Chapter 37: "A Relaxing Day"

The gentle warmth of the afternoon sun seeped through the windows of Shakky's Rip-Off Bar. Inside, the air was peaceful. William stirred first, blinking awake as the sunlight hit his face. For a moment, he forgot where he was. No Celestial Dragons, no Admirals, no immediate danger. Just... calm.

A low groan came from the other side of the room as Boa Hancock stretched, her body sinking deeper into the soft cushions. "I don't think I've slept this well in years..." she muttered, still half-asleep. Beside her, Marigold and Sandersonia were equally relaxed, their breathing slow and even.

William sat up, rolling his shoulders. "It feels strange, doesn't it? Not having to look over our shoulders for once."

Hancock nodded, a soft smile crossing her face. "Strange... but nice."

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After a few more minutes of enjoying the rare peace, the four of them finally roused themselves and headed downstairs, where Shakky was already bustling around the bar. The smell of freshly cooked food wafted through the air, making William's stomach growl loudly.

"Good afternoon, sleepyheads," Shakky greeted them with a sly smile as she wiped down the counter. "You look like you could eat a Sea King."

William grinned, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "I'm starving. I can't remember the last time I had a proper meal."

Hancock's face flushed slightly as she glanced at William, the memory of their close moments before sleep still fresh in her mind. "We... um, haven't eaten well in a while either."

Sandersonia and Marigold sat at the bar, eyes eagerly scanning the food that Shakky was setting down. "It smells amazing," Marigold remarked, her mouth already watering.

Shakky placed a large platter in front of them, filled with grilled fish, rice, and an assortment of fruits and vegetables. "Eat up. You'll need your strength if you plan on facing the world after what happened."

As William and the sisters eagerly dug into the food, Shakky leaned against the counter, a playful smirk on her lips. "By the way, have you seen the news yet?"

William paused mid-bite, a raised brow. "News?"

Shakky tossed a rolled-up newspaper onto the counter. "It's all over the papers. The whole world's talking about you."

Intrigued, William grabbed the paper and unfurled it. His eyes widened slightly as he read the headline:

**"Kael D. William, The Tyrant - 3 Billion Berries! Boa Hancock - 800 Million Berries! Boa Marigold and Boa Sandersonia - 400 Million Berries Each!"**

There, splashed across the front page, were their names and bounties. His own face, as well as Hancock's and her sisters, stared back at them from the grainy images. He let out a low whistle.

"Well... that's something," William muttered, passing the paper to Hancock, who took it with trembling hands. She stared at her own image on the page, and her heart skipped a beat when she saw William's new title: **"The Tyrant."**

"Tyrant...?" Hancock asked, furrowing her brows.

William smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Guess they don't like it when you stand up to them."

Sandersonia grabbed the paper, her eyes lighting up as she saw her own bounty. "Four hundred million berries! That's incredible!"

Marigold nodded in agreement, though she seemed more contemplative. "It's not just about the numbers. This is going to make us even bigger targets."

Shakky chuckled, pouring herself a cup of tea. "Well, you did take on two Admirals and escaped. Not to mention your declaration. The World Government isn't going to let that slide."

William ran a hand through his hair, the weight of their situation sinking in. "I knew it would come to this... but it's still strange seeing it in the newspaper."

Hancock, still staring at William's bounty, suddenly broke into a proud smile. "Three billion berries... William, you're... incredible."

William looked at her, his own smirk softening into something more genuine. "It's not just me, Hancock. We're in this together. You, your sisters... we're a family now."

Hancock's cheeks reddened, and she quickly looked away, trying to hide her embarrassment. Sandersonia and Marigold exchanged a knowing look, a playful grin spreading across Sandersonia's face.

"So, 'Tyrant,' what's the plan now?" Sandersonia teased, nudging William lightly. 

Shakky, leaning over the bar, watched them with an amused glint in her eyes. "You've got quite the group here, William. But with bounties like that, you'll need to be careful where you go next."

William sighed, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Yeah, I know. But for now... we'll stay here. We need to rest and figure out our next move. We can't just charge headfirst into danger."

Hancock leaned closer, her voice soft but filled with concern. "Do you think they'll come after us again soon?"

William's gaze hardened, his expression serious. "Without a doubt. The World Government won't let this slide. But next time, we'll be ready."

Shakky sipped her tea, nodding approvingly. "Smart. You'll need to train, and you'll need strong allies if you want to take on the World Government."

William glanced at her, noting her calm demeanor. "You sound like you've been through this kind of thing before."

Shakky chuckled, her eyes sparkling with hidden knowledge. "Oh, I've seen my fair share of trouble."

Hancock, who had been staring at the paper intently, finally spoke up again. "William, what do you think of my title? 'The Gorgon Queen'?"

William glanced at the paper and then back at her, a small smile playing on his lips. "I think it suits you. You're strong, regal, dangerous...And most importantly you can petrify people."

Hancock's face turned crimson, and once again, her mind wandered into her own fantasy world. She imagined William crowning her as his queen, their wedding a grand spectacle for all to see. She barely noticed when William called her name.

"Hancock? You okay?" William waved a hand in front of her face, concerned.

"Huh? Oh, yes, of course!" Hancock quickly snapped out of her daydream, her face flushed with embarrassment. Marigold and Sandersonia giggled quietly behind her, but she ignored them.

William shook his head, amused by her sudden change in demeanor. "You're acting strange today."

Shakky grinned, watching the interaction with interest.

As the afternoon wore on, the group continued to chat, the tension from their earlier battles easing away. It was the first time in years that any of them could truly relax, and they took full advantage of the moment.

Shakky, ever the observant hostess, watched them with a knowing smile. "You four have been through a lot," she said softly. "But don't think for a second that your journey's over. In fact, it's only just beginning."

William nodded, his eyes growing serious once more. "I know. That's why we're going to take time to prepare. Whatever's coming, we'll be ready for it."

Hancock, Sandersonia, and Marigold exchanged determined looks. They had come this far, and no matter what obstacles lay ahead, they would face them together.

As the sun began to set, casting a warm orange glow over the bar, William stood up and stretched. "Thanks for the meal, Shakky. I owe you one."

Shakky waved him off with a laugh. "Don't worry about it, kid. You've got bigger things to deal with than paying for a meal."

William chuckled, feeling lighter than he had in a long time. For now, they were safe. For now, they had a moment of peace. But as always, the world outside was still waiting, and soon, they would have to face it head-on.

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