was one of the seven overseers the Family had placed in the first half of the Grand Line, responsible for operations starting from Cactus Island onward.
And not only that—he was the chief of the seven. Most of the Family's affairs in the first half were his to decide, needing no further approval before being reported upward.
About a month ago, a small stronghold in East Blue had been looted. Of course, the Family knew about it.
Their style had always been clear—an eye for an eye. Revenge was inevitable. But because it was the East Blue, the weakest sea, they hadn't treated the matter with much weight.
What they hadn't expected was that the men sent for retaliation couldn't even find out who was behind it.
That caught Sandy's attention. He was confident that his intellect far outstripped most people's.
Even among the Family's officers, he believed only Vergo could truly rival him.
So he had assigned more men and approached the matter from the side instead. Eventually, his investigation revealed that a batch of weapons had suddenly entered the black market around that time.
Tracing further confirmed the weapons were their own manufacture. Inquiries at the Loguetown black market pointed to a blond man as the seller.
No photograph—only vague descriptions.
So Sandy obtained information from the local Marine base, listing all factions that had passed through Loguetown during that window. Cross-checking appearances, he narrowed it down to a few possible matches.
The biggest suspect? The man in the photo, now in his hand, is Rainer, the Straw Hat crew's logistician. At one point, Sandy had been almost certain.
And when he saw the Straw Hats' flag at the port just now—when his eyes landed on the blond man with glasses among them—his suspicion had flared instantly.
But then… he had contradicted himself.
Recalling the man's demeanor at the port, Sandy frowned.
Too weak.
The stronghold in East Blue had been managed by Kroc.
Kroc's strength wasn't particularly high in Sandy's eyes—but in East Blue, few could surpass him. Otherwise, he couldn't have run a base right under Smoker's nose.
Beating Kroc meant at least some competence. But according to Sandy's observation at the port, that blond man—Rainer—looked utterly fragile.
Combat skill wasn't something you could fake. Even the smallest detail in movement could betray battle experience.
And Rainer's every gesture screamed "non-combatant."
There's no way someone like him defeated Kroc.
If only my Observation Haki still worked…
The thought made Sandy sigh. He opened a drawer, took out a small box, and drew from it a short cigarette. He lit it, inhaled deeply, and in one drag consumed it to the butt.
"Cough, cough, cough!"
After a few heavy coughs, he leaned back in his chair, face easing into a look of indulgence as white smoke drifted from his lips.
Meanwhile, Rainer and the crew were wandering through the bustling streets of the city. They soon stopped in front of a massive, neon-lit castle-like building.
"Woooah, that's fancy!"
"This isn't an entertainment hall—it's a castle!"
"Looks crazy expensive too!"
Before them stood the most famous entertainment complex in the Hored Kingdom—Fevin Grand Pavilion. It offered dining, lodging, entertainment, and gambling, all under one roof.
"This makes Crocodile's Rain Dinners look modest," Rainer muttered in awe.
"Rain Dinners was actually modeled after this place," Robin explained with a soft laugh. "You didn't visit it while in Alabasta, did you? Well, here's your chance."
"Ugh, but it's gotta be pricey," Nami said nervously. The mention of spending money instantly sharpened her instincts.
Rainer grinned. Perfect timing for a bit of posturing. He patted Nami's shoulder, then his suitcase.
"Don't worry. We've got money. First, we'll get a few rooms, then later I'll hand out allowance money."
Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper immediately lifted him into the air, tossing him up in celebration.
"Rainer banzai!!"
"Banzai!!"
"Banzai!!"
"Honestly…" Nami sighed helplessly, but seeing everyone so excited, she didn't want to ruin the mood.
Fine. The funds are healthy anyway. A little relaxation won't hurt.
Her lips curved as she hooked her arm through Robin's. "Hehe, Robin, let's go shopping later."
Normally, Nami was frugal. She'd try expensive clothes, enjoy the thrill, then leave empty-handed before bargain-hunting elsewhere.
But with Rainer's money—and his habit of handing out random bonuses—she occasionally splurged on quality. Like the fur coat she and Vivi had bought on Drum Island, still tucked away like a treasure.
