The sea dozens of kilometers away from Flame Island.
A small pirate ship rested quietly on the surface of the sea. Its pirate flag was very unique—a camera was mounted atop a skull and crossbones.
This was the "Image Pirates," established only a few days ago.
Captain Wan Luo released the hand of the first mate, Wan Shi. "Well? Has the dynamic energy ripple processing been completed?"
Wan Shi looked at the eager Wan Luo and nodded. "It's done!"
Saying that, the girl pressed her left index and middle fingers together against the corner of her eye and waved her right hand in front of her.
A blue translucent light screen floated in mid-air, displaying a scene.
It was the scene where Blackbeard threw a Quake Fist that sent Shiliew flying, and Taro countered with a Giant Whirlwind Shot.
This couple was also composed of Devil Fruit Ability users.
Wan Luo's "Mark-Mark Fruit" ability allowed him to leave a mark at any location he passed, and the mark would last for an entire day.
Within that day, he could sense all energy fluctuations within a certain range of the mark, acting like a radar.
Wan Shi's "Transcode-Transcode Fruit" ability could transcode the received fluctuations and display them.
Wan Luo excitedly grabbed his camera and snapped photos of the light screen.
The girl, however, looked worried. "Wan Luo, was it too risky to let those two pirates stay?"
Wan Luo didn't stop taking pictures as he comforted Wan Shi. "Don't worry. I know that big guy is one of the Warlord of the Sea, Gekko Moriah."
"Rest assured, I've left marks on both of them. If they harbor any ill intent, I'll teleport them back to where they were a day ago."
Wan Luo took the girl's hand. "The movements of that Clear-Clear Fruit user can't escape my fluctuation perception either. It'll be fine."
Hearing this, Wan Shi squeezed the boy's hand, and a smile spread across her face.
Sabaody Archipelago.
By the time Taro returned, it was already the next morning.
He took a good nap in the residential area and didn't wake up until noon.
This outing not only resulted in Shiliew's death and the fulfillment of his promise to Magellan but also provided information to the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates.
This put Taro in a great mood, and because he was in a good mood, he ate a bit more for lunch.
Afterward, unable to bear the boredom, Taro decided to take a stroll around the island.
"Oh? George? Where's Old Mike?" Taro ran into George just as he stepped out of the Marine cafeteria, but Mike was nowhere to be seen.
George gave a proper salute. "Vice Admiral Taro, Major Mike is following your orders and is currently setting up Security Markers all over!"
Taro was helpless against this traditionalist Marine officer and waved his hand dismissively.
"I've told you many times, don't be so stiff. Relax a bit." He then patted George on the shoulder and encouraged him, "I'm very satisfied with the results of your work. Keep it up!"
With that, he left.
George looked solemn as he took out a den den mushi. "Hello? Major Mike?"
"Yes, it's like this. I just ran into the Vice Admiral, and he highly approves of our work..."
"Yes, he's very satisfied. So, regarding your previous proposal to set up Security Markers on Fish-Man Island, I think we can go ahead with it!"
"The shipyard has specialized coating craftsmen; the ship will be ready soon. I'll give them another nudge!"
"Mhm, you can rest easy. The Vice Admiral told me to my face; there's no mistake."
Not long after walking away, Taro suddenly felt a chill down his spine. He turned around in surprise but found nothing out of the ordinary.
He couldn't help but frown. "Damn, what's with this chill? Is my internal injury acting up?"
Unable to figure out the mysterious chill, Taro continued his stroll while thinking about when to head back to Alabasta for a visit.
With Whitebeard dead, the four seas were in an uproar. Teacher Zephyr surely wouldn't be able to resist going out to hunt pirates again.
Ain and Binz definitely wouldn't be able to talk Teacher Zephyr out of it, and I probably wouldn't have much luck either. Sigh, I need to figure something out.
By the time Taro snapped out of it, he realized the surroundings were unnervingly quiet. He scanned the area.
Hmm? Did I wander into the Lawless Zone?
Without realizing it, he had walked quite far. Seeing the nervous gazes of the people around him—whether they were pirates or common thugs—a smile played on the corners of Taro's lips.
"Roar!"
Taro let out a loud shout, scaring the outlaws so much that they screamed and scattered in all directions.
"Hahahaha!"
Taro, with his mischievous sense of humor, laughed heartily at the sight.
On the grass not far away, there were a few people who hadn't run. They were looking at him with uncertainty, their faces bearing expressions as if they were looking at an idiot.
Taro then noticed that some people hadn't fled. To be precise, there was a human, a Fishman, a mermaid, and a starfish.
Stopping his laughter somewhat awkwardly, Taro looked at them and offered a greeting.
"Hello there!"
Seeing Taro's gaze fixed on them, Shakky, with a cigarette in her mouth, stood up and shielded the other three behind her.
Hatchan the Fishman, still wrapped in bandages, also stood up and looked at Taro warily.
"Uh, don't be nervous. I mean you no harm!"
Taro tried his best to look amiable. "If I said I was just taking a post-meal stroll and ended up here by accident, would you believe me?"
Shakky gave a mocking look. "What do you think?"
"I think you should believe me!" Taro nodded solemnly.
Shakky was momentarily taken aback, then slowly exhaled a puff of smoke. "Taro, I know who you are. No need for pretenses; just state your purpose!"
Taro felt a headache coming on and twitched his brow. "Sigh, alright. Since you insist I have a purpose, let me try to make one up—no, I mean, tell you one!"
"How about a seat at your place? I've wanted to see your Rip-off Bar for a long, long time!"
It really had been a long time—ever since he started reading the manga.
Shakky's bar was where "Dark King" Silvers Rayleigh held the fort and was also the gathering place for the Straw Hat Pirates two years later.
In his past life, this would definitely count as an influencer's check-in spot.
Taro's proposal to go to Shakky's bar was also to put them at ease.
After lot, if Rayleigh were there, they would feel safer. Even if he wasn't, it was their own turf, which might provide some psychological comfort, right?
Shakky naturally realized this as well and didn't refuse, leading her companions as she took the lead.
"A glass of Sherry, please. Thank you!"
Taro sat down at the bar and ordered a drink.
"That'll be 100,000 Berries!" Shakky poured a glass for Taro and then held out her right hand in front of him.
"So expensive? Why don't you just rob me...?"
Taro's lip twitched. He remembered the bar's name was the Rip-off Bar. Thinking about it that way, was this actually a form of being "fair to both young and old"?
Shaking his head to clear the absurd thoughts, Taro said, "I don't have any money on me. I never carry money. I have no interest in money..."
"Anyway, just put it on my tab for now!"
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