"I'm finally back in this place."
Meiser, who had just surfaced from the water, stared at the distant Giant Mangrove marked with the number 41, his expression complex.
Then, Meiser activated the Transformation Technique to change his appearance into someone else's and slowly swam over from the sea.
A moment later, Meiser reached the shore of Grove 41 and successfully landed on the island.
"Hm?"
An Old Man holding fishing gear was startled for a moment when he saw Meiser, then smiled and said, "Young man, did you just go for a swim?"
"Ahaha, yes, I swam a lap," Meiser laughed.
Hearing this, the Old Man looked up at the sky and then said, "This weather is indeed quite nice for a swim."
After a moment's thought, he turned and walked into the distance, seemingly planning to change into a swimsuit and come back for a swim himself.
"What a strange Old Man," Meiser muttered.
After watching him leave, Meiser turned and walked toward Shakky's place on Grove 13.
However, as he passed the commercial district on Grove 30, Meiser stopped.
"Hmm... Since I'm here, I should buy them some gifts to bring back," Meiser mumbled to himself.
After glancing at the shops in the distance, Meiser strode over.
Just then, a conversation between several Bounty Hunters reached Meiser's ears.
"Hey, have you heard?" a bald man said. "Someone's offering a bounty for information on the Blood-Eyed Ninja."
"The Blood-Eyed Ninja?"
A man with a cone-shaped head next to him showed a surprised expression. "You mean the Blood-Eyed Ninja who wreaked havoc at Marine Headquarters with the Whitebeard Pirates?"
"That's right, that's him," the bald man nodded.
"What's the bounty?"
"Five hundred million!"
"Five hundred million?" the cone-headed man said in disbelief. "Just for information on the Blood-Eyed Ninja, you can get that much money?"
Wait, am I really worth that much?
"That's right, he's worth that much!"
"Let's go, let's go, we should go look for information on that guy too," the cone-headed man said excitedly. "If we can find that guy, we'll be rich!"
That was five hundred million!
Once they got that much money... they could go back and enjoy life!
At this thought, the cone-headed man's eyes turned red.
"A five-hundred-million-Berry bounty for information on me, huh," Meiser muttered, stroking his chin as he watched them leave. "That's quite a generous offer."
He just didn't know if it was the World Government who made the offer.
Shaking his head, Meiser turned and walked toward a clothing store ahead.
"Hiss~"
"Puff~"
Exhaling a smoke ring, Shakky rested her chin on one hand and said, "It's been so many days, why hasn't that little Meiser come yet?"
Could he have run into some trouble on the way?
Thinking of this, Shakky glanced at the Den Den Mushi on the side, wondering if she should make a call to check.
Just then, the door to Shakky's bar was pushed open, and a strange man walked in.
After a quick glance at him, Shakky put on a professional smile and said, "Welcome~"
"What would you like?"
Having her train of thought interrupted, Shakky decided to rip this bastard off.
After closing the door behind him, Meiser noticed Shakky's gaze and his mouth twitched. "Shakky, your expression is a little scary..."
Shakky: ???
This man called her... Shakky?
But she didn't recognize him.
Thinking of this, Shakky's smile faded, and she frowned. "Who are you?"
"It's me, Shakky," Meiser said.
As he spoke, Meiser released the Transformation Technique, reverting to his original appearance.
Shakky: !!!
"You're... Xiao Meiser?!" Shakky looked at Meiser in disbelief. "You can actually turn into other people?"
Was this also Ninjutsu?!
When did this Meiser fellow master a Ninjutsu that could change him into other people?
"Not only can I turn into other people, I can also turn into objects," Meiser said with a chuckle.
As he spoke, Meiser used the Transformation Technique to turn into a stool, showing Shakky the wonders of the technique before changing back to his original form.
This scene left Shakky completely dumbfounded.
A moment later, she said, "You really are an enigma."
The abilities he had shown before were already heaven-defying, and now he could use the Transformation Technique to change into other people...
