Following Scopper's directions, Draco and Buggy weaved through the dim streets of Lougetown. The sun had set, and the air smelled of the sea, fish, and rum. The two made their way down narrow alleys until they reached the bar Scopper mentioned.
The building had no signboard—just a plain wooden door with a staircase leading downward. A warm, yellowish glow seeped from the cracks beneath the door, accompanied by the faint sounds of laughter and clinking glasses.
"This the place?" Buggy whispered nervously.
Draco smirked. "Yeah. Rayleigh's here. And... Roger, too... where's Rouge?" He could already sense their familiar presence, the aura of powerful individuals relaxing with old friends.
"Roger?!" Buggy's eyes widened. "Why's the Captain here?! I thought it was just Rayleigh!"
Draco shrugged and pushed the door open. "Guess we're about to find out."
The two apprentices descended the narrow stairs into the bar, their boots echoing softly against the wood. As they reached the bottom, the scene unfolded before them:
At the counter sat Roger, Rayleigh, and another man—Raoul. The three were locked in conversation, laughing and drinking like old comrades, their spirits high. Raoul, a tall, muscular man with a gold necklace, earrings, and a flamboyant purple hat, leaned back, adjusting the small black glasses perched on his nose. Unlike his older anime counterpart, this Raoul was young and vibrant, with the energy of a seasoned pirate in his prime.
Roger slammed his mug on the table, roaring with laughter. "And once we conquer the Grand Line, boys, we'll find the Poneglyphs! And then... Laugh Tale!"
Rayleigh gave a knowing chuckle, shaking his head at Roger's usual antics. Raoul smiled, swirling his drink thoughtfully. "You've always been crazy, Roger. But that's what makes you, well... you."
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed from the staircase. They turned toward the entrance just as Draco and Buggy appeared from the shadows.
Roger's drunken eyes lit up, and a wide grin stretched across his face. "Oi! Look who decided to join us! Welcome to the bar, lads!" he bellowed, already intoxicated beyond reason.
Draco walked up to the bar with a calm, nonchalant air, pulling out a stool and sitting next to Roger. "Hey." He gave a slight nod to Rayleigh and Raoul, then casually ordered some rum.
Raoul gave Draco a curious glance. "Who're you, kid? And... do you even have money?"
Without missing a beat, Draco reached into his pockets—and to Raoul's amazement, he pulled out a massive sum of money, more than enough to buy the entire bar. The stack seemed to appear from thin air as if Draco had conjured it from nowhere. Even Buggy blinked in disbelief, unsure where Draco had been keeping it all.
Roger laughed so hard he nearly fell off his stool. "Bwahahaha! Kid's got pockets like a magician!"
Even Rayleigh, who rarely showed surprise, raised an eyebrow. But neither of them asked any questions—they had long since learned not to question Draco's interesting ability. Roger simply kept laughing, while Rayleigh chuckled under his breath.
"Well, that settles it. Drinks on this kid tonight!" Raoul declared with a grin, pouring rum into Draco's glass and even filling one for Buggy, despite the latter's reluctance.
Draco, unbothered by the cost, took a long sip of his rum, savoring the burn. 'Thanks to the Rag Tie Pirates, I've got more money than I'll ever need for myself'
As the night went on, the four pirates drank and chatted, the bar filling with stories of adventure, danger, and dreams of conquering the Grand Line. Roger, drunk beyond recognition, babbled incoherently about Laugh Tale and ancient treasures. Rayleigh, though far more sober, humored him with occasional nods. Raoul listened with amusement, clearly enjoying the night.
Buggy, however, barely touched his drink, nervously watching Draco get drunk by the minute. Eventually, Draco slumped in his seat, swaying slightly, his eyes half-lidded, he had drunk almost 20 times more than Roger; quickly dispatching off all Raoul's brewery. Roger had long since fallen off his stool and was sprawled across the floor, snoring loudly.
With a sigh, Rayleigh stood up, his expression calm but slightly exasperated. "Alright. Time to haul these two back to the ship."
Buggy nodded, setting his glass aside. "I'll carry Draco. You take Roger."
Rayleigh chuckled. "Deal."
[Back to the Ship]
With Buggy dragging Draco's limp body and Rayleigh hauling Roger over his shoulder, the unlikely quartet stumbled through the dark streets, heading back toward the Oro Jackson. The night was quiet, and the stars above seemed to twinkle mischievously as if enjoying the pirates' antics.
When they finally reached the ship, Buggy dumped Draco onto his usual spot at the back of the deck. Rayleigh set Roger down gently, patting the captain's head with a fond smile before disappearing below deck.
As morning light spilled over the horizon, Roger sprang to life, fully awake and brimming with energy, as if the previous night's drunken stupor had never happened. He stood at the front of the ship, hands on his hips, grinning from ear to ear.
"Alright, boys! Set sail!" Roger shouted, his voice booming across the deck.
Draco stirred at the back of the ship, a lazy smile curling across his lips. Wherever they were headed didn't matter, their goal was the same: discover the location of Laugh Tale.
As Draco sat up, stretching his arms, Oden suddenly appeared, chattering excitedly. "You won't believe what I found in town! The food! The culture! The architecture! Oh, it's all so fascinating!"
Draco leaned back with a sigh, rubbing his temples. Oden hadn't stopped talking since morning, and Draco wasn't in the mood for a history lesson.
Buggy, who was sitting nearby with shanks, rolled his eyes in frustration. "Oi, Oden! Give it a rest already! Can't you see Draco's trying to relax?"
Oden grinned, clearly not bothered by Buggy's irritation. "What's the matter? Can't handle a little enthusiasm, red nose?"
Buggy's patience snapped. He drew the Kitetsu from his side, swinging it in Oden's direction. "Back off, old man! This blade's mine, and you're not touching it!"
Oden's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Oh? A cursed blade? Let me see it!"
Buggy lunged forward, pushing Oden back. "I said don't touch it!"
Oden, amused by Buggy's sudden boldness, stepped back with a chuckle. "Not bad, kid. You've got some fight in you after all."
Buggy grinned, his confidence swelling. It felt good to stand his ground, especially against someone as strong as Oden. He wasn't just an apprentice anymore; he was starting to believe in his strength.
Draco watched the playful exchange with a mixture of amusement and exasperation. Two idiots, bickering and sparring like children. He shook his head with a sigh, letting his head fall back against his lounge chair.
But as he closed his eyes, a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. Buggy was changing. Slowly but surely, the timid apprentice was beginning to grow braver.
And in the unpredictable world of the One Piece, courage was the most valuable treasure of all.