"Sure," Robin agreed warmly, glancing at Rainer still being tossed up and down. "The logistics officer is quite generous."
"Pfft, generous? He's just wasting money," Nami huffed, cheeks puffed.
Soon, they entered Fevin Grand Pavilion, walking past two rows of hostesses to the grand reception desk.
Rainer booked several rooms, and staff explained: the second floor was the casino, the third the restaurant, and more entertainment rose higher still.
Their rooms were on the eighth floor. A server led them to a small door in the corner.
When the server pressed a panel on the wall, the door slid open, revealing a confined space.
"Whoa, a secret mechanism?!" Luffy exclaimed in excitement.
The server's face tightened with disdain.
Another batch of country bumpkins who've never seen an elevator.
This wasn't the first time. The world was strange like that—some places had laser cannons, others lived like primitives.
Rainer noticed the sneer, but let it slide. Funny how someone in a service job could still look down on the people they served.
Nami, however, was seething. They had spent a fortune just to walk in, and now they were being treated like dirt.
It's just an elevator. Big deal. Not like I've seen one either…
The awkward ride ended when the group reached their rooms.
"Wait a moment," Rainer said before the server could leave.
He pulled out his wallet, pinched a coin between two fingers, and slipped it into the man's breast pocket with a warm smile.
"Here's your tip. Say thank you."
The coin? A total of… 20 Berries.
"You—! I—! This—!"
The server flushed scarlet. Twenty Berries?! An outright insult!
But forced to swallow his pride, he grit his teeth and squeezed out the words:
"Th-thank you, sir."
The crew stifled laughter. They hadn't forgotten the man's contempt earlier.
Luffy, oblivious as always, paid no mind. But the others were delighted.
"You're welcome," Rainer said mildly, only letting his smile drop once the furious server had left.
"Pffft—HAHAHA!"
"You're too cruel, Rainer," Usopp wheezed.
"Cruel? Please." Rainer rolled his eyes. "If I've got money, I must flaunt it. But if I've got money and still get sneered at? That's unacceptable."
Once inside the room, Rainer opened his suitcase and pulled out stacks of cash.
"Two million Berries each for tonight. If you run out, come back for more."
"Hold it right there!" Nami slapped away Luffy's eager hands, glaring.
"With these expensive rooms, that's twenty million Berries gone in one night!"
"Hmm, true…" Rainer pretended to think. Then he set aside one stack.
"Alright, Nami doesn't get any. That saves two million."
A moment later—DUANG!!
"Rainer, are you okay?"
"Serves you right."
"Shouldn't have pushed it."
Tears streamed down Rainer's face as he lay with a massive lump on his head. Wadaxi… I was flying too close to the sun…
In the end, he still gave everyone two million Berries each—a fortune for them at this stage.
But Rainer dismissed it. They hadn't seen what real money looked like. Not even he had—though he had hoped to, back when he planned to bleed Crocodile's casino dry.
But that dream had gone up in smoke—thanks to Smoker. The thought still made Rainer grit his teeth.
After allowances were handed out, the crew split up. Nami and Robin went off shopping.
"Oh, Nami," Rainer called before they left. "Pick up a few outfits for me if you see some."
His clothes had been feeling a bit snug lately. Perfect chance.
"Any requests?" Nami asked.
"Just the kind I usually wear."
She frowned, realizing something. "Come to think of it, you always wear the same style. I've never seen you switch it up."
The men on board mostly didn't care about fashion—except Rainer and Sanji.
But Rainer, unlike Sanji, had always stuck to one look: sea-blue shirt, beige slacks, and sometimes a matching blazer. He even owned a yellow tie, though he'd never worn it.
"Eh, just a way of remembering an old acquaintance," Rainer said offhandedly. Then, with a strange smile, he added:
"Oh, and if you see one—buy me a pair of overalls."
"…Overalls?"
"Yep."
"…Alright." Nami gave him a suspicious look, sure he was up to something weird again, but didn't press further. She turned and left with Robin.
That left the boys, who immediately set their sights on the casino.
Rainer could hardly wait. "Sanji, let's go! Time to—uh, play a few rounds!"Bunny girls, bunny girls~~