Note

Not long before—

Oro Jackson, somewhere at sea

Sunlight laid a golden path across the sea as the Oro Jackson sailed into the wind. The deck was livelier than usual.

The pirates gathered in a circle, chattering excitedly over the latest news.

"It really was just like Rock said!!"

"Shakuyaku actually opened a bar on Hachinosu?! And business is booming?!"

"I thought we'd never see her again!"

"Now that we know where she is, can't we just go find her?!"

At that moment, a timid newcomer quietly reminded them, "But... isn't Hachinosu Rocks's territory?"

The air instantly fell silent. Everyone turned in unison toward the railing at the bow.

Roger stood there in his straw hat, slumped over the railing like life had beaten him senseless, wearing the dejected expression of someone who had lost all his dreams.

Rayleigh stood behind him with a strange look on his face, as though he wanted to explain but couldn't.

Just then, Gaban, the Roger Pirates' resident gossip, sidled over with a smug grin.

He threw an arm around Rayleigh's shoulders. "Hey, hey~ Rayleigh, you think I didn't notice?"

Cold sweat immediately beaded on Rayleigh's forehead, and his mouth twitched. "W-What?"

Gaban lowered his voice and glanced at Roger slumped over the railing.

"Roger only became like this after you two went into the captain's cabin."

"What did you say to him?"

Rayleigh looked out toward the sea. "N-Nothing..."

Gaban narrowed his eyes. "Oh? That's awfully suspicious—"

A moment earlier, inside the captain's cabin—

With a grave expression, Rayleigh called Roger into the captain's cabin. After closing the door, he lowered his voice.

"I don't want the others to know about this... I'm only telling you, Roger."

Roger had his back to him, his expression unusually calm. "What you want to talk about... is that fight with the Kuja Pirates before Shakuyaku stepped down, isn't it?"

He suddenly whipped around and slammed both hands onto the table. "I knew something was off about Shakuyaku back then! Then she suddenly announced she was stepping down, and I thought she was sick...!"

"But then—"

Roger's pupils shook. "You actually received something like this?!!"

Cold sweat streamed down Rayleigh's forehead. "I... I really don't know how to say it..."

Roger pointed at the slip of paper in Rayleigh's hand, his finger trembling. There was only one short sentence written on it:

—Come pick me up.

Signed: Shakuyaku

Roger exploded. "Rayleigh!!! Didn't you say you weren't interested in her—?!!"

Rayleigh took two steps back and raised his hands in surrender. "Hey, hey! Calm down! Saying I'm completely uninterested... would be a lie, but I... I just don't want to be tied down!"

Roger covered his face and crouched down in agony. "You don't... but I do!!! I do, Rayleigh!!!"

Rayleigh: "???"

Roger roared in despair, "You bastard! Do you have any idea how many people envy you?!"

He suddenly lunged at him. "Give me that letter!!!"

Rayleigh spun around and ran, stuffing the paper behind his back. "Don't even think about it! It's for me!!!"

Roger charged after him like a madman. "Rayleigh! Let go of that letter!!!"

The captain's cabin instantly descended into chaos.

Hearing the series of bangs and crashes outside, the crew whispered among themselves, "Captain Roger... what's wrong?"

"Did Rayleigh beat him up?"

Back on the deck of the Oro Jackson.

The sea breeze was gentle, the sky clear. The only thing out of place was Roger, sprawled against the railing with a melancholy look on his face.

Then, as if a hundred thousand volts of lightning had jolted him awake, he sprang up with a slap!!!

"—Everyone!!!"

He raised both hands high, his voice piercing through the sea wind. "I will never give up!!!"

The crew all froze. He had looked like a corpse just moments ago, and now his fighting spirit had suddenly maxed out?

"Huh? Captain... you're fired up again?"

Watching Roger's tiny universe reignite, Rayleigh merely smiled faintly, his eyes full of helpless resignation. Here we go again.

Roger suddenly turned around, his face blazing with the fervor of someone ready to seize the world back.

"Listen up! What is a pirate's true calling?!"

"Plunder—!!!"

"If you want something, take it! Can't take it? Then keep at it!! Never give up!!!"

"Am I right, boys?!!!"

The crew behind him immediately erupted. "You're talking about Shakuyaku, right?!!!"

"HAHAHAHA!!!"

"Why should we be afraid of Rocks? Everyone's equal before competition!!!"

"Charge!! Let's go take Shakuyaku back!!!"

Roger: "Could you stop saying it so bluntly...?!"

The crew completely ignored his feeble attempts at saving face.

Just as the momentum reached its peak, Roger suddenly rubbed his stomach and instantly ruined the mood. "I'm hungry! Marcus! Is the food ready yet?!"

Marcus poked his head out from the kitchen. "It's ready! Time to eat!"

"OHHHHHH—!!!"

The whole crew's excitement instantly surpassed what it would have been if they were preparing to fight Rocks.

Extortion Bar, central Hachinosu

This was the only place on Hachinosu where pirates obediently lined up, dared not make a scene, and dared not act out.

The long queue looped around three times. Brutal pirates stood as neatly as kindergarteners waiting in line for milk.

Occasional shouting could be heard—

"Hey! You cut in line! Want to fight?!"

"This is Shakuyaku's place! Don't you dare cause trouble here!"

"Sorry, sorry! I'll line up again!"

Every pirate knew that on Hachinosu, they could provoke anyone—but they absolutely could not provoke Shakuyaku.

Inside the bar, it was just as lively.

"Huh? Why is this drink so expensive?! I didn't bring that many Berries!"

Behind the bar, Shakuyaku held a cigarette between her lips and lazily exhaled smoke. "Then go work in the back kitchen for two years to pay off your debt~"

"Huh?! Two years?!"

The pirates gathered around the bar, their eyes turning into heart-shaped bubbles.

"I came all the way from North Blue! I heard you can drink delicious whiskey here, and eat dishes made by Miss Shakuyaku!"

"That's right! They say that if you get even one bite of Miss Shakuyaku's cooking, you'll go straight to heaven!!"

Shakuyaku smiled slightly, elegant and deadly. "Hehe."

"I'm glad you feel that way."

Her lips curved upward. "Unfortunately, I will never cook for any of you."

"NO—!!!"

The pirates all collapsed at once, dropping to their knees.

Yet their eyes still sparkled. "She rejected us so decisively... she's just too charming!!!"

Just then, a shout came from the kitchen. "Boss Shakuyaku! We're out of whiskey!"

Shakuyaku lazily flicked away some ash. "Then substitute it with the cheapest rum~"

"!!!"

In an instant, hearts ran wild in the pirates' eyes. "Just as I imagined! This is awesome!!!"

"What atrocious service—it's absolutely perfect!!!"

"Thank you for the meal—!!!"

Other bars on Hachinosu: Please stop coming to our places. We can't serve freaks like you.

Shakuyaku's Extortion Bar: The more freaks there are, the better business gets.