One Piece: Signing In as a Pirate Begins with Roger's Execution

"Shakky's Rip-Off Bar..."

"So, you've really settled down here, huh?"

Karl shook his head as he pushed open the door to the newly renovated bar and stepped inside.

"Anybody here? Is the owner around?"

He glanced left and right, then made himself comfortable at the bar counter. Given his stature, sitting there seemed oddly natural.

"Got a customer?"

"Take a seat, I'll be out in a moment..."

A slender woman walked out from the back room, wearing an apologetic smile.

However, when her eyes landed on Karl, she froze. Her expression shifted to shock as she stepped back instinctively.

"You! What are you doing here?!"

Clearly, Shakky was caught off guard by Karl's visit. As a former crew member of the Rocks Pirates, her worst fear was Karl showing up to settle old scores.

"Why shouldn't I be here? If you're running a bar, shouldn't you always be prepared for unexpected guests?"

Seeing her stunned reaction, Karl smirked, crossing one leg over the other with an air of nonchalance.

"It's been a while, hasn't it, former Rocks Pirate member Shakky? To be honest, when I first saw the name of this bar, I thought it was just a coincidence. Never expected it to really be you. Since we're old acquaintances, aren't you going to offer me a drink on the house?"

Shakky said nothing, only stepping back to slap the back door forcefully, as if summoning someone.

Karl watched her actions, knowing exactly whom she was calling. He didn't stop her, nor did he show any intention of violence.

Though Shakky had been a member of the Rocks Pirates, she was a relatively minor figure—adept at gathering intelligence but average in combat skills. After the Rocks Pirates disbanded, she had retired from piracy entirely. Karl saw no reason to trouble her.

"Shakky, of all the names you could've picked, you had to use your own? Did you really think people would forget about you?"

"Heh, who would've thought someone as insignificant as me would leave enough of an impression for you to remember? I'm flattered."

Shakky replied calmly, taking a deep breath as she moved to the liquor shelf. She picked up a bottle and two glasses, pouring drinks with a practiced hand.

"So, are you here as a customer, or as a Marine officer looking to arrest the remnants of the Rocks Pirates?"

She set a glass in front of Karl, her eyes sharp.

Karl responded with a charming smile, lifting the glass and downing its contents in one gulp.

"Not bad. How about another?"

His tone remained casual, and he placed the empty glass back on the counter without answering her question.

Shakky, understanding the unspoken cue, refilled his glass and called out loudly toward the back door.

"Rayleigh! Get up and start working!"

"Alright, alright, no need to yell! You've been banging on that door for ages. Can't an old man get some sleep?"

The legendary pirate Rayleigh finally stirred from his nap, mumbling complaints as he shuffled into the room. Still groggy, he began tidying up the bar, completely ignoring Karl's presence at the counter.

[Silvers Rayleigh detected. Sign-in available.]

"You old geezer. Ignoring people now that you're ancient, huh? Seems like your eyesight's gotten worse with age," Karl quipped coldly, locking eyes with the familiar figure.

Hearing Karl's voice, Rayleigh froze. His drowsy eyes snapped open in shock.

"Karl... you little brat?!"

Moments earlier, Rayleigh had been only half-awake, enough to navigate but not register his surroundings. He hadn't noticed Karl seated at the bar.

"Getting old, aren't you, Rayleigh? You weren't this slow back in the day. Has retirement made you soft?"

Karl hopped off the stool and clamped a firm hand on Rayleigh's shoulder.

Rayleigh paused his cleaning, his sharp eyes narrowing as he braced against Karl's grip.

The two locked eyes, their gazes sparking with unspoken tension.

[Sign-in complete. Armament Haki upgraded to perfection.]

With the system notification, Karl's grin widened slightly. He released Rayleigh's shoulder, easing the tension.

"I didn't come here to fight, old man. Don't get the wrong idea," Karl said, returning to his seat.

"Then why are you here? If it's a fight you want, I wouldn't mind putting a punk like you in his place," Rayleigh shot back, his presence flaring with unrestrained killing intent. Despite his age, his aura remained as intimidating as ever.

"Relax. I'm just a customer today, looking for a place to unwind. Now pour me a drink—I'll be spending my money here."

Karl flipped a gold coin onto the counter with a clink.

"This is all I've got. Serve me something worth it, or I might just inform Sengoku and Garp about what you've been up to here."

"Are you blackmailing us?"

Rayleigh stepped forward, stomping hard enough to crack the floor beneath him.

Unfazed, Karl held his ground, calm as a mountain, meeting Rayleigh's threat without so much as a flinch.

The air between them grew heavier, as though a fight was moments away.

Before anything could happen, Shakky smacked Rayleigh on the back of the head, the sharp sound startling even Karl.

Rayleigh yelped, rubbing his head in confusion as he turned to her.

"Why'd you hit me?!"

"Get to work! You owe me so much money, and now you're slacking? Keep it up, and I'll throw you out on the street!"

"Alright, alright! I'm on it..."

Grumbling, Rayleigh resumed his cleaning duties, his defiance melting under Shakky's scolding.

Watching the legendary pirate sweep floors and tidy tables, Karl couldn't help but sigh.

"Silvers Rayleigh, the Pirate King's right-hand man, reduced to this... If I hadn't seen it myself, I wouldn't believe it."

"Heh. What others think doesn't concern me. Their opinions are theirs, not mine. This is my choice," Rayleigh replied coolly, though his tone carried a faint edge. "But you wouldn't be so chatty without reason, would you, brat?"

Karl smirked but didn't respond, simply sipping his drink.

After a moment, he set his glass down, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"If you're so desperate to pay off your debt, why not sell yourself as a slave?"

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