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"You're saying you want to know the whereabouts of Silvers Rayleigh?"
Almost instantly, Shakky's surprised expression vanished, her face returning to calm as she leisurely lit a cigarette for herself. "That's quite some significant intel."
With that, she exhaled a thick smoke ring, which quickly spread through the narrow bar.
Aqua, unable to stand the cigarette smell, deftly flicked her fingers, emitting a brilliant blue light that purified the harmful components within the smoke ring.
The bar's air immediately became much fresher.
Following her role as a water purifier, the ditzy goddess now had a new useless function as an air freshener.
This peculiar method made Shakky glance sideways.
"So, do you know?" Zyhark sat unceremoniously in one of the bar's booths.
"If you know my identity, you shouldn't doubt my intel-gathering abilities."
Shakky sat down as well, crossing her legs and speaking in a deep voice, "I do know Rayleigh's whereabouts, but only if you can offer a reward that matches its value."
She looked at the young man sitting opposite her, waiting for his response.
However, Zyhark went the opposite direction, changing the subject, "Could it be that he lost a bet and sold himself to the auction house?"
Saving whenever possible, and avoiding unnecessary expenses when he could get the intel he wanted without spending money—who wouldn't prefer that? Even though they now owned the golden city of Skypiea and lacked no money!
As he expected, Shakky's smoking rhythm was momentarily disrupted when he finished speaking.
"Looks like I guessed right," Zyhark chuckled softly.
Shakky raised her hand to remove the barely smoked cigarette, crushing it in the ashtray.
It was all because of this useless thing that she got fooled by a mere sea restaurant owner!
That's right. As an old-timer who mastered countless pieces of intel, especially information on potential newcomers, she had recognized their identities the moment they stepped through the door:
The sea restaurant gang, who made a big commotion in the East Blue and became East Blue heroes! This kid, both in intelligence and strength, seemed to be more formidable than the news had described.
Moreover...
Though she didn't know the exact reason, he seemed very familiar with both her and Rayleigh?
A hint of surprise and slight wariness flashed in Shakky's eyes—even though she didn't sense any malice from him.
This was an instinctive habit of an old pirate.
"Kid, you're the first newcomer to dare to fish for information from me on this sea."
She glanced coldly at Zyhark, then warned the blue-haired girl who was sneakily opening the liquor cabinet not far away, "Hey, that's the most expensive liquor in the house. Think carefully before you take it."
Aqua, startled, silently closed the cabinet door halfway open.
At this moment, Zyhark reached towards his waist and pulled out a heavy gold bar.
With a thud, the golden bar was placed in front of Shakky.
Seeing this, Shakky smoothly took the gold bar, the coldness in her eyes quickly dissipating. "With this, feel free."
"Great job, Zyhark! Given how sensible you are, the stingy image you had with this goddess is now..." Aqua beamed, quickly opening the cabinet and taking out a bottle of fine wine.
"That wasn't for the wine. It was for other intel—about the current power structure on Sabaody Archipelago."
Zyhark coldly interrupted Aqua's satisfaction.
Aqua's expression froze instantly: "..."
Damn it, Zyhark! You made me feel touched for nothing!!
After cursing Zyhark in her heart, she reluctantly put the wine back.
Though it was typical for the ditzy goddess to act spoiled and throw tantrums, she kept her behavior in check outside.
Luckily, Shakky, having taken the money, became more enthusiastic and got up to pour them a round of the house's specialty ice-cold beer for free.
After doing this, she began to explain the current active forces on Sabaody Archipelago to Zyhark.
"There's not much to say about the merchants. Since you know my identity, you must be aware of what the merchants on Sabaody are like."
"As for the pirates, your timing is quite coincidental. This year, the three Supernovas—Electro Boy, Hedgehog Swordsman Rockstar, and Mad Scientist Despuz—have all been seen on Sabaody recently."
Upon hearing this, Zyhark took a large gulp of the beer in front of him.
He had just defeated Electro Boy, and if he remembered correctly, Rockstar later joined the Red-Haired Pirates.
As for the so-called Mad Scientist, he had no impression at all.
(There's no detailed plot, just filling in the numbers of passersby) "And the Navy?" he asked in a deep voice.
Seeing his indifferent expression when hearing about the Supernovas but showing interest in the Navy, the old-timer Shakky immediately sensed something was off.
Even so, having received the payment, she still provided the intel diligently.
"The one currently stationed on Sabaody Archipelago is Marine Captain Smoker, who was recently transferred. He's a Logia-type Smoke-Smoke Fruit user, quite powerful, and has captured many emerging pirate rookies."
So, the formidable Marine that Electro Boy mentioned was actually Smoker?
After a brief shock, Zyhark quickly figured out the reason.
When leaving Loguetown, Smoker had mentioned going to the Grand Line to become stronger.
Considering his goal of exterminating all pirates before they reached the New World, Sabaody Archipelago, just one step away from the New World, was indeed the most suitable place.
However, this guy, who often acted on his own, wasn't known for being popular in the Navy. How did he get his way so smoothly? Maybe Garp and Sengoku helped him, or perhaps, the chaotic and complex Sabaody was seen as a hot potato by other Navy officers? The exact reason was unclear.
"Huh? That smoky-faced guy is here too?" Aqua blinked her intelligent blue eyes.
After all, as the first Logia-type Devil Fruit user she had encountered, she remembered him quite well.
King and Meowth, standing behind her, showed understanding expressions.
"Seems like you know that man," Shakky said.
"We crossed paths in Loguetown before, so we're acquainted."
Zyhark brushed it off simply, not intending to elaborate.
If the current forces on Sabaody Archipelago were only these, it wouldn't significantly impact their upcoming actions.
As if seeing through his thoughts, Shakky coughed lightly, a meaningful smile playing on her lips.
"Apart from Smoker stationed here, according to rumors, Marine Hero Monkey D. Garp and Marine Vice Admiral Kuzan are also on Sabaody Archipelago."
Hearing this, Zyhark, who was confident about handling things smoothly: "..."
(End of Chapter)