"Hey, hey, Luffy…"
"I'm taking you to learn from someone, not to pick a fight!"
"Don't go and piss him off the moment we meet."
Seeing the excitement glittering in his captain's eyes, Red couldn't help but sigh in helpless resignation.
Fortunately, judging by Rayleigh's personality—and that straw hat on Luffy's head—there was a high probability things would play out much like the original timeline. Rayleigh would most likely give this so-called "Roger's second generation" some special treatment.
The only question was whether a mere few days would be enough for Luffy to master Conqueror's Haki coating.
Strictly speaking, in terms of raw physical foundations, Luffy's body had already reached the required standard.
But Conqueror's Haki was ultimately a power of the will. Without proper guidance, relying on self-study alone, it wasn't something one could necessarily figure out.
Still…
"With Rayleigh's ability, there's no way he can't teach Conqueror's Haki coating in just a few days, right?!"
"Kaido managed to beat it into him with just a few swings of his club. Teacher Rayleigh better not drop the ball."
Carrying both anticipation and a hint of unease, Red led Luffy and the others toward Area 13, where Shakky's Rip-Off Bar was located.
Not long after the Straw Hats left, the three Supernovas—Drake, Law, and Bonney—also emerged from the bar one after another, each bringing along crew members with visibly swollen faces.
Drake, who had lost his heart and was being threatened, snorted coldly at the Straw Hats' retreating backs before silently leading his men away.
After all, his subordinates were unaware of his true identity as a secret Marine operative. It was best to put some distance between himself and Law and Bonney as soon as possible.
He had no intention of being exposed by his own crew before gaining anything in return.
"Hey! Are you really planning to attack the Celestial Dragons' holy land with that guy?"
"He must've made some kind of deal with you too, right?!"
Once Drake—the unstable variable—was gone, Bonney immediately turned her gaze to Law, asking with evident curiosity.
She had noticed Red deliberately whisper something to Law before leaving, and Law's expression had subtly changed at that moment.
Clearly, the Straw Hat Pirates not only knew about Drake's Marine identity, but also about her own secrets—and some of Law's unspeakable matters.
They had entered the Grand Line in the same year, yet the Straw Hats had skyrocketed straight into the ranks of the world's top powers. There was a reason for that.
But faced with Bonney's questioning, Law merely shook his head lightly, showing no intention of explaining.
"No. There wasn't."
"Tch~ How boring~!"
Bonney puffed out her cheeks in displeasure.
At this point, unaware of what Kuma was currently enduring, her personality remained lively and willful, far from the bitterness she would carry two years later.
One could only wonder how long that liveliness would last once she learned about Kuma's situation from Red.
"Fine, don't talk then!"
"When you're ready to move, come find me."
After confirming just how terrifying Red's intelligence-gathering abilities were through Law's reaction, Bonney waved him off and led her bewildered crew toward the next restaurant, continuing their gluttonous rampage.
This left the Heart Pirates staring at one another in silence.
"Captain…"
At that moment, Bepo suddenly spoke, breaking the quiet.
But Law abruptly raised a hand, stopping him. After a moment of grave contemplation, he spoke to his companions:
"Let's leave here first. We'll talk about the specifics back on the ship."
With that, Law gave them no chance to question him and strode straight toward the harbor.
At the same time, Red's final whispered words echoed endlessly in his mind.
"Join the Straw Hat Grand Fleet, and you'll gain the power to avenge Rosinante…"
"How do they know about that?!"
"Do they really possess some Devil Fruit ability that allows them to probe intelligence?!"
Countless thoughts raced through Law's head.
He wasn't about to pledge his loyalty to the Straw Hats over a single sentence.
But at this moment, he had already decided to observe the Straw Hat Pirates more closely for a while.
And besides…
"An attack on Mary Geoise?!"
"What kind of madman even comes up with something like that?"
"Let's hope nothing goes wrong…"
…
…
Sabaody Archipelago, Area 13.
Bang! Bang!
As two completely stripped figures flew through the air in graceful arcs before slamming heavily onto the ground, a mature woman with lingering charm slowly withdrew her long, shapely leg wrapped in thick black stockings, casting a disdainful glance their way.
"Kids these days really have no manners."
"Dine and dash, and this is all the money you bring?"
Despite being sixty-two years old, Shakky still possessed a figure irresistible to men. She counted the bills in her hand, smiled faintly, and turned to head back into the bar.
Just then, a voice from the distance suddenly stopped her.
"Ms. Shakky, isn't it a bit of a stereotype to lump all young people together like that?!"
Snap!
With a crisp snap of fingers, the air before Shakky rippled eerily.
In the next instant, a group of figures appeared out of nowhere at the entrance of the Rip-Off Bar.
At the front stood a boy in a baseball cap with his coat draped over his shoulders like a cloak, alongside another boy wearing a straw hat, his face brimming with excitement.
Behind them followed a group of unusually distinctive companions.
"Hm?!"
Shakky's eyes flashed with surprise at the sudden appearance of these mysterious figures.
In the very next second, bounty posters surfaced in her mind one by one, matching perfectly with the faces before her.
"You're… the Straw Hat Pirates?!"
Shakky exclaimed.
Red, handling the negotiations, immediately replied,
"As expected of an information broker—you recognized us at first glance."
"Heh~"
Shakky lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and shot Red a sidelong glance.
"Save the flattery."
"Finding this place directly means you're no ordinary rookies."
"But then again…"
A smile curled her lips.
"What kind of ordinary rookie can defeat a Marine Admiral?"
With that, she turned and walked into the Rip-Off Bar.
Red and Luffy exchanged a glance, then led the Straw Hat crew inside after her.
…
…
"So that's it—you're here looking for that old man Rayleigh?"
