Sabaody Archipelago, Island No. 13, Ransom Bar.
The bar door opened, and several figures in black robes walked in, their faces hidden by hoods.
Shakky, who was wiping a wine glass, paused. The leader of the black-robed figures had already reached the bar, and she saw the face beneath the hood clearly.
Shakky sighed, set down the glass, and began to usher the customers out of the bar.
"Today's drinks are on the house. Important guests have arrived, and I'm closing up."
Ever since the Marine Headquarters moved, the Sabaody Archipelago had gradually become a lawless land, with most of those staying here being pirates.
"Whoa, what kind of guest would make the proprietress stop doing business..."
"Wearing black robes in broad daylight, trying to be mysterious? Let me see who you are!"
These pirates, having just set foot in the New World, were at their most fearless. A drunken pirate, clearly dissatisfied with Shakky's decision, leaned in to try to see the identity of the black-robed group.
A wine glass flew through the air, the force it carried knocking the pirate backward.
"You'd better get out before I lose my temper!" Shakky said coldly.
Only then did the patrons remember that the proprietress of the Ransom Bar was not someone to be trifled with. They hurriedly left in a daze, and the tavern became quiet.
"Sorry, Sister Shakky, for interrupting your business." Buggy untied his black robe and tossed it to the person beside him.
A vein popped on Shakky's forehead. "Why are you here? And don't call me 'Sister' like you're flattering me. What are you plotting?"
Shakky hadn't expected the Emperor Buggy to actually come here.
"Uh... I'm just passing through and dropped by to see Vice-Captain Rayleigh." Buggy sat down at the bar. "But the Rocks Pirates were wiped out over forty years ago, and you're still so young. By comparison, Vice-Captain Rayleigh has aged quite a bit."
"Hmph, you know quite a lot. Is it that hard to keep a secret these days?" Shakky didn't expect Buggy to know her identity. Where did he get that information?
"That guy Rayleigh is busy outside; he'll probably be back in a while." Hearing Buggy's tone, Shakky poured him a drink anyway. "Do the rest of you want some too?"
"Ah, thank you." Mr. 3 hadn't expected this unassuming bar owner to be a member of the legendary Rocks Pirates.
Just how many big shots does Captain Buggy know? Well, it seems he's a big shot himself now.
"Just here to catch up? If the Marines knew you were here, they'd probably go crazy!" Shakky looked at Buggy, suddenly feeling a bit dazed.
"The little infant from back then has become a world-renowned great pirate," Shakky sighed.
"What?"
Buggy suddenly had a bad feeling. From his memories, he and Red Hair had lived on Roger's ship since they were children and had no recollection of their parents.
During the Battle of God Valley, he and Red Hair should have still been infants. Roger wouldn't have brought two babies onto a battlefield.
Then how did Shakky see him?
"When did you see me?" Buggy tried to sound casual.
"Did I say that?" Shakky realized she had misspoken and quickly tried to recover. "I'll go find Rayleigh. If you stay here too long, there will be trouble."
With that, she left the tavern unattended and went out to find Rayleigh.
Buggy had originally wanted to get some information from Rayleigh, but instead, he had discovered something incredible.
Buggy tapped the counter with his finger. It couldn't be that cliché, could it? From Shakky's words, it seemed that when the Battle of God Valley took place, he must have been with the Rocks Pirates; otherwise, it would have been impossible for Shakky to have seen him.
What about Shanks? Was he also with the Rocks Pirates at that time?
Thinking about Shanks' connection to the Gorosei—and the fact that Celestial Dragons were present at God Valley—could that thick-eyebrowed fellow Shanks have the blood of the Celestial Dragons?
"Captain Buggy, are we going to see Silvers Rayleigh in a bit?" Seeing Buggy lost in thought, Mr. 3 approached and asked mysteriously.
"Yeah, is there a second Rayleigh?" Buggy said. "Should I ask Rayleigh to help train you guys?"
