Chapter 197: Simple Folk Customs
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The moon rose above the tree branches, casting a dim glow as the night grew darker, yet the bar grew more lively. Aoki sat alone in a corner, deep in thought as he quietly gathered information.
Suddenly, a hand reached out and took the wine glass from his table.
Aoki turned to see an older man with gray hair, a few wrinkles on his face, wearing glasses with a vertical scar over his right eye. Dressed in worn brown trousers and a yellow shirt, he looked a bit unkempt.
The old man downed the wine in the glass. "Hahaha, it'd be a waste to let good wine sit."
Aoki's expression shifted slightly as he smiled. "Who said I was done drinking?"
Though the man looked younger and was less worn than in the future, Aoki recognized him instantly. This was Rayleigh, the right hand of the Pirate King.
Aoki had planned to meet this legendary figure during his visit to the Sabaody Archipelago, but he hadn't expected Rayleigh to find him first.
"Hahaha, is that so? I saw you sitting there and thought you didn't like it. Seems I was wrong," Rayleigh laughed and began to turn away.
"That glass you just drank costs fifty thousand," Aoki called out.
He wasn't exaggerating. He had ordered the bar's finest wine, costing two hundred thousand, with each pour filling roughly four glasses.
Rayleigh paused, looking resigned. "Kid, do I look like someone who's got fifty thousand on hand? If you need your ship coated, though, I can lend a hand."
"No need for coating. Just answer one question for me," Aoki replied, lifting the wine bottle. "And you can have the rest of this as well."
"A question?" Rayleigh's gaze sharpened as he looked at Aoki.
"Laugh Tale, What's there?" Aoki asked.
Rayleigh stayed calm, chuckling. "If you want to know, why not see it for yourself? You might even be the next Pirate King."
"Do I look like the person Roger was waiting for?" Aoki countered.
"Who knows?" Rayleigh shrugged.
"Since you don't want to say, we'll call it even for the wine," Aoki said, tossing the bottle to him as he turned to leave.
It was clear he didn't have the kind of rapport with Rayleigh that Luffy had, and forcing answers wasn't an option. Rayleigh, still in his early sixties, was likely still at the peak of his strength. Without reaching his "ultimate form," Aoki knew he wouldn't be able to match him.
Rayleigh caught the bottle, watching Aoki's figure disappear. Shaking his head slightly, he muttered, "I was just after a drink and found myself a troublesome encounter."
With a shrug, he poured himself a full glass, savoring it with a satisfied smile. "It's definitely a fine wine."
…
After leaving the bar, Aoki found a quiet spot where he wouldn't be noticed and slipped into his alternate space.
The lights lit up one by one, illuminating the vast, empty world. The area around the central building was cluttered with gold, gems, and other treasures.
Aoki had no need for sleep, so a hotel wasn't necessary, and besides, he had important work waiting.
As he focused, his body began to swell, his skin darkened, and his appearance grew fierce and majestic.
This was his true form.
If he were to consume a mythical zoan-type Devil Fruit, he wondered just what kind of transformation he would undergo.
Settling into a stance, Aoki began practicing, his movements measured and steady, refining his strength with every motion.
The recent upgrades had come swiftly, and Aoki's strength had surged to new heights. He needed to adapt to this sudden influx of power as soon as possible.
Fortunately, this wouldn't be difficult.
His control over his body and his mastery of combat skills were far superior to before. Moreover, as an Infinite Dragon Beast, he held a natural advantage in strength and power control compared to humans.
He was also eager to try out some new moves.
Since acquiring the "Infinite Dragon Beast" profession, his abilities had evolved significantly. It wasn't only an increase in raw power but also a shift in his fighting style. Now, he had a ranged attack skill—Dragon Breath—that needed to be incorporated into his combat repertoire.
Time slipped by without him noticing.
Aoki relaxed his muscles and glanced at the watch he had recently bought.
8:30.
It was already dawn.
He had other things to do today, so it was time to wrap up his training.
Aoki raised his hand, examining the flower mark on its back.
Some of its energy had been restored.
At this rate, it would take about three months to fully recharge.
This pace was reasonable.
For a journey that spanned the entire world, a few months was quite fast.
With that thought, Aoki exited the alternate space.
Whoosh!
The moment he stepped out, a sharp whistle pierced the air.
Boom!
A cannonball landed nearby, sending flames high into the sky.
Aoki turned his head to investigate.
Two groups of people were locked in battle, wielding knives and guns and even firing cannons at each other openly in the street.
Passersby, seemingly accustomed to this chaos, merely sidestepped the fighting as they went about their business.
"Excuse me, what's happening here? Why are they fighting?" Aoki asked a tall woman nearby.
The woman initially looked irritated but brightened upon seeing Aoki.
"Who knows? If they want to fight, they fight!"
"This place really has… simple folk customs," Aoki remarked, amused.
The tall woman licked her lips, pulled out a thick wad of money, and waved it enticingly. "Forget about them, handsome. How about coming to the hotel with me? All of this could be yours if you say yes."
Aoki gave her a quick glance. "Sorry, not interested."
"Don't be so cold! I can add more money. And trust me, I've got skills. I'll make you feel like you're flying. Look!" She pulled down her thin bra, revealing her snow-white skin.
Aoki froze momentarily.
This was the first time he'd encountered someone so… forward.
After some effort, Aoki finally managed to extricate himself from the persistent woman.
Now strolling alone down the street, he pondered his next move—finding any potential leads on Robin.
Although she was far away in the West Sea, her notoriety had made her well-known in the criminal underworld.
The "Demon's Child"—a legend with a bounty approaching 80 million berries at the age of eight.
The West Sea was vast.
Though most of the world's powerful figures were concentrated in the Grand Line, the Grand Line itself made up only a fraction of the world. The Four Seas occupied the majority of the world's expanse.
Searching for someone in this vast population was like finding a needle in a haystack.
But the Sabaody Archipelago was the endpoint of the Grand Line's first half, where travelers from all seven routes converged. Perhaps he'd run into someone from the West Sea who might know something about Robin.
Aoki suddenly stopped, turning toward a shadowy alley beside him.
In the dim light, he spotted three ragged girls huddled together, each clutching a small piece of bread, devouring it ravenously.
"It's them!"
Aoki immediately recognized the trio.
Somehow, they had managed to escape from Mary Geoise.
Hancock was gnawing on her bread while keeping a wary eye on her surroundings.
In the next instant, her body froze, her expression locked in a mixture of shock and fear.
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