One Piece - Heaven Defying Comprehension!

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Sabaody Archipelago, "Shakky's Rip-off Bar"

In front of the bar stood the former Empress of Amazon Lily and previous captain of the Kuja Pirates, Shakky.

Having just dealt with a few troublemaking pirates, Shakky was calmly wiping down a wine glass.

"Hm?"

Her eyes suddenly froze as she looked towards the entrance of the bar.

'Click!'

The handle of the door turned on its own, and the door slowly opened in broad daylight.

Yet, beyond the open door, there was... nothing but air.

'Observation Haki can't pick up any breath, sound, trace—nothing. It's like there's no one here. This ability…'

Shakky stared at the door with a serious expression.

'Buzz!'

The space in front of the bar flickered, and slowly, figures appeared—transformed by the powers of the Transparent Fruit.

'So it really is an invisible power that even Observation Haki can't detect… A Paramecia-type user of the Transparent Fruit?'

Her eyes flashed as she looked at Tashigi, who was glowing faintly with a strange light.

The moment the invisibility was lifted, Shakky's Observation Haki could sense who was behind the ability.

"Whew!"

Tashigi exhaled heavily, exhaustion showing on her pretty face.

Making everyone invisible and completely blocking prying Observation Haki… even with Ace's Realm of Comprehension, Tashigi's physical strength is almost at its limit.

"Thank you, Tashigi."

Ace patted Tashigi's head appreciatively.

Her cheeks flushed slightly, and a happy smile bloomed on her face.

"A true heavyweight has arrived."

The Fifth Emperor of the Sea, Flame Emperor, Portgas D. Ace.

Shakky's eyes narrowed as she chuckled, looking at Ace.

"Speaking of heavyweights, you're not too shabby yourself, former Empress of Amazon Lily, and former captain of the Kuja Pirates, Shakky."

Ace smiled as he turned to her.

"Empress of Amazon Lily?"

Vivi whispered as she looked at Shakky.

"Vivi, do you know that country?" Kaya asked curiously.

"Yes, it's an island in the Calm Belt of the Grand Line, home to a tribe of warrior women. Every Empress leads the Kuja Pirates, an all-female crew hailing from Amazon Lily. They're quite famous on the seas."

Vivi nodded.

"An all-female pirate crew? That's amazing!" Kaya exclaimed, covering her lips in surprise.

Though the Entei Pirates, apart from Ace, were all women, it was only thanks to Ace's guidance that they had come so far.

Without him, they wouldn't even be able to venture far and would have remained secluded.

The same was true for Vivi, Conis, Raki, Nojiko, and the others.

It was Ace who allowed them to flourish.

But the Kuja Pirates, without a guiding figure like Ace, still earned their formidable reputation across the seas. That alone was impressive.

"You're impressive too. Except for the Captain Ace, the Entei Pirates are all women. Your reputation even surpasses that of the Kuja Pirates. You've become a force on par with the Four Emperors."

Shakky gazed at the girls, some showing the features of young women, with admiration and a hint of nostalgia.

It was clear Shakky was reminded of her own time as the captain of the Kuja Pirates.

Hearing her words, the girls exchanged proud smiles.

They had to be strong to stand beside their captain.

"I didn't expect the famous Flame Emperor of the seas to know my insignificant past."

Shakky smiled, motioning towards a seat. "Please, sit. Can I get you something to drink?"

Years of experience on the seas told Shakky that the Fifth Emperor, Flame Emperor Ace, didn't come here with bad intentions.

But even if he had, there wasn't much she could do.

After all, in the face of this man—one of the strongest figures in the current era—she had no chance of standing against him.

Even if Rayleigh were here, he couldn't contend with an entire pirate group at the level of the Four Emperors.

And Rayleigh wasn't here at all.

"Let's have a drink at this renowned bar, shall we?" Ace said with a grin, ordering like a casual customer.

"Coming right up."

Soon, Shakky brought out the special wine Ace had requested.

'Gulp!'

"Ha! This is good. It's got a unique taste."

Ace downed the drink in one gulp and praised it.

"Of course. A drink prepared for the Flame Emperor has to be special. This is a fine wine, a specialty of the Kuja."

Shakky smiled.

"So, the sea is in chaos, drawing in not just two of the Four Emperors—Kaido of the Beasts and Red-Haired Shanks—but also the man Naval Headquarters has been waiting for, the Flame Emperor himself. What brings you here, to a weak woman who's long since been left behind by time?"

