Chapter 39: The Rip-Off Bar
"Commodore Ian, don't move! Mr. Disco... the bones in all his limbs and joints are broken. It's cruel, but they didn't hit any vital parts. It's very strange. From a medical perspective, Mr. Disco... I'm afraid he'll never be able to stand up again."
Ian's eyes widened, showing a look of horror and regret. "What?! How cruel, so brutal! President Disco, you... you're useless!"
Hearing the reality again, Disco burst into tears, his entire body except for his limbs shaking. "Woooooooo... Mr. Commodore Ian, you must avenge me. They are the Dawn Pirates, and their leader is called Dahn Shuke!"
Ian turned his head and looked at Peacock. "Have you heard of the Dawn Pirates, Peacock?"
Peacock turned around and said, "Ahem, I've never heard of them."
Ian looked down at Disco again. "You heard it, didn't you? I haven't heard of them."
Disco was stunned. "??? What do you mean? Commodore Ian, aren't you going to catch pirates? Such a big thing happened here; don't you care?"
Ian shook his Justice Cloak and said seriously, "President Disco, you are so forgetful. This place is under the grace and protection of the Celestial Dragons! It has never... fallen under Marine jurisdiction!"
Disco: "!!!"
"Take good care of yourself, President Disco. I'll invite you to go cycling together sometime. Let's go, we still have to patrol; don't waste any more time!" Ian raised his eyebrows, turned around, and walked away gracefully under Disco's red-eyed gaze.
Peacock followed Ian and bumped his arm. "You're too cruel, suggesting cycling. Commodore Ian, you're so evil!"
...
More than an hour later.
Sabaody Archipelago, Grove 13.
Walking all the way from Grove 1, they encountered a group of reckless pirates and dealt with two groups of hiding kidnappers. Including the points earned from causing a disturbance at the venue the previous night, the accumulated points in the system had now reached over 700. A bit slow, but it's only the second day. There are still plenty of opportunities to earn points and grow.
After arriving in Grove 13, there was only one place Ian most wanted to go: the bar open on the high ground right in front of them... Shakky's Rip-Off Bar!
After some investigation, he found only one person inside. That meant no one else was there except the proprietress, Shakky. A pity; no chance to see the "legendary pirate" today.
"You guys stay here. Peacock and I will go in and take a look. No one else is allowed to enter without my order." Ian gave the command.
The Marines stood at attention and saluted. "Yes, Commodore Ian! Yes, Commodore Ian! ..."
Yesterday, some of the veteran Marines stationed on the island weren't completely convinced by Ian, who was only eighteen. But in the battle just now, Ian's cool and graceful performance, taking down enemies one after another, completely won them over. No one dares to disobey when led by someone like this.
Squeak!
Jingle...
Pushing open the wooden door, Ian and Peacock entered the bar. Looking at the bar sign, Peacock was very confused. Who opens a shop and gives it such a name?
In front of the wine cabinet, a sexy woman of unknown age was wiping the counter with a cigarette in her mouth. Short black hair, a pink open-collar top with a striking spider pattern. With her tall and slender figure, she looked only in her thirties or forties. In reality, she was over sixty—calling her "grandma" wouldn't be an exaggeration.
Shakky!
She had been a bar owner for decades. Decades ago, she was also a famous pirate on the seas. The former captain of the Kuja Pirates, the previous Empress of Amazon Lily, the "Island of Women"!
"Commodore Ian, is the pirate crackdown going smoothly? Why are you in the mood to come to my place for a drink? Haha, what a promising young Marine Supernova!" Shakky didn't hesitate and directly called out Ian's name. It's said there's no intelligence on this island that Shakky can't collect. Ian's arrival was highly publicized by Headquarters, so it's normal for her to recognize him.
Since the other party was so straightforward, there was naturally no need to hide anything. "Sister Shakky, I'm not here to drink. Instead, I came to visit my 'old friend' on behalf of my teacher, Garp!"
Inside the bar.
Clink!
The sound of clinking glasses could be heard. Ian and Shakky each held a glass of special cocktail and drank it in big gulps.
"Ha!"
"Haha, I thought your shop, Sister Shakky, was just a scam, but I didn't expect you could actually make cocktails! It's much better than the wine at the Marine base. You won't charge me, will you? I didn't bring any money today!" Ian continued to drink happily as he spoke.
Shakky took two sips, placed her hands on the bar, and gracefully supported her cheeks. "You're so sweet-tongued; you don't look like a serious Marine at all, haha. Drink without worries; my sister is treating you today. After all, you're the apprentice of an old friend; I have to take care of you."
The atmosphere in the venue was harmonious, as if the two had a good relationship.
Peacock: "..."
She stared at the tables and chairs scattered in the tavern, cold sweat on her forehead. In reality, after Ian walked in and stated his purpose, a fierce conflict broke out in the tavern instantly. In a flash, the surrounding tables and chairs were overturned by the Conqueror's Haki of the two. As for why the two could stop and clink glasses like friends, Peacock completely couldn't understand.
The bar owner and Commodore Ian are both weird! What's even more terrifying is their level of Haki, which makes Peacock feel inferior. The Sabaody Archipelago truly is a place where hidden dragons and crouching tigers lurk...
"Ian, when you first came in, you mentioned Vice Admiral Garp. I thought you were here to attack me as part of your pirate crackdown. The bold statement of 'a world without pirates' isn't something ordinary people can say. Come to think of it, when I was a pirate, I was chased by Vice Admiral Garp across the seas and had nowhere to hide."