Chapter 26: Rip-Off Bar

Sky Island, the Gate to Heaven above the clouds.

The first light of dawn stained the boundless White Sea a warm gold.

Led by Gan Forr, followed closely by Calpha, the Xia Ni and Xia Lu sisters, and two captains of the Thunder Cloud Guard, the entire Sky Island army stood solemnly in the clouds.

They were bidding farewell to their beloved Lord Lei Shen.

Xia Ni held a small food box, stepping forward quickly, her eyes full of reluctance: "My lord, these are pastries I made with my own hands; take them to tide you over on the journey."

Saint Saiwen raised a hand and beckoned lightly; the food boxes in the sisters' hands turned into streams of light and were stored in the System Space.

This near-miraculous method was precisely a small trick to maintain Lord Lei Shen's dignity and consolidate the people's faith.

Gan Forr stepped forward and handed over a heavy bag of shells: "My lord, we found some high-quality shells in the warehouse; you might find them useful on the journey."

"No need," Saint Saiwen waved his hand lightly; the shells piled in the System Warehouse were enough for him to get by for a year or two.

"Keep them for emergencies."

"Everyone, go back."

Saint Saiwen waved to the crowd; his figure was instantly engulfed by thousands of thunderbolts, transforming into a brilliant flash of lightning that broke through the White Sea's cloud layer and vanished into the horizon.

Only the Sky Island people remained on the spot, gazing in the direction of his departure, standing for a long time, their eyes straining with longing.

The Grand Line's first half, Paradise.

Above Jaya Island, in the originally clear sky, a thunderbolt nearly solidified, accompanied by lightning and thunder, sped past toward the direction of the Sabaody Archipelago.

Saint Saiwen planned to go to the Sabaody Archipelago to exchange some of the gold in the System Warehouse for Berries, and on the way, visit the elderly Vice-Captain Lei Li.

Then return to Water 7 to find Mr. Tang Mu to build a large pirate ship.

Since he did not yet have a ship, he could only fly all the way there.

Of course, if he encountered a pirate ship on the way, as a senior figure in the pirate world, Saint Saiwen would not mind seizing a pirate ship and traveling leisurely by sea.

Perhaps because the first few years after his transmigration were too oppressive, Saint Saiwen adapted to pirate life extremely quickly.

There was no moral pressure whatsoever.

To be precise.

The pirate world is a world without excessive moral burdens; after all, the Celestial Dragons provide a safety net.

In terms of being rotten, the Celestial Dragons stand alone.

Given Saint Saiwen's moral bottom line, compared to the Celestial Dragons, he could even be called a good person.

Saint Saiwen neither actively drew his sword to cut down commoners nor massacred slaves for fun; even for the bullies who often bullied him in childhood, he only beat them up continuously for a few months.

Compared to the actions of the World Nobles, the Celestial Dragons, how could Saint Saiwen's such noble and pure moral character not be considered that of a good person?

However, Saint Saiwen did not want to be a good person.

Being a good person is too tiring.

It is better to follow one's heart; occasionally seizing pirate ships, robbing merchant ships transporting slaves, and plundering World Government ships escorting the Tribute to the Heavens.

Such a small life is increasingly full of hope.

In a couple of years, after the Morning Star Pirates absorb enough powerful companions, Saint Saiwen will go to Wano Country to beat Kaido, seize Yamato, and occupy Wano Country.

Become an Electro-General.

Supported by a physique that was sufficiently overpowered, Saint Saiwen traveled at high speed and arrived at his destination—the Sabaody Archipelago.

The Sabaody Archipelago, located at the front of the Red Line in the middle section of the Grand Line,

is formed by the exposed roots of the world's largest Archipelago Mangrove tree; the ground produces floating bubbles formed by natural resin.

The entire island is divided into functional areas by tree numbers.

Sabaody Archipelago

Islands 1-29 are human trafficking and illegal zones; 30-39 feature the Bubble Park; 50-59 are shipbuilding and coating zones; 60-69 fall under Navy jurisdiction.

