Chapter 4 – "Smoke and Shadows"
The soft glow of lanterns cast warm light over polished wooden counters, a sharp contrast to the lawless streets outside. The bar was quiet, almost unnaturally so, as if the chaos of Hachinosu dared not step past its threshold.
Ren D. Kaizokuya sat at the counter, his posture relaxed yet precise. Across from him stood the woman he had known in another life through ink and panels—Shakuyaku.
Her eyes, half-lidded and sharp, sized him up the moment he stepped in. A cigarette rested lazily between her fingers, smoke curling in elegant spirals.
"Well, traveler," she said, her voice smooth yet carrying a bite, "you walked into the wrong bar if you're looking for cheap drinks or cheaper thrills."
Ren smiled faintly. "Then it must be the right bar. I prefer quality over quantity."
(First move—show I'm not another lust-driven drunk. Respect, calm. Let her set the pace, and adjust accordingly.)
Shakuyaku chuckled softly, the sound low and amused. "Quality, hm? That's not a word pirates around here use often. You planning to impress me with poetry next?"
Ren didn't flinch. "Only if it works. But I suspect you prefer actions over words."
She tilted her head, studying him. Her intuition was sharp—razor-sharp. This was a woman who could peel lies from men like skin from fruit.
(Observation Haki isn't needed to feel her gaze. She's dissecting me. Every word, every movement. Good. That means I have her attention.)
Shakuyaku leaned on the counter. "You carry yourself too calm for your age. Most brats who stumble in here are loud, stupid, or both. So, what are you really after?"
Ren met her eyes directly, his tone steady. "Survival. Strength. And maybe a decent conversation."
The smoke from her cigarette drifted between them. She smirked, exhaling slowly. "Ambition wrapped in politeness. Cute."
> [System Notification]
Special Quest Ongoing: First Meeting – The Woman of Smoke
Objective Progress: 3 minutes / 10 minutes
Ren took note but didn't react outwardly. Instead, he let a moment of silence pass, then asked, "And what about you? Running a bar in the middle of hell itself isn't exactly ordinary."
Her laugh was soft but edged. "Observant, aren't you? Let's just say I enjoy watching men destroy themselves with their own vices. It saves me the trouble."
(She's testing me. Pushing with cynicism to see if I flinch. But the Shakuyaku I know… beneath that sharp tongue, there's warmth. I just have to earn it.)
Ren raised his mug in a casual toast. "Then consider me one of the few who'd rather not destroy himself. At least, not tonight."
Shakuyaku arched a brow. "Flirtatious too, huh? Careful, boy. In this place, words like that can get you killed—or worse, laughed at."
Ren smirked lightly. "Then I'll make sure I back them with actions. Laughter fades when respect is earned."
For a moment, her sharp gaze softened ever so slightly. She flicked ash from her cigarette and poured him another drink—unasked.
(Progress. Small, but real. Her guard won't fall easily, and it shouldn't. But every second I keep her engaged… I win.)
> [System Notification]
Quest Progress: 9 minutes / 10 minutes
Shakuyaku leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Tell me, Ren… do you always calculate every word you speak?"
Ren's eyes glinted. "…Would you believe me if I said no?"
Her smile widened. "Not for a second."
The bell chimed in his mind.
> [System Completed]
Quest: First Meeting – The Woman of Smoke
Rewards: Charm +3, Observation Haki Progress +20%
Ren felt the shift instantly, a faint sharpening in his perception, as if the smoke-filled air itself whispered secrets.
Shakuyaku pulled back, returning to her calm, teasing posture. "Well, traveler, you're more interesting than most. Maybe you'll survive longer than a week on this island."
Ren raised his mug again, meeting her smirk with his calm smile. "I'll make sure of it. After all, I'd like to come back here."
She chuckled, smoke trailing upward like a curtain between them.
And in that moment, Ren D. Kaizokuya knew—his path was unfolding exactly as it should.