The two of them walked out of the alley, completely unharmed, which shocked the onlookers who had lingered nearby. Human nature craved spectacle, and many had been waiting to see how the confrontation would end.
But when Teach and his companion emerged, the traffickers who had surrounded them were nowhere to be seen.
Curiosity overcame fear, and a few bystanders crept into the alley. One glance was enough to make their pupils contract in horror.
Corpses. Every last one of the arrogant traffickers now lay in pools of blood.
The spectators froze, then bolted, scattering like startled birds. If those two discovered they had witnessed this carnage, they might be silenced next. Best to vanish while they still could.
If Teach had known what they were thinking, he would have laughed. They were giving him far too much credit.
By the time they reached Area 13, the bustling streets of Sabaody surrounded them. Soon, Teach spotted the bar he was looking for;
Shakky's Rip-off Bar.
It wasn't glamorous or famous, just another small drinking hole among the dozens scattered across the archipelago. Its interior was plain, the food and drinks ordinary but the prices were outrageous. That, combined with the bold name, had made it notorious enough.
Pirates often walked in expecting a bargain or a challenge, only to walk out with lighter wallets and bruised egos. Those who caused trouble quickly learned the owner wasn't someone to mess with. Few ever returned, and that was exactly how Shakky liked it.
As Teach approached the entrance, the doors slammed open and three half-naked men came flying out. They tumbled across the street, shivering in terror, wearing nothing but underwear.
A mature woman stepped out after them, cigarette in hand. Her short black hair framed sharp features, her bright top bore a spider motif, and her open jacket left little to the imagination.
"Bunch of freeloaders trying to dine and dash. Get lost." Shakky exhaled smoke, her tone flat, almost bored.
The three pirates scrambled to their feet and bolted without looking back.
Locals watching from the street laughed. Most knew Shakky's bar well enough to recommend it to unsuspecting newcomers as a cruel joke. They also knew better than to cross her themselves.
Shakky's gaze shifted to Teach. For a heartbeat, her eyes flashed with recognition before she turned back inside.
Teach wasn't surprised. Shakky was more than just a bar owner. She was the most deeply buried information broker in the world, a woman who once sailed as part of the Rocks Pirates, back in their heyday. She had served as their intelligence officer, a core member, and though not famed for her strength, she was formidable in her own right.
After the Rocks Pirates fell, she slipped into seclusion, washing her hands of piracy. But she never gave up the trade of information. In fact, she knew more than most governments.
And this bar? This bar was also where another legend lurked.
Teach could already sense the aura inside. That calm, steady pressure was unmistakable. Silvers Rayleigh, the Dark King.
Inside, a single man sat at the counter. Casually dressed, sipping his drink as though he were any other patron. Few would ever guess this unassuming figure had once been the right hand of the Pirate King.
Teach followed Shakky in. She closed the door, then slid back behind the counter, cigarette smoke curling lazily around her face.
"What can I get for you, young man?" she asked smoothly.
Teach smiled. "A glass of brandy. And information on the human trafficker Hoz."
Her brow lifted slightly, though her expression didn't change. "Ah, so you know how things work here. Five million Berries for the intel. The brandy's on me." She poured a glass, sliding it across to him. "But are you sure? Hoz has ties to the Celestial Dragons. Treading in that circle is dangerous."
Teach chuckled, lifting the glass. "I already knew that. I just want the details. Besides, it's only Celestial Dragons. Hoz has something of mine."
That caught her attention. "Oh? And what might that be?"
"Two Devil Fruits."
For once, Shakky's practiced calm faltered. She exchanged a glance with Rayleigh. The rumor of Hoz preparing gifts for a Celestial Dragon had spread, but she hadn't expected Teach to stake a claim.
Teach tilted his head back and downed the brandy in one gulp. The glass hit the counter with a clink. "Zehahahaha! If I want it, it's mine. I'm a pirate, after all."