The former world's number one beauty, the old flame of Vice-Captain Lei Li—Xia Qi's Rip-Off Bar—is located on Island 13 of the Sabaody Archipelago.

Rip-Off Bar

Rip-Off Bar is not just a bar.

It is also an intelligence center; through long-term management, Xia Qi has accumulated an extensive intelligence network and can grasp the movements of pirates, the Navy, and even the royal families across the seas.

As for the price...

It can be seen from the bar's name.

Regardless of whether the customer is human or ghost, entering the bar requires paying a fee; therefore, Xia Qi is often described as "knowing how to do business."

Rip-Off Bar, the front desk.

Xia Qi, still full of charm, sat behind the wooden bar, a lady's cigarette dangling from her lips; sensing someone enter the bar, she did not even raise her head, her voice carrying a lazy hoarseness.

"Guest, what would you like..."

Upon clearly seeing the visitor's appearance, especially that signature silver hair, Xia Qi, whose heart had once jumped out of her body collectively with legends like Rocks and Luo Jie, stared in shock for a few seconds.

"Long time no see, little one."

"Long time no see, Aunt Xia."

Xia Qi looked Saint Saiwen up and down, her eyes full of incredulous astonishment.

"You've grown taller and much stronger."

If she didn't feel it was somewhat presumptuous, Xia Qi really wanted to ask Saint Saiwen: what exactly did you eat in these two years to change so drastically all at once?

This is all business!

"Little one, same as always?"

"Mm, a glass of milk, no sugar."

Just like a certain famous bartender, Mengxiang Yixin, who was determined to destroy the Mondstadt wine industry, Saint Saiwen had no interest in alcohol or tobacco.

"Lei Li went to get a coating applied for someone."

Xia Qi, while pouring milk, said casually, "He'll probably be back later."

"No rush. I just happened to find you to discuss a business deal."

"Oh?" Xia Qi's eyes lit up: "Shall we talk upstairs?"

Saint Saint Saiwen hurriedly shook his head, and like a magician, produced an exquisite gold coin: "10 tons, what's the price?"

The Xia Qi of this time did not yet have the thick lips and auntie hairstyle of her later appearances; she still retained some of the foundation of the world's most beautiful woman.

Moreover, Xia Qi had often teased Saint Saint Saiwen before.

If they went upstairs to discuss business and happened to run into Vice-Captain Lei Li returning...

The gold coin, a work of art, was cast by Saint Saint Saiwen through high-temperature lightning metallurgy, so its price would surely be higher than simply selling raw gold.

"10 tons?"

Xia Qi blinked her large eyes, pondered for a moment, and whispered, "Dumping it all at once would easily affect the unit price. I suggest selling it in batches and across different regions."

Saint Saint Saiwen lifted his milk: "You handle it as you see fit."

"I'm planning to find Mr. Tang Mu recently to build a pirate ship and set sail."

"Good." Xia Qi nodded.

If anyone else had come and said they had 10 tons of such gold coins, Xia Qi would mostly have thought they were teasing, given how many years she and Saint Saint Saiwen had known each other.

She naturally knew the little one's character.

Thinking of the little one on Luo Jie's ship starting to build a pirate ship to set sail, Xia Qi couldn't help but feel: she really seemed to be getting old.

The seas of the future belong to the young.

However, neither she nor Lei Li could have imagined that Saint Saint Saiwen would be the first to arrive; they had thought it would be Shanks.

The two sat at the bar counter, chatting about this and that.

As night fell, the No. 13 Islands officially entered the nightlife rhythm of the lawless zone.

Suddenly, a man with long curly hair, a beard on his chin, wearing glasses, and a vertical scar on his right eye pushed the door open and entered.

"Look who's here," Xia Qi teased.

Saint Saint Saiwen smiled and slowly turned around.

"Saxi, Uncle Lei Li."