Shakky's Rip-Off Bar
The Straw Hats were still gathered inside the bar, drinks and snacks scattered across the tables while bubbles drifted lazily past the windows outside.
Luffy leaned back in his chair, swinging his legs. "So where do we go now?"
He looked around. "Where do we find the coating guy?"
Hatchan scratched the back of his head.
"Well… honestly…"
"I don't really know where Ray-san is right now."
Luffy blinked. "…You don't know?"
Shakky chuckled softly from behind the counter. "Ray-san will come back eventually."
She took a drag from her cigarette. "You just need to wait."
Camie suddenly raised her hand excitedly.
"Oh! I know a place!"
Everyone looked at her.
"The amusement park!"
Her eyes sparkled. "I've always wanted to go there since I was little! We don't have anything like that in Fish-Man Island!"
Pappag bounced beside her. "Yeah! I wanna go too!"
Usopp slammed the table. "An amusement park?!"
Chopper's eyes shone. "Are there rides?! And snacks?!"
Luffy shot up instantly. "THEN LET'S GO!"
Nami wasn't there to stop him — and that made it even easier.
Shakky's smile faded slightly. "Be careful though."
Her tone turned serious. "There are a lot of slavers around that area."
The mood dipped.
Luffy adjusted his straw hat.
"…Yeah."
"We'll be careful."
Robin gave Shakky a polite nod as the group began heading out. "Thank you for the information."
The bell rang as they left.
Silence returned to the bar.
Shakky sat alone, cigarette smoke curling upward.
She stared at the doorway long after they were gone.
"…Why does your face look so familiar, Monkey D. Luffy?"
She frowned slightly.
"I swear it feels like I've met you before…"
A pause.
"…Hmm."
She shrugged lightly.
"Maybe it's just my imagination."
—————————-
Elsewhere — Sabaody Streets
Zoro walked casually down a grove-lined street, a bottle of booze in one hand.
"Hm…"
He took a sip.
"This island's noisy."
Suddenly—
People around him dropped to their knees.
Others bowed deeply, trembling.
Zoro blinked. "…What's going on?"
From the shadows nearby, several powerful pirates watched silently.
Jewelry Bonney leaned against a wall, chewing lazily.
Capone Bege adjusted his hat.
Scratchmen Apoo grinned.
Urouge stood calmly with folded arms.
Basil Hawkins watched with unreadable eyes.
Then—
A massive figure appeared.
A man in a glass bubble helmet rode atop a crawling human slave.
A Celestial Dragon.
Saint Charloss.
The street fell completely silent.
Charloss lazily scanned the crowd.
Then his eyes landed on a young nurse carrying supplies.
"Oh?"
"I like this one."
"She's beautiful."
He pointed at her carelessly.
"Take her away."
"I'll make her my 49th wife."
The agent behind him bowed. "Of course, Saint Charloss."
The woman struggled immediately.
"Please—no!"
"I have a family! A husband—!"
Tears streamed down her face as guards grabbed her arms.
The crowd lowered their heads.
No one moved.
No one spoke.
Guilt hung heavy in the air.
Then—
A man ran forward.
"HEY!"
"That's my wife!"
"Unhand her now!"
BANG.
A gunshot echoed.
The husband collapsed instantly.
Gasps spread through the crowd.
The agent sneered.
"Going against the Celestial Dragons?"
"That is blasphemy."
The woman screamed, dropping beside her husband. "Please! Someone help him!"
No one moved.
No one dared.
Slowly—
Zoro stepped forward.
The watching pirates stiffened.
Apoo grinned.
"Well, well…"
"That's Roronoa Zoro."
Bege nodded. "So that's the Straw Hats' second-in-command."
Zoro stared directly at Charloss.
The Celestial Dragon frowned.
"…What are you looking at?"
Zoro tilted his head slightly.
"What?"
"You want directions or something?"
The crowd gasped in horror.
Charloss' face twisted with rage.
"How dare you look at me like that!"
BANG!
He fired.
The bullet struck Zoro.
Zoro's eyes sharpened instantly.
His hand moved—
A sword slid halfway from its sheath.
The Supernovas watched intensely.
"Is he serious?!" Apoo laughed. "Starting trouble before the New World?"
Zoro stepped forward—
—and suddenly—
A small child rushed in and tackled him.
"STOP!!"
They crashed to the ground.
The child cried loudly.
"Oh brother… why are you dead…"
"Why did you try to offend the Celestial Dragons…"
Charloss scoffed.
"Well, at least he's dead."
"Let's go, slave."
The procession moved on.
Silence followed.
Apoo whistled. "That bastard really was going to kill a Celestial Dragon."
Bege smirked. "What a beast."
"Lucky for him he got stopped."
Urouge nodded calmly. "That says much about his captain."
