Chapter 10

"Welcome back. Thanks for all your hard work on the journey."

As soon as the ship docked, Shakuyaku led Rayleigh aboard. She nodded to the leader first, then turned to Uchiha Chisato and her son, her voice full of gratitude. "You must be Jiri and Xunjing, the ones who saved my Kuja Pirates? On behalf of Kuja Island, you have my heartfelt thanks."

"I've heard about what Naki promised you."

"Simply taking you to Drum Island isn't nearly enough to repay what you've done."

"If there's anything you want, just ask. As long as it isn't unreasonable, I'll do everything I can to oblige."

"Besides, I have fairly good information channels. If there's anything you want to know, come to me. I'll provide the information free of charge."

"Thank you again!"

Without Uchiha Chisato and her companions stepping in when they did, she hardly dared imagine how badly the Kuja Pirates would have suffered.

The atmosphere outside Shakuyaku's bar grew a little awkward.

Those proficient in Three-Color Haki always had sharp instincts. There was no hiding the unsettling air surrounding Uchiha Chisato and Xunjing. The boy called Xunjing, in particular, was frighteningly pale, and even his breathing carried a hint of decline.

If they hadn't happened to run into them today, the women from Amazon Lily would probably have been captured wholesale by those lawless slave hunters. The human traffickers would then have passed their merchandise straight into the hands of the Celestial Dragons for their amusement.

The mere thought of the consequences was enough to make one's skin crawl.

After all, the woman named Hancock was already certain to become Kuja Island's next empress. If anything happened to her, all of Amazon Lily would be thrown into turmoil.

"You're far too kind. We just happened to be there and lent a small hand."

Uchiha Chisato didn't let their gratitude go to her head. With just the right touch of humility in her voice, she gently waved a hand, a faint smile on her lips.

Shakuyaku had always drawn a clear line between debts and grudges, and she couldn't stand owing anyone a favor. At those words, her expression immediately turned stern, and she shook her head firmly.

"You can't put it that way. A tremendous favor is still a favor, and I know exactly what I owe. I can promise you right now that you may ask for whatever you need. If you can't think of anything yet, you can come to me anytime to collect. I won't hesitate."

Just as the atmosphere began to stiffen, Rayleigh, who stood beside them, chuckled and patted Shakuyaku's shoulder to smooth things over.

"All right, what's the rush to settle the debt? The street is hardly a good place to talk. Why don't we take everyone back to the bar and discuss it properly over a seat?"

As he spoke, he turned to Uchiha Chisato, seeking her agreement.

Uchiha Chisato didn't stand on ceremony and nodded. "All right, then. Sorry for imposing on you both."

After a short walk, the group arrived at Shakuyaku's tavern.

Looking up at the sign that read "Shakuyaku's Rip-Off Bar," Uchiha Chisato paused, then instinctively glanced at Shakuyaku.

That look left Shakuyaku a little embarrassed, but she was thick-skinned enough to recover a moment later. Waving a hand with a grin, she explained:

"Well, you've seen what this place is like. It's crawling with **, thugs, and more pirates than you can count. Without a tough-sounding name, I couldn't keep them in line."

"That makes sense."

Uchiha Chisato and Xunjing beside her both nodded, their faces plainly saying, "We believe you."

After that little interlude, Shakuyaku no longer felt awkward and quickly ushered them inside. She briskly served drinks, juice, and pastries.

Only once everyone was seated did she speak again, getting down to business.

"I heard you're heading to Drum Island? Looking for a doctor? Would you like me to introduce you to someone reliable? My other half knows a very good one. He might be able to cure this young fellow."

Anyone who wasn't blind could see how sickly Xunjing looked. In fact, to seasoned veterans like Shakuyaku and Rayleigh, the woman called Uchiha Chisato didn't seem to be in much better shape. The vitality emanating from both of them was astonishingly weak.

It was hard to imagine that someone with such a frail, sickly body had just cut down several powerful pirates with bounties exceeding a hundred million as easily as slicing vegetables.

Of course, they could also faintly sense a peculiar power hidden within Uchiha Chisato. That was probably the true source of her strength.

Still, neither Shakuyaku nor Rayleigh asked about a secret so closely tied to her abilities. They tacitly agreed that doing so would be far too presumptuous.

"Thanks, but there's no need for now."

Before Uchiha Chisato could speak, Xunjing declined first. He paused, then continued, "We plan to visit Dr. Kureha on Drum Island first, the one known as the Witch. If even she can't treat my father's condition and mine, it won't be too late to trouble you both then."

"Oh?"

Even Shakuyaku and Rayleigh were taken aback when Xunjing spoke first, and they couldn't help glancing at him.

Shakuyaku answered, "You mean the Witch, Dr. Kureha? I've heard of her. That woman's medical skills really are first-rate. In terms of ability, she might even be a little better than Crocus."

She paused, her tone growing more serious. "But you need to understand that she isn't someone who comes whenever she's called. If you can't offer something that interests her, she won't even give you a glance. You'd best be prepared."

"Mm." Xunjing nodded. "I have a plan."

"Good, then." Shakuyaku's expression relaxed a little. "Since you know what you're doing, I won't say any more. I wish you luck."

She continued, "So, have you decided what you want as a reward? Please don't hold back. I don't like owing favors."

"We already have something in mind."

Xunjing spoke again, his gaze moving between Shakuyaku and Rayleigh. "I'd like to trade this favor, along with information on the whereabouts of Roger's son, for Uncle Rayleigh's insights into training Three-Color Haki, as well as the training methods and insights for the Six Powers and Life Return. Would that work?"

Rayleigh's pupils suddenly contracted, and even his voice changed pitch. "What? Roger really had a child?"

All at once, he no longer had the presence of mind to ask how Xunjing knew who he was. That revelation alone would take him a while to digest.

Shakuyaku froze as well, studying Xunjing several times. "Young man, that's quite a bombshell. We suspected it before, but we never dared be certain."

Even as she spoke, something else weighed more heavily on her mind-from the moment they entered the bar, it had been obvious which of the mother and son took the lead.

Xunjing had been the one making decisions and speaking all along, and that piqued her interest in the young man.

Looks like this sickly kid isn't as simple as he seems. I can't judge him by his appearance alone.

Uchiha... a surname I've never heard before. Interesting.

She kept those thoughts to herself.

It took Rayleigh a long while to steady his emotions. He stared fixedly at Xunjing and pressed him. "Young man, this isn't something you can say lightly. Are you sure it's true?"

"Of course," Xunjing answered without hesitation. "After the Roger Pirates disbanded, Roger went to the South Blue. On Baterilla Island, he met a woman named Portgas D. Rouge. They were together for a year, and Rouge became pregnant with Roger's child."

He continued, "After that, Roger turned himself in and ushered in the Great Pirate Era. At the time, the World ** caught wind of rumors that Roger might have left a child in the South Blue. They sent plenty of people there and slaughtered a great many pregnant women."

"Aunt Shakuyaku, you're always well informed. You remember that, don't you?"

Shakuyaku nodded and answered plainly, "I do. Roger's case caused quite a stir back then, and my other half was keeping a close eye on it."

"But then it all went quiet."

"A lot of pregnant women and children died, though."

"So Portgas D. Rouge really escaped the World **'s search?"

The more she thought about it, the more incredible it seemed.

"That's right."