Shakky exhaled smoke, studying him with new interest. "Heh. Interesting."
"Then let's settle payment," she said, lifting her glass.
Teach reached into his pack and placed a sealed bottle on the counter. His grin widened. "This bottle should cover it. A wine you've never tasted before."
The moment she opened it, the air filled with a rich, intoxicating aroma. Rayleigh's eyes widened, and his hand twitched toward the bottle. Shakky smacked it away and promptly tucked the vintage beneath the bar.
"Worth it," she admitted with a rare smile. She disappeared briefly into the back, returning with a neatly prepared dossier.
Teach flipped it open. Every detail was there, Hoz's leaders, contacts, movements, even the Celestial Dragon he hoped to impress. Exactly what Teach wanted.
He closed it and slid it back.
"One more thing," Teach said. His tone sharpened. "The Dark-Dark Fruit. If you find any news, I'll pay one billion Berries. If you deliver it to me, ten billion."
Shakky's cigarette paused halfway to her lips. Rayleigh's brows rose. That kind of money was enough to shake the world.
But Teach only smirked. He knew what he wanted, and he would wait as long as necessary.
Shakky's expression cooled, businesslike again. "Alright. I'll prioritize it."
Teach turned then, his gaze locking onto Rayleigh. "Rayleigh. Our last battle isn't over. Next time I return to Sabaody, I'll challenge you again."
His aura surged like a wave, Conqueror's Haki flaring out but contained, aimed solely at the man before him. Red sparks flickered in his eyes.
Rayleigh grinned, unfazed. "Spare me. I'm retired." Yet his own aura answered, heavy and sharp, colliding with Teach's. The counter trembled, the floor cracked beneath their feet.
"Alright, enough. Don't wreck my bar," Shakky cut in, smiling faintly as though watching children squabble.
With that, both men reined their power back in. The air stilled, though the spiderweb of cracks across the floor told the story.
Teach knew the truth—he was still at a disadvantage. Rayleigh's Haki wasn't at Whitebeard's or Roger's level, but it was close. Still, for Rayleigh to acknowledge him at all was enough.
Rayleigh, meanwhile, was quietly surprised. Teach's growth was far faster than he had expected.
Teach reached into his pack again and slid another bottle of wine toward Rayleigh. "Consider this payment for the spar. A fair trade."
Rayleigh's grin widened. "Agreed, little fellow from Whitebeard's crew."
"Don't you know?" Shakky interjected. "He's not with Whitebeard anymore."
Rayleigh blinked, then gave Teach a long look. "Oh? Left already?"
"There was quite the commotion," Shakky continued with a smirk. "He challenged every commander who tried to stop him. Ten hours of fighting. Didn't fall once. Beat half of them. Walked away standing."
Rayleigh whistled softly. "Didn't expect that." He chuckled, but inside, he was already reassessing. Teach wasn't just ambitious—he had the power to match.
Shakky leaned forward. "So what brings you back to 'Paradise'?"
"Zehahahaha! To see Roger's execution, of course. A once-in-a-lifetime event."
Rayleigh's expression tightened, though he quickly hid it behind his glass.
Teach waved a hand dismissively. "Don't mistake me—I've no interest in being Pirate King. That title's useless. Pirates won't bow to a symbol. This is a world where strength rules. Only absolute power can command the seas."
Shakky and Rayleigh fell silent. His words weren't wrong.
Rayleigh finally asked, "Then what is your goal?"
Teach's grin stretched wide. "I'll build a crew to rival Rocks. Gather monsters from every sea, crush every rival, and become King of the World! Zehahahaha!"
The mad laughter rang through the bar.
Shakky watched him, lost in memories. The echoes of Rocks, of Shiki, of an age of ambition and madness. She saw the shadow of that same era flickering again in Teach's eyes.
And she knew—whether the world was ready or not, a new storm was coming.
Teach rose at last, Pito silently at his side. Without another word, they left the bar behind.