The central hall of the palace on the Main Island, the Golden Lion's stronghold, was as noisy as ever.
Pirates gathered in groups of three or five, drinking, boasting, and gambling. The air was thick with alcohol, tobacco smoke, and raucous laughter.
It was a Japanese-style Circular Hall surrounded by six levels of open galleries. There were no walls on the inward-facing sides, only spaced redwood support pillars linked by waist-high railings.
Rather than a palace, it felt more like an enormous Japanese tavern.
Grus and Kujaku sat drinking with a few of their subordinates at a table beside the railing.
Their table was in a corner of the third-floor gallery, facing inward.
With only railings and no walls, they had a fairly clear view of the entire hall.
By now, all of them had changed into the black suits issued to everyone.
Grus wore a typical yakuza-style suit, leaving it unbuttoned. He still wore his black cap with its exceptionally long brim, though.
Kujaku wore an open-collared women's suit jacket, but in a rather daring fashion. Pirates at the surrounding tables couldn't help looking her way, though none dared bother her.
Over the few days they had spent on the Golden Lion's Sky Island, the pair had become somewhat familiar with the place and taught a few people suitably measured lessons.
They hadn't revealed their Devil Fruit abilities or used the Six Powers. They had only demonstrated reasonably competent Armament Haki.
That let the pirates know they weren't people to mess with-strong fighters who would probably end up sharing a sworn-brotherhood drink with Boss Shiki.
"Oh, hey! Haven't seen you in a while, 'Big Brim'!"
Several pirates approached. The man leading them, dressed in a black suit, spotted Grus and Kujaku and greeted them with easy familiarity.
Their sloppy