When Shakky recognized the familiar face beneath the hat, wearing an amused smile, the hand holding her glass paused almost imperceptibly.
The headlines from a few days ago were still fresh in her mind. News that Gern had officially declared Fish-Man Island under his protection had spread like wildfire.
Shakky had assumed that, given Gern's current standing and the unpredictable situation at sea,
once he finished handling matters on Fish-Man Island, he would immediately return to G-10 Base to guard against any unforeseen trouble.
Yet she had never imagined that not only would this man be in no hurry to return, he would actually... show up on the Sabaody Archipelago!
Even more absurdly, the man accompanying him was none other than the aloof, solitary "World's Greatest Swordsman," Dracule Mihawk!
How had these two top-tier powerhouses, who seemingly had nothing to do with each other, ended up together-and come to her little bar?
Shakky's gaze swept quickly between Gern and Mihawk. Countless possibilities flashed through her mind, but her face swiftly resumed the relaxed composure of a bar owner.
Gern caught every bit of Shakky's fleeting surprise, but he paid it no mind.
He walked up to the counter, casually settled onto a barstool, and set his hat aside. Tapping his fingers lightly against the counter, he shook his head and deliberately adopted a picky tone.
"Your place doesn't look like much, ma'am. You'd better not try to pass off cheap liquor on me. This friend of mine has a very discerning palate."
By now, Shakky had long since shed her former glamour, losing the breathtaking beauty that had once stunned the seas and earned her the title of "the world's most beautiful woman."
Time and a life in seclusion had left their marks on her face. Though traces of her