Chapter 515 Returning Bones
Today is an extremely important day. The naval headquarters in Rome has begun a full-scale martial law. The troops stationed outside and the military leaders from all parties will gather here.
Affected by the martial law, even the business in the Sabaody Archipelago was forced to stop operating. Even though most merchants had complaints, in front of the invincible violent agency, they could only keep it in their hearts and could not say anything openly.
Ever since Marshal Altria Pendragon took office, there have been several days like this for meetings every year. In the first and second years, there were still pirates who dared to defy the rules, but eventually batch after batch were killed and the rules were established. After that, no one dared to challenge the authority of the navy.
There are many intelligence dealers stationed in the Chabaoti Archipelago, and the tavern in front of you is one of them. Today, due to the influence of the naval military meeting, only the proprietress was left in the store to wash wine glasses, and no customers came in all day.
A person who shouldn't have been there gently pushed open the door of the tavern. The bell on the door rang crisply. The tavern was filled with a faint aroma of wine and warm lights. The proprietress raised her head from behind the counter, her eyes attracted by the man who pushed the door open.
His face was painted with delicate clown makeup, the colors were bright and exaggerated. There was no hostility in the man's expression, but instead a dangerous aura. His steps were light, as if he was stepping on some unknown rhythm, and he walked into this tavern full of stories.
"Bucky, you are so brave to show up in the Sabaody Archipelago at this time."
The bar owner's wife is tall and thin, with short black hair that is slightly upturned at the ends, showing a unique kind of playfulness and vitality. She loves smoking and never puts down her cigarette every day. Her young face is looming in the mist, which is very inconsistent with her actual age.
Character Notes: Amazon Lily's predecessor as emperor, Rayleigh's widow - Xia Qi
"Ms. Xia Qi, doesn't your tavern welcome guests?"
Xia Qi didn't have much interaction with Buggy the Clown. She only knew that he and Rayleigh had been on the same ship together, and it was rumored that he was a close friend of Red-Haired Shanks. However, this smart woman could also make mistakes sometimes.
Buggy has been dormant in the East China Sea for almost twenty years, and his bounty has never exceeded 100 million. But who could have thought that after the Battle of Marineford, he would emerge as one of the few winners in the war, be briefly recruited and awarded the title of Seven Warlords of the Sea, and enter the fast lane of rapidly expanding strength.
After the Dressrosa incident, Buggy the Clown replaced Red-Haired Shanks and ascended the throne of the Four Emperors. The number of navy officers who died at his hands is too numerous to count. He is an extremely dangerous presence on the ocean.
Buggy found a seat by the window and sat down. Although Xia Qi had many doubts in her mind, she did not stop the work at hand and prepared drinks for the new guests. This was her latest developed drink that had not yet been launched to the public, so it was a good opportunity for one of the new Four Emperors to taste it.
A few minutes later, the proprietress brought out her creation. The cocktail was like a gorgeous sunset. The red liquor swayed gently in the glass, emitting an alluring luster. The male customer stared at the glass of wine, as if attracted by its charm.
Bucky gently picked up the wine glass. The rich taste at first taste hit his taste buds like a torrent, with a mellow taste. Then a light feeling danced on the tip of his tongue, like a breeze, bringing a different kind of freshness.
This was the first time he tasted such a cocktail, and he was intoxicated by this unique experience. The aroma of the drink filled the air and lingered around him, making him feel as if he was in a different world. Every sip was like a new adventure with unknown surprises. He closed his eyes and quietly enjoyed the moment, feeling the wonderful taste of the cocktail.
As time went by, the glass was gradually empty, but the male customer's love for this cocktail became stronger and stronger. This was not only a glass of wine, but also a unique taste journey, leaving a deep and unforgettable memory.
"Ms. Xia Qi's skills in mixing and making drinks are still outstanding. No wonder Rayleigh is full of praise for her."
When Buggy the Clown said the word Rayleigh, Xia Qi's face was instantly covered with frost. The other party touched the biggest taboo in a woman's heart. She already had the idea of exiting him. She didn't want to get entangled with anyone.
"Don't mention this name in front of me. This glass of wine is 300 million Baileys. No bargaining. Pay the money and leave immediately."
A glass of wine costs 300 million Baileys. Xia Qi's ability to extort money is still as good as before. Even though the Bailey price has increased several times over the years due to inflation, 300 million is still not a small amount.
The news of Pluto Rayleigh's death was public information. It was still quite popular in the first two years, but then faded out of the public's view over time. Not many people cared about the former deputy of the Pirate King, let alone a dead man who was killed by the Four Emperors.
"I came to the Sabaody Archipelago just for the sake of convenience. I have something to give you. It is my understanding of my concerns."
After saying that, Buggy took out a medium-sized square box from his suit pocket like a magician and pushed it directly in front of Xia Qi. What kind of gift would be worth the Four Emperors’ personal trip?
"Devil Fruit? Want the stuff in the box to exchange for money?"
"Open it and take a look. It cost me a lot to bring him back to you."
Boss Lady Xia Qi looked at the gift box in front of her with confusion. She hesitated for a moment and finally decided to open it. When she slowly opened the box, she was half-believing and half-doubting, wondering what was hidden inside.
However, to her dismay, the box did not contain the scary props she expected, but a carved human skull, which lay alone in the box, exuding a pathetic atmosphere.
The proprietress's face turned pale in an instant, and her hands trembled uncontrollably. This sudden emotion surged directly into her heart, and a guess burned in her mind like wildfire.
The surface of the skull had lost its original pale hue. Because it had been used as a wine vessel for a long time, some brown parts had appeared on the bones. Finger marks even appeared in the areas that had been grasped for a long time. Some fuzzy engravings could be vaguely seen, and this proved Xia Qi's guess.
"Rayleigh, if I hadn't urged you to go to Nine Snake Island, it would have been great if nothing had happened."
The proprietress hugged her lover's remains tightly and buried them deep in her chest, as if she wanted to use her warmth to soothe Rayleigh's pain. Her eyes were filled with tears.
Rayleigh's death and the destruction of the Nine Snake Island had made her pretend to be calm, but today her emotions finally burst out, and her love and guilt for Rayleigh turned into tears of longing. Buggy saw this scene and did not disturb the woman. He just quietly left the tavern and headed towards the Navy Headquarters in Rome.