The young woman leaning against the bar was the owner of the bar. Her name was Shakky.
Shakky had neat, short black hair. She looked young and slender, but she was actually quite old—a veteran pirate who had been active forty years ago.
"Rayleigh, it's rare to see you like this."
Shakky smiled as she watched the contemplative old man before her. Her slender fingers gave a light flick, knocking ash into the ashtray.
"Ah..."
Rayleigh answered instinctively. He raised a hand to stroke his beard and smiled. "It's just a little unexpected."
"Unexpected?"
Shakky glanced at the Bounty Poster in Rayleigh's hand. "Are you surprised by Little Maud, or by Little Jaya?"
"Both, I suppose."
Rayleigh smiled and placed the Bounty Poster on the bar. He picked up a glass of liquor, but did not drink it. Instead, he slowly turned the base of the glass, letting the strong liquor swirl inside.
"I wonder... how are the old fellows doing?"
The smile on his old face gradually faded, replaced by a look of reminiscence.
Shakky looked at Rayleigh and smiled. "This is the only route to the New World. Little Maud and Little Jaya will come here sooner or later. Why not just ask them when they do?"
"That's true. Hahaha!"
Rayleigh threw his head back in laughter and drained the liquor in his glass.
"But Saul, that old miser, really did find himself an extraordinary junior."
As he spoke, Rayleigh pressed his empty glass onto the corner of Maud's Bounty Poster.
"For a newcomer, he really is extraordinary. He reminds me of Fire Fist Ace last year."
Shakky smiled as she picked up the bottle and poured Rayleigh another drink.
Rayleigh lowered his head to look at the murderous photograph on the Bounty Poster and smiled. "I really