10. Shakky's Bar

"A playground as a dream?" Nami's instincts picked up on something amiss, but she was deceived by Hatchan's explanation. Robin, however, wore a pensive expression, and even Luffy's smile faded slightly.

"It seems like this island isn't as idyllic as it appears," Luffy mused to himself. In the past, he might not have noticed such subtle nuances, but his observational skills had sharpened considerably. He could sense the longing in Camie's heart, tinged with both sentimentality and fear. Similarly, Hatchi seemed burdened by guilt and fear.

The fact that this seemingly dreamy island scared both Hachi and Camie spoke volumes. Despite their brief interaction, Luffy considered both Hatchi and Camie as partners, so he subconsciously paid attention to their demeanour.

As a result, the usual playfulness in his heart diminished.

"Hey, Hatchi, you mentioned that the coater is in the mangrove area at No. 13," Luffy inquired, "Is there a place to dock the boat in that area?"

"Of course," Hatchiresponded, a bit puzzled by Luffy's question. "Throughout the Sabaody Archipelago, there are hidden ports for boats around every red tree."

"Then let's dock the Sunny in the 13th area first. We can arrange for the coating right away, or we can explore Sabaody together," Luffy suggested with a smile. "It wouldn't be fair to have someone constantly guarding the boat on this island. Oh, by the way, Hatchi, can the coater you mentioned help with boat security?"

"Absolutely, Uncle Rayleigh is quite formidable," Hatchi affirmed confidently.

"Rayleigh?" Robin frowned involuntarily. The name seemed oddly familiar.

"However, there's no rush. We can stop the boat here for now; it's not a lawless area," Hatchi suggested.

"No, let's head to Red Tree No. 13 first," Luffy insisted, his tone firm.

The rest of the crew noticed the unusual seriousness in Luffy's demeanour. In typical situations, the carefree Luffy would have already dashed off the boat to explore the island.

"Luffy really has changed," Robin remarked to herself, recalling the history of Sabaody. Despite the gravity of the situation, she couldn't help but feel that it was a positive change.

Being cautious when necessary was crucial, especially for Robin, who had experienced the horrors of the world while hiding from Xiaodong.

"I understand, New," Hatchi acknowledged, leading the way to park the boat at a hidden port near Mangrove Tree No. 13 before disembarking.

To err on the side of caution, Zoro and Franky remained on deck to guard the ship. After all, they were in a lawless area. Zoro dozed off on the deck while Franky took advantage of the time to conduct repairs and maintenance on the Sunny.

"After you find Uncle Rayleigh and Miss Shakky, everyone can disembark and have some fun. They'll keep an eye on the Sunny," Hatchi suggested as he led the way.

He now wore a large coat, concealing his four arms underneath. Meanwhile, Camie had put on shoes and a long skirt to cover her tailfin.

This series of cover-ups intensified Robin's sense of seriousness.

Not far from where the boat was docked, there was a long staircase leading up to a small bar. Below the steps, several pirates were impaled into the ground with their heads hanging upside down.

"This place feels rather unusual. Is this the lawless zone?" Usopp shivered, standing behind Luffy.

As they ascended the steps, Chopper's eyes widened in shock, his tongue sticking out in surprise.

"Huh, Shakky's Ripped-off Bar? That name sounds suspicious," remarked Luffy.

"Don't worry, Miss Shakky is actually very kind," Hatchi reassured them calmly, pushing open the door of the bar and stepping inside.

"Excuse me, Miss Shakky," Hatchi addressed the woman inside.

"Oh, it's Hatchi. Just give me a moment to deal with these fellows," Miss Shakky replied, holding a cigarette between her lips as she grabbed a pirate by the collar. The pirate was unconscious, blood staining his face.

Around Miss Shakky, several other pirates lay sprawled on the ground.

Chopper let out a horrified scream as he looked at the scene before him.

Outside the bar, a few more human signposts were found on the ground beneath the long steps.

Once the lights were turned on inside the tavern, the atmosphere changed from gloomy to warm and inviting, giving off a cosy vibe.

"Miss Shakky, you're really strong. Were you a pirate before?" Luffy asked, observing Miss Shakky with interest.

Through his observation of Haki, Luffy could sense that the bar owner possessed a formidable aura that was not much different from that of a Shichibukai. With such strength, she could easily be considered a major player in the New World. It piqued his curiosity to see someone of her calibre running a bar in the first half of the Grand Line.

"Yeah, it was a long time ago, but I retired ages ago. By the way, little Monkey, is your surname the same as the Marine hero Garp?" Shakky inquired curiously.

"Yeah, he's my grandfather," Luffy replied casually as he helped himself to the food in the refrigerator.

"No wonder. When I was a pirate, I was often chased and captured by Garp," Shakky chuckled, reminiscing about her past.

"It's quite an achievement for Miss Shakky to evade capture by Garp," Nami remarked, a hint of surprise in her tone. They were well aware of Grandpa Luffy's identity and his status within the Marines. He was a prominent figure known worldwide.

"Forget about it, that was forty years ago. It's all in the past now, and I'm just an ordinary bar owner," Shakky sighed, flicking her cigarette into the ashtray.

"Forty years?" The crew was taken aback. Given Shakky's appearance, she couldn't have been much older than thirty at most.

"How old are you, Miss Shakky?" Usopp asked, curious.

"Haha, a woman's age is a secret," Shakky replied with a soft smile.

In many ways, her demeanour resembled the calm and composed nature that Robin aspired to. However, there were distinct differences between the two. While Robin's tranquillity stemmed from her knowledge and scholarly background, Shakky's was derived from her life experiences. Her mysterious and adventurous past as a pirate, coupled with her strength, allowed her to face most situations with a sense of calm.

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