Oboro led Dom to a remote corner of the Sabaody Archipelago.
A bar stood atop a small hill. Judging by its exterior and decor, it was nothing special — far from luxurious, and at the moment, completely empty of customers.
With a creak, Oboro pushed the door open and stepped inside first.
Glancing up at the signboard as he followed, Dom only caught the words "Rip‑Off Bar" — he didn't quite see the rest.
Despite being born and raised on Sabaody, he had never even heard of this place.
"Welcome."
As soon as they entered, a voice greeted them.
Standing behind the counter was the owner, a woman with short‑to‑medium‑length hair. She leaned forward, resting her weight on her arms, her gaze sweeping over them.
A cigarette dangled between her fingers, and she exhaled a cloud of smoke as she looked them over.
The wall behind her was plastered with wanted posters and portraits of pirates, while stacks of newspapers were spread across the countertop.
Oboro chose a seat at random and sat down; Dom stood close beside him.
He couldn't help but wonder why his boss had brought him here… Truth be told, the place was tiny, with very limited seating — hardly the kind of spot pirates chose for a good drink.
"What can I get you two lads?"
The woman leaned back against the counter, resting her chin on the hand holding the cigarette. She looked at Oboro and Dom with interest, her tone lazy and relaxed.
She didn't address them formally, nor did she have that stiff, overly polite manner typical of shopkeepers.
While she was observing Oboro, he was studying her right back.
Seeing that his boss wasn't going to speak, Dom answered bluntly: "Just bring us whatever you think is good. But don't try to cheat us with cheap swill!"
"Hehe…"
She chuckled softly, turned around, picked up two glasses with practiced ease, uncorked a bottle, filled them, and slid them across the counter.
Her name was Shaoyao… though she also went by Shakky.
Tall, slender, and looking far younger than she actually was, this woman was the former captain of the Kuja Pirates — someone who had weathered countless storms and seen it all on the high seas.
Her real age was greater than the combined ages of Oboro and Dom.
"You boys look unfamiliar… You new to the Sabaody Archipelago?" Shakky took a drag from her cigarette, looking at Oboro with an amused, knowing glint in her eyes.
As she spoke, she held out the pack, offering him one.
Dom had just lifted his glass to his lips when she asked this. He tensed up instantly.
After all, both he and his boss were currently in very sensitive positions.
He retorted sharply: "Don't be ridiculous… People come and go from Sabaody every day. You expect to know everyone you see?"
That was a terrible way to start a conversation.
"You're a local… but he isn't," Shakky replied, unfazed, still smiling. "And those clothes you're wearing… you must have stolen them, right?"
It was obvious from her observation that Oboro's outfit didn't fit him properly at all.
Oboro pulled down his hood and removed the mask covering his face.
So this woman really does have sharp eyes, he thought to himself. No wonder she's associated with Rayleigh.
"Boss!" Dom gasped, horrified to see Oboro reveal his face.
"It's fine." Oboro waved it off casually.
"So… you're that slave everyone's been talking about these past few days, the one who stirred up all this trouble," Shakky said, raising an eyebrow.
With a face covered in scars like his, he was incredibly easy to identify.
Dom's eyes flashed with killing intent as he stared at the woman. He was ready to silence her forever.
"Show some respect to your elders. And relax… she won't turn us in," Oboro said, sipping his drink. He then took the cigarette Shakky had offered.
Even though Dom had been transformed into a Demon, if things turned violent… the outcome would be disastrous.
For one thing, warriors from Amazon Lily — especially someone of her caliber — had likely mastered Haki from a very young age.
Oboro's words made Shakky's eyes light up. She stepped around the counter, walked over, and personally lit his cigarette for him.
"Hmm… I don't remember ever meeting a handsome young thing like you before. Did something happen between us that I forgot about?" she teased.
"Walls have ears… and you, of all people, should know better than anyone that secrets never stay hidden forever," Oboro replied, blowing out a puff of smoke.
He had picked up the habit of smoking back on the Dark Continent. The pack Vanfi had left behind didn't have many cigarettes in it… but what was there was incredibly potent.
"So then… what can I do for you?" Shakky asked.
By now, she had already guessed his intention.
He hadn't come here just for a drink… he had come for information.
