Chapter 40

I passed the rifle at hand over to Shakky, who carefully took the rifle. By the way she handled the weapon after just a single demonstration from me, I realized she must have been quite a formidable pirate during her time. She carefully inspected every inch of the weapon, and it was a good thing because she was an information broker, and having her firsthand experience with the weapon would spread its fame far and wide more easily.

"She is quite the beauty; would you like to gift big sister the weapon as a meeting gift?" Shakky couldn't help but take her eyes off the weapon. If it were anyone else, I might have straight away refused, but Shakky was different. I wanted her to be a part of the Donquixote family because her strength was a given, but what I valued more was her connections and ability to gather information. Shakky was a rare type of talent, and if a single rifle could help build better rapport with such a formidable figure, then I am all in.

With a simple nod, I agreed to her request. Also, out of the backpack I was carrying, I took out a few cartridges and a couple of boxes of ammo for the rifle. Shakky might be a gun enthusiast like myself. She carefully examined and admired the things I gifted in detail. Once she was happy, she carefully set aside the rifle as if it were some antique and returned her attention back to me.

"So, tell me, kid, why are you here? You're not the type to randomly walk into my bar despite knowing my identity. And despite me being confident in my charm, I wouldn't believe a little monster like you would simply gift such a rifle. I'm sure this model has yet to hit the market for sale," Shakuyaku commented while taking a sip from her drink.

"Ah, Shakky-san, you are as brilliant as I have heard. I have tried to keep my identity and prowess a secret as much as possible, but it seems like you know more about me than you are letting out. Well, let me cut to the chase, Shakky-san. I want you to join my family and become a part of it." I stated my intention without holding back because trying to play puzzles with such characters will always end up blowing up in your face.

"Hohoho, quite the bold proposal you are making, little one. Does Garp know that you are offering me a position in your Donquixote family despite being a Marine yourself?" Shakky couldn't help but ask. She knew about my brother Doffy and the infamous Donquixote family, which had grown to a tremendous degree in just three years all the way from North Blue. Currently, their influence even extends to the first half of the Grand Line. They were a weird bunch, much more organized and driven; the Donquxote family worked in such a way as if they were following a set of guidelines despite being involved in all crimes except for slavery. You could simply call them a group of villains with principles who might be after a grand goal.

"Shakky-san, you misunderstand. I am only learning under Garp-san. Even the officer position that I hold is simply a tether that some people laid out, thinking that it could bind me to the Marines. Trust me, in the near future, the whole world is going upside down. The tides will change, Shakky-san, and eventually, the people you care about will also be caught in that storm. You will need a strong family by your side to survive the said storm, and I am merely offering you a family who would stand by your side at all times, no matter how dangerous the adversary you face in the future might be," I offered, although I knew in the canon she made it out safely. But this was the real world, and anything can change. As Rayleigh's companion, in the near future, after Roger finds One Piece, she might be targeted by the World Government. Even if not, I don't mind spouting a few lies if that could help make up her mind.

"Haha, kid, you sure are funny. After so many years of piracy, I finally settled down, leaving all that behind, and now you want me to join your family. I don't doubt your words, child, but no, I am happy with where I am," Shakky replied firmly. She wasn't going to rush into this decision because making such a choice involved too many factors, and she had come to like her current life and didn't want it disturbed.

"Fine, I understand, Shakky-san. But remember, my offer will always be open. If there ever comes a day in the near future when you need help, you can reach out to my brother," I said. I wasn't stupid enough to pressure Shakky into making a decision. If she chose to become part of the family, it would have to be of her own volition. So, I left a venue open in case she changed her mind later and pushed a transponder snail over to her.

"This will help you reach my family, and in case we need to make use of your services, Shakky-san, we will reach out to you through this. Of course, until you join us, we will pay the standard rates like proper businessmen," I added with a smirk on my face. Shakky was someone who could help us gather information, so even if she didn't join our family right away, it was advantageous to have a connection with such an information broker.

"Fine then, kid. I'll keep your offer in mind," Shakky said as she put away the transponder snail. My earlier words seemed to weigh on her, especially the mention of upcoming changes in the near future.

"Now that the important matter has been addressed, I am a bit curious about the parties that are interested in me." I couldn't help but ask because it's always better to be prepared, and an enemy in the dark is much more dangerous than one out in the open.

"Oh, curious, aren't you? There seems to be a bounty placed in the Underworld for your capture, stating that you are an escaped slave owned by the World Nobles. The bounty is quite attractive; the bounty order is to take you alive and return you back to the Holy Land, and you are currently worth a hundred million in the black market," Shakky revealed, explaining why many parties were interested in finding me.

