Meanwhile.
Inside a tavern with a distinct maritime decor.
On stage, a graceful and elegant mermaid girl is enthusiastically dancing.
Shano sits leisurely in an unassuming corner, savoring the tavern's signature cocktail while casually flipping through a newspaper.
Though the tavern is bustling with business, a large area remains vacant around him.
The pirates who came here to drink would rather squeeze onto a single stool with several others, not daring to approach him, and even less daring to glance in his direction.
Some timid ones even settled their bills early and fled.
"Almost two billion now?"
Shano put down the newspaper, sipping some alcohol.
No wonder these guys are scared; this level of bounty might as well be as intimidating as the Four Emperors to ordinary pirates.
And the title "World's No.1 Sword Master" is far more terrifying than "Great Blade Sword Master."
The Navy's calculation is too obvious.
They might actually attract Hawkeye...
Besides, everyone's bounty has increased a lot, even Nami's, so she probably has no objections to it now.
He lifted his head, glancing at the hospital across the street.
He was sitting here waiting because of the undeniably strong aura that entered the hospital, seemingly for a consultation.
It's not appropriate to meet inside.
Better to wait here for them to approach, relax with a drink, and organize the points accumulated recently.
His gaze fell on the glowing dark blue panel before him.
[You sacrificed Netherworld King Rayleigh's severed arm, gaining 5500 points]
[You sacrificed Chaton Tokikake's cowboy hat, gaining 2200 points]
[You sacrificed Mermaid Kemi's hairpin, gaining 100 points]
The right arm of the Pirate King's right hand is indeed valuable.
Tokikake's is decent too.
As for Kemi… she was just coincidentally encountered on the street.
This poor little girl, caught in Shampodi as a slave in the original timeline and taken a liking to by the Heavenly Celestial Dragon, is only twelve now and seems quite impoverished, selling ice cream on the street to earn money.
Such small fry wouldn't have caught Shano's eye at this point.
But alas, even with muscle memory, a mere brush past, and he didn't even realize before her hairpin was in his hand and sacrificed.
Shano almost slapped himself then.
Damnit!
As compensation, he immediately bought all the remaining ice creams, watching Kemi push her cart away joyfully, then distributed them to the merfolk children eagerly watching him.
In any case.
The feeling of guilt somewhat eased, with the initial 41200 points now soaring to 49000.
As for when to break the 50,000 mark...
"Right now."
Shano closed the system panel, leisurely turning around.
Unexpectedly, several figures appeared.
The leading figure, wearing glasses, seemed refined and gentle, if one overlooked the pineapple-like odd hairstyle...
"Hey hey hey, it's really you, Shano little brother!"
Marco's eyes lit up with surprise, laughing heartily as he pulled a chair and sat:
"I wondered why a terrifying aura appeared right after leaving the hospital; if it weren't unfamiliar, I would've thought old brother Jinbe was back..."
"I was watching your ship from afar, curiosity getting the better of me, deciding to come check it out."
Shano replied honestly, then smilingly snapped his fingers, signaling the bartender to bring more drinks:
"I didn't expect the leader to be you, Marco, the renowned veteran of the Whitebeard Pirates, captain of the first division... though, aren't you a bit too enthusiastic?"
"Ah, my apologies, quite the overreaction indeed."
Marco awoke from surprise, scratching his head:
"Been seeing you in the newspapers frequently, with Old Pops complimenting you often, almost treating you like our younger brother. It's such a familiar feeling, haha..."
"That Whitebeard actually pays such attention to me?"
Shano felt genuinely surprised, raising his glass with a chuckle, "Praised a few times, seriously, what did he say?"
"Seriously!"
Marco laughed heartily:
"Many praises! Said you fit his taste, just like Oden back in the day!"
Pff!
Shano sprayed his drink everywhere.
Marco was caught off guard, glasses dripping, wiping his face with a sleeve, offering a wry smile:
"Come on, little brother, was the reaction necessary..."
"Sorry, sorry."
Shano quickly handed over tissues, but his lips twitched, "But you said I resemble who? Oden? That Kozuki Oden?"
"Exactly."
Marco donned his glasses again, blinking, "Old Pops said you two are as if carved from the same mold—both incredibly talented at a young age, ready to draw swords to help when wronged, and turn down the World Government's olive branch without a second thought..."
"..." Shano hesitated to reply.
Isn't there a significant tolerance error in your mold?
Forget it.
Among the Whitebeard Pirates' captains, aside from others, his impression of Marco is rather positive.
Coupled with Marco's genuine attitude, he decided to grant some face, refraining from ridiculing Oden.
At this moment, the bartender brought a platter of cocktails, with Shano signaling him to distribute, and shifting his gaze towards the other members of the Whitebeard Pirates.