Chapter 121 - Dark king

"Think he'll listen?" Yoruichi flicked a disobedient lock of hair from her face and eyed Ryu with a thoughtful expression.

"I don't know. He has a firm hold over his ideals, to the extent that he didn't hesitate to die for them. You don't simply change your mind after a couple of words at that point," Ryu shrugged, the gesture sending a ripple through his muscular frame.

"But you made some really good arguments, he has to at least consider them if he isn't stupid," Yoruichi argued.

Ryu's lips curved into a sarcastic grin, a snarky chuckle escaping them. "Logically speaking, you're right. But that man is as stubborn as a mule, and I also embarrassed him in front of his soldiers, so his ego might not let him listen. Let's hope for the best."

A thoughtful silence passed before Ryu spoke again, his voice carrying a note of admiring contemplation. "You know, there's a sentence from your world that I really liked. 'Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.' That's one accurate line, though I wouldn't limit that sentence strictly to human stupidity."

"Man, I need a drink," Yoruichi, throwing her head back, let out a frustrated sigh, her voice as dry as desert sand.

"Your sense of timing is seriously unsettling, there's a bar just beneath us," Ryu raised a suspicious eyebrow.

"You say that a lot lately," Yoruichi responded, laughter bubbling from her lips like a sparkling spring.

"And there's a reason for that, damnit," Ryu's brow furrowed, a playful growl escaping him as the two stopped in front of another bizarre building.

The Bar stood proudly as a weathered structure made from gray stone bricks, its exterior hinting at its long-standing presence. Moss clung to certain patches of the building, giving it an aged and rustic charm. The main entrance took the form of a round shape before narrowing down into a rectangular continuation.

Numerous windows punctuated the walls, allowing glimpses into the building's inner happenings. The rectangular roof, predominantly covered in sea-green tiles, spanned the expanse of the building. However, above the rounded entrance, the roof took on a unique form. Transitioning into a cone shape, it halted midway, transforming into a dome. Perched atop this dome was a large, worn-out wooden sign proclaiming the bar's name, 'Shakky's Rip-off Bar'.

The door creaked open, permitting the duo entry into a room filled with an intoxicating mix of sweet and bitter fragrances - the unmistakable aroma of old wood mingling with the scent of malted barley, spiced rum, and a hint of fruity zest. The pervasive scent of smoke from a lit cigarette subtly wove itself into this cocktail of smells.

Underfoot, Ryu and Yoruichi could feel the well-worn, wooden floorboards, groaning in protest beneath their weight. The air held a certain warmth, a stark contrast to the coolness of the stone outside. As they ventured further, the soft glow from vintage wall-mounted lanterns danced off worn brass fixtures, old chairs, and polished countertops.

Sitting behind the counter was a slim woman with short black hair that was modeled in a Care-like hairstyle, a lit cigarette held loosely between her fingers. She wore a pink, V-neck t-shirt with a black spider symbol, partially hidden by a black jacket with pink lines streaking down the sleeves.

Her black pants had a giraffe-like pattern, and a belt with a white cardigan tied around it. Her gaze, calm and relaxed, swept over her new customers with an air of casual authority.

At the corner, a rugged-looking old man sat hunched over a frothy pint of beer. Despite his age, a muscular physique was evident beneath his plain beige t-shirt, blue shorts, and silver cloak. A pair of round glasses sat perched on his nose, partially obscuring a scar running over his right eye. He exuded an air of tranquility quiet confidence, seeming to be much more than his mundane appearance suggested. His fingers cradled the beer mug in a gentle, yet firm grip, and as he drank, his gaze met Ryu and Yoruichi's, causing a small smile to appear on his lips.

"It's been a while since we've had newcomers. What's your poison?" The barwoman's voice dripped with amusement as she artfully flicked ash from her cigarette, cascading it into a lonely ashtray nearby.

"We'll have two Black Cat Martinies," Yoruichi commanded, her voice purring as she slid gracefully onto a barstool, her feline grace making the aged wood seem like a throne.

"I think that's the first time anyone's ever ordered that," the barwoman laughed, her chuckle resonating through the dimly lit space, bouncing off worn-out wooden panels while her practiced hands began their dance with bottles and shaker.

"Did you come from the area around Grove 1?" The old man asked as he took a sip of his beer, the foam sticking to his beard.

"Yeah, why?" Ryu responded as he claimed the chair next to Yoruichi, its wood protesting softly under his weight.