Beside them, Hawkins slowly drew a card from his deck, his expression unreadable as always.
He studied it for a moment. "…As expected."
The others glanced toward him.
Hawkins slid the card back into place.
"I do not see the card of death in him."
He looked toward the direction Zoro had walked off.
"His probability of dying today…"
"…is zero percent."
————————-
Alleyway — Moments Later
Zoro sat up, confused. "…Huh?"
The child stood nearby.
Then—
Her body suddenly grew and shifted.
Returning to her adult form.
Jewelry Bonney.
Zoro blinked.
"…Who are you?"
"And where's the kid?"
He looked at the blood on himself.
"…Is this ketchup?"
Bonney stared at him in disbelief.
"You dumbass!"
"If you killed that guy, an Admiral would be here right now!"
"Are you stupid?!"
Zoro stood, unfazed. "…Anyway."
He lifted the unconscious husband carefully.
"I'm taking this guy to the hospital."
Bonney frowned.
"He's a stranger."
"You're a pirate."
"Why are you helping him?"
Zoro shrugged. "…It's the right thing to do."
Bonney froze, caught off guard by the simple answer.
For a moment, she said nothing.
"…Tch."
"Do what you want."
She turned and walked away, hands in her pockets.
Zoro watched her leave briefly before walking off toward the hospital, carrying the injured man — completely unaware that his actions had just shaken half the pirates watching from the shadows.
————————-
The amusement park burst into view the moment the Straw Hats stepped through the massive gates.
Bright lights shimmered across the mangrove roots, colorful banners waved in the air, and laughter echoed everywhere. Giant rides spun slowly overhead, bubbles floating like glowing lanterns around the park.
Luffy's eyes sparkled.
"WOAAAHHH!!"
"This place is AWESOME!!"
Usopp spun in circles, pointing everywhere at once. "LOOK AT THAT RIDE! AND THAT ONE! AND—WAIT—IS THAT A GIANT BUG FERRIS WHEEL?!"
Chopper bounced excitedly beside him. "It's huge!! I've never seen anything like this!"
Camie clapped her hands happily, her eyes shining. "It's amazing! We don't have anything like this in Fish-Man Island!"
Pappag puffed his chest proudly. "Of course! Human amusement parks are legendary!"
Franky struck a pose. "This place is SUPER flashy!"
Brook laughed. "Yohohoho! Perhaps they have music performances too!"
Even Robin smiled softly as she looked around at the lively crowd. "It certainly feels peaceful… despite being Sabaody."
Hatchan scratched his head nervously but smiled seeing everyone happy. "Well… let's enjoy it while we can."
————————-
Hidden in the shadows between stalls and rides, several rough-looking men watched the group carefully.
One of them narrowed his eyes.
"…Hey."
"Did you see that?"
Another leaned forward.
"…No way."
Between Camie's steps, just barely visible beneath her clothes—
a tail peeked out.
The men froze.
"…That's a mermaid."
Their expressions twisted into greedy grins.
"We hit the jackpot."
"Do you know how much mermaids sell for?!"
"We'll be rich after this!"
They quietly slipped into the crowd, keeping their distance.
Waiting.
————————-
Moments later, the Straw Hats boarded the enormous Bug Ferris Wheel, its cabins shaped like giant beetles glowing with soft lights.
The ride slowly lifted into the air.
Luffy pressed his face against the window.
"WE'RE SO HIGH UP!!"
Usopp grabbed the seat. "DON'T SHAKE IT!! DON'T SHAKE IT!!"
Chopper laughed. "This is fun!"
Brook hummed cheerfully while Franky admired the mechanics of the ride.
Robin looked out peacefully over Sabaody's glowing mangroves.
Below them, crowds moved like tiny waves.
Everything felt calm.
Too calm.
———————
Somewhere Below…
Camie and Pappag walked slightly behind the others after getting off the ride.
Camie looked around curiously. "There are so many shops…"
Suddenly—
A cloth covered her mouth.
Her eyes widened.
"Mmph—!"
Shadowy figures pulled her backward into an alley.
Her voice barely escaped.
"…hel—p…"
Then she vanished into the crowd.
Moments Later
Pappag turned around. "…Camie?"
He blinked.
"…Camie?"
His voice rose in panic.
"CAMIE?! WHERE ARE YOU?!"
He rushed toward Hatchan and the others.
"HATCHAN!!"
Everyone turned.
"What's wrong?" Usopp asked.
Pappag was shaking. "Camie! Did you see her?!"
Franky frowned. "Huh? Wasn't she with you?"
Robin tilted her head slightly. "I believed she was walking beside you."
Pappag's voice trembled. "She was! She was right next to me and then—then she was gone! I don't know where she went!"
Hatchan's face drained of color.
