Shakky emerged from the kitchen, balancing three glasses of freshly squeezed juice with practiced ease. Her amused chuckle made it clear she'd overheard the entertaining conversation between her customers.
"Eh? Boss, there are six of us here. Why only three glasses?" Gustave gestured around their group with a questioning look.
"What? Are you a child too?" Shakky retorted without missing a beat, her tone dripping with mock innocence.
"Who says adults can't enjoy juice?" Gustave shot back.
"Sorry, but no!" Shakky remained unmoved, deliberately placing the three glasses well out of Gustave's reach with theatrical finality.
"Infuriating!" Gustave muttered under his breath. What kind of service attitude is this? No wonder this place is practically empty.
Noticing Gustave's frustrated expression, Kami tugged gently at his sleeve and whispered, "Brother Gustave, please don't be upset. I'll share half of my juice with you."
The little mermaid's thoughtfulness warmed Gustave's heart. He ruffled her pink hair affectionately. "It's alright, Camie. You drink yours - I can find something else."
Camie nodded and picked up her straw, sipping the juice with delicate, careful movements that spoke to her refined nature despite her young age.
"Miss, this juice is absolutely delicious!" Camie beamed at Shakky after her first few sips, her genuine appreciation lighting up her face.
"Really? Thank you, sweetheart. You're such a well-behaved and lovely child!" Unlike her sharp exchanges with Gustave, Shakky's voice grew warm and gentle when addressing the adorable Camie.
It was then that Shakky's experienced eyes caught something unusual about the girl. After a moment of careful observation, recognition dawned - a mermaid. Without a word, she turned and headed back toward the kitchen.
"Hey, boss! Where are you going? I still need something to drink!" Gustave called after her retreating figure.
"Didn't you want juice? I'm making it now," Shakky replied coolly over her shoulder.
Gustave scratched his head in confusion. First she says there's no juice, now she's making it? What a moody woman. Still, since he was getting what he wanted, he decided not to push his luck. Sometimes it was better to let sleeping dogs lie.
While waiting for his drink, Gustave turned his attention back to Rayleigh, leaning casually against the bar.
"Uncle, what do you do for work around here?"
"Just an old man who coats ships for a living," Rayleigh replied with practiced nonchalance. "What about you, young man? Coming from Marineford, I'd guess you're Marine?"
"Not quite - I'm a chef, actually. We only came from Marineford because these two little rascals' grandfather serves in the Marine." Gustave smiled, gesturing toward Ace and Luffy with obvious fondness.
"Ah, I see. And what might your names be, young ones? Who's this grandfather of yours?" Rayleigh took another sip of his drink, maintaining his facade of casual interest.
"I'm Luffy! This is Ace! And our grandpa is Garp!" Luffy announced with his characteristic enthusiasm, practically bouncing in his seat.
The name 'Ace' sent a brief shock through Rayleigh's weathered features, though his decades of experience allowed him to recover far more smoothly than Shanks had years ago. However, when Luffy mentioned Garp, the former pirate king's right hand couldn't help but choke on his wine, erupting into another coughing fit.
"Uncle, you keep coughing! Are you sure you don't want Tom to take a look at you?" Luffy's genuine concern was touching, convinced the old man must be hiding some serious illness.
"Gabababababa! I'm fine, I'm fine," Rayleigh managed between coughs, patting his chest. "I just... didn't expect your grandfather to be Garp."
"Huh? You know my grandpa?" Luffy's eyes widened with curiosity.
"Of course I know him! Who doesn't know the famous Marine Hero Garp?" Rayleigh's smile held layers of meaning that went completely over the boy's head. After all, the man chased me across half the Grand Line for decades.
"Hmph! I'm gonna be way more famous than Grandpa someday!" Luffy declared, puffing out his chest with determination. "I'll make the name of the Greatest Hero Luffy echo across every sea!"
"Really now? Then you'd better work hard for it, Luffy!" Rayleigh chuckled warmly, giving the ambitious boy an encouraging pat on the shoulder.
Soon after, Shakky returned with Gustave's juice. After settling their surprisingly reasonable bill - the Rip-off Bar's reputation was apparently more bark than bite - the group prepared to leave. Gustave had accomplished what he'd come for: getting a read on both Shakky and Rayleigh. He had no intention of revealing Ace's true identity, at least not yet.
Stepping back into the dappled sunlight filtering through the massive mangrove trees, the group planned to continue exploring the Sabaody Archipelago. However, their peaceful sightseeing was about to take an unwanted turn.
"Po, do you sense it?" Gustave asked quietly, his chef's intuition picking up the unmistakable feeling of being watched.
"Twenty-three individuals, moderately skilled," Po replied with the calm assessment of a martial arts master. Of course, Po's definition of 'moderately skilled' meant they posed about as much threat as wet paper to someone of his caliber.
"Then let's give them what they're looking for," Gustave said with a slight smirk, deliberately leading his group toward the less populated outskirts of the grove.
The stalkers, seeing their targets heading toward isolated territory, exchanged excited glances and quickened their pace. At the head of the group, two familiar figures emerged - Tommy and Rasu, the same human traffickers who'd been causing trouble since the crew's arrival.
"Tommy, looks like these idiots are getting cocky," Rasu sneered, fingering the hilt of his weapon.
"Hah! The last guy who acted this arrogant is pushing up daisies by now," Tommy replied with cold confidence, signaling his men to close the distance.
The path led to a secluded clearing surrounded by towering mangrove roots and dense foliage - an perfect spot for the kind of business these men specialized in.
"Uncle Gustave, I can feel people following us," Ace said suddenly, his developing observation skills picking up the hostile intent behind them.
At this revelation, Luffy's eyes lit up with excitement. Finally! Time for the Greatest Hero to spring into action!
Camie, however, began trembling with fear. Her mind raced with terrifying possibilities - what if they'd discovered her identity as a mermaid? What if her presence put Gustave and the others in danger?
Sensing the young mermaid's distress, Po placed a gentle, reassuring paw on her shoulder. "It's alright, Camie. We're here with you."
His calm confidence slowly eased her trembling.
"Alright, you persistent little shadows," Gustave called out, turning to face their pursuers. "You've been tailing us long enough. Time to show yourselves!"
Realizing their cover was blown, Tommy and Rasu abandoned all pretense of stealth, swaggering into the clearing with their gang of thugs in tow.
"Well, well... feeling pretty confident, aren't we, boy?" Tommy pointed his machete directly at Gustave, his voice dripping with menace.
Gustave almost laughed out loud. Confident? This fool clearly has no idea what real confidence looks like.
"Enough games. Who are you people, and why are you following us?" Gustave demanded, already suspecting the answer but wanting confirmation before he acted.
"Hehehehe... who are we?" Tommy's grin turned predatory. "Didn't that little loudmouth next to you say he was gonna beat us up when you got off your ship? And now you're asking who we are?"
As Tommy gestured toward Luffy, everything clicked into place for Gustave. Human traffickers. His expression hardened, and any trace of amusement vanished from his face.
There was nothing left to discuss.