The Old Man’s Tavern.
It was a small tavern on Mafia Island that had been around for quite some time.
The owner was a thin, elderly man known simply as Old Man.
Unlike those fashionable bars filled with bright lights and extravagance, this little tavern had always maintained its old-fashioned style.
There were no dazzling neon lights or lavish decorations.
Once night fell, only a few kerosene lamps were lit, leaving the place dimly illuminated.
At that moment.
At the tavern counter.
Rocks casually sat down beside the owner, Old Man, ordered a glass of rum, and downed it in one gulp.
A true powerhouse was indeed a true powerhouse.
Even after swallowing liquor that was dozens of degrees strong, Rocks’ expression didn’t change in the slightest.
“Old Man, any opportunities to make a fortune lately?
I urgently need a large sum of money.”
Rocks slammed the wooden cup down on the counter.
The thin tavern owner raised his eyes and glanced at Rocks.
“Take a right when you leave.
There’s a place called Golden Splendor.
If you’re lucky, winning a few million in one night isn’t a problem.
If you’re really capable, it’s not impossible to win the entire casino.”
Ren nodded.
After spending two months on the island, he naturally knew about Golden Splendor.
It was a massive casino operated by the Capone Family, and the largest den of extravagance on the island.
“If it’s just a casino, that’s nowhere near enough!”
At the counter, Rocks shook his head.
“What I want is an opportunity to make a huge amount of money in one go.
Preferably tens of billions, or even a hundred billion Berries.”
As soon as those words were spoken, the little tavern fell silent for a moment.
Then it erupted into laughter.
“Hey, hey, hey, kid.
Are you serious?”
“Make a hundred billion Berries in one go?
You’re drunk, aren’t you?”
“Do you even know what a hundred billion Berries means?”
The patrons burst into unrestrained laughter.
“It’s happening!
It’s happening!”
Ren held his breath, his heart filled with anticipation as he waited for Rocks to lose his temper and flatten everyone in the tavern.
According to the information he had gathered, there was a Devil Fruit user here.
The first step of his legend was about to begin.
At least, that was how it should have gone.
Unfortunately, reality often refused to cooperate with expectations.
Faced with everyone’s ridicule, Rocks remained completely expressionless and didn’t care in the slightest.
“Kid, if you really want to make a huge score in one go, I suggest you go rob the Heavenly Tribute directly.
Those damn Celestial Dragons squeeze Heavenly Tribute worth far more than a hundred billion from the affiliated countries!”
A Devil Fruit user among the crowd spoke mockingly.
He naturally wasn’t genuinely offering Rocks advice.
He was simply ridiculing him.
Yet, unexpectedly, Rocks’ eyes suddenly lit up after hearing his words.
“Good idea.
Then that’s what I’ll do!”
Rocks stood up and decided to rob the Heavenly Tribute.
As everyone watched Rocks’ figure disappear into the distance, the quiet tavern once again erupted into thunderous laughter.
Almost everyone was mocking Rocks for his wild fantasy and overestimating himself.
After all, that was the Heavenly Tribute.
Who would dare lay a hand on it?
The moment someone interfered with it, they would inevitably face endless pursuit from the Marines.
It might even alarm a Marine Headquarters Admiral.
Anyone who wasn’t out of their mind would never casually attempt to rob the Heavenly Tribute.
The patrons in the tavern simply assumed Rocks was boasting.
Only Ren knew that he was serious.
In Ren’s memories, Rocks had not only successfully robbed the Heavenly Tribute, but had even destroyed the Gates of Justice.
Ren didn’t follow the crowd and mock him.
Instead, almost as if possessed by some inexplicable impulse, he followed Rocks out the door.
The two walked one after another before eventually entering a dark alley.
“Kid, you’d better give me a reason not to kill you.”
Rocks’ voice jolted Ren out of his tangled thoughts, instantly causing him to break out in a cold sweat.
Although Rocks hadn’t made a move back in the tavern, that absolutely didn’t mean he was some kind-hearted man.
He could ignore the ignorant mockery of those people, but Ren’s act of following him was no different from treating him as an enemy.