Was there anything this kid couldn't do?
Meiser just smiled at this and said nothing more.
Shakky shook her head, turned to pour Meiser a glass of fruit wine, and then said, "With this ability, you really can sneak in without a sound."
After all... no one would expect Meiser to have the ability to transform, would they!
"That's what I was thinking too."
With that, Meiser picked up the glass, took a sip, and then said, "By the way, Shakky, are there a lot of people trying to find information about me right now?"
"Oh?"
"Why do you ask?" Shakky raised an eyebrow. "Did you hear something?"
"Yes."
Meiser nodded. "On my way here, I overheard a few Bounty Hunters talking. They said information about me is worth five hundred million Berries!"
Five hundred million Berries... it was almost tempting enough for him to consider it.
If it weren't for the fact that he had to go cause trouble in Mary Geoise next, he would have definitely scammed those guys out of a fortune!
"Yes, that's true," Shakky nodded. "Quite a few people have gotten this news by now."
"So it's real?"
"Yes, it's real."
Meiser frowned upon hearing this and asked, "Do you know who issued the bounty?"
"The World Government, who else could it be."
Those guys were extremely interested in Meiser right now, so it was normal for them to issue such a bounty.
"It really is them..." Meiser muttered.
It seemed those guys were truly very interested in him.
"The World Government didn't just issue that one bounty," Shakky said, tapping the ash from her cigarette. "If someone can capture you, the World Government is willing to pay one billion Berries."
"I'm worth that much?"
"Yes, you're worth that much~"
After saying this, Shakky gave a wicked smile. "How about I capture you right now, kid? I could make a huge profit!"
The way she said it, it sounded like she was serious.
"Hmm..."
Meiser thought about it seriously, then said, "Shakky, how about... we team up and scam them?"
Shakky was stunned for a moment, then rolled her eyes. "I was just joking, why did you take it seriously, kid?"
"Do you really think the World Government's money is that easy to take?"
Scam them... Don't end up losing both of them without getting a single Berry.
As an information broker, Shakky was very clear about the World Government's nature.
Meiser blinked upon hearing this, then stroked his chin. "That's true."
Shakky's identity was rather sensitive; she was not suited to go out and deal with the World Government.
As for letting someone else do it?
Don't be ridiculous. Without sufficient strength, the World Government would never let you walk away with the money!
After all... that was 1 billion Berries!
"Alright, stop thinking about it."
Extinguishing her cigarette, Shakky glanced at Meiser and said, "The World Government is not that easy to deal with."
After a pause, the corners of her mouth lifted. "However... if you have the ability to make a haul in Mary Geoise, that's another story."
As soon as she said this, Meiser's eyes lit up.
That's right!
Those Celestial Dragons who enjoy the Celestial Gold must have a ton of gold and silver treasures!
At this thought, Meiser's mind became active.
With my Sealing Technique... I can definitely make a huge haul!
The more Meiser thought about it, the brighter his eyes became. Finally, he slammed his hand on the table and said, "Let's do it!"
"Don't get too excited. The money there isn't that easy to take either," Shakky said.
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing," Meiser smiled.
Seeing Meiser's confidence, Shakky didn't say any more.
"By the way, Shakky," Meiser pointed to the White Transponder Snail on the table. "Could you please help me get one or two more White Transponder Snails?"
Shakky showed a helpless expression. "These things aren't easy to get. I can only try."
These extremely rare White Transponder Snails might only appear on the market once every year or two, so she couldn't guarantee she could get them.
"Just give it a try. If it doesn't work out, we'll figure something else out," Meiser said.
"Alright, I'll take the job," Shakky nodded.
"I'll give you the money after I've been to Mary Geoise."
"There's no rush for that," Shakky shook her head.
She knew what kind of person this kid Meiser was, so she wasn't worried about being taken advantage of.
Then, Shakky asked, "But... what do you need so many White Transponder Snails for?"