"Any idea who initiated the bounty order? And why is it that none of these so-called interested parties haven't found me yet? I am sure it's not a big deal for the Underworld to get my picture, is it?" I couldn't help but curiously ask because a hundred million was quite a substantial amount, and quite a few parties should have tried to target me with that kind of money.

"Oh, you can thank Garp and your brother for that. Your brother and your family have been hunting down anyone within Paradise who has even remotely thought about your capture. Your brother is now in a full-blown conflict with the five families of the West. Just yesterday, that Logia user from your family, along with your brother and the rest of the Donquixote family, razed down an entire town in North Blue who were colluding with the mafia of the West. Your brother didn't even spare the Marines, who were supporting the five families. Only the innocents were spared; the whole town was burned to ashes. The World Government has snubbed the news, but I am sure you can see a substantial increase in your brother's bounty soon." Shakky explained.

"There's a young swordsman seeking you out. Just like you, he has been hailed as the greatest swordsmanship genius the world has seen in the last century, and the child is very eager for a challenge and to cross swords with you," Shakky continued, her tone implying the gravity of the situation. I knew exactly who she was referring to because I had met the said teen just today.

"Me, a genius? I simply wave around my sword, and you should know better that Garp is my teacher," I remarked, a glint in my eyes betraying a mix of amusement and confidence. Despite not putting in much effort, my name within the Marines had spread, especially because of Bogard, who liked to boast among the higher-ups that I was an absolute genius when it came to swords.

Additionally, due to Garp's clashes with high-profile pirates, I had to fight against many pirate groups; my prowess in swordsmanship had also become known among the upper echelons of the New World pirates. It seemed like Mihawk had caught wind of these rumors. Even though the current Mihawk was not hailed as the strongest swordsman in the world, his name was well-known as an emerging rookie, and Mihawk had a habit of challenging powerful swordsmen to hone his skills further.

With a smirk on her face, Shakky simply gestured to Sandai Kitetsu, now lying sheathed on the counter. "Someone who could nurture a black blade at such a tender age claims that he simply waves around his sword. Do you think any decent warrior would believe your story?" She chuckled while observing my goofy reaction. I was both frustrated and amazed because it had been only a couple of weeks since my Kitetsu had turned into a completely black blade, and Shakky already had such information.

"Haha, Shakky-san, you exaggerate. I was merely lucky. As for Mihawk, let him know that if he is interested, I can accept his challenge. But it needs to be done within the coming two days, and I do not want any audience. I like to keep my cards close to my chest; I don't want my enemies to know what my true level is. I hope Shakky-san can do this little brother a favor," I remarked confidently. I knew for a fact that Shakky had some sort of connection with Mihawk; otherwise, she wouldn't have brought up this topic.

"Oh, you are familiar with that kid, Mihawk? Are you guys acquainted, or did the grumpy kid jump out of the crowd trying to challenge you for a swordfight?" Shakky had a smile as she spoke about Mihawk, but I wasn't too concerned about their connection. Mihawk was someone I wanted to pull to my family's side. In the canon, his strength was undeniable, and he had always been a loner. I am currently not aware if Mihawk was already wanted by the Marines or if he had the moniker 'Marine Hunter.' If I hadn't met him by coincidence earlier today, I would have totally forgotten about him.

But it seemed like fate was giving me a chance, and Mihawk himself was wanting to challenge me. This was a good chance for me to try and recruit Mihawk; if I am successful, then he could fill the Ace position within our family ranks. But to achieve that, I had to beat Mihawk head-on. Although Mihawk is currently a few years older than me, I am confident in my swordsmanship. What many did not know was that my greatest strength lay in my swordsmanship,and my talent with swords was even better than my talent with Haki, which was already monstrous enough to grab Garp's attention originally.

"Ah, kids these days. All you young ones can think about is fighting all day," Shakky commented, as she didn't receive any response to her question. She pouted now that I was distracted by the upcoming bout with Mihawk. "Fine, I will let the kid know. I know a secluded spot in Grove 20, which should serve as a good place to spar away from prying eyes," Shakky offered.

"Hehe, Shakky-san, who said it was going to be just a spar? Let him know I will face him the day after tomorrow. I am sure he will need time to maintain his peak state. I fear my blade doesn't know when to hold back, and as a duel between swordsmen, life and death are a trivial matter. I'm sure Mihawk wouldn't want it any other way. Let him know not to hold back when we fight because I will be fighting with the intent to kill." Although my words were said jokingly, my eyes held a cruel glint in them.

 *********************

Dear readers and fans,

For those eager to dive into the next chapters of our One Piece saga before anyone else, I invite you to join me on Patreon. By becoming a patron, you'll not only gain access to exclusive advanced chapters but also play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our narratives and much more.