Inside the tavern, the atmosphere was calm but only on the surface.
Shakky studied the two uninvited boys sitting at her counter with mild curiosity, one of them clearly trying too hard to act normal while the other was visibly tense.
“What can I get for you two, young sirs?”
“Uh two glasses of juice will be fine!”
“Alright, young sirs.”
Shakky placed the drinks down and leaned casually against the bar, arms crossed, watching them without a word.
Tesoro, who had personally witnessed Shakky effortlessly throw a violent pirate out of the tavern moments earlier, gripped his glass with trembling hands, visibly nervous.
Roy, on the other hand, also felt a strange sense of awkwardness but for a very different reason.
Damn it… Oda really did it again.
So this was it.
The so-called “treasure” that triggered chaos between the Rocks Pirates, Roger Pirates, the Marines, and the World Government… the woman who stood at the center of the God Valley Incident that led to the downfall of Rocks D.
Xebec himself.
And she’s just… running a bar.
What kind of twisted joke is this?
“What’s wrong, young sir?”
Shakky noticed Roy staring at her.
Roy blinked, quickly recovering his expression.
“Nothing.
It’s just… unexpected.”
Shakky narrowed her eyes slightly.
“Speaking of which… how do you know about Rocks?
The God Valley Incident was completely erased from public records.
Someone your age shouldn’t know that name.”
Roy laughed lightly, waving it off.
“Haha doesn’t matter.”
Shakky observed him more carefully now.
Long golden hair.
Calm but arrogant posture.
Strange confidence for a child.
Interesting…
Then she asked directly.
“Then tell me, what are you two here for?”
Roy leaned back slightly.
“We’re here to buy information.”
That answer made Shakky raise an eyebrow.
“Such as?”
Roy began counting on his fingers.
“Haki training methods.
Rokushiki training methods.
Basic swordsmanship.
And log poses for the Country of Endless War and Hachinosu.”
Shakky exhaled a small stream of smoke.
“Log poses, Haki, and swordsmanship manuals are easy enough… but Rokushiki is different.
That’s Marine and World Government exclusive.”
Roy didn’t hesitate.
“I’m sure someone like Miss Shakky can handle it.”
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
“Oh?
You know quite a lot for your age.”
Her gaze sharpened slightly.
“Tell me, kid… what’s your relationship with Golden Lion Shiki?”
Roy froze for a fraction of a second.
Then his expression twisted in pure disbelief.
“…Huh?”
Golden Lion?
Why the hell is that name coming up?
He pointed at himself like it was the most ridiculous accusation in the world.
“Look at me.
Look at my face.
Look at my hair.
Do I look anything like that floating lion grandpa?!”
Shakky chuckled softly, amused by his reaction.
“Alright, alright.
I’ll take that as a no.”
Then she casually dropped the price.
“One hundred million Berries.”
Tesoro nearly choked.
“ONE HUNDRED MILLION?!”
He had never even seen that amount in his life.
Roy, however, remained completely calm.
Money?
If you don’t have it… you just take it.
Simple.
“When will it be ready?”
“In three days.”
“Good.
We’ll return then.”
Roy stood up and walked out without hesitation.
Tesoro quickly finished his juice and hurried after him.
Shakky watched them leave, exhaling smoke slowly.
“What an interesting kid…”
Outside the bar.
Tesoro finally spoke, still stunned.
“Boss… one hundred million Berries… do you really have that kind of money?”
Roy didn’t even slow down.
“No.”
Tesoro froze.
“…Then what do we do?”
Roy casually placed an arm over his shoulder while walking.
“Tesoro.”
“In this world, only the strong control everything.”
“If you’re strong, money comes to you.”
“If you’re weak, you just get stepped on.”
Tesoro went silent.
He thought about his past.
His poverty.
His helplessness.
His inability to protect anything.
Slowly… something burned inside him.
“…Then I want to become strong.”
Roy glanced at him.
“Good answer.”
Tesoro clenched his fists.
“Boss… please teach me.
I don’t want to be powerless anymore.”
Roy suddenly laughed.
“Hahaha!
Of course.”
“But don’t expect it to be easy.
If you fall behind… I’ll leave you.”
Tesoro nodded firmly.
“I understand!”
Roy stretched slightly.
“Good.
First, we find a place to stay.”
That night.
Inside a cheap hotel room, Roy lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
Three days.
Enough time to prepare.
Money wasn’t a problem.
If needed… he would simply take it.
Then he turned his head toward Tesoro.
“Hey.”
Tesoro sat nearby, still awake.
“Who exactly is this Wild Wolf Dockley guy?”
Tesoro’s expression darkened.
“Dockley runs most of the underground businesses in the lawless zone casinos, slave auctions, illegal trade.
He supplies rare goods to the Celestial Dragons.”
“He has hundreds of men… and rumors say even the Marines tolerate him.”
Roy listened quietly.
Then Tesoro hesitated.
“…Boss.
Can you help me save someone?”
Roy glanced at him.
“Who?”
Tesoro lowered his head.
“Stella.”
“She’s… the only person I care about.”
Silence filled the room.
Roy understood immediately.
A slave market victim.
A familiar tragedy in this world.
He sighed quietly.
“…I get it.”
Then he sat up.
“Alright.
We handle it.”
Tesoro looked up in shock.
“Really?!”
Roy smirked.
“You’re my subordinate now.”
“If I don’t even take back what’s important to you, what kind of boss would I be?”
At the same time, elsewhere in Sabaody.
Wild Wolf Dockley’s base.
A fat man with a sharp gaze reviewed financial reports inside a luxurious office.
Despite his appearance, his eyes carried the calculation of someone far more dangerous than he looked.
*BANG BANG.*
The door opened abruptly.
“Boss Dockley!”
“Tesoro was taken by a brat!”
Dockley’s expression darkened instantly.
“What?!
Useless fools!
You can’t even handle one kid?!”
Before his rage could fully erupt
The door opened again.
A man stepped in for Tore Gem, Dockley’s second-in-command and overseer of the slave auction house.
“Boss, the shipment is ready.”
“And the Celestial Dragons will personally attend the auction this time.”
Dockley paused.
Then slowly… his anger faded.
His eyes sharpened with greed instead.
“…Good.”
“Forget the kid.”
“We’ve got bigger profits to deal with.”