"No reason in particular, I just saw a swarm of Marines head towards that area. Was wondering if anything interesting happened. Oh, Rayleigh's the name, by the way," the old man's voice wrapped around the words like a snake around a branch, his gaze suggesting an untold meaning to his words.

"Ah, it wasn't anything too interesting. We just held a Celestial Dragon for a bit, and had a conversation with an Admiral," Ryu said nonchalantly, swatting the air as if dismissing a pest, causing Rayleigh to almost perform a spit-take with his beloved brew.

"*Cough* *Cough*, was not expecting a joke like that," Rayleigh spluttered, coughs echoing around the wooden cavern.

"I wasn't joking, though. Oh, thanks," Ryu's reply floated as coolly as the chilled martinis the barwoman presented to him and Yoruichi.

"Really? So you're telling me that you just walked away from an army of Marines and an Admiral?" Rayleigh's eyes twinkled beneath bushy brows, a wry smile creasing his face like an old parchment.

"Yeah, that's exactly what happened. Wow, this is good," Ryu replied while taking a sip of his drink.

"Is that so? You must be quite a formidable individual if you managed to walk away unscathed from something like that. I'm sure someone so powerful wouldn't mind a little bet, right? What do you say about an arm wrestle, winner gets 10,000 Belly?" Rayleigh proposed, his eyes shining as the woman behind the counter face-palmed.

"Rayleigh, don't drag customers into your bets," she lectured with a tinge of annoyance.

"Don't worry, Shakky, I'm sure he'll be able to handle an old man like me," Reyleigh parried, his smile stretching wider, igniting crinkles at the corners of his eyes.

"Sure, I'm down," Ryu agreed, his own grin spreading contagiously. He rose fluidly from his chair and took his place opposite Rayleigh.

"Alright then, brace yourself, lad," Rayleigh smirked, his callused hand connecting with Ryu's in a competitive clasp. The wooden table beneath them bore the silent testimony of countless previous battles.

"It's been a while since I did one of these," Ryu said, his face lit with amusement as he loosely flexed his fingers around the old man's grip.

From the counter, Shakky and Yoruichi watched with amusement. Shakky, shaking her cigarette into the ashtray, chimed in, "I hope you win, Rayleigh. We don't have 10,000 Belly to spare."

Rayleigh chuckled, "Just watch, Shakky. This old man still has some fight in him."

"3... 2... 1... Begin!" Yoruichi called, her voice ringing out through the bar. And with that, Ryu and Rayleigh's hands began their dance of strength and power.

Rayleigh started the wrestling match with a slow, increasing force, his muscles bulging under the strain. But Ryu remained as calm and serene as a still sea, his face betraying no effort, no strain. It was as if the old man was pushing against an immovable mountain.

"You hiding a metal rod under that sleeve, lad?" Rayleigh grunted, beads of sweat starting to form on his forehead.

Ryu laughed, his grip steady on the old man's hand, "Nope. If it was just that you'd have broken my arm already."

"Haha, true enough," Rayleigh let out a strained chuckle.

As the match continued, the strain was evident on Rayleigh's face. Ryu, on the other hand, remained unfazed. His grip was iron-clad, his face sporting an amused smile.

"Give it up, Rayleigh," Shakky called out, her eyes dancing with amusement, "It looks like you lost."

"Just... a... second..." Rayleigh huffed, putting all his remaining strength into his arm. But it was like pushing against a mountain. Unmovable. Unyielding.

With a final, resonating thud, Ryu gently, almost effortlessly, pushed Rayleigh's arm down, ending the challenge as quickly as it had started. A victorious grin spread across Ryu's face as he let out a chuckle.

"That was a good match, Rayleigh," Ryu said, standing up and offering the defeated Rayleigh a handshake.

"Never underestimate an old fox," Rayleigh wheezed, accepting Ryu's offer with good humor, "You earned that win, lad, and the 10,000 Belly. There is a slight problem, though," Rayleigh said with a wry smile as Ryu developed a bad feeling.

"I don't have the money, but I can offer you something else. You two must be headed to Fishman Island, right? I'll coat your ship for free, that should be enough to replace the money," Rayleigh offered.

"Are you sure? Our ship is... Well, it's gigantic," Ryu warned him.

"All good, lad. I lost a bet, so I gotta hold up my end of the bargain. Besides, how big can it be?" Rayleigh chuckled as Ryu let out a sigh.

"Alright, don't say I didn't warn you," Ryu let out an ominous laugh as he showed Rayleigh to Iron Whiskers.