Sabaody Archipelago, Area 13.
Inside Shakky's Rod bar, Shakky was leisurely wiping a wine glass with a cloth behind the counter. Rayleigh sat on a stool opposite, holding a glass of whiskey, his gaze fixed on the amber liquid as if lost in thought.
"Speaking of which, did you ever figure out why Kuma suddenly attacked the Straw Hat Kid and his crew that day?" Shakky finally broke the silence, placing the cleaned glass upside down on the counter with a hint of confusion in her tone.
"Couldn't see through it," Rayleigh took a slow sip before responding. "But since he claims to be from the Revolutionary Army, he likely meant no harm. If he truly wanted to eliminate them, with Kuma's strength, there'd be no need for such roundabout methods."
"True enough," Shakky nodded, retrieving a bottle of rum from the shelf and pouring herself a small glass. Suddenly shifting the topic, she asked, "Speaking of the Seven Warlords, that young man called 'Wanderer' Ryan—you've dealt with him before. What are your impressions?"
"That kid... his skills are decent," Rayleigh swirled the whiskey in his glass thoughtfully before continuing, "But his temperament is too wild, even more arrogant than Golden Lion Shiki in his prime."
"Daring to kill a Celestial Dragon already makes him crazier than Golden Lion," Shakky remarked without pausing her glass-wiping, a playful smile curling at the corner of her lips. "Besides, rumors say he was originally Golden Lion's disciple, yet he ended up killing Shiki himself. The student surpassing the master—it's only natural he'd be outrageously arrogant."
"Indeed, I never expected such audacity from someone so young."
Listening to Shakky, Rayleigh gently traced the rim of his glass, his eyes reflecting a mix of realization and nostalgia. After a moment, he changed the subject: "By the way, Hancock didn't look well when she left—seemed rather listless. Is she alright?"
"What could possibly be wrong? She's the queen of the Amazon Lily Kingdom, not someone who breaks easily," Shakky raised an eyebrow, her tone carrying a hint of irritation. "Still, being manipulated like that would frustrate anyone, let alone someone with her pride."
"Though I haven't interacted deeply with Ryan, I've heard about the backgrounds of the women on his ship and his... unrestrained nature. Hancock is the 'World's Most Beautiful Woman,' the undisputed queen of Amazon Lily. Falling into his hands... what decent treatment could she expect?"
"The dignified queen of Amazon Lily Kingdom, treated as a plaything—how could a former queen like her remain indifferent?"
Rayleigh sighed softly and took another sip from his glass. "Making a living on these seas rarely comes with dignity. Compared to those who lose their lives, suffering some 'humiliation' is already a lighter fate."
His words carried resignation but held undeniable truth. While the Straw Hat Kid's crew might sail the seas seeking adventure, believing piracy is about chasing treasure and witnessing wonders, the reality is far darker. Piracy's essence lies in pillaging and plundering. Upon defeat, spoils extend beyond gold and jewels—men are executed outright or thrown to the sharks, women become possessions, entire ships are stripped bare, and even the planks may be burned to ashes.
Death was never a rare occurrence in the world of pirates—it was merely a scene that could unfold at any moment in daily life.
Hancock was the queen of Amazon Lily, the "World's Most Beautiful Woman." Yet on these seas, status and beauty were utterly insignificant in the face of absolute power. She had been defeated, and now she must bear the consequences of that defeat.
"Humiliation..." Shakky repeated the word, the cloth in her hand pausing mid-wipe as she looked up at Rayleigh. "I'm not so sure about that."
"Oh?" Rayleigh raised an eyebrow, curiosity gleaming in his eyes as he regarded Shakky. "Why do you say that?"
Shakky set down the cloth, lit a slender cigarette, and slowly explained, "You know about the obstacle in Hancock's heart. The trauma of being captured and enslaved all those years ago still haunts her to this day. Even hearing the words 'Celestial Dragons' makes her panic."
Rayleigh furrowed his brow but offered no rebuttal.