"…Oh no."
"This is bad…"
His hands shook.
"What if… what if she was kidnapped?!"
Luffy blinked, confused. "What happened all of a sudden?"
Pappag nearly shouted. "I was with Camie and she suddenly disappeared!"
Luffy's expression hardened instantly. "Then we just have to find her."
Robin nodded calmly. "We should contact the others. Searching separately will be faster."
She pulled out a Den Den Mushi.
The snail's eyes opened as the call connected.
Click.
Zoro's voice came through first. "Yeah?"
Nami followed immediately. "What is it, Robin?"
Sanji's worried voice cut in. "Robin-chaaaan~? Is everything alright?"
Robin spoke clearly. "Camie has been kidnapped. We believe slavers took her at the amusement park."
Silence.
Then—
"WHAT?!" Nami shouted.
Zoro's tone sharpened. "…Kidnapped?"
Sanji's voice dropped dangerously cold.
"…Who did it?"
Usopp leaned closer to the receiver. "We don't know! She just disappeared!"
There was a pause before Sanji spoke again.
"…The Flying Fish Riders mentioned something earlier."
"They said there's a Human Auction House here in Sabaody."
Everyone froze.
Sanji continued,
"If slavers took her… they'll probably sell her there."
Hatchan and Pappag went pale.
"Auction…?!"
Pappag trembled.
"Straw Hat… we have to save her before she becomes a slave!"
Hatchan bowed his head desperately.
"Please! We must hurry!"
Luffy's straw hat shadowed his eyes as his expression turned completely serious.
"…Of course."
He turned toward the exit.
"Then let's go."
His voice carried quiet fury.
"We're getting Camie back."
And without another word—
the Straw Hats ran.
———————
Deep beneath the shining mangroves of Sabaody, hidden behind guarded doors and thick walls, the Human Auction House buzzed with preparation.
Inside, cages lined the backstage halls.
Chains rattled.
Slavers dragged their newest prize forward.
Camie struggled helplessly in their grip.
"Let me go!" she cried, fear shaking her voice. "Please!"
The doors burst open as they entered the main auction chamber.
Standing proudly at the center stage was the flamboyant auctioneer, Disco, dressed in a bright suit and spinning his cane dramatically.
He turned — and his eyes widened with delight. "A MERMAID?!"
His grin stretched ear to ear. "Ohhh, this will be a magnificent auction! The nobles are going to lose their minds!"
He clapped excitedly. "Excellent work, boys! Truly excellent!"
The slavers shoved Camie forward. Her tail shimmered under the lights, drawing greedy stares from workers nearby.
Disco circled her like a collector admiring treasure. "Do you know how rare this is? Today will be unforgettable!"
Camie trembled. "Please… stop… I don't want this…"
Disco snapped his fingers, and a slave collar was brought forward. "Well, unfortunately, my dear, wanting has nothing to do with it."
He grabbed the collar and stepped closer.
"Hold still!"
Camie struggled harder. "No! Please stop!"
"Stop moving!" Disco barked impatiently as he tried forcing the collar around her neck.
—————————
In the Shadows
Far from the bright lights, hidden among the unsold slaves, sat two figures.
One was a massive giant, chains wrapped around his wrists and a heavy collar around his neck.
Beside him sat an old man casually drinking from a bottle, looking completely relaxed despite wearing the same collar.
The giant watched silently.
His sharp eyes narrowed.
"…Hmm."
He felt it.
A sudden pressure.
Brief.
Almost gentle.
But overwhelming.
———————-
Back on Stage
Just as Disco raised the collar—
THUD.
Disco's eyes rolled back.
He collapsed face-first onto the floor, unconscious.
The room froze.
"Huh?!"
"Boss?!
The slavers holding Camie panicked, rushing toward him.
"What happened?!"
"Did he faint?!"
In the confusion, Camie slipped fell on the floor, stunned and shaking.
——————-
The giant slowly turned toward the old man beside him.
"…You."
His deep voice rumbled quietly.
"You're no ordinary old man."
The old man took another calm sip of his drink.
The giant continued, "That pressure just now… even if it was small, I still felt it."
He exhaled slowly. "Weak people usually don't notice it… but giants do."
The old man chuckled softly. "Oh?"
He scratched the back of his head, smiling casually. "Well… we can't just sit around when a lady's in trouble, right?"
The giant stared harder. "You are no ordinary old man. You are…Dark King Silvers…Rayleigh."
The name hung in the air.
Silvers Rayleigh laughed lightly, completely unconcerned. "Now, now… don't make it sound so dramatic."
He stood up slowly, chains clinking.
"Anyway," he said, stretching his shoulders, "I'm really just here to pay my bills."
He took another drink, smiling as chaos quietly began to spread through the auction house.