Rogers's eyes lit up. He drew in a deep breath, firmly committing the man's scent to memory. In the original story, Chopper could track friends just by smell. Rogers's own senses were sharp, his nose especially keen. He wasn't quite on Chopper's level, but within a few dozen meters, he wouldn't lose his target.
The man in black moved through the bustling street, brim of his hat pulled low to hide his face. Half-hidden before, now his features were even more obscured. Rogers had just stepped off the ship and almost wanted to laugh. Seriously? Doesn't he realize that sneaking around like that just screams "suspicious"?
As Rogers left the ship, another man emerged from the cabins. He was broad-shouldered, hair streaked half black and half white, with deep wrinkles across his face.
His clothes were casual: beach shorts and a vest left unbuttoned, showing off muscles carved to perfection. They weren't the sharp, hard muscles of youth but round and full, radiating strength. A bottle of rum dangled in his hand.
Narrowing his eyes as he watched Rogers tailing the man in black, the old veteran took a swig and smiled faintly. "A new era really is coming… The backs of those who've chosen, and those still lost, are worlds apart."
Meanwhile, the man in black remained wary, glancing left and right as he walked. His pace was steady, but his eyes burned with greed beneath the brim of his hat. He hefted the suitcase in his right hand and thought excitedly, Five hundred million Beli for this Devil Fruit! With this deal, I'll never have to worry for the rest of my life!
In truth, the Government agents were swindling him. The Yami Yami no Mi was worth far more. But the man didn't know better. To him, five hundred million was already a dream come true.
Rogers shadowed him at a distance of twenty to thirty meters, careful not to be noticed. He played the part of a wandering tourist, glancing around at the sights. And, of course, the sights included women. The bodies on the women in this world… incredible. I'm not staring, I'm just making my cover look convincing. Yep. Not staring at all… Whoa, that one's gotta be bigger than an E-cup. Terrifying…
A few girls threw him flirtatious looks. Rogers floated for a moment. Heh, this handsome face really does work, doesn't it?
Looking around, he realized something else—the people in this world truly looked… anime. Either ridiculously odd-looking, or strikingly beautiful. Was it because Oda didn't want too many "average" faces? Or just his personal style?
Following the man in black, Rogers eventually trailed him out of the lively main street into what looked more like a residential area. Here, he noticed something else: so many people carried weapons. Swords, muskets, axes—it was far from a peaceful place.
The side alleys told the same story. More than once, Rogers spotted groups of armed men loitering together. And no, he would never admit the only reason he kept staring was because their weapons were much better than his cheap flintlock pistol… Tragic.
After a stretch of quiet streets, noise returned. They had reached a busy spot again—a bar. Rogers caught a glimpse of the sign: "Bounty Bar." Despite it being daytime, the place roared with laughter and shouting. Tempted, he almost went inside, but quickly shook his head. Not now. Focus.
He kept tailing until the man in black finally stopped before a large hotel. The street here was crowded, but in a different way. More like a commercial district—shops lined the road, people bustled in and out. Still lively, but with a strange quiet compared to the chaotic market streets. Like the difference between an open-air bazaar and a high-end mall.
Rogers's sharp eyes caught something else too—Marines. Not squads, but scattered pairs and individuals wandering the island. Just tourists, maybe? Or was there a base hidden here?
It was the first time Rogers had seen Marines in this world. Damn, those "Justice" cloaks really are cool… He made a mental note. A pirate needs a cloak like that too.
The man in black glanced up at the hotel's sign: "Crohn's Grand Hotel." Without hesitation, he went inside.
Rogers followed quickly. The moment he stepped through the doors, he felt the weight of luxury press down on him. The lobby gleamed, brighter than the deck he'd spent hours scrubbing. The floors were polished enough to blind.
Behind the counter stood a lovely receptionist. A staircase rose to one side. Across the rest of the hall, fine dining tables were filled with elegantly dressed patrons. At the center stood a piano, and some guy in a crisp white suit was playing.
Rogers scowled. No, I'm not calling him "pretty boy" because he looks better in a white suit than I do. Definitely not.
Glancing around the lobby, Rogers muttered to himself, "Damn capitalist paradise…"
The man in black checked in with the receptionist, ordered a few dishes, then collapsed into an empty chair with his suitcases at his feet, eyes closed as though resting.
Rogers's stomach growled. The aroma of the food around him was irresistible. Heh, since he's eating, I might as well join in. Good thing I brought all my money…
Striding to the front desk, Rogers flashed the receptionist his best grin. "Beautiful miss, could you tell me which dishes here are as attractive as you?"
The girl gave him a quick once-over. Her gaze lingered on his cheap white waiter's jacket—definitely not high quality, just the cheapest variety. Instantly, her smile cooled. She'd dealt with enough people to know the difference.
Still, professionalism won out. She handed him a menu with a flat tone. "Sir, everything on our menu is far more attractive than I am. Please choose for yourself."
Rogers froze. Ouch. Cold shoulder. Alright, play it off… He forced a weak smile and opened the menu.
Just one glance at the pictures had his stomach roaring. God, that looks delicious. Don't drool, don't drool…
But then his eyes shifted to the prices—and his heart nearly stopped.
Crohn's Grand Lobster: 5,000,000 Beli
Beef Bourguignon: 300,000 Beli
A5 Wagyu Steak: 200,000 Beli
"…You've gotta be kidding me. Extra zero, right? Has to be. This is robbery! Back on the ship, meals cost a fraction of this!"
His smile cracked into a grimace. Damn scammers. No wonder the place is full of nobles. Music with dinner, fancy clothes, and me? With just 200,000 Beli in my pocket? Not even close…
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T/N:
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