Shakky exhaled a smoke ring and continued, "Although Hancock was captured by that young Ryan and suffered some humiliation this time, it was also with his help that she personally killed the Celestial Dragons she had feared for most of her life."
Here, Shakky paused, tapping the bar lightly with her fingers. "Sometimes, what unravels a person's inner knots isn't gentle consolation, but rather an 'unexpected coincidence.' Perhaps this 'humiliation' might actually help her completely let go of the shadows from her past."
"Put that way... it does make sense." Rayleigh's hand holding the glass stilled momentarily. He swirled the liquor silently before nodding slowly, his voice carrying a note of relief. "Let's hope so. If it can resolve her inner turmoil, then this humiliation wouldn't have been in vain."
"Exactly," Shakky chuckled, picking up the cloth to resume wiping glasses. Then her tone shifted meaningfully. "But... do you think it's possible that because of this incident, Hancock might develop some... different feelings toward that boy Ryan?"
"What did you say?" Rayleigh's glass jerked abruptly, nearly spilling the liquor. Clearly caught off guard, his face filled with astonishment. "How could that be? He's the one who humiliated her. No one would develop feelings for someone who caused them such distress."
"Hancock is proud and holds grudges. She detests men to the extreme. The fact that she hasn't sought revenge against Ryan already shows restraint. Talking about 'liking' him is pure fantasy."
"Not necessarily," Shakky set down her glass and leaned against the bar, her tone carrying the wisdom of experience. "Hancock isn't like other women. She's had little contact with men in her life, and her deepest trauma comes from the Celestial Dragons. This time, although Ryan humiliated her, he also helped her kill the Celestial Dragons, allowing her to witness the destruction of what she had feared for years."
She paused, tapping the bar lightly again. "You don't understand a woman's heart. Sometimes, what makes someone unforgettable isn't necessarily kindness, but rather those who evoke both hatred and a hint of admiration. Hancock's feelings toward Ryan might be exactly that—resentment for his humiliation, yet because of the Celestial Dragons matter, she might harbor a different kind of attention toward him."
"A woman always harbors special feelings for the man who leaves an indelible mark on her heart—it could be hatred, or perhaps... an unnoticed fondness she hasn't even realized herself." Shakky's eyes held a trace of conviction. "It's a woman's intuition—I can't be wrong."
She had sensed something amiss from Hancock's demeanor when she departed earlier.
"You're being too presumptuous!" Rayleigh set down his glass, disapproval evident in his tone.
"Perhaps." Shakky merely smiled faintly at his words, not arguing further. She continued wiping a glass, her tone relaxed as she added, "Matters of the heart are never certain. I'm just guessing based on intuition—don't take it seriously."
Though she said this, Shakky felt utterly convinced inwardly. Women understand women, especially those like her and Hancock who had once stood in the position of "queens." Outwardly strong, they both concealed vulnerabilities and obsessions others couldn't comprehend.
Hancock's fear of the Celestial Dragons was a scar carved into her very bones—one no one had been able to heal all these years. Yet Ryan, that reckless boy, had torn it out by the roots in the most brutal way.
Ryan was certainly no saint—unrestrained and ruthless, he had humiliated Hancock without mercy. Anyone else would have seethed with hatred. But then again, the sheer audacity to kill Celestial Dragons—that reckless courage—was rather dashing, wasn't it?
Rayleigh glanced at Shakky, his mind unwittingly turning over her words. He had to admit there was some truth to them.
Hancock had experienced nothing but extremes in her life—from slave to queen, either crushed into humility by the Celestial Dragons or exalted by her subjects' worship. Her emotional world was fundamentally different from ordinary people's, and her definition of "someone who mattered" would naturally defy conventional logic.
Suddenly, Rayleigh tilted his head, alertness flashing in his eyes. "Seems we have a guest."
No sooner had he spoken than ding-a-ling-a-ling—the brass bell at the entrance chimed, its crisp sound piercing the bar's tranquility. Rayleigh turned toward the door, his eyes narrowing slightly at the man entering.
Speak of the devil—they had just been discussing him, and here he was.