At the private room's entrance, Deba pricked up his ears, not wanting to miss a single word.
He felt he'd stumbled upon some incredible gossip.
This actually involved the vice-captain of the Red Hair Pirates - that genius Ben Beckman with an IQ of 250!
Sure enough, as Queen finished speaking, Crocodile's roar of suppressed fury erupted from inside.
"Bullshit! There's no fucking scandal between me and Beckman! We were just drunk last night! Those bastards kept toasting me - what was I supposed to do?"
"So being drunk means you had to hug Beckman? Tsk tsk, Crocodile, you disappoint me. How about this - 2 billion berries and these photos are yours. I'll never mention your thing with Beckman again!"
Queen's tone carried disbelief and a hint of hidden resentment.
Deba's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"Crocodile lost his virginity to Beckman while drunk?"
"You damn Deba, Bring me ten more bottles right now or I'll have Doflamingo cut off your liquor supply!"
"My apologies, Lord Queen! I was distracted! Ten bottles, no problem, I'll have them brought immediately!"
Deba groveled as he uncorked a bottle of rum for Queen, then opened another with an ingratiating smile for Crocodile.
"Smart move. Now get lost and don't interrupt us."
Queen grabbed the rum and chugged it straight from the bottle.
The sound of glug-glug-glug filled the air as the bottle of rum disappeared down his throat like it was being poured down a drain.
Deba's mouth twitched, but his mind kept replaying that photo - Beckman and Crocodile with their necks entwined, arms wrapped around each other, faces flushed.
His worldview shattered as he stumbled dazedly out of the private room.
When he returned to the bar counter, a waiter hurried over and whispered.
"Boss, the Red Hair Pirates are here."
"What? The adulterer's here?" Deba blurted out without thinking.
The waiter looked utterly confused: "What are you talking about, boss? I mean that Yonko crew - Red Hair Shanks and Ben Beckman are drinking at the bar. Should we prepare a private room for them?"
"A... private room?"
Deba blinked his beady eyes.
"Ah, yes! Good thinking! Can't neglect a Yonko crew. I'll handle it - you fetch the drinks."
Deba stroked his chin, plastering on an obsequious smile as he approached Shanks' group.
"Ahhh! If it isn't the esteemed Red Hair Pirates! What are you doing drinking out here? Come to our finest private room! We've reserved our best rum especially for honored guests like yourselves!"
Shanks and Beckman, who were waiting for their drinks and food, were both taken aback.
Shanks quickly waved his hand and said, "No, no, boss, you're too kind. We're just here for casual drinks and food. There's no need to dirty your private room."
"Ah, what are you saying, Captain Shanks? If you don't go to the private room, I... my shop will probably be shut down by Captain Caesar tomorrow. Please, have mercy on me. I beg you... I'll kneel to you..."
Deba spoke with such pitiful despair that his legs bent as if he were about to kneel.
"Uh... well, alright then, we'll take the private room."
Seeing the boss's overwhelming hospitality, Shanks couldn't refuse and had no choice but to agree.
As soon as he spoke, Deba's legs immediately straightened, and he extended a hand in a polite gesture.
"Honored guests, please follow me."
With that, Deba led them to the private room next to Queen's.
"Please wait a moment. The fine wine will be served immediately."
Deba smiled, bowed, and retreated from the room.
Inside the private room, Shanks surveyed the decor and couldn't help but frown slightly.
The walls were draped with pink gauze and the sofa was also pink.
It didn't look like a place for drinking at all—more like a young girl's room.
Beckman, however, didn't seem to mind.
He plopped down on the sofa, lit a cigarette for himself, took a deep drag and then said gravely.
"Binch and the others weren't spared. That bastard Akainu used his magma to exhaust their Haki completely, and then..."
Shanks remained silent for a long time before sighing
. "We've been through a lot, and death is nothing new to us. But we'll make the Navy pay for this sooner or later, especially Akainu, the one responsible. That bastard always targets the wounded. If it weren't for Caesar severely injuring me last time, I'd have cut off his damn head."
"Don't underestimate him, Shanks. Akainu's strength is nearly on par with yours. That guy may not have Conqueror's Haki, but his magma attacks are terrifyingly powerful and hard to defend against. Plus, his Observation Haki is formidable. We've hit him with Armament Haki many times, but even when we land direct hits, he shifts the damage to less critical areas."
Beckman spoke with utmost seriousness.
Shanks nodded. "Of course I won't underestimate him. He's the Fleet Admiral of the Navy, after all. His Magma Fruit abilities are monstrous. He's already in a semi-awakened state for a Logia user. His combat power is no joke."
As they spoke, Shanks suddenly raised an eyebrow and pointed at the opposite wall.
"Beckman, I think... I just heard your name?"