"You girls go have fun first… I'm going to visit a local big shot." Oguro said on his own initiative.
The girls were all excited to explore the Sabaody Archipelago, so Oguro didn't plan on starting a fight right away.
He wanted to meet two mentors who lived in hiding on the island and gather a bit of intel while he was at it.
"Local big shot?" Robin immediately became interested. "Who?"
Oguro didn't hide it at all.
"Silvers Rayleigh, the right hand of the Pirate King."
That name hit Robin like a shockwave.
"Someone that important is living in seclusion here? Right under the Navy's nose?" Robin's eyes widened.
Oguro shrugged. "Honestly, I'm pretty sure the Navy knows."
"It's just that the cost of arresting Rayleigh is way too high… and he really doesn't interfere with anything anymore, so the Navy simply turns a blind eye."
"And of course, when Roger turned himself in, he must have set conditions to protect his companions."
"The Pirate King turned himself in?"
This time it wasn't just Robin—Nami also couldn't hold back a shout of disbelief.
Capturing the Pirate King was something the World Government and the Navy had always bragged about.
Oguro snorted. "The World Government… they're always good at painting themselves in gold."
Hearing that such a legendary man was here, Robin immediately decided to join him.
Oguro knew she wanted to ask about the Poneglyphs and the Void Century.
But Oguro, who'd watched the original story, also knew Robin wouldn't pry answers out of others.
She preferred to uncover everything with her own hands.
That was what made her a true scholar.
As for the others, Rayleigh didn't interest them, so they chose to go shopping together.
Oguro and Robin headed toward Grove 13, where Shakky's Rip-Off Bar—Rayleigh's hideout—stood.
The rest went to the shopping district on Grove 30.
Shakky's Rip-Off Bar.
A white-haired old man was sitting at the counter reading a newspaper, while the short-haired bar owner absentmindedly wiped glasses.
Finally, Shakky rolled her eyes and snapped, "Old man, you've been eating and drinking here for free for days. Hurry up and make some money!"
Rayleigh scratched his head, wearing an awkward, fawning grin.
"Don't worry, Shakky! I'm about to find a target!"
"Sigh… I don't know what's going on. Several auction houses aren't buying slaves recently. It's so damn hard to make money now!"
By the end, Rayleigh let out a deep, helpless sigh.
Shakky's eyes nearly rolled into the sky.
Whenever this guy lost all his money gambling, he'd sell himself to the auction house.
After being bought, he'd rob the buyer clean, calling it "side income."
That method of making money was insane.
Ding-a-ling!
The bar door swung open.
Shakky instantly switched to a warm, welcoming smile. "Welcome!"
Oguro stepped inside and immediately spotted Rayleigh, his entire body radiating that lazy vibe.
If he hadn't watched the original story, he would've never believed this unserious old man was the legendary Dark King Rayleigh.
"What can I get you two?" Shakky asked with a smile.
Oguro spoke directly. "Boss lady, I need intel on the slave traders operating on the Sabaody Archipelago."
Shakky's Rip-Off Bar's real business was intelligence dealing.
Hearing Oguro's request, Shakky lit a slim ladies' cigarette.
She smiled at him. "Well, well… His Majesty the Spirit King of the Holy Spirit Empire coming here over slave traders?"
Oguro chuckled. "As expected of Boss Shakky—knowing everything without even leaving the Archipelago."
"Hehe, Your Majesty flatters me." Shakky accepted the praise without shame.
"In that case, I won't charge you for the intel this time."
"Consider it a gift on behalf of those slaves you're helping."
"Haha! Then I won't be polite." Oguro accepted her goodwill happily.
While they talked, Robin's gaze had been fixed on Rayleigh.
This Robin was no longer the sheltered scholar she had been in the original timeline.
She had already mastered Observation Haki and Armament Haki.
She wasn't fully certain, but she sensed the terrifying aura coiled inside Rayleigh.
Connecting this with what Oguro said, Robin already had a good guess.
"Are you Sir Rayleigh?" she asked softly.
Rayleigh froze, then gave a wry smile. "I'm just a retired old man. No need for honorifics."
"Hahaha! You even know Rayleigh's whereabouts! Looks like His Majesty's intel network isn't weak at all." Shakky looked amused.
After all, neither of them sensed any malice from Oguro.
Oguro, however, noticed that Rayleigh's newspaper had a new bounty poster tucked inside.
It was Luffy's picture.
"The bounty's not small… Looks like even without a few whetstones, the child of destiny still rises strong."
Oguro thought inwardly.
Robin couldn't hold back anymore. "Sir Rayleigh, when you reached the final island back then… did you learn the full truth of history?"
Rayleigh glanced at her and smiled. "An archaeologist from Ohara, huh? Yes… on the final island, we learned everything."
Robin immediately leaned forward. "Then what is the true history? Why was Ohara destroyed for its research?"
At that moment, Oguro suddenly interrupted.
"Robin… I think it's better if the real answer comes from your own hands."
"After all, other people's answers will always carry their own bias. They may not be accurate."
"You worked so hard to become an archaeologist. Isn't it so you could find the truth yourself?"
Robin froze, then her lips curved into a radiant smile.
"You're right… Only the truth I uncover myself is worthy of an archaeologist."
Her gaze toward Oguro softened like never before.
This man not only saved her—he understood her.
It was the greatest gift fate had given her.
"Hahaha!" Rayleigh burst out laughing.
"That's right, that's right! You young ones should chase your dreams with your own hands!"
Seeing Rayleigh grow even more like a salted fish, Oguro's eyes moved, and he suddenly asked with a testing tone:
"Old man Rayleigh, interested in working for me? I can give you a monthly salary of ten million Berries. You can gamble all you want at my casino."
Rayleigh froze.
Did he hear that wrong?
Someone actually wanted to recruit him?
Did this brat have any idea how deep the trouble around him ran?
Rayleigh could guarantee—
If he dared to return to the public eye, the next day the World Government would unleash a Buster Call on Oguro's territory.
The Roger Pirates were an absolute taboo to the Navy and the World Government.
***
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