CHAPTER 160 — A quiet bar
The flight vehicle slowed as it approached Sabaody Archipelago.
Below them, the island spread out in a strange and almost dreamlike way. Massive mangrove trees rose from the ground like pillars, their roots thick and twisted, forming natural arches and paths. Transparent bubbles drifted lazily through the air, reflecting light in soft colors. Some floated freely, others clung to buildings or pathways, wobbling gently as people moved past them.
It was peaceful, at least, it seemed so.
Tony guided the vehicle down with practiced ease, hands relaxed on the controls. He didn't aim for the docks, where ships were clustered and people gathered. Instead, he angled the vehicle toward an open patch of land near the shoreline, where the ground was firm and clear of foot traffic.
"No need to announce ourselves more than we already have," Tony muttered.
The vehicle touched down smoothly on solid ground, the thrusters humming once before powering down completely. A soft hiss escaped as the canopy opened.
Gaius stepped out first.
His boots sank slightly into the soil, heavy armor catching the light. The auramite plates reflected gold under the sun, polished and solid. At nearly three meters tall, he stood out immediately, his broad frame impossible to ignore.
Tony followed, landing lightly beside him.
Saeko stepped out next, calm and observant, eyes already scanning the area. Mindy followed with an excited look, turning her head slowly as she took everything in. Naruto jumped out last, stretching his arms and looking around with open curiosity.
At first, no one screamed.
People nearby stopped walking.
They stared.
A group of civilians froze mid-step. A man carrying a crate lowered it slowly, hands shaking. A woman holding a child pulled them closer to her chest without realizing it. Conversations died out one by one.
The silence lasted only a heartbeat.
Then someone screamed.
Another followed.
Then another.
The calm shattered.
People turned and ran in all directions. Some dropped bags. Others stumbled as they fled. Cries echoed across the open area, panic spreading faster than fire.
"What-?" Mindy blinked, startled. "Why are they screaming?"
Tony turned his head, confused. "We didn't even say hi yet."
He genuinely didn't understand why they were screaming. From his point of view, everything looked… normal enough. Not the civilians around them, them. The people reacting so strongly.
Sure, they were unusual. Gaius stood nearly three meters tall, massive and broad, wrapped in armor that looked like it was made of gold. But Tony had already seen that this world had taller, stranger, worse. In a place where giants walked openly, that alone didn't feel worth screaming over.
They looked fine. Rich, maybe. Powerful-looking, sure.
But that was all.
Saeko frowned slightly, watching people scatter. "We're not doing anything."
Gaius remained still, arms at his sides, posture neutral. He did not step forward. He did not raise his head to loom over anyone. He simply stood there.
The panic grew louder.
"They're here!"
"It's them!"
Tony looked around, trying to understand, until one voice cut through the noise clearly.
"It's the pirate that was capable of contending an Admiral!"
Tony froze.
Another voice shouted in fear, "Why are they here?!"
Someone else screamed as they ran past, "The broadcast hasn't ended yet!"
Tony's eyes widened slightly.
"Oh," he said quietly.
He turned his head and looked around more carefully. That's when he noticed it, large screens built into buildings, projection snails perched on poles, images flickering across them.
Marineford.
The battlefield.
Smoke. Ice. Giants.
Whitebeard.
"They're watching the war," Tony said, understanding clicking into place. "Live."
Mindy's eyes widened. "Oh."
"So they recognize us," Saeko said softly.
Tony nodded. "Yeah. That explains a lot."
They didn't chase anyone.
They didn't shout.
They didn't threaten.
They simply began walking.
Calmly.
Away from the landing area and toward the deeper part of the island.
At first, people kept running.
Then some slowed.
They glanced back.
They saw that the group wasn't following. That no explosions were happening. That the giant in golden armor wasn't charging forward.
Gradually, panic softened into cautious fear.
People stopped hiding and watched from a distance. Some whispered. Others pointed quietly. A few returned to their stalls, though they kept their eyes locked on the strangers.
The group continued forward without incident.
After a short distance, Saeko noticed a man standing near the edge of the road. He looked unsure whether to run or stay. His clothes were simple, his hands trembling slightly.
Saeko slowed her pace.
"I'll ask," she said quietly.
She stepped away from the others and approached him slowly, making sure her hands were visible, her movements gentle.
"We're new here," she said calmly. "Is there a place nearby to sit and rest?"
She pulled out a piece of gold from the Multiversal Chat parcel system. She had plenty, after all, she came from an apocalyptic world where jewelry and valuables were abundant, salvaged from the dead or from banks.
She held the gold out to the man.
He flinched at first, unsure, then realized it was just a nugget. He swallowed slowly and took it from her hands, carefully.
Then he looked at her more closely, curiosity and caution in his eyes.
No weapon in her hands.
No anger in her eyes.
Behind her, the others stood still. The tall armored man wasn't moving closer. He wasn't looming.
The man swallowed.
"There's… there's a bar," he said hesitantly. His voice shook. "Run by a woman."
He pointed vaguely down one of the paths between the mangroves.
"It's usually empty during the day," he added quickly. "Marines don't like going there."
Saeko nodded. "Thank you."
She turned to leave, but the man hesitated.
He stepped closer, lowering his voice.
"They also sell information there," he whispered.
Saeko paused for half a second, then nodded again.
"I appreciate it."
She returned to the group and relayed everything calmly.
"A quiet bar," Tony repeated. "Marines avoid it, and they sell info?"
He smiled slightly. "Sounds perfect."
Gaius gave a slow nod. "We go there first."
"Walking or flying?" Mindy asked.
Tony glanced around. Many of the residents still watched them cautiously, some even clearly afraid. He shook his head. "Let's not do another public march."
They turned back toward the vehicle.
People watched, tense, as the strange group returned to their machine. When the thrusters ignited and the vehicle lifted smoothly into the air, many sighed in relief.
The vehicle flew low and fast, weaving through the mangroves until it reached a quiet corner of the island.
Tony set it down out of sight, behind thick roots and foliage.
They stepped out once more.
The bar stood nearby.
It looked ordinary.
Wooden walls, slightly worn. A small sign hung above the door, faded with age. No bright lights. No crowds. Just quiet.
Tony opened the door.
A small bell rang.
The sound echoed softly inside.
The bar was dim and calm. A few stools sat empty at the counter. The air smelled faintly of alcohol and wood.
Behind the counter stood a woman with long hair, calm eyes, and a relaxed posture.
Shakky.
She looked up.
Her eyes moved to Tony.
Then Saeko.
Then Mindy.
Then Naruto.
Finally
They settled on Gaius.
She did not gasp.
She did not smile.
She did not reach for anything.
She simply watched.
In the corner, a man sat quietly, a bottle of rum in his hand.
Silvers Rayleigh lifted his eyes slowly, observing without a word.
The bell stopped ringing.
~~~
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