One Piece: The Silver Sovereign

After the group walked out of the restaurant, they saw a crowd gathered around a nearby bulletin board. Most people were whispering to each other, seemingly in discussion, while a few wore thoughtful expressions.

"Hey… isn't that you up there?"

As they walked up to the board, they saw a wanted poster, and the person on it was none other than Kather·Lynn, with a bounty of 10 million Berries.

"So it is you… Guess your identity isn't that simple after all."

Seeing that Kather·Lynn didn't speak, Shirakawa took it as a silent confirmation.

"A princess of the Kingdom of Mohr, huh? Tch tch… No wonder the bounty's so high, turns out you're a top-ranking figure from an enemy nation."

Shirakawa looked at her with a meaningful gaze.

"Hey, what's with that look? Don't tell me you're thinking of turning me in for the reward?"

Kather·Lynn wrapped her arms tightly around herself, eyes wide in alarm.

"Are you a worm in my stomach? How'd you know exactly what I was thinking?"

"You can't do that! You promised to take me to see the outside world, you can't go back on your word!"

"I did?"

"You did! You just said it a moment ago!"

Kather·Lynn was genuinely scared now. If Shirakawa and the others exposed her identity, there'd be no way she could get away.

"Well, now I regret it… For you, I gave up on ten million Berries for nothing."

"So… you're saying you won't turn me in?"

"Haha, look how scared you are. I was just messing with you earlier."

"You jerk! Go die!"

Kather·Lynn, furious, chopped her hand down on the back of Shirakawa's head.

"AH!"

But as soon as her hand made contact with his head, she let out a sharp cry.

"Is your head made of iron?! That hurt like hell!"

"I suggest you take a look around you."

"Huh?"

Kather·Lynn looked up and realized everyone was staring at her.

"That scream just now attracted all their attention."

"Hey, that girl… doesn't she look like the one on the wanted poster?"

"Hey, now that you mention it… She does!"

"What are we waiting for? Get her!!"

A mob charged toward them, eyes gleaming like wolves.

"Run!!"

Kather·Lynn shouted and grabbed Shirakawa's arm, trying to dash away.

Shirakawa grabbed Shanks, who in turn grabbed Buggy, who then grabbed Rayleigh. In reality, the only one running was Kather·Lynn.

The sight caught even more people's attention. The crowd chasing them grew, and so did the number of curious onlookers.

"Isn't that the Vice-Captain and Shirakawa's group?"

Some Roger Pirates had spotted the commotion and were talking amongst themselves.

"Yeah, it's them. But what the hell did they do to get both the soldiers and civilians of this country chasing them?"

"Who knows? Should we go help?"

"Nah. You see, anyone else getting involved? And besides, they're no threat to the Vice-Captain."

"Good point. Let's go back to having fun."

"Let's roll!"

The two strolled off with arms around each other, discussing where to go next.

"Bunch of disloyal bastards…"

Buggy cursed as they ran. Of course, they passed several of their crewmates, but none offered to help.

"Shanks, let go of me! This has nothing to do with me!"

"Haha, sorry! But Shirakawa grabbed me, and besides, isn't this kind of fun?"

Shanks laughed.

"Fun?! My ass! This is dangerous! Let go of me! You guys distract them while the Vice-Captain and I escape."

"Oh? If that's how you feel, then I definitely can't let go."

Shanks grinned. "Right, Shirakawa?"

"You're right. And make sure Buggy holds onto the Vice-Captain tight, as long as we've got him, we're safe."

"You hear that, Buggy? Grab the Vice-Captain's arm and don't let go!"

"Got it, I"

Before Buggy could finish, he suddenly realized his hand was empty. He looked back and found that Rayleigh had disappeared.

"Uh… sorry, Shanks, Shirakawa… we seem to have lost the Vice-Captain…"

"What?!"

Shirakawa slammed on the brakes, dragging Kather·Lynn to a halt.

"That damn Rayleigh! Took off without even warning us, talk about heartless!"

Shirakawa cursed under his breath.

"What do we do now, Shirakawa? Are we going to get caught?"

Kather·Lynn looked to him as the group's strongest member; he was their anchor now.

"Pfft… You kids keep playing around. I'm not joining in this nonsense. I've got girls to find."

On a high rooftop nearby, Rayleigh watched the scene below, muttered to himself, then slipped away with a pervy grin.

"Don't worry. Watch how I deal with them in one shot."

Shirakawa said to Buggy. Now was the perfect time to use Conqueror's Haki.

He stepped in front of the others, and a wave of undiluted, indiscriminate Conqueror's Haki burst forth from him.

Instantly, everyone in their path collapsed, including a few unlucky Roger Pirates.

"Wait… this feeling… is that Shirakawa…?"

That was the last thought of one fainting pirate.

"This kid doesn't know how to keep a low profile…"

Rayleigh, sensing the burst of Haki, smiled wryly.

He never doubted Shirakawa could escape without even using Haki.

"What… what just happened?"

Behind Shirakawa, Kather·Lynn stared wide-eyed. Just seconds ago, a rowdy mob had been shouting and charging, and now, they were all lying motionless on the ground.

She had only felt a sudden pressure in the air.

"They're just unconscious. But we need to move now, before reinforcements show up."

"Right."

The four of them rushed into a clothing shop, changed into new outfits, and put on strange makeup to disguise themselves.

"What now?"

"We'll just take it one step at a time."

"Can you guys… take me home?"

Kather·Lynn asked quietly.

"Take you home?! Do you even realize how much trouble you've caused us?!"

Buggy shouted angrily at her.

"I'm sorry. It's my fault. I dragged you all into this… But right now, you're the only people I can trust."

Kather·Lynn looked pitiful, though it was hard to tell whether she was faking it.

"No way. Once the Log Pose finishes recording the next island's magnetic field, we're leaving."

"Oh, then that's no problem. It'll take three years for the Log Pose to fully record the magnetism for the next island."

"What?! Three years?!"

All three of them shouted in unison. Three years was way too long, even Shanks and Buggy had never seen an island that took that long to log.

"Yep, three years. It's not even a secret around here, ask anyone, they'll tell you."