As twilight deepened, the neon signs of the Sabaody Archipelago began to glow, painting the streets in an otherworldly light. Amidst the play of shadows, a worn wooden sign stood out.
"Shakky's… Rip-off… BAR."
Robin stopped, tilting her head to carefully read the slightly faded words. Her brow furrowed slightly. As a scholar who always chose caution, she was naturally suspicious of any shop that so boldly advertised itself as a "Rip-off."
"Master," she turned to the dark-haired youth beside her, her voice rational as always, "The name of this place is truly too suspicious. I think we should find somewhere more reliable."
Takuro, however, seemed to have found something interesting, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Oh, really?" A playful smile touched his lips. "I'd like to see exactly how this shop rips people off."
With that, he pushed open the wooden door without hesitation. The hinges let out a soft creak, both inviting and warning all who entered.
"Please wait!" Robin tried to stop him again, but Takuro had already walked in. She could only sigh in resignation, sharing a worried look with Tiger who was standing nearby, and quickly followed him.
The moment they stepped inside, a complex but inviting scent enveloped them. The rich aroma of aged whiskey, the subtle elegance of cedarwood, and a faint hint of tobacco smoke blended beautifully in the air. Warm, yellow light spilled from the ceiling, casting a soft, dappled glow on the dark wooden floor.
However, the peaceful scene was quickly shattered by a rude commotion.
"One hundred thousand Berries?! For this bottle of garbage liquor?! Why don't you just rob us outright?!"
At the bar counter, several drunken pirates were aggressively slamming empty bottles onto the surface, making a loud, grating noise. The leader was a fierce, one-eyed man with a nasty scar across his face. He pointed at the elegant proprietress behind the bar, roaring with spit flying:
"You old hag! This isn't a bar, it's a black market den!"
"Exactly! You think we're easy targets, huh?!" shouted one of his crewmates.
"Let me tell you something," another chimed in, "not only are we not paying today, but you also owe us compensation for emotional distress!"
The one-eyed pirate forced a fierce, menacing grin, revealing a mouth full of crooked, yellow teeth: "Otherwise... we'll smash this whole dump to pieces!"
Facing these aggressive threats, the proprietress, Shakky, didn't even blink. She calmly lit a slender cigarette, took a slow, deep drag, and exhaled a perfect smoke ring. Her graceful composure was a stark contrast to the crude pirates before her.
"Gentlemen," her voice carried the laid-back charm unique to mature women, "it seems your pockets aren't very deep, are they?"
"That's fine," she said, flicking the ash lightly, a faint smile on her lips. "Our rules here are quite flexible."
"If you can't pay, you're welcome to stay and work off your debt."
"Work?! You want us to work for you?!"
The pirates looked deeply insulted and erupted immediately. The alcohol had completely stripped them of their common sense; their faces were flushed red, and veins pulsed on their necks.
"You refuse a simple drink, so now you'll pay with blood! Today, you're going to witness the power of our Blood Wolf Pirate Crew!"
The one-eyed man grabbed an empty bottle, ready to smash it toward Shakky's still-smiling face—
In that very instant, a swift figure appeared silently beside him like a ghost. A strong, calloused hand firmly caught the descending bottle. The movement was so quick it was dazzling.
"Gentlemen," Rayleigh said, a kind smile on his face, but a sharp glint in his eyes. "If you've had too much to drink, go home and get some rest. Don't cause trouble here."
"Old man! You dare interfere with the Blood Wolf Pirate Crew's business?!"
Seeing that their challenger was just an ordinary white-haired old man, the pirates grew even more arrogant. They exchanged sneering looks.
"Let me tell you, if you don't fork over ten million Berries right now, this isn't over!"
"Sigh…" Rayleigh was about to offer them more advice when his expression suddenly turned serious.
He slowly turned his head, his gaze shooting toward the bar's entrance like a flash of lightning. A hint of barely noticeable caution flickered in his slightly tipsy eyes.
Takuro swaggered in with Robin and Tiger. He found a spot near the bar counter and sat down as if the place were empty, casually propping his legs on the table's edge, looking completely relaxed.
Tiger placed the heavy treasure chest he was carrying on the floor with a loud "thump," the sound suggesting immense wealth.
The pirates surrounding Rayleigh immediately forgot about the old man, their greedy eyes fixed on the chest overflowing with Berries.
They exchanged glances and instantly abandoned the "decrepit old man," redirecting their attention to these new, "rich but stupid" targets.
"Hey! Kid!" The one-eyed man and his crewmates stumbled over. "Can't you see we're in the middle of something important?"
Takuro didn't even bother to lift an eyelid, treating the pirates as if they were nothing more than annoying insects. He simply gave an order to Tiger next to him:
"Tiger."
"Yes, Mr. Takuro!"
"Kid! You son of a—"
Seeing themselves utterly ignored, the pirates instantly flew into a rage and prepared to attack. However, Tiger was much faster.
The brawny Fishman executed a clean, swift Fishman Karate move—simple, direct, yet containing astonishing power.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
The previously arrogant pirates were sent flying as if struck by a heavy truck. Each one crashed into the wall, spitting foam, and then slid limply to the floor.
Tiger dragged them all out of the bar like sacks of garbage. The whole process was smooth and finished in the blink of an eye.
The bar fell completely silent. The other patrons stared in shock at the scene, forgetting to even lift their drinks.
After all the chaos, Takuro slowly turned his attention to the beautiful proprietress behind the counter, who had remained calm throughout. He observed the charming lady with interest, noting the brief flicker of amusement in her eyes.
"Hey, Boss," he tapped the table, his tone casual and relaxed. "I'm hungry."
"Bring me all your best wine and all your meat."
Shakky calmly took a drag from her cigarette and pointed to the price list on the wall: "It's not cheap here, you know? Young man, would you like to check the prices before ordering?"
"Money isn't an issue," Takuro said, waving his hand dismissively. "Just bring the food quickly."
A subtle smile appeared in Shakky's eyes. She said nothing more and turned to prepare the order. Her elegant silhouette looked especially captivating under the lights, as if the recent disturbance had never happened.
Meanwhile, Rayleigh's gaze seemed magnetically drawn to Nico Robin, who was sitting quietly next to Takuro. His eyes gleamed with barely concealed curiosity and deep contemplation.
His eyes lingered on Robin's young face, as if he were searching for something, or perhaps confirming a long-held suspicion.
The atmosphere in the bar suddenly grew strange. The remaining few customers seemed to sense the tension and quickly paid their tabs before leaving.
Just then, Takuro's warning voice rang out, cold and sharp, breaking the delicate silence:
"Hey, old man."
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable sense of menace.
"…Keep your eyes to yourself."
Hearing this, Rayleigh calmly withdrew his gaze, a meaningful smile spreading across his face. He raised his wine glass, made a small gesture toward Takuro, and then tipped his head back, draining the contents.
"Looks like we have a rare guest…"
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