Shakky's expression grew serious as she looked at Ace.

Despite his gentle smile, she knew the truth. This was a man who had single-handedly caused upheaval across the seas.

If it weren't for the fact that Ace looked exactly like his wanted poster, Shakky wouldn't have believed that this charming young man was the cause of so much turmoil.

Why had such a figure come to her, a retired pirate captain?

Even all of Amazon Lily would tremble in his presence.

He was one of the most significant powers in this era.

So why was he here…?

Shakky's face became somber.

"Why?" Ace echoed with a slight smile, then laughed.

"I just wanted to taste a drink made by the former Empress of Amazon Lily. That's all.

And I wasn't disappointed."

Ace admired the wine in his glass.

"That's it?"

Shakky's expression gradually dulled, staring blankly at Ace.

"Of course. I just came for a drink. What other reason would there be?" Ace laughed.

"The wine is indeed unique—worthy of an Empress who once ruled Amazon Lily."

The girls exchanged glances, covering their mouths and chuckling. They began sipping Shakky's wine, and soon the entire bar was filled with lighthearted laughter.

That was the nature of their captain. 

When he's hungry, he eats. 

When he wants to drink, he drinks. 

Simple. Free.

Shakky watched Ace laugh and the girls around him smile playfully. Her red lips curved wider, until she too burst into laughter.

"Haha! He's truly the legendary Flame Emperor. No wonder… no wonder…"

She looked at Ace, laughing heartily. The Four Emperors—Kaido, the Red-Haired Shanks—were all converging on the Sabaody Archipelago. The Navy had gathered almost all its strength in preparation.

Even Shakky, a retired pirate, could feel the oppressive tension in the air.

The outcome could spark the most devastating conflict since the balance of power between the Navy, Shichibukai, and Four Emperors had stabilized the seas.

Yet here was Ace, treating the fearsome Kaido, Shanks, and the Navy's massive preparations as irrelevant—coming here simply because he wanted a drink.

Shakky looked at Ace with wonder. 

This freedom, this disregard for the looming storm—there was once another man like that.

A single sentence had made Rayleigh follow him for the rest of his life. 

That man was Pirate King, Gol D. Roger.

Such boundless capacity, a free spirit that no force could bind.

But even Roger, at Ace's age, hadn't possessed this kind of fearlessness and freedom.

What an incredible man, Portgas D. Ace.

"So, about titles… Can I just call you Ace?" Shakky smiled, resting her chin in her hand. 

Calling him "Flame Emperor" felt too formal for someone so free.

"It's just a title. Call me whatever you like. But I'm not done with this wine yet," Ace said with a hearty laugh, raising his glass.

"As long as your wallet's deep enough," Shakky joked, the corners of her mouth lifting.

"Haha! Let's see if 'Shakky's Rip-off Bar' can drain my purse!" Ace roared with laughter.

Shakky, smiling warmly, continued pouring cup after cup of wine for Ace. He welcomed all who came, and by the end, nearly all of Shakky's wine stock was gone.

"I've had my fill today," Ace said, setting down his glass, a satisfied grin on his face. 

Thanks to his enhanced metabolism, the alcohol was quickly processed.

"After this last drink, we'll be off," Ace said, smiling lightly at Shakky.

"You're quite the drinker, little Ace. It's a shame Rayleigh isn't here. He'd love to meet someone like you," Shakky chuckled.

"Rayleigh? There's someone extraordinary on this island?" Ace raised an eyebrow and glanced at Nami.

"Understood," Nami's lips curled slightly, her gaze sharpening.

'Buzz!'

Shakky's eyes widened, startled.

"Amazing… It feels like the entire sky above Sabaody is crackling with static. That ability—could it be the strongest Logia-type power, the Thunder Fruit?"

Shakky's voice was filled with awe as she stared at Nami.

"Thanks to my talented navigator, we've disabled all those annoying security nets," Ace smirked.

After the Thunder Fruit's awakening, Nami's Observation Haki had reached terrifying levels of precision and coverage. Because of this, the Navy had gone to great lengths to set up an intricate surveillance network from the Devil's Triangle to Sabaody Archipelago.

And it had been dismantled with ease.