"Can you really?" Mr. 3 was so excited he almost fainted. "That's the Pirate King's right hand!"
Alvida and Cabaji, standing nearby, were also incredibly excited.
"It's rare for you to be so motivated. I'll mention it, but I don't know if Rayleigh will agree."
Buggy actually had this idea when he came to find Rayleigh. Although he had once joked that Rayleigh was slow at teaching, both Buggy and Shanks had been taught by Rayleigh; Roger simply didn't have the patience and only taught them bits and pieces occasionally.
Including Luffy, Rayleigh had already taught three of the Four Emperors.
Judging by the results, Kaido was just self-taught, while Silvers Rayleigh was the gold-medal teacher.
"Thank you, Captain Buggy!" The three of them bowed to Buggy in unison.
Just then, Rayleigh and Shakky pushed the door open and entered, wondering what was happening as they saw this scene.
"Long time no see, Vice-Captain Rayleigh," Buggy greeted first.
"Buggy, you've changed so much. I didn't believe it when Shakky told me," Rayleigh said, sighing as he looked at Buggy, whose presence had undergone a world-shaking transformation.
Of the two apprentices on the ship back then, Red-Haired Shanks had become an Emperor long ago, while Buggy had remained unknown.
Rayleigh thought Buggy would be digging for treasure all over the world, but then he saw him on the live broadcast during the Marineford War.
In a short period, Buggy had gone from a small-time pirate to a Shichibukai and then to an Emperor; his rate of advancement was unprecedented.
Then followed the live execution of a Celestial Dragon and the absorption of the Shichibukai into his ranks, which shocked the world.
Rayleigh was stunned at the time. Although he believed Buggy was no worse than Shanks, the speed of his rise was simply too fast.
"Vice-Captain Rayleigh is also still going strong," Buggy said, looking at Rayleigh and Shakky standing together; they hardly looked like they were from the same era.
"I feel like you're making fun of me, kid." Rayleigh's figure vanished instantly, and then his leg, wearing a Supreme Sandal, flew toward Buggy in a kick.
"How could I? I'm saying you're old but young at heart!" Buggy also kicked out, and two waves of Conqueror's Haki collided.
Shakky, behind them, suddenly felt something was wrong. "Wait, my tavern..."
But it was too late. A force erupted with the two of them at the center. Everyone on Island No. 13 felt difficulty breathing, and the weak ones collapsed unconscious.
The Ransom Bar looked as if a typhoon had passed through; the entire tavern was nearly reduced to rubble.
"Both of you, get out!" Shakky blew her top.
"Ah, I forgot for a moment." Rayleigh finally realized he had caused trouble.
He gave Buggy a look. "Let's talk outside."
"You three help clean up," Buggy instructed Mr. 3 and the others. "Whether that matter succeeds or not, her opinion is very important, got it?"
"Alright, Captain Buggy, leave it to us." Mr. 3 understood immediately.
Shakky watched Rayleigh and Buggy's departing figures and couldn't help but fall into deep thought... That Conqueror's Haki just now was on par with Rayleigh's.
No, Rayleigh no longer had the ambition to dominate the seas, so in the clash of presence, Rayleigh's Conqueror's Haki was actually slightly at a disadvantage.
"Is your Captain's temper very violent and cruel?" Shakky suddenly asked.
"Huh? Captain Buggy has a great temper." Mr. 3 was taken aback; he used to be somewhat funny.
"But lately, he has been quite cruel to his enemies," Alvida said. "His temper changed right after he slaughtered that Celestial Dragon."
Related to the Celestial Dragons? But Buggy was just an infant back then... Maybe I'm overthinking it, Shakky shook her head.
"Alright, once you're done cleaning, leave quickly. The commotion here won't escape the Marines' notice. For your Captain's sake, the Marines might even launch a Buster Call. The Sabaody Archipelago truly is a place of many disasters..."
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