The most famous bar in the Pleasure Quarter.
[Girls' Ship]
Gurd stepped inside, gazing at the familiar yet unfamiliar bar fixtures. For a moment, it felt like he'd time-traveled from the Middle Ages straight into modern society.
Spotlights, dance floors, counters.
Almost identical to a modern bar.
The girls working there were all dressed in exquisite yet revealing outfits, each with stunning looks that could make any man's heart flutter.
The nostalgic scene nearly brought tears to Gurd's eyes.
Wano Country was so backward that even finding a lightbulb was difficult. Oni Island was even worse—forget the harsh living conditions, all he saw every day were burly, chest-haired men.
When he traveled far to Hachinosu Island, all he encountered were abstract Pirates drinking poorly processed, low-quality ale.
What kind of miserable life had he been living until now?!
Wiping away his tears, Gurd indignantly plopped onto a barstool and snapped his fingers at the bartender—a young man in a fitted vest polishing a crystal cocktail glass.
"Hey, one cappuccino, please!"
"Sir, we don't serve coffee here," the bartender shrugged. "The café's next door."
"Uh—"
Gurd nearly choked.
Wrong script.
Deciding to play it cool, Gurd smiled and asked, "What drinks do you have here? Give me a recommendation."
"Tequila, martini, old fashioned, Bloody Mary..."
Like reciting a menu, the bartender rattled off a string of cocktail names. He'd seen too many country-bumpkin Pirates like this one.
First-timers at Girls' Ship always acted this way—overly excitable and pretending to know it all.
Hah! Such bumpkins!
But the customer was king!
Setting down the glass, the bartender flashed a professional smile. "Sir, we carry every premium brand you can name. If nothing suits you, I can also craft some unique custom cocktails."
"Enough! Just bring me a barrel of tequila!"
Gurd beamed with delight.
Just hearing those classy drink names made his heart sing. A man of his status deserved only the finest luxuries!
Once his community was built, he'd install a high-end bar too!
"A... barrel?"
The bartender's smile froze.
Had he misheard?
"Yes, a barrel!"
Gurd slapped a thick wad of Berries on the counter.
Who did they think they were dealing with?
He had money!
Whenever he drank with others, it was always by the barrel. Those tiny glasses weren't even enough for a mouth rinse—how could anyone drink properly with those?
Filthy Pirate!
The bartender cursed inwardly, but the hefty stack of Berries helped suppress his irritation.
Pirates will be Pirates, Pirates will be Pirates!
After mentally repeating this mantra, the bartender quickly recomposed himself, bowing obsequiously with renewed cheer.
"Right away, honored guest!"
"Good, good."
Gurd grew even more pleased.
Not only was the ambiance excellent, but the service was outstanding too.
Perhaps sensing Gurd's wealth, the previously dismissive hostesses immediately swarmed around him.
"Pirate big brother, wanna dance?"
"Come on!"
"Big brother, you're so handsome~"
Heh heh~~
Gurd chuckled sheepishly, allowing himself to be pulled onto the dance floor by the girls, swaying his hips as he happily rubbed shoulders with them.
This was paradise!
In the VIP seating area on the second floor...
Stussy watched Gurd's joyful dancing with speechless disbelief.
Was this goofball really an Earth Calamity?
She had expected a tough opponent, but his current behavior left her somewhat disappointed.
The masked man sitting across from her spoke up.
"Don't underestimate him, Stussy. According to my intel, that man is extremely shrewd—not the type to be swayed by women. His current act is likely just a disguise."
"..."
Stussy frowned slightly.
The man opposite her held the same rank as her—a top-tier agent of CP0—with access to intelligence networks no less extensive than hers.
The masked man shook his head.
"The incident at Hachinosu Island was orchestrated by that man. Even Whitebeard and the Marines fell into his schemes. Don't be fooled by his appearance."
"My apologies, Gernica."
Stussy felt a jolt of alarm.
It was true—she had let her guard down.
She had encountered countless lecherous men and rarely misjudged them, but that Earth Calamity didn't seem to be acting at all.
If it was an act, it was far too convincing.
Now that she thought about it carefully, without extraordinary acting skills, how could that man have so easily won the favor of the Whitebeard Pirates and manipulated their commanders like puppets?
What a cunning man—flawlessly embodying the drunken, lustful stereotype of a Pirate, leaving no room for suspicion.
Gernica's voice deepened.
"Our mission this time isn't just about the trade. We also need to gather intel on that man."
"I understand."
Stussy nodded.
The most critical piece of known intel about Gurd was his ability to rival Kizaru in combat. For someone of such immense power to remain a complete mystery to them was an undeniable failure in their duties.
Abilities, preferences, origins—everything had to be uncovered.
Just then, three conspicuous figures entered the establishment.
Oven, Mont-d'Or, and Galette.
"Linlin's children are here."
Stussy glanced at Oven and the others.
She had secretly sold Caesar's intel to Linlin for a simple reason—Linlin wanted Caesar to produce the Giant Drug.
The World Government had long been conducting covert experiments on human gigantification, but success had eluded them. The Numbers, failed products of these experiments, had been traded to the Beasts Pirates.
The dim-witted Numbers were useless to the World Government.
With massive financial investments yielding no returns and the need to consider Vegapunk's sentiments, the World Government had no choice but to halt the experiments.
But not long ago, a major incident occurred at Punk Hazard.
Upon receiving the news, Big Mom immediately dispatched her subordinates to track down Caesar, and the Pleasure Quarter, which had close ties to him, also received a request.
Naturally, the World Government hoped to resume the gigantification experiments while shifting the R&D costs onto Big Mom. Coincidentally, Caesar, ever the hedonist, had wandered into the Pleasure Quarter.
Thus, the current situation unfolded.
"I've thought of a brilliant idea."
Stussy's red lips curled into a smirk.
Meanwhile, in the main hall—
Gurd was dancing with the ladies when his peripheral vision caught sight of Oven's group. His movements froze.
Oven and the others also noticed Gurd.
How could they not? He stood out too much.
Those gleaming, sculpted muscles were impossible to miss.
An awkward silence settled between them as their eyes met for a solid ten seconds.
Gurd pushed the woman in his arms aside and wordlessly stepped off the dance floor, heading to the left-side bar to chug straight from a barrel.
He had just played the cool, domineering badass in front of them—only to be caught in this debauched state.
How embarrassing.
Oven and the others silently made their way to the seating area on the right.
They had just been thoroughly beaten by Gurd on the ship and never expected to encounter him again, too ashamed to even lift their heads.
Both sides went about their own business as if
they were complete strangers, though they all unconsciously quieted down.
Pretend nothing happened.jpg.
Before long, a young woman approached Gurd and whispered in his ear, "Mr. Gurd, Lady Stussy requests your presence on the second floor."
"Hmm."
Gurd perked up.
Time to slip away.