Rip-Off Bar

---

"You're terrible at managing them. All my prized slaves—you keep ruining them."

The woman stomped over to the unconscious man, who was gravely injured, and repeatedly kicked his face, venting her frustration. "He didn't obey, this idiot! Always whining about wanting to go home—such a lowlife, making me feel terrible!"

She drew her pistol and fired.

Bang!

The man fell silent.

Without a backward glance, the group left.

Shisui and Itachi, watching from nearby, frowned.

Honestly, by the look of him, the man was a pirate. Though they had only been in this world a short time, they understood that most pirates here were far from innocent. Even a moment before the collar exploded, he had tried to grab the woman to drag her down with him, showing he wasn't exactly blameless.

But dying like that, and being humiliated to the end, left a bad taste.

And the arrogance of those people...

Itachi frowned. "What's going on here? Who are they?"

The woman Shisui saved replied, "He… he was probably a pirate captured by slavers and sold to the Celestial Dragons as a slave. He tried to escape once his master brought him to this island."

"Celestial Dragons? Those people in helmets?"

"Yes."

"What an unpleasant bunch."

The woman paled. "Shhh! Never speak ill of the Celestial Dragons! You'll get into serious trouble—if anyone harms them, the Marine Admirals will come in full force!"

"The Marine Admirals? Why?"

Shisui looked confused.

"Because they're the descendants of the creators of the world—the Twenty Kings, who founded the World Government 800 years ago. The Celestial Dragons are their descendants, and over the centuries, they've abused their privileges, so they get the highest protection."

Hearing this, Shisui and Itachi understood. These so-called Celestial Dragons were like the daimyos of their own world, only with even more privileges.

And the Admirals were akin to shinobi tasked with protecting the daimyos.

Coming from a similar world, they felt only a mild distaste for the Celestial Dragons' privileges.

They decided to leave as not to cause problems to the clan.

---

Sabaody Archipelago, Island 13

Akira led the Empress to a Bar.

"The person I'm looking for is inside?" she asked, curious about why Akira had brought her here.

"Yes." Akira nodded.

Ding, ding, ding!

As he pushed open the door, a small bell rang, alerting the owner of a new guest.

"I'll pay! I'll pay!" someone yelled, bloodied from a beating as a woman held him by the collar.

"Welcome! What can I get for you? Oh…"

The Bar owner, Shakky, had just finished dealing with a customer unwilling to pay when she spotted Akira and the Empress.

"Isn't that little Hancock?!"

"Aunt Shakky?" Hancock's eyes widened in recognition. She hadn't expected to see her old aunt from thirteen years ago, the one who had helped her escape to Amazon Lily.

"Yes! It's been thirteen years, hasn't it? You've become even more beautiful! Now, not only a Warlord of the Sea, but also the world's most beautiful woman, unlike me—I'm just getting older."

"No… Aunt Shakky hasn't changed at all."

Hancock marveled at how Shakky looked exactly the same, almost as if no time had passed.

"I also heard you found a man," Shakky said slyly. "As always, it's Amazon Lily's Empress's fate. Did you bring him?"

"Hello!" Akira raised his hand in greeting.

"So, you're Uchiha Akira. Handsome fellow."

"You know me?"

Shakky placed a cup of coffee in front of him. "Of course! You're the hottest name in the world right now. Who doesn't know you?"

"With a first bounty of 3 billion Berries, never seen in the World Government's history."

Akira chuckled. "The World Government inflates things; a high bounty just means more trouble. Every day, there's a line of people wanting to take me down."

"Ha! Young Akira, you're a riot!" Shakky laughed. She knew the bounty was a form of backhanded praise, but anyone dangerous enough to make the World Government respond this way was no ordinary person.

"I read about the events on Enies Lobby. How much of that was true? Did you really beat down Admirals Aokiji and Kizaru?"

Akira smiled. "Not really, just a small fight." He took a sip of coffee; it tasted excellent.

"Beating two Admirals is really going too far." Akira said with a smile.

Shakky chuckled. "Then it should be true that they couldn't do anything to you, letting you and your crew leave safely."

"Admirals are the World Government's strongest assets, especially the current three, the mightiest in their history."

"Few in the world could fight two Admirals at once and come out unscathed."

Despite her casual demeanor, Shakky was clearly impressed.

"Aunt Shakky, why are you here?" Hancock asked. She knew Shakky had once been Amazon Lily's Empress before, though she had left to pursue her own path.

"After I helped you escape, we settled here. It's risky, but the Marine leaves us alone—they feel safer knowing where we are," Shakky replied with a confident, calm smile. "If they tried anything, they wouldn't be able to afford the cost."

Akira not seeing the one he came for, gave a look to Hancock.

After so much time together, they could understand each other with just a look.

.

.

.