Roy spent the entire morning at Shakky's bar.
He sat on the chair in the corner of the bar, leaning against the wall, holding a glass of rum, but barely took a few sips.
Shakky was wiping glasses behind the bar, glancing at him every now and then, but too lazy to say anything.
Kuma sat at another table, flipping through his Bible. It was a thick book, and he was already halfway through it. He was reading it with extreme concentration, as if nothing that was happening in the outside world had anything to do with him.
The bar was so quiet that only the sound of turning pages and clinking glasses could be heard.
But to Roy, the entire Sabaody Archipelago was incredibly noisy.
His Observation Haki had already spread out, like an invisible net covering every mangrove in the archipelago.
Meanwhile, in the Grove 23, the kid wearing a pirate hat was squatting in front of the bubble stand, grinning foolishly at a bubble.
The Straw Hat Pirates have landed.
Luffy started Luffy his feet touched the ground, while Zoro, as usual, got lost and ended up in the completely opposite direction.
Sanji chased after Nami, serving her tea and water, while Usopp and Chopper were so frightened by the Bubble Car that they hugged each other and screamed.
Robin, on the other hand, was leisurely strolling along the commercial street, holding a newly bought book in his hand, occasionally glancing up at the signs on the roadside.
Roy's lips curled up slightly when he sensed Robin's presence.
This woman seemed quite comfortable in the Straw Hat Pirates, much more relaxed than when she was in Baroque Works.
However, Robin noticed something—her Observation Haki had just swept across a corner and paused for a moment.
Although she didn't do anything extra, Roy knew she had discovered something.
A small stall on the side of the commercial street in the Grove 24.
The octopus -Fish-Man Hachi, was squatting behind the stall, his six arms busy skewering fish balls, a cigarette dangling from his mouth.
His hat was pulled low, almost completely obscuring his face, but the Fish-Man's distinctive aura was as conspicuous as a lighthouse in Roy's perception.
Roy frowned slightly.
What's Hachi doing here?
According to the original story, Hachi would indeed appear in the Sabaody Archipelago, but he has now completely messed up the timeline.
The Sun Pirates became a subordinate force of Hachinosu. Fisher Tiger and Jinbe are both thriving in the New World, while Hachi, as a veteran member of the Sun Pirates...
Logically speaking, it's inappropriate for someone to set up a street stall in the first half of the Grand Line.
Unless—he came on his own.
Roy pondered for a moment and roughly guessed the reason.
Fisher Tiger has always taken care of his fellow Fishman from Fish-Man District. Although Hachi's strength is average, he has a long service record in the Sun Pirates.
If he wants to go out for a walk, Fisher Tiger probably won't stop him.
I never expected him to end up in a place like the Sabaody Archipelago and set up a takoyaki stall here.
This is probably what's known as the butterfly effect.
Roy didn't think much of it. Anyway, Hachi appeared here at this time in the original story. Now it's just a different background story, but the result is still the same.
His attention was drawn to another aura.
In the basement of a casino in the direction of Grove 25.
The aura was deeply concealed, imperceptible to ordinary people, but to Roy, it was all too familiar.
Powerful and composed, it carries a profound sense of weight accumulated over the years, like an old knife that has been sheathed for decades. The sharpness of the blade has been worn away by time, but the blade itself remains as hard as ever.
Dark King Rayleigh.
This old man sold himself into slavery at a human auction house, and spent all the money he got on alcohol.
He was currently sitting in a makeshift cell behind the auction house, dozing against the wall, wearing an explosive collar on his ankle—something that was hardly even decoration to him.
When Roy sensed him, he was even snoring.
Roy almost burst out laughing.
However, Rayleigh's Observation Haki was not just for show.
At the same time that Roy sensed him, he also sensed Roy.
The previously languid aura stirred slightly, as if in greeting, before returning to its half-asleep, half-awake state.
The two top-tier experts exchanged glances using Observation Haki across a dozen or so mangrove trees. It was that simple, without any further probing or unnecessary actions.
Roy withdrew his senses, picked up his glass, and took a sip.
"How is it?" Shakky asked abruptly.
"Mr. Rayleigh still knows how to enjoy life," Roy said.
Shakky snorted and flicked her cigarette ash, "Did he sell himself again?"
"Um."
"That old man." Shakky's tone was half disgust and half helplessness.
Roy didn't respond.
His Observation Haki detected another group of auras—several Supernovas were moving towards the auction house.
Kid's violent, magnetic aura was the most striking, like a walking generator.
Law's aura was relatively restrained, and he suppressed the fluctuations of the Op-Op Fruit's power to a very low level, but Roy was too familiar with him and recognized him at a glance.
And Hawkins, that gloomy, strawy smell was really unsettling.
Apoo, Drake, Bege, Urouge —this year's hottest newcomers are all converging in the same direction.
Luffy and his crew were also in that direction.
Roy put down his glass and leaned back in his chair to find a more comfortable position.
The show is about to begin.
The Straw Hat Pirates's encounter with Hachi was pretty much exactly what Roy had predicted.
While Luffy was running around in the street, he smelled the aroma of takoyaki and, as if bewitched, floated to Hachi's stall.
Hachi didn't recognize Luffy at first—after all, he had only seen Luffy's wanted poster in the Sun Pirates ' information, and there's a difference between the real person and the photo.
But when he saw the tall, black-haired woman behind Luffy, he froze.
Nicole Robin.
Hachi's eyes widened in surprise.
He'd been with the Sun Pirates for so long, of course he knew Robin.
The members of Hachinosu, including the archaeologists Captain Roy personally brought back from the West Blue, held authority on Hachinosu several levels higher than a squad leader of a subordinate force like himself.
How did she end up on the Straw Hat Boy ' ship?
Robin recognized Hachi too.
Her expression remained unchanged, except that she slightly shook her head at Hachi Luffy at the takoyaki.
The movement was subtle, almost imperceptible, but Hachi understood—don't reveal my identity.
Hachi took a deep breath and swallowed back the "Lord Robin " that was about to come out of his mouth.
The rest of the story unfolded logically.
The oblivious Luffy becomes friends with Hachi because of Hachi's delicious takoyaki. When Hachi tells him about the kidnapping of the mermaid Camie, Luffy immediately gets angry.
Upon hearing the word "mermaid," Sanji's mind seemed to conjure up some thoughts, and he started having a nosebleed.
Although Zoro said "troublesome," his hand was already on the hilt of his sword.
After Nami punched Sanji, she made the decision to go to the human auction house to rescue people.
Roy used his Observation Haki to sense everything, silently giving the Straw Hat Pirates a high score for their efficiency.
From hearing the news to making the decision, it took less than three minutes.
The decision-making process on this ship is enviably simple.
Luffy said to go, and everyone went; there was no nonsense, no wrangling.
They're not even the same species as those old fogies in the World Government who argue for three days straight during a single meeting.