Cold sweat instantly soaked Ren’s entire body.
He forced himself to calm his fear and met Rocks’ eyes directly.
He knew this was the opportunity for him to take a crucial first step into the vast sea!!!
“I…
I know a way to make a huge amount of money easily.
As long as we successfully get there, forget a hundred billion—even a trillion Berries would be possible.”
Ren forced himself to remain composed and spoke seriously.
“Oh?”
Rocks narrowed his eyes slightly.
“Kid, you aren’t messing with me, are you?”
He looked Ren up and down.
No matter how he looked at him, Ren appeared to be nothing more than someone from the lowest rungs of society.
How could someone like that possess information capable of making such an enormous fortune?
Rocks shook his head, clearly unconvinced by Ren.
“I’m from Ohara!”
Sweat covered Ren’s forehead.
In his panic, he began making things up.
He knew he had to fabricate a reasonable background for what he was about to say.
“Ohara?!”
Rocks raised an eyebrow.
Those three words had immediately captured his attention.
As someone born in West Blue, Rocks was naturally familiar with Ohara, the island of scholars.
He hadn’t read many books since childhood, but that didn’t stop him from holding scholars in high regard.
Especially archaeologists who studied history.
The sealed-away history of the world needed them.
“You’re a scholar from Ohara?”
Rocks asked.
“Mm!”
Ren nodded without the slightest change in expression.
“Then what’s this opportunity to make money you were talking about?”
Rocks had begun to believe him somewhat.
Ren let out a quiet breath.
“Shandora, the legendary City of Gold.
Have you ever heard of it?”
“The City of Gold…”
Rocks became interested.
Gold meant wealth.
“Keep talking.”
“Four hundred years ago, the North Blue explorer Mont Blanc Noland traveled to the Grand Line and reached the legendary City of Gold.
However, when he returned to his homeland…”
“Wait.”
Rocks raised a hand, interrupting him.
“So it’s that City of Gold.
I’ve heard about it before.
The legendary tall-tale of the North Blue.
The City of Gold was nothing more than something he fabricated to deceive people…”
“No!
The City of Gold really exists!”
Ren looked directly at Rocks and spoke with absolute certainty.
Seeing Ren’s resolute expression, the words Rocks had been about to use to mock him became stuck in his throat.
He could read the look in Ren’s eyes.
The young man was serious.
“You saw this in some ancient texts from Ohara?
But even if the City of Gold really existed in the past, it’s already disappeared without a trace.”
Rocks spoke.
“I’m actually at sea this time precisely to investigate its existence.
I believe the City of Gold didn’t disappear.
Instead, it was carried into the sky by a Knock Up Stream and became a Sky Island!”
Ren spoke seriously.
“A Knock Up Stream?
A Sky Island?”
Rocks felt that the theory was utterly absurd.
Yet, strangely enough, it was also exhilarating.
If…
if this were really true, just how romantic would that be?
“What is your name?”
Rocks asked.
“Ren.”
Ren answered.
“Very well, Ren.
I’m Rocks.
I’ll temporarily believe what you’re saying.
What do you want in exchange for this information?”
Rocks asked.
“I want to go with you to the Sky Island and search for the lost City of Gold!”
Ren answered without hesitation.
Having finally encountered such a powerful ally, naturally he had to hold on tightly.
After a moment of contemplation, Rocks nodded.
“Fine.
But if we ultimately fail to find the City of Gold, I’ll take your life.”
“No problem.”
Ren readily agreed.
“Looks like you’re really confident!”
Rocks laughed.
“Finding the City of Gold is something destined to happen.”
Ren smiled as well.
“In that case, there’s no time to waste.
Let’s go.”
Rocks waved his hand grandly and led Ren toward the harbor.
“Captain, where’s our ship?”
Ren looked around the harbor and asked.
“Over there.
Can’t you see it?”
Rocks pointed toward a pirate ship in the distance.
A rusty iron sword crossed with a skull fluttered from the ship’s mast.
Several pirates were carrying boxes of navigational supplies aboard the vessel under the captain’s direction.
“You lot!
Get off the ship immediately!
This ship is commandeered by yours truly!”