Splash!
The next moment, a pale-yellow submarine burst out of the water like a giant whale, sending sea spray everywhere.
"Is this... a pirate ship?"
The old plating artisan saw the smiling skull symbol on it and scratched his head in confusion, "It can submerge by itself? Hey, do you guys think it still needs us to coat it?"
Who knows...
Several plating artisans exchanged bewildered glances.
Phew~
Amidst the sound of steam released from the hydraulic valve, the hatch slowly opened, and a young man carrying a long sword walked onto the pier, one hand holding the brim of his leopard-print hat, stepping on the wet deck.
"Captain, is this the end point of the first half, the Shampodi Islands? It's huge!" Bebo followed closely, his furry ears twitching as he curiously glanced around.
"Wow! The white bear can talk!"
"Scared the life out of me!"
A few drunk plating artisans were scared out of their wits, their eyes bulging, arms raised, almost taking off.
"Sorry." Bebo immediately hung his head, clutching his clothes corners dejectedly.
"No need to apologize to everyone!"
Law reluctantly gave him a smack on the back of his head, then turned and roared angrily at the sharp-teeth crew, "Hey! Laugh at my partner again, and I'll slice all of you in half!"
"Wow! So scary!"
The plating artisans huddled together, trembling with fear at Law's threat.
The older man who started the conversation now had his eyes wide open, staring at Law's face with a growing sense of familiarity, he couldn't help but shout, "Hey, young man, aren't you the captain of the Red Heart Pirates, the one with a bounty of 200 million Belly, one of the eleven Super Rookies!"
"Super Rookie?"
Law was slightly taken aback, his brows furrowing, "They got the captain of the Red Heart Pirates and the bounty right, but this 'Super Rookie'... what's that?"
----
"Hey, kid, do you really not know you're one of this year's Super Rookies?"
Inside Shakky's Extortion Bar.
The former Nine Serpent Empress, who had once charmed Roger to the point of losing his way, was currently resting her chin on one hand, examining the Green Algae Head youth outside the bar with interest.
"A bounty of 121 million Belly, captain of the Two-blade Pirates, Roronoa Zoro?"
"I said I don't know, would I lie to you, Auntie Boss?"
Zoro looked frustrated, not noticing when Shakky's face suddenly darkened, grabbing his drink he took a big swig, "As captain, cook, navigator, and boatman of the Two-blade Adventurer Group, I'm so busy, I hardly have time to read the newspaper!"
"All alone?"
Shakky was stunned, genuinely surprised this time, "A swordsman who knows nothing but fighting can actually sail through the Grand Line all by himself to the end of Paradise?"
"The end of Paradise?"
Zoro raised his head in confusion.
After staring wide-eyed at Shakky for a few seconds, he suddenly stood up and slapped the table in shock, "Huh?! This is the end of Paradise!"
"You're too slow on the uptake!"
"How would I know, Auntie! I wanted to go to Water Capital to repair my ship, but got lost, and then I woke up here!"
"Lost? And ended up here?" Shakky twitched her eye corner.
Zoro sat back down, rubbing his temples in distress:
"Sigh, what am I going to do now, my ship's a wreck, I can't possibly go to the New World like this..."
"For ship repairs, there are plenty of boatyards on this island, just head to the eastern area."
Shakky shook her head, lighting a lady's cigarette and taking a puff before speaking leisurely:
"But are you sure you want to go to the New World? The strength there is leagues beyond Paradise, even a Super Rookie with a bounty over a hundred million could die a horrible death without caution."
Zoro grinned, eyes flashing with battle intent:
"Of course I have to go! I've promised a girl that we'll pursue Shano's footsteps together and compete for the title of world's greatest Sword Master, how can I stop here!"
"Shano..." Shakky's attention was immediately drawn, slightly squinting her eyes, "You know that guy?"
"Yeah, I've known him since I was very young, very well indeed."
Zoro smiled nostalgically, "Although it's only been a little over a year, so much has happened in that time, it feels like I haven't seen him in ages..."
"Enough chatting, time to find a boatyard, thanks for the intel, kind Auntie!"
Zoro stood up, pulling out a few coins from his pocket, "I only drank two glasses to quench my thirst, didn't order anything else, help me settle the bill."
"No problem."
Shakky blew out a smoke ring, glancing at the empty glass on the bar, "Two glasses of seventy-year-old Ramano special, totaling fifty million Belly, thanks for your patronage."
"?"
Zoro's hand counting coins suddenly froze, he raised his head incredulously, eyes wide:
"How much???"
Fifty million Belly?!
"That's right."
Shakky smiled sweetly, "Did I not make it clear? These are top-tier wines aged for seventy years, it's normal for them to be pricey, little brother."
"You're kidding me!"
Zoro slapped the bar angrily, his face turning red, "That's clearly just regular wine! I saw you grab it casually from under the counter earlier!"
"Ah, caught me~"
Shakky feigned surprise by covering her mouth, but a flicker of slyness sparkled in her eyes, "But it can't be helped, you called me by such a title, consider this the compensation for my mental distress."
This woman...
Pure extortion, wait, no!
Shakky's Extortion Bar, so that's what it means!
Zoro gritted his teeth, the grateful feeling from earlier vanished without a trace.
If she were a pirate, he'd have drawn his sword and slashed over.
Creaaak~
Just as the atmosphere turned tense, the slatted door suddenly opened.
"Boss! Twenty servings of barbecue! No, make it twenty! As fast as possible!"
A freckled-faced boy wearing a cowboy hat rushed in hurriedly, sticking out his tongue with his eyes lit up, as soon as he sat down, he slapped the table loudly, "Hurry hurry, I haven't eaten in three days!"
Zoro and Shakky both paused, their gaze turning to the sudden intruder.
"Hey, kid."
Shakky frowned in displeasure, "This is a bar, not a restaurant. Want food, try next door."
"Huh? Really?"
The freckled boy scratched his head, looking disappointed, "But the restaurant owner next door told me they were full, some guy dressed weirdly and his gang booked the entire place. They suggested I try here, saying you sell food too."
"Their food is just side snacks for drinking, it's impossible to find barbecue here."
Shakky rubbed her forehead speechlessly; she flicked the ash off her cigarette, staring at the freckled boy for a few seconds, the more she looked, the more familiar he seemed, couldn't help asking:
"Hey, kid, you're Ace, right? Portgas D. Ace, with a bounty of 330 million, highest among this year's Super Rookies?"
Tch, not just the name but this look and that brash shouty demeanor very similar to Roger's younger self.
If she hadn't heard from Rayleigh that Roger has no descendants, she almost thought this guy was Roger's son.
"Huh? You know me, Auntie?" Ace was suddenly dumbfounded.
Three hundred and thirty million Belly?" Zoro was also surprised.
The two heard the sound, simultaneously turning their heads, eyeing each other up and down.
"Tsk, there's one next door already, now here's another Green Algae Head?" Ace grumbled dissatisfiedly, "No wonder I can't get food, what a bad luck."
"Hey, hey, hey, that's too rude, freckled brat."
Zoro sneered, placing his right hand on the hilt at his waist, "Speaking of which, I have a habit of defeating bounty heads nearby to pay off debts if I can't afford the bill, so you might just help cover my drink bill..."
As he said this, Zoro frowned, realizing something seemed off.
Another?
Why did this guy say "another" just now?
---------
PS: Reached ten thousand subscriptions, got the badge too, feels like I should celebrate with extra content