"Help me take this off."
Oboro got straight to the point. He pulled open the collar of his shirt, revealing the slave collar locked around his neck.
His body was still weak, and he hadn't begun any serious training yet. With his current strength, it was impossible for him to break the "shackle" placed by the Celestial Dragons.
"I can't do that," Shakky replied flatly.
"Maybe not… but there is someone who can."
Oboro's tone was suggestive.
"I see… so you know quite a lot, don't you?"
Shakky stubbed out her cigarette in the ashtray. She didn't beat around the bush.
"I can put you in contact with him. But whether he agrees to help or not is entirely up to him — I can't make any promises. And… you'll have to pay a fee for the introduction."
"How much?" Dom asked immediately.
"One million Berries. Oh, and since you ordered these two drinks… I'll give you a discount. One million five hundred thousand Berries, all in!" Shakky said with a grin.
"You're robbing us blind!" Dom exclaimed, his mouth hanging open in disbelief.
He had never met anyone so shameless. That was only the introduction fee…
And two drinks for five hundred and fifty thousand Berries each? She really thought they were suckers, didn't she?
Just then, with a clatter, Oboro raised his hand and dumped a pile of money and various items he had stolen from the pirates earlier right onto the table.
He had converted everything into cards beforehand; now he retrieved them all.
"This is all the money I have on me…" Oboro said calmly.
And even this money had only been stolen just a short while ago.
"Fine. I'll handle the connection. But don't get your hopes up that he'll actually come," Shakky said.
The amount on the table certainly wasn't what she had asked for, but she changed her mind anyway, and even brought them two more drinks on the house.
She swept the money into her hands and didn't say another word.
"Why didn't you just use a Den Den Mushi to contact this person?" Dom didn't know exactly who Oboro was looking for, but seeing the woman take the money and then just sit back comfortably in her chair doing nothing, he grew angry.
"It's still early… why don't you two stick around a bit? He might just show up later… and besides, I don't have any way to reach him anyway," Shakky said, lighting another cigarette at her leisure.
"For all we know, he could be lying dead somewhere on this island right now, rotting away…"
"..."
Dom was speechless.
She took the fee… said she'd make a connection… and this was how she did it?
He wanted to say more, but seeing how calm and composed Oboro remained the whole time, he held it in.
A short while later, the door opened and a few pirates wandered in. They ordered some drinks.
Oboro put his mask back on and pulled his hood over his head.
The group stayed only briefly. After having just a few drinks, they were presented with the bill — and found they were being charged an astronomical sum! Furious, one of them, hot‑headed and aggressive, tried to attack Shakky.
But she didn't even need any help; she easily knocked all of them flat on their backs. She then demanded an even larger "compensation fee" before kicking them out.
Before leaving, they swore she'd pay for it and threatened to come back with reinforcements to wreck the place.
The woman didn't seem worried in the slightest.
She had done this kind of thing countless times before.
Though business was slow, throughout the day, small groups of customers came and went.
Some were regulars who came specifically for information rather than alcohol.
Oboro and Dom waited until late in the evening.
It was almost time for most shops to close for the night, when finally, an elderly man with white hair pushed the door open.
He held a small, exquisitely crafted bottle of liquor in one hand and reeked of alcohol.
The moment he stepped inside, Oboro knew — without even turning around — that the person he was waiting for had arrived.
"Lost all your money gambling again?" Shakky tilted her head and smiled softly.
"Ahh… my luck's been terrible lately."
"I'm really sorry… looks like I'll have to put it on credit again today."
The old man scratched the back of his head. His face was flushed, and his words were full of guilt… though his expression didn't look apologetic in the slightest.
"Don't worry about it. Tonight's on the house. Someone has already paid for your drink."
When the old man sat down, Shakky signaled subtly with her eyes toward Oboro's location.
"At this hour… we still have customers?"
The old man understood immediately and asked in surprise.
____________________
For more advance chapters visit my patreon
patreon.com/kane45
Tier: 10$ Casual Reader - +20 Advance Chapter
20$ Intermediate Reader - +40 Advance Chapter
40$ Expert Reader - +80 Advance Chapter
Update: "Monday to Friday - Update 3 Chapters a Day"
"Saturday and Sunday - Off"