Although Mary Geoise is ten thousand meters above the sea, the living environment there is extremely comfortable, making it difficult to perceive the passage of time through the climate.
June, 1507, Sea Calendar.
Black said he was leaving Mary Geoise, but in reality, he was preparing to observe Imu's battle up close, so how could he truly leave?
While Black was still leisurely enjoying himself in Mary Geoise, the Revolutionary Army had already begun to gather near the Sabaody Archipelago.
They disguised themselves as pirates, merchants, travelers... various identities, infiltrating the Sabaody Archipelago in batches.
In Area 13, a bar was nestled among the roots of a Yarukiman Mangrove.
The bar's door creaked open, and Shakky was wiping a glass with a velvet cloth.
Monkey D. Dragon, wearing a hood and wrapped up like a wanted criminal, slowly walked in.
The sea breeze, carrying the unique resin scent of the Sabaody Archipelago, rushed in, but Shakky didn't even look up:
"We're closed. If you want a drink, go next door."
"The proprietress doesn't even entertain old friends anymore?"
Monkey D. Dragon's voice was deep and hoarse, and Shakky's hand paused, finally looking up at the door.
The man in the dark green cloak took off his hood, the tattoo on his left cheek reflecting dimly under the oil lamp.
"Monkey D. Dragon."
Shakky exhaled a smoke ring, her expression a half-smile:
"Didn't you say you'd fight for the revolutionary cause your whole life?"
"And now you dare to come to me? Aren't you afraid I'll sell you to the World Government?"
Her tone was far from friendly, suggesting some pre-existing tension between the two.
Monkey D. Dragon walked straight to the bar, water droplets from his cloak leaving winding trails on the floor:
"There's something I need your help with, and it's also helping you."
"You've come to the wrong place."
Shakky placed the wiped glass back on the liquor shelf:
"Retired old folks only sell liquor; they can't help you with anything."
Suddenly, there was a noise from the stairs, and Rayleigh stumbled out, holding half a bottle of rum, his silver hair disheveled, as if he had just woken up:
"So noisy..."
"Oh? Isn't this the Revolutionary Army's little friend?"
Monkey D. Dragon's gaze swept over Rayleigh's loose pajamas and slippers, his lips tightening:
"The former first mate of the Roger Pirates… has he lost even his basic vigilance now?"
"Vigilance?"
Rayleigh took a swig of liquor and grinned:
"That thing was buried in the sea with Roger years ago."
Shakky pushed a glass of ice water in front of Monkey D. Dragon:
"Stop beating around the bush; just state your purpose."
"You're not here to reminisce about the old days, are you?"
Monkey D. Dragon pulled a photograph from his coat and slapped it on the bar, making the glass hum.
In the photo, three young girls huddled in an iron cage.
Boa Hancock bit her lip tightly, her two sisters trembling behind her.
It was clearly a photo from four years ago when they were captured, and it was unknown where Monkey D. Dragon had obtained it.
"They are currently slaves in Mary Geoise."
Monkey D. Dragon's voice was as calm as if discussing the weather:
"The Revolutionary Army received intelligence that the Fish-Man Fisher Tiger will attack the Holy Land soon to liberate slaves."
"At the same time, a Celestial Dragon who has a conflict with Saint Figarland Garling has formed private forces, which will tie up the God's Knights."
"This is the most vulnerable moment for the Celestial Dragons' rule in eight hundred years."
Shakky's hand holding the cigarette paused, and Rayleigh's liquor bottle also stopped mid-air.
It must be said, Monkey D. Dragon still had considerable depth.
Even though he himself was skeptical of this intelligence, he could now calmly present it to Rayleigh.
In fact, Monkey D. Dragon had no intention of making Rayleigh mere cannon fodder.
Inviting him here was, on one hand, because Ginny and Hancock were connected, so Rayleigh could potentially save Ginny as well when rescuing people.
Having such a strong individual involved would reassure the Revolutionary Army members, and they wouldn't need to expend additional manpower on rescuing Ginny.
On the other hand, Rayleigh's strength was immense; if the plan went awry, the Revolutionary Army would have an extra pillar.
"You want him to help you attack Mary Geoise?"
Shakky sneered:
"This old man can't even lift a sword anymore."
Living together can change many things.
Back then, Shakky used to look at Rayleigh with admiration, but now, while not quite saying they were tired of each other, she called him 'old man' every other sentence, her former image of him long shattered.
"I merely hope Mr. Rayleigh can act with us, and while saving these three girls, also rescue our Revolutionary Army comrade."
Monkey D. Dragon's knuckles lightly tapped the photograph on the table.
Rayleigh suddenly let out a hearty laugh, his laughter shaking the chandelier:
"Monkey D. Dragon, you're much more ruthless than that old man in your family using three little girls as bait for me."
"This is just the truth."
Monkey D. Dragon stood up, his shadow engulfing half the bar.
He turned and walked towards the door:
"You can continue to rot here, or use your remaining strength to burn down that garbage dump."
"The choice is yours."
Shakky behind the bar narrowed her eyes, and Rayleigh caressed the crack on the liquor bottle, then suddenly asked:
"What if I don't agree?"
Monkey D. Dragon's footsteps paused, and he slowly said:
"If our people have the spare capacity, they will still rescue them."
"Or perhaps, you will lose your last chance to save them."
With that, Monkey D. Dragon left Shakky's bar without looking back.
After the door closed, the two people in the room remained silent for a long time.
After an unknown period, Rayleigh put down the liquor bottle, shook his head, and said with some annoyance:
"This kid… he really knows how to put pressure on people."
Shakky lit another cigarette, the smoke obscuring her expression:
"You know he wants to use you, right?"
"Ah, of course I know."
Rayleigh picked up the photograph from the bar, looking at the three little girls in the cage:
"But don't you think this is very similar to you back then?"
Shakky suddenly grabbed Rayleigh's wrist:
"Listen, Mary Geoise has the Gorosei, the God's Knights, CP0, and the Marines' support…"
"There are countless top-tier fighters there! Not to mention powers we might not even know about!"
"Even if the Celestial Dragons truly have internal conflict, how much can that really restrain them?"
"This time, there's no Rocks Pirates to draw away most of the firepower for you!"
Her fingernails almost dug into Rayleigh's skin:
"The reason you can retire peacefully in this broken bar is because Roger paid the price for it!"
Rayleigh gently pulled his hand away:
"So what? Are we supposed to watch Hancock and the others remain slaves forever?"
At these words, Shakky fell silent.
Her heart was conflicted.
On one hand, she didn't want Rayleigh to take such a risk.
On the other hand, she desperately wanted Hancock and the others to be saved.
Shakky hesitated, then said:
"We can find another way."
"And that Dragon… isn't he also going to save people? Maybe he can..."
As she spoke, Shakky couldn't continue.
Placing all hope entirely on others was, in itself, a gamble.
The bottles on the liquor cabinet clinked softly, and Rayleigh said leisurely:
"You should know better than I do what the Celestial Dragons will do to them."
This struck a nerve.
After living together for so many years, there was nothing left unsaid between them.
Silence washed over the bar like a tide, and Shakky lit another cigarette, holding it between her lips, her voice hoarse:
"What are you planning to do?"
"Just like over twenty years ago."
Rayleigh grinned:
"Sneak in during the chaos, knock out the guards, grab the people and run."
Shakky was amused by Rayleigh's words, but then suddenly grabbed his collar:
"Do you think you're still the Dark King?"
"If it weren't for the chaos of that era drawing away their attention back then..."
"But I was the one who ultimately saved you."
Rayleigh pressed her trembling hand:
"Don't worry… this time, the Revolutionary Army is here too."