Most of the Straw Hat crew only half-followed Araki and Rayleigh's conversation for the excitement of it, and Nami even exclaimed, "So Senior Rayleigh can coat ships too! Then could we ask you to do ours as well? Don't worry, we'll pay."
There was business to be had, and it was such a young, pretty woman asking, so naturally Rayleigh would not refuse.
"No problem, but you'll have to wait a little. Working for this young man really wore this old man out. I'll rest for a couple of days, then coat it for you."
Araki had naturally seen Luffy and the others too, but he did not pay them much mind. Although Kaguya Black Bone and Zabuza Momochi's operation had failed, since he had already gathered enough money, there was no need to stir up more trouble.
He did not have any particular fondness or dislike for creatures like protagonists. How he treated them depended only on whether he needed to or not.
However, it was not as if there were no smart people present.
Shakky and Robin both picked up on the implications hidden in their conversation.
Out of concern for her side's current situation, a flicker of hesitation passed through Nico Robin's eyes, and she did not immediately ask, but Shakky had no such concerns.
As an information broker, she was very curious about Araki and his group, who seemed to have popped out of a rock from nowhere.
"Young man~"
She bit her cigarette, her voice graceful and lilting. "You don't even care about five hundred million Beli anymore. Just how much did you make this time?"
"Ah... not actually that much. About one and a half billion, I guess."
Araki thought for a moment and gave a rough figure.
"One and a half billion?"
Shakky