Dimon strolled over, grabbed the suit-clad CP4 agent by the collar, and hauled him upright.
Even trained spies couldn't withstand Kaido's Conqueror's Haki—the man was out cold.
SLAP! SLAP!
The agent blinked awake to find Dimon smiling down at him, and nearly fainted again.
"D–don't kill me! I surrender, boss!"
"Who's your boss? Now, you answer what I ask." Dimon's grin was all charm and malice.
"Where's this ship headed?"
"Punk Hazard," the man stammered, "a secret research base under the World Government."
Dimon nodded. He knew the place—the frozen-and-burnt island that would one day host the duel between Aokiji and Akainu.
"Change course. We're going to Hachinosu. You've got a permanent pointer, right?"
"Yes! Yes, we do! Plenty!" the man babbled. "We need them for global missions."
Permanent log poses—vital for anyone sailing the Grand Line.
"Good," Dimon said. "You live another day. Wake a few of your buddies and set course."
"Yes, sir!" the man scrambled off like a terrified crab.
Meanwhile, Dimon and Kaido passed time the only proper pirate way—arm wrestling.
No Haki, just brute strength.
CRACK!
The table exploded under their elbows.
Dimon smirked. "That's my win."
"Hell no, the table broke—that's a tie." Kaido looked to their small judge. "Right, Abel?"
The poor eight-year-old Lunarian, sweating bullets, stammered, "Uh… y–yes, Kaido-sama! I mean—Dimon-sama!"
Luckily, the CP agent returned, saving the kid from implosion.
"D–Dimon-sama! Land ahead—Hachinosu Island!"
Dimon turned toward the horizon. The massive Skull Hotel loomed in the distance, its outline glowing under the afternoon sun.
The agent edged closer. "So… I did what you asked. May I… go now?"
Dimon waved lazily. "Do as you want. But…"—his smile sharpened—"lose a Government specimen like that, and they'll have you executed. Maybe you should defect. Join pirates. Fewer meetings."
The man's heart dropped. Executed… He didn't even dare to hate Dimon. Running into the Rocks Pirates was like meeting a natural disaster—you didn't blame the storm.
Soon the ship docked at Hachinosu. Seeing a Government warship sail into their harbor, local pirates froze. Then realization hit.
This was Hachinosu.
And Hachinosu belonged to Rocks.
The panic turned to chaos, then to cheers.
"Dimon-sama! Kaido-sama! You hijacked a warship?! As expected of the Rocks Pirates!"
"Rocks-sama forever!"
Dimon ignored the chorus. Kaido cracked his neck and grinned.
"Let's grab a drink—Shakky's bar."
"I haven't been yet," Dimon said, thinking of that woman's sly smile. "Let's go. Abel, keep up."
"Yes, Lord Dimon!" Abel followed close, wide-eyed at the island's wild debauchery.
Behind them, the dock devolved instantly.
"This warship's ours!"
"No way! We found it first!"
"Then let's settle it!"
Gunfire erupted. Swords flashed. The Government agents panicked.
"Raise anchor! Move! Do you all have a death wish!?" the CP4 captain screamed.
Inside Shakky's Bar, the most famous place on Hachinosu.
The line outside snaked halfway down the street. The rule here was ironclad—no fighting within a kilometer of the bar. Shakky's charm and authority could tame even pirates.
Dimon arrived and stared. "Unbelievable. The woman's got them all whipped."
A sea of pirates stood like obedient puppies, waiting for a smile.
Queue? No chance. Dimon didn't queue for anything.
Inside the bar—
Gloriosa, former Captain of the first Kuja Pirates, admired herself in a mirror.
"Ah, Shakky, you may be popular now, but just wait a few years. Beauty fades~" she sang smugly.
Shakky chuckled, tray in hand. "You flatter me. Though I'll admit, I envy that new brewer. I tried to charm him, but he didn't even blink. Tragic, isn't it?"
"One Devil Fruit for a glass of immortality wine," murmured Stussy, pressing a finger to her lips. "He's either disciplined… or doesn't like women."
All three laughed softly—the dangerous kind of laughter that usually preceded a coup or a scandal.
"Talking behind my back, ladies?"
The door creaked open.
They turned—and there he was. Dimon.
Shakky's lips curved. "I wasn't saying you're bad, Dimon. That was Stussy."
"Traitor," Stussy hissed.
"Dimon, Kaido," she continued, recovering smoothly. "Where have you two been? Haven't seen you in days."
"Out for a stroll," Dimon said easily. His eyes wandered across the room—spacious, loud, and packed. Only the bar counter had empty seats. He claimed one beside Stussy. Kaido took the next stool, already calling out:
"Shakky! A barrel of the good stuff!"
The woman smiled. Despite her youth, she carried herself like someone who'd survived the whole sea and then some.
She bent gracefully, pulled out a cask, and then looked at Dimon. "And for you? First visit's on the house."
"A Margarita. And water for the kid." Dimon nodded toward Abel. "No booze till you hit ten."
She poured, setting down both drinks. "Little brother, this one's for you."
"Thank you, miss," Abel said politely.
Dimon sipped his drink. "Just the three of you here? Where's Rocks and the rest?"
"Gone to Elbaf," Gloriosa said with a mischievous grin. "By the way, you're new, so maybe you don't know—Rocks used to chase Shakky like a lovesick puppy."
"Used to?" Dimon raised a brow.
"Couldn't win her," Stussy teased. "He's moved on. Found someone else, apparently."
Shakky rested her chin on her hand, smiling faintly. "More than that. Word is, she's expecting a baby."
"WHAT?!" Kaido nearly spat his drink.
Dimon blinked, caught between amusement and disbelief. Three women, one bar, and gossip traveling faster than the Navy's newsbirds.
He chuckled softly. "Heh… maybe we should start calling this place the Real Government Headquarters—the way you three leak intel."
The women laughed, the bar lights gleaming off their glasses.
But in the back of Dimon's mind, a quiet thought stirred.
If the timeline's right… could they be talking about—Blackbeard's mother?
The thought lingered, like the burn of Shakky's rum.
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