One Piece: The user of the Nen-Nen Fruit, who overturned the sea.

Chapter 283 Reunion of the Old Times

Just as Roy was persuading Tiger, in the first half of the Grand Line, at the Sabaody Archipelago.

Area 13, "Shakky's Bamboo Bar".

This bar looks ordinary, even a bit run-down.

But those in the know understand that the proprietress here is no ordinary person.

At that moment, behind the bar, a woman with short black hair and a capable demeanor was wiping glasses.

Shaki, the owner of this bar, is also one of the most well-informed people in the Sabaody Archipelago.

An elderly man with gray hair and glasses sat in front of the bar.

He was wearing a floral shirt and beach shorts, with flip-flops on his feet, and holding a bottle of wine, which he was gulping down.

"I'm talking about Rayleigh,"

Xia Qi glanced at him.

"You've been freeloading at my place these past few days, and you're not doing your coating work anymore?"

"Take a few days off, take a few days off."

Rayleigh wiped his mouth and chuckled.

"The navy has been cracking down hard lately, so it's best to keep a low profile."

"Come on, you."

Xia Qi rolled her eyes.

"I think you're just lazy."

The two were arguing when the bell on the bar door suddenly rang.

The door was pushed open, and a person walked in.

He was a man who looked to be around fifty years old, tall and thin, wearing a well-tailored dark red aristocratic suit, and holding an exquisite cane in his hand.

Xia Qi paused in wiping the cup.

Rayleigh stopped drinking.

The air in the bar seemed to freeze.

"...Ryder?"

Reilly put down the bottle and spoke somewhat uncertainly.

The Red Earl—Barolok Redfield, the legendary lone pirate, nodded slightly: "Long time no see, Rayleigh, Shakky."

"It really is you..."

Xia Qi regained her composure, but surprise still lingered in her eyes.

"What wind blew you all the way to Chambord? And even found your way here?"

Ryder walked to the bar and sat down gracefully: "A glass of red wine, please."

Shakky turned to get the wine, while Rayleigh sized up his old acquaintance:

"Hey, what are you doing here?"

"Entrusted by someone."

Ryder took the red wine Shakky offered him and swirled it gently.

"Roy told me to wait here."

"Roy?"

Rayleigh and Shakky exchanged a glance, both seeing the confusion in each other's eyes.

"What does he want with you?"

"Repaying a favor."

Ryder took a sip of his drink.

"He saved me once, and I promised to do something for him."

Now, he's going to use this favor.

Xia Qi leaned against the bar, lost in thought:

"Something that would allow the Earl of Red to repay a favor..."

This is probably not simple.

What exactly is Roy up to?

Ryder put down his glass, his red eyes gazing out the bar window...

"He's planning to pull off something big."

"Large enough to make the entire world government jump."

Rayleigh's expression turned serious. Shakky also stopped talking and just quietly watched Ryder.

"You'll know the specifics when he arrives."

Ryder didn't continue.

"Anyway, I'll be waiting here for the next few days. I apologize for the trouble."

"It's not that troublesome..."

Xia Qi smiled.

Anyway, my bar doesn't usually have many customers.

But Ryder, are you sure you want to get involved?

"Roy is a capable kid, but what he's going to do is probably..."

"Danger?"

Ryder picked up the conversation, a faint, sarcastic smile playing on his lips.

"When in my entire life have I ever been safe?"

Rayleigh stared at Ryder for a few seconds, then suddenly burst into laughter, raising the bottle.

"That's right! Cheers to a restless old age!"

Ryder raised his glass in acknowledgment, and the two drank it down in one gulp.

Xia Qi shook her head and continued wiping her cup. But her gaze kept drifting towards the window, as if she were waiting for something.

The next afternoon, the bar door was pushed open again.

The man had a cigar in his mouth and wore an inconspicuous cloak.

All three people in the bar looked up.

"...Shiki?" Rayleigh squinted.

Shiki the Golden Lion ripped off his cloak, revealing his arrogant face:

"Hehehehe! Rayleigh! Shakky! Long time no see!"

His gaze swept across the bar, pausing briefly when it landed on Ryder.

"Count Red? What are you doing here?"

"Same as you," Ryder said casually.

The golden lion was taken aback, then realized what was happening and burst into laughter:

"That kid Roy, he even called you here!"

Golden Lion swaggered to the bar, slammed his hand on the table, and shouted, "Boss, bring the drinks! The best drinks!"

Xia Qi glared at him irritably, but still turned around to get the wine.

Rayleigh looked at the Golden Lion, then at Ryder, and suddenly sighed:

"I'm starting to get curious..."

"What exactly is Roy up to that he's got his hands on both of you by bringing you together?"

Golden Lion took the wine Xiaqi offered, took a big gulp, wiped his mouth, and

"You'll know when he gets here."

But Rayleigh, I advise you not to get involved in this...

Hey, if this gets out of hand, you could lose your head.

"Losing your head?"

Rayleigh smiled.

"My head should have been cut off when I became a pirate, but it's still perfectly fine, isn't it?"

Several old folks from the old days looked at each other and smiled, their smiles carrying a meaning only they could understand.

Shakky watched this scene and gently shook her head. She walked to the window, gazing at the bubbles that seemed to float eternally on the Sabaody Archipelago, and murmured to herself:

"Sabah...it's going to be turbulent again."

The atmosphere in the bar became subtle.

The flamboyance of the Golden Lion, the elegance of Ryder, and the nonchalance of Rayleigh—three distinct auras intertwined.

Instead of conflict, a peculiar balance was formed.

They drank and talked about old times, and no one mentioned what Roy was up to.

But everyone knew in their hearts that when the young captain arrived, a drama that would shake the world was about to begin.

Meanwhile, on the sea route from Fishman Island to the Sabaody Archipelago, Ark Maxim is moving at full speed.

Inside the cabin, Roy, Barrett, Mihawk, Tezzolo, and the newly joined Fisher Tiger sat together.

In the middle lay a hand-drawn map of Mary Geoise—one that Tiger had drawn from memory.

"This is a slave prison; most of the slaves are kept here."

Tiger tapped a location on the map with his thick finger.

"If we are to liberate them, we must go here."

"Then comes the Celestial Dragons' residential area."

Roy pointed to another area on the map,

"The treasure trove is likely scattered in the basements of various mansions. We need to split up and act quickly."

"How do we divide it?" Barrett asked.

Roy looked at everyone.

"Tiger led the way to the slave prison, with Mihawk assisting."

"Me, Barrett, Tesoro, we're going to raid the vault. Tesoro, find the valuables, Barrett, you're in charge of clearing the way and covering our retreat."

Tesoro licked his lips: "Boss, how are we going to divide the stuff in the vault?"

Roy pointed his finger at Tesoro speechlessly.

"Gather the ones we find first, and then distribute them when we get back."

"However, one thing is certain: prioritize that Devil Fruit!"

"Understood," Tezzolo readily agreed.

Tiger, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up.

"You...are you really willing to help me rescue the slaves?"

Roy turned to look at him.

"As I said, we each get what we need."

You save lives, we get paid.

But this does not mean we do not treat those slaves as human beings.

"Tiger, I know you hate humans, you hate Celestial Dragons."