The reason for Roger's sulking was actually quite simple.
In short, it was during the last skirmish between the Roger Pirates and the Kuja Pirates, two years ago, before Shakky resigned from her position as Pirate Empress.
During a lull in the battle, Shakky slipped Rayleigh a small note that read: 'Come pick me up — Shakky.'
If it were just that, Roger wouldn't have been entirely against it.
Although he also liked Shakky very much, he was still willing to respect Shakky's personal wishes.
The key was that everyone, especially him, Roger, was super, super, super eager to be the one Shakky loved!
Yet, that scoundrel Rayleigh actually said he didn't want to be tied down by romance!
Even more outrageous, Shakky had given him that note two years ago, but that scoundrel held it in for two years before finally telling him!
As if doing so would prove he truly didn't want to be bound by romance.
That scoundrel only cared about his own thoughts; did he not know that his behavior was far more annoying than holding this matter in for two years?!
Roger's unusual behavior caught Jabba's attention.
He slung an arm around Rayleigh's neck, digging for gossip.
"Rayleigh! I've noticed something!"
"Roger's unhappiness started right after you two talked in the Captain's quarters!"
"What exactly did you say to Roger in the Captain's quarters?"
Rayleigh was startled, his eyes nervously darting away.
"N-nothing..."
How could he tell Jabba about that again?
Fortunately, Roger's mood came and went quickly.
In a flash, he had recovered his spirits.
"Everyone! I will not give up!"
"Plunder! That is the essence of a Pirate Crew!"
"Anything you want! Just snatch it! Let's set sail for Hachinosu Island!"
"┗|Fuck dish fuck|┛ Awooo!"
The Roger Pirates cheered loudly in response.
"Opportunity is equal! Go and snatch Shakky!"
Amidst the shouts and yells, the Roger Pirates changed course, heading towards Hachinosu Island... Hachinosu Island.
After two years of development and news fermenting, Shakky's Rip-Off Bar had become a famous landmark in the Pirate world.
Any Pirate who came to the New World waters and didn't check in here would be too embarrassed to say he was making a living in the New World.
It was precisely because of this that the long queue outside Shakky's Bar now meant you could barely hope to enter and catch a glimpse of Shakky for at least a month.
"Woah~ Still so many people."
Rocks led his crew; they had just returned from an external raiding mission.
As the hosts, the Rocks Pirates certainly didn't need to queue with the other small fry Pirates.
Rocks led his group into the bar, sitting down in their exclusive gathering area.
Everyone drank and dined, resting, and Shakky temporarily abandoned the small fry Pirates to serve Rocks and the others.
"What's wrong, Rocks? You have a satisfied look, but your thoughts aren't on me. How lonely~"
"Huh?!"
Rocks was stunned; he hadn't even noticed Shakky approaching to talk.
No, it should be said that he noticed Shakky's approach, but because his heart was already set on someone else, he no longer paid as much attention to Shakky.
"Mama ma ma~ Hahahaha..."
Charlotte Linlin burst into laughter nearby, patting Rocks' shoulder.
"Terrifying, isn't it! A woman's intuition!"
Whitebeard expressed his confusion, asking Charlotte Linlin, "What exactly happened?"
Stussy took a drag from her cigarette, as if seeing through everything, and said with a smile, "Of course it's about a woman! That's a look of happiness, like a child has been born!"
As He spoke, her expression instantly darkened.
Her beautiful eyes first glanced to the right at Whitebeard; this man remained as hard-hearted as ever during these two years, and her soft touch simply couldn't soften him.
Then He looked to her left at Hitler .
This kid had frequently attacked her during operations over the past two years; if He hadn't been constantly vigilant, he probably would have succeeded.
However... Stussy also vaguely sensed that although Hitler attacked her, his motivation was no longer as fervent as it once was.
It was as if it was just a normal friendly squabble among comrades.
"Am I... really that unattractive...?"
Stussy murmured inwardly, then tipped her head back and drained the entire glass of rum Shakky had just given her.
Rocks, of course, couldn't have noticed Stussy's inner thoughts.
Seeing his secret easily exposed by three women, he instantly became furious.
"You're too loud! Can you shut up! This is a secret that no one is allowed to speak of! It must be strictly confidential!"
Hearing this, Hitler , who was embracing Gloriosa nearby and thought this was just a joke, was stunned.
"Hey, hey, hey! Rocks! No way! You actually have a child?!"
"Shut up! Hitler !"
Rocks roared angrily at Hitler , but then a smile appeared on his face.
"You seem a bit lacking, kid. How long have you been with Gloriosa, and her belly shows no sign? Are you impotent?!"
Gloriosa, embraced by Hitler , instantly flushed, straightening up to refute Rocks, but Hitler pulled her back by the shoulder.
Hitler , who should have been angry, smiled calmly and said, "My Devil Fruit ability allows me to precisely control when I want to have children."
"Also, I don't trust our current crew."
"If I were to have a child with Gloriosa now, some of you scoundrels here might try to use my child to threaten me!"
"Rocks, I advise you, hide your wife and child well!"
"If these scoundrels here find out their whereabouts, heh heh heh..."
Rocks put away his smile, his eyes vigilantly scanning the surrounding Rocks Pirates members, and said in a deep voice, "Ah~ Don't worry! I've already taken care of that without you saying anything."
"Shakky! I'm here! It's me!!!"
Suddenly, the bar's main door was violently pushed open, and a group of completely unfamiliar individuals rushed in.
"Hi~ Shakky-chan~~"
"Photos! Photos!"
Click, click, the dazzling flash of old-fashioned cameras illuminated the bar, and the Rocks Pirates turned their heads in annoyance.
Everyone was startled, and then everyone looked wary.
Shakky, however, responded calmly to the intruders, "It's Roger."
Bang!
Rocks had teleported in front of the leading intruder at some point, their heads butting together.
"Roger! You scoundrel, how dare you come to my island?!"
Roger confronted Rocks head-on, butting heads with him.
"This is Shakky's shop! Don't forget! Fighting between customers is forbidden here! Stop yelling! You porcupine!"
"There should be a long queue at the main entrance! Didn't you queue? How did you get in?!"
"There wasn't much of a queue anyway, was there?! Let's drink! Lads!"
"┗|Fuck dish fuck|┛ Awooo!"
Hitler turned to look out the window.
The long snaking queue that would have stretched for a month was now all lying on the ground, groaning and moaning.
"They've all been taken care of."
Hitler smiled calmly, not surprised.
Then he looked at the boisterous Roger and his group, a flicker of anticipation in his eyes.
"Worthy opponents have appeared!"
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