"For Hancock, of course," Meiser smiled. "Otherwise, we won't be able to contact each other."
Using an Ordinary Transponder Snail carried the risk of the Marines eavesdropping on their conversations, so... they had to use White Transponder Snails!
That way, the two of them could chat on the phone from time to time~
At this thought, Meiser's smile grew even wider.
"Little Hancock?"
Looking at the smile on Meiser's face, Shakky said in surprise, "Don't tell me you've already..."
"Ah, yes, Hancock is my woman now," Meiser laughed heartily.
Shakky fell silent for a moment, then said with some emotion, "I can't believe you actually did it."
So that icy beauty had finally been warmed by someone.
In that case... little Hancock could finally find happiness.
Thinking of this, a smile appeared on Shakky's face.
Meiser, however, looked at Shakky with some surprise. "Shakky, from the way you're talking... did you suspect this all along?"
"I did," Shakky nodded. "Old Rayleigh and I talked about this after we learned you were on Kuja Island."
"It seems now... our guess wasn't wrong."
This kid Meiser really did win over Hancock, the world's most beautiful woman!
"As expected of someone older..."
"Hm?"
"Ahem, as expected of you, Shakky. Your intuition is terrifyingly strong," Meiser coughed lightly.
That glare just now was a little scary.
Shakky rolled her eyes at Meiser, lit another cigarette for herself, and then said, "Anyway... you have to treat Hancock well from now on, you hear me."
"That girl, she..."
Shakky stopped here, pursing her lips, unsure if she should continue.
"Shakky, I know everything."
Meiser said softly, "So don't worry, I will treat her well."
Shakky was silent for a moment, then her smile returned. "Good."
She really hadn't misjudged this kid!
Hancock... you're a really lucky girl, Shakky murmured to herself.
Just continue to be happy like this... you both deserve this happiness!
An image of Hancock appeared in Shakky's mind, her eyes filled with a smile.
Then, Shakky said, "By the way... your purpose for going to Mary Geoise, it couldn't be to get revenge for Hancock, could it?"
She felt the probability was quite high.
After all... couples in the honeymoon phase were prone to acting rashly!
"That is indeed one of the reasons," Meiser nodded.
The initial idea did have something to do with Hancock.
"One of the reasons..." Shakky muttered.
Even if it was just one of the reasons, it would probably be enough to move Hancock to tears.
Then, Shakky asked, "Then what's the other reason?"
"To pass a message to my crewmates," Meiser said.
Meiser then explained the plan he had discussed with Luffy and the others to Shakky, letting her fully understand what he was going to do.
"Oh~"
"So that's how it is." Shakky showed a look of sudden realization. "No wonder you need that birdman's contact information."
If he didn't contact that birdman directly, the information Meiser wanted to release would never make it to the newspapers!
After all... the World Government would intervene!
So, contacting Morgans directly was the best choice.
"This is the only way to execute the plan perfectly, isn't it~" Meiser grinned.
"Yes, that's right," Shakky nodded in agreement.
That fellow Morgans was an extremely audacious birdman!
It could be said that as long as you gave him explosive enough news, he would dare to print it in the papers!
This was also why she agreed with Meiser's plan.
Then, Shakky lowered her head and began to rummage through a drawer. She pulled out a piece of paper with Morgans' Den Den Mushi number on it and placed it on the table.
"Here."
"Is this that guy's phone number?" Meiser raised an eyebrow.
"Yes," Shakky nodded. "This is Morgans' Den Den Mushi number. If you call it, you can contact him directly!"
"Then let's contact him," Meiser said, picking up the Den Den Mushi from the table.
But before Meiser could dial the number, Shakky pressed his hand down.
"Shakky?"
"Before you dial, I need to know what you plan to do," Shakky said. "This way, I can help you perfect the plan and also help you think of how to persuade Morgans."
Meiser fell silent for a moment, then nodded.
"Alright!"