Before reaching the Sabaody Archipelago, the Alcor ran into several waves of pirates.
After all, this was the world of pirates. If pirates did not rob people, could they still be called pirates?
Of course, their ending was sinking straight into the sea. They were not even qualified to serve as speed bumps for Koji and the others.
"Pirates sure make money fast by robbing people."
Beidou sorted through the treasure from the pirate ships. Aside from the kind of treasure they had found by chance, most of it had basically been stolen.
One should not expect pirates to make money by honest work. If they were capable of doing that, they might as well be called merchant capitalists.
"Really? Because back then, my brother never found any prize worth mentioning in places like that," Ningguang said with a smile.
Beidou could not help rolling her eyes. No matter how much the Treasure Hoarders stole, there was no way they could compare to Ningguang, the Tianquan, in wealth.
"If the Treasure Hoarders managed to rob you, they'd probably be rolling in money."
Ningguang smiled without saying anything.
Robbing one of the Seven Stars? That was assuming they could actually do it.
Leaving aside whether she would even leave Liyue, even if she did, she definitely would not travel alone. The Millelith would accompany her.
Robbing ordinary merchants would at most make a portion of people target you.
But laying a hand on someone from a nation's leadership? Then what you would face was the power of an entire country.
"Kazuha, that little whirlwind of yours is really nice. It makes collecting things so convenient," Beidou said.
Kazuha's mouth twitched.
"Boss Beidou, that is not a little whirlwind. It is Chihayaburu (A Thousand Early Winds)."
A perfectly good Elemental Skill being described as a little whirlwind instantly stripped it of all its style.
"Little whirlwind is easier to remember," Beidou said, waving her hand.
Kazuha sighed softly.
Fine. Boss could call it whatever she wanted.
"The wind currents made by the Anemo Archon are pretty good at sucking things in too," Koji said.
Venti had been released early, so both his numbers and mechanics were fairly conservative. Enemies that were just slightly larger could not be pulled in.
"My little bit of power cannot compare to the Anemo Archon," Kazuha said with a wry smile.
Though there were living beings on the earth who dared to face the majesty of thunder head-on, wanting to stand shoulder to shoulder with gods was still the stuff of myth.
Even being able to take one move from a god was already enough to bring glory to one's ancestors.
…
Sabaody Archipelago, Area 13, Shakky's Rip-off Bar.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Since they were going to Fish-Man Island, they naturally had to find Rayleigh-shishō to coat the ship.
"Nice to meet you, Shakky. Former Empress of the Kuja Pirates, and one of the final grand prizes of God Valley."
Shakky: "…"
Hearing those titles, Shakky's expression turned serious.
There were not many people who knew about such things anymore. Most of them were around Rayleigh's age.
Koji was far too young. She had no impression of him at all.
Besides, the World Government had completely sealed off the God Valley incident. Whitebeard and the others would not have gone around casually talking about it either.
"Do you know me, boy?" Shakky poured drinks for them, then poured a glass of juice for Klee.
A cute child could put even a former pirate empress like her in a pleasant mood.
"I do. The former number-one beauty. Back then, who knows how many people went to God Valley for your sake? Even that sexually repressed Pirate King Roger went there for you," Koji said with a smile.
"Sexually repressed?"
"Pfft…"
Shakky mulled over the phrase for a moment, then thought back to Roger's perverted, lovestruck expression at the time. She immediately laughed.
It really was strangely fitting.
Who could have imagined that Roger would eventually become the Pirate King?
After she was captured and taken to God Valley, she had indeed been rather afraid. Luckily, Rayleigh appeared in time and saved her.
"What nostalgic times. Age spares no one. I have grown old too," Shakky said emotionally.
The God Valley incident had been more than thirty years ago. Time truly passed quickly.
"You call yourself old?" Lumine thought of the manga she had seen.
"Look at what Gloriosa and Linlin turned into. They are people from the same era as you."
Shakky had not become like that. Oda really had shown mercy.
"Them…" Shakky knew what those two old acquaintances looked like now.
Compared to them, time had been very gentle to her.
Time was a butcher's knife.
Whether it was Gloriosa or Linlin, both had once been among the finest beauties around. But now, they had changed so much that even old acquaintances might not recognize them.
"I have a question. Is Boa Hancock your and Rayleigh's daughter?" Koji asked.
That was a theory some people had.
"Well…" Shakky only smiled and said nothing, showing off her riddle-master attributes.
Hancock, huh.
She could now hold her own.
Her strength was even greater than Shakky's had been back in the day. Among all past empresses, she could rank in the top three without issue.
"Shakky. Hm? It's pretty lively in here."
Rayleigh walked in holding some alcohol, then froze for a moment. They were all unfamiliar faces.
"Rayleigh, you're back. These guests are quite interesting."
"Rayleigh-shishō, you're back. We're going to Fish-Man Island, so we came to find you for ship coating," Koji greeted him.
"Coating, huh? Sure."
Rayleigh nodded, but he muttered inwardly.
His Observation Haki could not sense Koji and the others' strength at all.
"Rayleigh, are you still in contact with Gaban?"
Rayleigh trusted Shakky.
Since Shakky had shown no particular reaction, that meant these people were not from the World Government.
Still, why ask about Gaban?
Could they be people who knew Gaban?
"I've always had one doubt. Gaban really can be called a real man. He actually got together with a female giant. How does that even work?" Koji asked curiously.
Leaving aside Gaban's matter, with that size difference, one careless move from a female giant would be enough to crush a normal man to death.
Rayleigh: "…"
That question made Rayleigh completely unable to answer on the spot.
To be honest, when he first learned about Gaban's relationship with a female giant, his jaw had nearly dropped to the floor.
The main issue was size.
A female giant's physique was simply far too exaggerated. The difference between the two sides was enormous.
"I don't know the answer to that either. Do you want me to call Gaban and ask him?" Shakky rolled her eyes.
"Heh. Your Roger Pirates really were full of talent," Shakky said with a smile.
Rayleigh scratched his head.
Well, somewhat.
Compared to Gaban, he truly had to admit defeat.
Usually, he would joke around a little, but this time, he would not.
After all, that was a real man who could get together with a female giant. There probably were not many like him in the entire One Piece world.
"Was Roger's mustache really a mustache, or was it just overgrown nose hair?"
"Hahahaha…"
Hearing that question, Rayleigh could not help bursting into laughter. Even Shakky could not hold back her laughter.
After calming down a little, Rayleigh said, "I asked Roger that too. The position of that mustache of his really was too strange."
Whether it was a mustache or overgrown nose hair, there was basically no way to tell.
"So this Ace is actually a hormone bomb?"
Koji placed a wanted poster in front of Rayleigh.
As Roger's close brother-in-arms, there was no way Rayleigh could fail to recognize Ace's identity.
Rayleigh looked at that somewhat familiar face and fell silent.
Of course he was not unfamiliar with it.
(End of Chapter)
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