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  Luffy had plopped himself on one of the stools by the ter, pig up a gss of juice as if he owhe pce. He sipped it leisurely while tossing a pte of food toward the Gon sisters, who hesitantly accepted his . They clutched their bowls tightly, their expressions cautious yet grateful as they began to eat in silence.

  Behind the ter, Shakki exhaled a long plume of smoke, her eyes narrowing slightly as she took in the bold young man before her.

  "You've got guts, kid," She said, her tone ced with amusement. "Walking in here, eating my food, and then just helping yourself to a drink. Do you even have moo pay?"

  Luffy paused mid-sip, gng at her as though the question were pletely fn to him. He set the gss down on the ter and grinned sheepishly. "Nope, no money. But I'll pay you back eventually. You , uh… put it oab."

  Shakki's brow arched, and she chuckled, shaking her head. "A tab? Hoh!... you're quite the smooth-talker, aren't you? What makes you think I won't just toss you ht now?"

  Leaning ba the stool, Luffy's grin widened, his fidence shining through. "Because I'm Monkey D. Luffy, and you wouldn't want to mess with me unless you've got a death wish."

  The audacity of his statement hung in the air, and for a moment, the bar was silent. Then Shakki burst into ughter, her cigarette dangling precariously from her lips. "Hahaha! Guts and manners, huh? You've got the same reckless energy as someone I used to know. Monkey D., you said? You wouldn't happen to be reted to Garp, would you?"

  Hearing the name, Luffy gave her a casual thumbs-up, still smiling. "He's my grandpa. And yeah, he's as crazy as you think."

  Her ughter subsided as Shakki leaned forward, resting her elbows on the ter. "Garp's grandson, huh? Now that's something. That old man caused plenty of headaches in his prime. What's he up to these days?"

  Luffy scratched his head, chug. "Oh, you know, pung me with his 'fist of love' every time I don't listen to him. He's trying to force me to be a Marine, but that's never gonna happen."

  Shakki smirked, her amusement growing. "Let me guess—he thinks he knoe seo you with those fists of his? Sounds just like him."

  "Wahahaha... Garp's grandson. Kid, you are very iing."

  Before Luffy could respond, a loud, booming ugh echoed from outside the bar. The sound reverberated through the walls, sending a chill down the spines of everyone present.

  Luffy instinctively straightened up, beads of sweat f on his forehead. His carefree grin faltered for just a moment before he masked it with his usual bravado.

  The doors to the bar creaked open, and in stepped a tall, broad-shouldered man whose very presence seemed to make the room shrink. His tan skin glowed faintly uhe bar's dim lighting, and his ly trimmed white beard added a touch of elegao his intimidating appearance. A scar ran across his right eye, and round gsses glinted on his face. He carried a bottle of whiskey in one hand, sipping from it as he surveyed the room.

  Despite his calm demeanor, the sheer weight of his aura pressed down on everyone in the room, making the Gon sisters huddle clether. Luffy, however, forced himself to remain calm, though his instincts screamed that this man was far beyond any foe he had faced before.

  The only other person till now to ever give him this feeling was his grandfather, Monkey D. Garp!

  'This guy is a monster!'

  The man's gaze nded on Luffy, and a warm smile spread across his face. "Well, well. What do we have here? A cheeky kid raiding Shakki's bar?"

  His voice was smooth yet anding, carrying an air of authority that couldn't be ignored.

  Luffy met his gaze, his grin sharp and fident. "It is an honor to meet a living legend in such a pce. So, how is life faring for you, Dark King?"

  Rayleigh chuckled as he sauntered over to the ter, setting his whiskey down before taking a seat beside Luffy. "Oh my, it seems this old man is famous. Even Garp's grandson knows me. Wahaha... How is yrandpa nowadays?"

  Luffy smiled at his question and ughed. He was clearly familiar with Rayleigh's character and khat the old man would never resort to making a move on him so he rexed.

  "It should have been an easy life for him if not for your captain to give such a grand spee his execution."

  The Dark King studied him for a long moment befhiily. "Wahaha! You remind me of yrandfather, but you've got something else in you, too. Something... dangerous."

  Shakki rolled her eyes as she leaned against the ter. "Rayleigh, don't scare the kid. He's already got enough trouble tagging along." She gestured toward the Gon sisters, who flinched slightly under her gaze. "So, what's the story with these three?"

  Luffy g them, his expression softening. "I found them hiding in some ruins. They escaped from the World Nobles during the chaos caused by Fisher Tiger. They needed help, so I decided t them here."

  Rayleigh's gaze shifted to the sisters, his expression thoughtful. "The World Nobles, huh? That's not an easy escape. You've got good instincts, kid, helping them out. But what's your pn now?"

  "I was hoping Shakki could help get them baazon Lily," Luffy admitted. "I 't stay with them, but I want to make sure they're safe."

  Shakki exhaled another puff of smoke, studying the young pirate with a newfound respect. "You've got a good heart, kid. Alright, I'll take care of it. sider it my way of repaying the favor for the eaioday."

  The Gon sisters' faces lit up with relief, their expressions softening for the first time sihey'd ehe bar. Boa Hancock, in particur, couldn't take her eyes off Luffy.

  "Thank you," She said softly, her voice trembling. "We… We'll never fet this."

  Luffy grinned, rubbing the back of his neck. "Don't worry about it. Just promise me you'll keep moving forward, no matter what happens."

  As he turo leave, Rayleigh called out, his voice filled with curiosity. "Luffy, let me ask you something. Do you want to bee a pirate?"

  Luffy stopped in his tracks, turning back with a mischievous smile. "Do you wao?"

  Luffy smiled and replied fidently. "If I decided to be a pirate then I would bee the King of the Pirate!"

  "Hoh!..." Rayleigh had not expected that answer and was even more intrigued, asking the same question that he asked the inal Luffy in a serious tone.

  "... Do you think that you rule this mighty sea?"

  --- ? ? ? ---

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