Rayleigh, the Dark King, unceremoniously grabbed an unopened bottle of rum from the table and skillfully popped off the cap. The amber liquid shimmered invitingly under the low light.
He first poured a generous measure into Takuro's empty glass, then slowly filled his own. His movements were smooth and calm, carrying the composure that only a seasoned old drunkard possesses.
"This is good liquor. Shakky's been hoarding it for ages," Rayleigh said, squinting as he sniffed the rich aroma. "She usually won't let me touch it. I'm only benefiting today because of you, young man."
Takuro raised his glass and downed the drink in one large gulp, wiping his mouth with a careless motion. "The taste is alright, but it's not strong enough. Where I come from, even three-year-olds drink liquor you can light on fire."
This exaggerated claim made Robin, who was sitting nearby, let out a soft chuckle. Tiger, however, nodded earnestly, as if noting down a crucial piece of universal knowledge.
The two men continued their casual conversation. They spoke about the unique "bubble culture" of the Sabaody Archipelago and the harsh customs of the bitter, cold lands of the North Blue. They exchanged interesting anecdotes from their voyages across the vast ocean and discussed the characteristics of fine wines from different regions.
Rayleigh's wealth of experience ensured the conversation never stalled. Takuro's occasionally bizarre tales of his "Saiyan homeland" also made the well-traveled old man burst into laughter.
"So, everyone from your planet can fly?" Rayleigh asked with genuine interest, unconsciously swirling the wine in his glass.
"Of course," Takuro declared, his expression completely straight. "On our Planet Vegeta, people who can't fly are too embarrassed to even leave their homes."
Tiger listened, utterly dumbfounded. This was the first time he had heard Takuro speak so much about his actual origin. He could only think, 'Mr. Takuro truly is an amazing man.'
Robin elegantly covered her mouth with her hand. She had heard Takuro mention before that he was from another planet and that he intended to lead them to conquer the universe.
Unbeknownst to them, the table was already piled high with empty wine bottles. They had emptied several barrels of top-grade rum—enough to incapacitate an entire pirate crew. Shakky's trips to refill their drinks became more and more frequent, and her gaze toward her wine cellar grew increasingly pained.
Finally, after finishing his last drink, Rayleigh slowly set his glass down. Surprisingly, his eyes, which had initially looked a little tipsy, were now incredibly clear, as if he had only been drinking water.
"Young man," his voice was low and serious, "with your power, you didn't specifically come to the end of the first half of the Grand Line just to share a drink with an old man like me, did you?"
He looked straight into Takuro's eyes, his gaze now as sharp as a blade. "Tell me, what is your true purpose for coming here?"
"Purpose?" Takuro took another big swig of wine and answered in a very casual tone, as if he were discussing a minor errand. "Oh, nothing major. I just want to get a special coating for my ship so we can go to Fish-Man Island. That's all."
...Coating? Go to Fish-Man Island?
...Is that all?
Rayleigh was completely stunned. He had imagined countless possibilities. He thought perhaps this "North Sea Emperor," who had disappeared for years only to reappear and shock the world, was gathering powerful new companions to formally venture into the treacherous New World. Or perhaps he planned to cause some massive, world-changing event at this important crossroads to announce his return.
But he had never, ever imagined that the other person had gone to such great lengths for something as simple as "getting a ship coating."
"You... you're not joking?" Rayleigh, for once, looked completely disbelieving.
"Do I look like I'm joking?" Takuro countered, his face a picture of seriousness.
Rayleigh carefully studied the Saiyan's expression and finally had to admit: the young man was completely serious.
"Heh heh... Hahahahaha..." Rayleigh couldn't help but let out a low laugh—a laugh full of both helplessness and a strong hint of nostalgia. "Truly... just like that Roger fellow, completely unpredictable."
After his laughter subsided, he spoke seriously. "Young man, if all you want is to get your ship coated, I can certainly help with that." He pointed to himself with his thumb. "On Sabaody Archipelago, my coating technique is unmatched."
"Leave this task to me. Consider it my way of thanking you for driving away those petty pirates earlier and for buying me so much good wine."
"Oh? That's great then," Takuro nodded, satisfied. "Thanks, old man."
"However..." Rayleigh quickly changed the subject. "The route to Fish-Man Island isn't an easy one. And things haven't been peaceful there recently." His gaze flickered toward the silent Tiger sitting next to Takuro. "I assume you know about the 'Queen's Migration Plan' inside Fish-Man Island, don't you?"
"I know," Takuro replied carelessly. "I actually think that Queen isn't very smart."
"..." Tiger opened his mouth, ready to object, but remembering Takuro's rough "strongman logic," he simply swallowed his words. He let out a helpless sigh instead.
Rayleigh, however, was not at all surprised by the blunt remark. "Then, what do you think should be done about the matter?"
"It's simple," Takuro replied with his most direct and crude Saiyan-style answer. "Fists. As long as you beat everyone who dares to bully them into submission, won't that be enough?"
Rayleigh heard this and laughed again. "You... you really are..." He slowly raised his glass. "You have my heart, young man."
"However," he added, "it's not that easy to beat everyone into submission."
"Then it only means your fists aren't big enough or hard enough," Takuro said, a supremely confident smile curling his lips. "Coincidentally, my fists are both big and hard, and they hurt a lot when I hit people. I believe they will become very obedient and well-behaved."
Rayleigh sighed and shook his head. "Ah... If only I could be decades younger, or if I had met an interesting fellow like you when I was young... How wonderful that would have been."
The two men smiled at each other and drained their glasses.
"Oh, by the way, old man," Takuro suddenly remembered something. "I have one more thing I want to ask you."
"Oh?"
"I heard there's an ultimate treasure out there on this vast ocean called One Piece. They say finding it can grant any wish? This island gathers people from all over the world, so there should be a lot of news. Do you know anything about it?"
"One Piece, huh..." Rayleigh's eyes suddenly became deep, and a complex light flickered within them. He remained silent for a long moment before slowly speaking. "Yes... there is indeed such a legend."
His gaze seemed to pierce through the bar window, looking out at the boundless night sky, as if he were gazing into the distant past. "But what it truly is... the answer to that question, I'm afraid only those who truly find it will know."
"So, I'm sorry, young man, you'll have to find something like that yourself."
"No problem," Takuro wasn't disappointed at all by this answer. Instead, he stated it as a matter of fact. "Anyway, the one who finds it in the end will definitely be me!"
He clenched his fist, his eyes burning with fiery fighting spirit. "Dragon Balls, I will never hand them over to anyone!"
This sudden, strange name stunned everyone present. Rayleigh frowned in confusion. "Dragon Balls?"
"It's One Piece—the seven orbs that can grant wishes," Takuro explained with an expression that clearly said, "How can you not even know this?" "Gathering all seven of them lets you summon the Divine Dragon."
A strange silence immediately fell over the bar. Shakky stopped wiping glasses, Rayleigh's hand holding his glass froze in mid-air, and Robin smiled quietly to herself on the side.
Only Tiger was utterly shocked, as if he had just been told the most monumental secret of the world. "So that's it! The so-called One Piece is seven orbs that can grant any wish?"
Rayleigh opened his mouth, as if to finally explain the truth, but in the end, it only turned into a helpless sigh. "Young man, if you say so, then so be it..."
At that moment, the sudden clamor of running footsteps came from outside the door.
Rayleigh chuckled, "It seems our drinking session is coming to an end tonight, young man."
Takuro slowly put down the wine bottle, a flash of clear impatience crossing his face.
"Interrupting people in the middle of the night—do they have no sense of decency?"
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