"Found it!" Nami's eyes widened as she spoke. "There's an extraordinary presence in the auction house—stronger than Admiral Aokiji's aura. Shakky, is this the 'Rayleigh' you mentioned?"

Nami's voice trembled with awe.

"Stronger than Aokiji?" Vivi, Robin, and the others exchanged glances, their eyes narrowing.

Though Aokiji could no longer defeat Ace, he was still one of the Navy's Admirals—among the most powerful forces on the seas. But this person was even stronger?

"It's impossible to hide from the Thunder Fruit," Shakky smiled slightly.

She knew that the Thunder Fruit could enhance Observation Haki. Her years on the seas and her secret intelligence network made that clear.

But for Nami to find Rayleigh so quickly and precisely—it was possible that the girl's Thunder Fruit had fully awakened. The Thunder Fruit stood at the pinnacle of Logia abilities. Once awakened, it rivaled the strength of the Marine Admirals, even without the use of Haki.

That such a young woman could develop it to this level was truly extraordinary.

What a remarkable pirate crew.

"His name is…"

"Pluton, Silvers Rayleigh."

"I've heard rumors about a masterful coating artisan on Sabaody. It's none other than the former Pirate King's right hand, Silvers Rayleigh."

Ace didn't wait for Shakky to finish, his mouth curling into a soft smile.

"The Pirate King's first mate?!"

The girls gasped in unison.

Even the Entei Pirates had now reached the level of the Four Emperors, and Ace had become known as the fifth emperor of the sea.

Yet, even among legendary pirates, the mention of 'Pluton' Rayleigh's name was awe-inspiring.

"You certainly don't miss a thing, do you, little Ace?" Shakky smiled, her lips curling slightly.

"Yes, Rayleigh... When he had nothing to do, he enjoyed gambling. He racked up quite a few debts, and when he couldn't pay them back, he sold himself at a human trafficking auction. Figured someone might be willing to pay big for him."

Shakky exposed Rayleigh's little scandal without hesitation, her grin widening. 

After all, sharing such amusing stories with someone as free-spirited as Ace seemed only fitting.

"The legendary Pluton Rayleigh, with such a hobby? Do people at the top of this sea always end up doing odd things?" Nami sighed, glancing at Ace with a helpless expression. Clearly, she was reminded of the wild personalities in Ace's past crew.

"Haha, is it really so strange?" Ace laughed. "But human trafficking shouldn't exist in the first place. I was planning to visit that auction house anyway. Looks like I'll have something to keep me busy."

Ace's laughter faded, and a cruel smirk spread across his face. Coming from the Earth, he despised human trafficking with every fiber of his being. In his mind, those responsible deserved no mercy.

Shakky's expression softened slightly as she observed Ace.

'Human trafficking shouldn't exist, huh?'

"Huh? Ace!" Nami's eyes suddenly narrowed, her voice sharp. "There's another presence near Rayleigh. Its aura is just as powerful as Aokiji's."

Shakky's gaze hardened upon hearing that.

'Someone as powerful as an Admiral? And they're near Rayleigh?'

"Oh? Looks like things are getting lively on the Sabaody Archipelago," Ace remarked, his eyes gleaming with interest.

"Nami, where are those trash called Celestial Dragon?" Ace asked.

"They're also at the human trafficking auction," Nami replied instantly.

"Oh? Looks like everyone's gathering in the same place. That'll make things easier," Ace grinned, his excitement evident.

"Thanks for the wine, Shakky. We'll settle the bill when we get back," Ace said, standing up with a smile.

"Trash…Celestial Dragons... Little Ace, what are you planning?" Shakky's eyes widened in shock as she sensed the gravity of his intentions.

"Remember, turn on the video transponder." Ace's smile was sharp. 

"After today, the world will change."

With those words, Ace walked out of the bar, leaving Shakky to contemplate what was about to unfold.

——

Human Trafficking Auction House.

In a dimly lit prison, an old man with long curly hair, a silver beard, and glasses sat shackled. A deep scar ran across his right eye, and though his hands were bound, his aura radiated power.

This was 'Pluton', Silvers Rayleigh.

'Click, click.'

Footsteps echoed through the dark corridor, and Rayleigh slowly lifted his head.

"Want to take a gamble?" A deep voice spoke. The man was blind, with short black hair and a beard. An "X"-shaped scar ran across his forehead, extending over both eyes.

Rayleigh's lips curled into a faint smile. 

"Interesting."