World Nobles

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Hancock understood what Kitaro means.

"Where's Rayleigh? I don't see him around," Hancock asked, remembering her old friend and rescuer.

Shakky lit a cigarette. "He hasn't been back for about six months, but he never leaves the island. He's probably at a bar, casino, or amusement park somewhere."

"And you, finally leaving that island? Trying to reach the New World?"

Hancock shook her head. "No, Kitaro brought me here."

Kitaro added, "I'm here to see Rayleigh."

Shakky gave him a curious look. "What do you need Rayleigh for? Recruiting for your Uchiha Security Company?"

Kitaro laughed. "If he'd agree, I'd gladly hire him—even you, Aunt Shakky."

"No thanks, I'm an old lady now. Better leave the world to the young," Shakky replied with a smirk.

She'd initially thought Kitaro was a typical brash pirate, but his calm confidence showed he was far more complex. The thought of joining the Uchiha Security Company was amusing, though she'd likely be outsmarted by him.

Just then, ding!

The door opened, and a fishman resembling an octopus walked in.

"Welcome! What can I—oh, Hatchan?"

"Oh… it's been ages, Shakky!"

"Yes! Ten years, I think? Today must be a special day—so many old friends visiting."

"It's you!" Luffy and Chopper, also present, were shocked to see Kitaro.

Their memories of him from Enies Lobby were intense—Kitaro had crushed CP9's strongest agent, Rob Lucci, and even went toe-to-toe with Admirals Aokiji and Kizaru.

"Oh, Luffy and Chopper! Nice to see you again."

"Who is that?" asked Brook, the skeleton in a suit, and the Straw Hats' newest member.

"He's Uchiha Kitaro. He helped us save Robin in Water 7. His bounty is a staggering 3 billion!"

When Luffy heard Kitaro's bounty, he was amazed. His own bounty was just 200 million—Kitaro's was 6...9...uh a lot times higher than him.

If it was a meat, Luffy will easily calculate it was 15 times higher.

Kitaro and Hancock had stayed in the lively bar, only to find themselves in a bustling gathering. They exchanged brief, polite farewells with Shakky before excusing themselves.

"Shakky, with guests here, we'll take our leave," Kitaro said.

"Are you sure? I'd love to ask a few more questions, Kitaro," Shakky teased.

"Perhaps next time. It seems I'll be back sooner than expected," Kitaro replied. Knowing that Luffy's arrival meant Rayleigh's whereabouts were likely revealed, Kitaro felt no need to linger. Waving to the others, he left the bar with Hancock by his side.

Meanwhile, Luffy and the others arrived, and Shakky noticed their approach, muttering, "Quite a day, isn't it? More guests seeking that old man Rayleigh. What is this, an open house?"

"Isn't Rayleigh living here?" one of the guests wondered.

"No, not really, I'd say. Rayleigh hasn't been around in months," Shakky explained.

Luffy and his crew were shocked. "Months?!" Usopp exclaimed. "What kind of person is away for months without returning?"

Shakky shrugged. "He's as restless as they come. He's probably out doing what he enjoys most," she smirked.

"Do you know where he might be?" Nami asked.

"He usually keeps to areas 1 through 29. If not, he's probably enjoying Sabaody's amusement park," Shakky suggested.

"Amusement park!?" Luffy's eyes gleamed, already distracted by the thought of a new adventure.

"Careful, though," Shakky warned. "Sabaody is teeming with bounty heads; there are fourteen wanted criminals here right now. Not all are as… amiable as your friends."

Chopper paled. "Are the other bounty heads like that of Kitaro and his friends?!"

"Maybe. This island is the last stop before entering the New World. Pirates from various routes converge here, each bringing their own ambitions," Shakky explained. "And among them, certain names stand out: Eustass Kid, Trafalgar Law, X Drake, Hawkins—the new stars of the sea."

Shakky chuckled, adding, "However, none of them have managed to outshine Kitaro. Compared to him, these rookies are dim shadows."

In the sprawling restaurant district, the Supernovas were making a scene. Capone Bege, wiping his mouth with a napkin, scowled at a nearby diner. "Silence that woman; she's ruining my appetite," he ordered his men.

But they hesitated, knowing the danger of acting so close to Marine Headquarters.

Bege angrily stabbed his subordinate's hand with a fork. Meanwhile, a young woman was devouring food at a shocking pace—Jewelry Bonney, with a bounty of 140 million berry.

"More pizza!" Bonney demanded, unbothered by the chaos around her.

Nearby, a swordsman drew his blade in anger after a waiter accidentally spilled food on him, but a calm voice intervened.

"No need for violence," Hawkins, another Supernova, murmured. "Spilling blood today would be a bad omen."

And in the background, Killer and Urouge clashed, both seething with barely contained excitement until Drake stepped in. "If you're looking for trouble, take it to the New World. Here, you're on the doorstep of Marine Headquarters."

At that moment, two figures glided by in bubble cars. Itachi and Shisui of the Uchiha clan barely noticed the rising tension around them.

"Itachi, this place sure is dangerous," Shisui commented.

"Kitaro-san said it's the last stop before the New World," Itachi replied calmly.

Their presence turned the air frigid. Whispers erupted among the Supernovas and their crews.

"Did you see that?" one of them whispered. "They're the ones from that Uchiha Security Company!"

Speculation swirled. Could it be that the Uchihas, with their collective bounty surpassing 4 billion, were venturing into the New World?

Kid's gaze darkened with jealousy. The thought of someone younger, like Shisui, being higher-ranked grated at his pride. "Let me test him!" he growled.

But his crew held him down, warning, "That's the Uchiha Company! Even just Shisui is a monster with an 1.13-billion bounty!"

Other Supernovas were tempted, but fear outweighed their curiosity. The tales of Kitaro's power were no exaggeration, and crossing the Uchihas could mean calling down forces worse than the Marines themselves.

A disturbance down the street shifted their attention. A celestial noble, Saint Charlos, strode through the crowd, kicking and insulting anyone in his path.

Witnessing this display, Urouge shook his head. "The so-called World Nobles…"

As Charlos spotted a young and beautiful nurse, he ordered, "You'll be my next wife!"

The nurse recoiled in horror, helpless in the face of his ruthless command.

She wanted to cry but even that she didn't dare, even killing herself will result in the anger of World Nobles thus killing all her family.

She lost hope. 

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