Standing behind the bar, Shakky mixed the drinks the Straw Hats had ordered while studying Red with thoughtful eyes.
Even she felt astonished by their intelligence network.
After all, Rayleigh had lived on Sabaody for years without the Marines ever finding him—yet the Straw Hats had pinpointed this place precisely.
But what Red said next made her eyes widen instantly.
"Oh, right."
Red accepted his fruit wine and smiled at Shakky.
"Even though you've no intention of returning to Amazon Lily, considering you were once the empress of Kuja Island, I think you should know this…"
"Kuja Island has now fully joined the Straw Hat Pirates. With Hancock at the lead, the Kuja Pirates have all become members of the Straw Hat Grand Fleet."
"So if you ever decide to return to Kuja Island, Ms. Shakky, don't be too surprised."
"..."
Shakky froze mid-motion.
For the first time in a long while, shock cracked her usually composed expression as she stared at Red in disbelief.
"…It seems I truly underestimated you."
She exhaled deeply, glanced at the clock on the wall, and said,
"About half an hour. That old man should gamble away every last penny and crawl back here."
"Wait here for him."
"Then many thanks, Ms. Shakky."
Red smiled politely in response.
At the round table behind them, the Straw Hats all showed eager expressions.
"The Pirate King's right hand, huh~"
Zoro grinned, glancing toward Sanji across the table.
"It's been a while since the fight with Kizaru…"
"I wonder how far we still are from the very top of the world."
Click.
Sanji lit his cigarette, exhaling with a low chuckle.
"We'll find out… soon enough."
…
…
Tick. Tock.
Time passed slowly.
Inside the bar, the Straw Hats openly discussed what treasures might be hidden in the Celestial Dragons' vaults.
As Usopp and Chopper's wild ideas grew increasingly absurd, even Shakky eventually set aside her shock and joined in the animated discussion.
Jingle~
Just as Usopp was speculating whether the Celestial Dragons' vault might contain a Devil Fruit suitable for insects, the wind chime at the door rang lightly.
Rayleigh entered the bar, drinking as he walked, and froze at the strange sight before him.
"What's this~? Business so good today?"
Slightly tipsy, Rayleigh chuckled at Shakky.
But in the next instant, his gaze locked onto a straw hat.
A familiar sensation surged through him, loosening long-sealed memories.
"..."
Sensing something amiss, Rayleigh suppressed his doubts and stepped fully into the bar.
The moment he did, the entire bar fell deathly silent.
All eyes turned to the white-haired elderly man.
Clang!
Zoro's blade slid from its sheath, a fierce battle intent erupting and flooding the space.
Nearby, Luffy broke into a wide grin, excitement blazing in his eyes.
Red and Sanji also lifted their heads.
Though they weren't as overtly battle-hungry as Luffy and Zoro, faint, unconscious smiles curved their lips.
In an instant—
Four bursts of Conqueror's Haki erupted from the four corners of the Rip-Off Bar, like raging storms. Tables and chairs were blown away as if by a violent gale, the pressure crashing down on Rayleigh like four ferocious sacred beasts.
"…Hm?!"
Rayleigh's eyes flickered with surprise at the sudden turn of events.
Yet in the face of those four ferocious Conqueror's Haki waves, he showed not the slightest fear.
Even without preparation, his body reacted instinctively.
An overwhelming aura exploded from him, like a seasoned hunter. With effortless dominance, he suppressed all four streams of Conqueror's Haki at once.
"What?!"
Zoro and Sanji cried out in shock.
Even Red couldn't help widening his eyes in amazement.
He had expected Rayleigh to be strong—strong enough, despite his age, to contend with an Emperor like Big Mom.
But he never imagined…
That the combined Conqueror's Haki of the Straw Hat Pirates' four kings (excluding Usopp) would be crushed so easily, utterly suppressed before Rayleigh.
Yet almost immediately, Red felt enlightened.
Of course—Luffy and the others could unleash such power now because of their Devil Fruits and their application and expansion of Pokémon energy.
Even the strongest among them, Luffy, was only level 67 after completing the Champion Challenge.
Zoro and Sanji were barely level 60.
A level-67 Pokémon-tier strength might not even compare to an Emperor's right-hand man like Jack the Drought.
Without relying on their various unconventional abilities, Rayleigh could practically defeat them in an instant.
"Can't get complacent."
Watching Rayleigh's Conqueror's Haki steadily push theirs back, Red felt deeply reflective.
Luffy and the others, sharing similar experiences, were equally shaken.
"So this is a man who stood beside the Pirate King…?!"
"Looks like we still have a long way to go!"
A dark purple mist flickered in Zoro's eyes as he suppressed the chilling ghostly aura about to erupt.
That power had emerged after he consumed the Oni Crystal Seed that morning, granting him the Ghost type.
Ghostly aura was a unique force Zoro had long comprehended through swordsmanship.
He had simply neglected it as Pokémon energy became more convenient to use.
But after gaining the Ghost type, his understanding of ghostly swordsmanship had leapt forward dramatically.
Which meant…
He was itching for a battle where he could swing freely and fully familiarize himself with this newfound power.
Sanji and Luffy shared the same thoughts.
Whoosh!
Under Rayleigh's suppression, the Rip-Off Bar finally returned to calm.
Rayleigh raised his head, white light flashing across the lenses of his round glasses.
"So… what's with these youngsters?"
As if nothing had happened, he asked Shakky casually.
Yet from his slow steps, it was clear his attention was now fully fixed on Luffy and the others.
Confident in Rayleigh's strength—and knowing the Straw Hats bore no hostility—Shakky chuckled.
"Isn't it obvious?"
"These youngsters… came specifically to ask you to take them as your students."
(End of Chapter)