Hearing that familiar voice, Shanks instinctively gripped the sword at his waist. The rest of the crew raised their weapons, ready to fight at a moment's notice.
The door creaked open.
White Ghost sauntered in, cigarette dangling from his lips, posture loose and lazy.
"Well now, what a lively crowd," he drawled. "If it isn't the 1.8-billion-berry great pirate, Red-Haired Shanks."
He didn't spare the drawn blades a glance. He headed straight for the bar and dropped onto a stool.
"Boss," he said, "give me a drink."
"Just a moment, White-kun," Shakky answered with a squinting smile as she moved to pour.
Seeing that White Ghost really didn't seem to be here for a fight, the Red Hair Pirates slowly lowered their weapons—but they kept their eyes locked on him, in case he snapped without warning.
White Ghost sized up Shanks.
Shanks sized up White Ghost.
White Ghost's gaze paused on Shanks's missing arm. He clicked his tongue and shook his head.
"Shame old man Garp didn't finish the job."
Shanks snorted.
"Click, click… and somehow Kaido didn't smash that rotten mouth off your face either."
The moment they met, they started trading barbs.
Rayleigh just watched, chuckling. Knowing these two, they weren't going to come to blows that easily.
"So, One-Arm Hero," White Ghost said, eyeing Shanks sideways, "heading to the New World to grab territory? Planning to be one of the Four Emperors?"
"Yeah," Shanks said frankly. "Here in Paradise you Marines stare at me every day. I might as well go to the New World and stake my claim."
White Ghost shrugged.
"Can't be helped. Marines catching pirates—that's just how the world works.
"And it's not like you lot behave yourselves. Sweet-talked that old man's grandson so well he runs around shouting he wants to be a pirate."
"That's still better than you Marines slaughtering an entire island's pregnant women over one unborn pirate," Shanks shot back.
White Ghost slanted a look at Rayleigh.
This old guy's mouth really is loose.
"Here you go, White-kun," Shakky said, sliding a glass over to him.
"Thanks." White Ghost raised it and drained it in one go.
Shakky watched him through a curl of smoke, smiling.
"So, what brings you here this time, White-kun?"
Burp.
White Ghost wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
"Nothing much. I just came from Headquarters when I caught wind a strong pirate crew landed on Sabaody.
"Thought I'd drop by. Make sure no ordinary civilians get robbed blind."
"Well then, I really do have to thank you," Shakky said.
"No need," White Ghost replied. "Protecting civilians from pirates is our job."
Now they were sure he wasn't here to start trouble, everyone eased up, fully sheathing their blades.
Shanks slid his hand away from his sword and looked at White Ghost.
"About Uta… thanks," he said quietly.
White Ghost waved a hand.
"She and her teacher crossed half the world to find me. I just saw a homeless little beauty with nowhere to go and took her in."
Pfft.
Shakky laughed.
"Oh my, so White-kun fell for her looks?"
Shanks's face darkened. Beckman, Yasopp, Lucky Roo and the rest all stiffened.
White Ghost just grinned at Shakky.
"Liking pretty girls is normal. Besides, if Rayleigh weren't here, I'd be tempted to sit down and talk life with you a bit longer, Boss. You've still got plenty of charm yourself."
"Heh…" Shakky laughed, shoulders shaking. "Tell big sister the truth—how many girls have you tricked with that handsome face and silver tongue?"
"Not many, not many," White Ghost said, waving it off. "Didn't manage to trick a single one, actually."
"Not honest at all, little brother," Shakky said. "From what I hear, you've got quite a few beauties around you already. And even Headquarters' flower, Vice Admiral Gion, seems to have her eye on you, doesn't she?"
Ahem.
Seeing the conversation drifting further into dangerous territory, Rayleigh coughed lightly.
"So, Marine boy," he cut in, "what do you need this time?"
White Ghost lit a fresh cigarette.
"Not much," he said. "I'm leaving the Marines. Planning to travel the world. So I thought I'd ask someone who's actually circled the globe where's worth a visit."
Everyone in the room froze.
"You're… leaving the Marines?" Shanks said, stunned.
"Is it because of those rumors?" Shakky asked, eyes narrowing slightly.
White Ghost nodded.
"The World Government doesn't want the Marines getting too strong," he said. "They wanted to ship me off to some dead-end corner of the sea.
"I wasn't having it. So I handed Sengoku my resignation.
"He agreed. It's just a matter of days now."
"Answering Roger's call, is that it?" Rayleigh gave him a strange look.
"Don't lump me in with you lot," White Ghost snorted. "Throwing away your home to go be pirates."
His eyes flicked to Yasopp as he spoke.
Yasopp lowered his head. He knew he'd done wrong. On this trip to the East Blue, he'd only dared sneak a quick look from afar.
Shanks opened his mouth to defend his crew, but White Ghost didn't even look at him.
"I'm taking my family," White Ghost said. "We're going to see the whole world. When we're tired, we'll find somewhere nice to retire and watch you idiots tear each other apart over some 'Pirate King' title."
"That's not just some title," Shanks protested. "It means someone has conquered the entire sea!"
"Sure, sure," White Ghost said lazily. "Whatever you say.
"I just can't imagine what kind of treasure that island could possibly hold to make you all so desperate you're willing to die for it.
"Tell me, Rayleigh—don't tell me it's just a joke written there?"
His gaze locked onto Rayleigh.
Rayleigh and Shanks both narrowed their eyes, studying him.
He knew… too much.
"Don't overthink it," White Ghost said. "I've never been there. And I don't intend to.
"If I did, the World Government would be all over me. That thing's trouble. I absolutely don't want to touch it."
Compared to Rayleigh's seasoned poker face, Shanks was more straightforward.
"Looks like you know something," he said, frowning.
White Ghost shook his head.
"I don't know," he said. "And I don't want to know. All I know is it's a massive headache.
"And if there's one thing I hate, it's trouble. So I stay far, far away from it."
"Then what are you here for?" Shanks asked, still wary. The man set off alarms in his instincts he didn't like.
White Ghost acted as if he hadn't seen the tension at all.
"Relax," he said. "I already told you—I'm quitting the Marines. Can't be bothered with you now.
"I just came to look around, and to pick Shakky-nee and Rayleigh's brains."
"Oh?" Rayleigh lifted his glass. "Didn't think someone with your information network would have things you don't know. Go on then.
"Let's see if this old man can answer."
White Ghost pulled a good bottle of wine out of his bracelet, poured himself a glass, and tossed the bottle to Rayleigh—then flicked another to Shanks.
Rayleigh caught his, uncorked it and sniffed. His eyes brightened.
"Good stuff," he said, and took a long drink.
"Alright," he said. "Ask."
White Ghost stared into his own glass for a moment.
Then asked quietly:
"Back then—the God Valley incident.
"Did the island sink because Roger, Garp, and Rocks fought there… or because something else destroyed it?"
Shakky and Rayleigh traded a look.
Shanks's eyes flew wide.
He and Buggy had been picked up at God Valley. But why the island had vanished… he knew nothing.
"That day, huh…" Rayleigh said slowly. "I don't know exactly what it was.
"Only that it was terrifying. Something no human could stand against."
White Ghost rolled the wine gently in his glass.
"So… Uranus?"
He said it lightly—but it hit the room like a thunderclap.
The Red Hair Pirates stiffened, staring at him.
Uranus.
That Uranus. An Ancient Weapon.
Rayleigh looked at White Ghost, then nodded.
"Most likely," he said.
Shakky's eyes narrowed, watching White Ghost through the smoke.
Shanks stared at him, jaw tight.
How does he even know about that…?
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