L.O.J.S.H 228

"That would be the bar's specialty, Knuckle Sandwich, preserved only for troublemakers who refuse to pay," the woman leisurely remarked, keeping a deadpan expression even as she punched the pirate in her hand, causing blood to fly. 

I merely shrugged, unmindful of the woman's brutality as I walked inside.

"Take a seat. I'll be with you shortly..." the woman said as she turned to the pirate in her hand, ignoring my existence. "I just gotta beat the payment out this trouble maker first..." she added and resumed punching the poor bastard. 

"Take your time," I carelessly replied, waving a hand to the side as I took a seat at the bar, ignoring the booming thuds and wet squelches as the woman kept punching the pirate. 

...

"So what will it be?" the woman, Shakuyaku, the owner of the Rip-ff Bar, asked as she stood behind the bar, expectantly looking at the young pirate, having already emptied the other unfortunate pirate's pockets after beating him to a pulp and back.

"A beer will do, ma'am," the young pirate replied as politely as he could, removing the hood covering his face after looking around to ascertain no one else was present.

Shakky looked at his face, and her eyes glinted in recognition, immediately identifying him as Johnny Silver Hand, a rookie pirate. There was also amusement in her eyes as she misunderstood the young pirate's gesture. 

"I'm not so old as to be called ma'am, boy. Shakky will do," she replied, raising an eyebrow as she turned to the fridge, retrieving a beer bottle which she opened and then presented to Johnny. 

She took a deep drag from her cigarette as the young pirate nodded in gratitude at, and under her expectant gaze, downed the beer bottle in a single gulp. 

"That will be 250 thousand berries," Shakky flatly remarked, extending her right hand towards the young pirate, her palm expectantly opened as she did.

She didn't expect the young pirate to pay, despite giving him amble hints that he should. She's met the type before, young and driven pirates who thought they could take on the world and come out of it no worse to wear.

She had even taken his act of revealing his identity as a veiled threat and decided to oblige, even though she usually only scammed and extorted small fries she didn't like. 

However, she wasn't ready for the young pirate's reaction.

...

"250 thousand Berries? Sure," I remarked as I fished for a thick stack of Berry notes and placed it in Shakky's opened hand, trying to hold back a chuckle. 

"Another one, please..." I added, almost visibly struggling to keep down my laughter at Shakky's bewildered expression as she looked at me, rooted in place. 

I really need to stop messing with people. I've probably already made an enemy out of Kuma because of it, and now I'm going to throw 500 thousand Berries on beer to get a reaction from Shakky, but I couldn't care.

"You realize I'm ripping you off right now, boy?" Shakky asked, sending me a genuine look of confusion after several seconds of silence after gathering her bearings.

"Well, this is Shakky's Rip-off Bar, isn't it?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "I thought getting ripped-off was part of the experience..." I added, shrugging my shoulders in mocked bewilderment, causing her to chuckle behind her hand.

"Refusing to pay and getting a beating is part of the experience, too, you know?" Shakky casually remarked, though a faintly amused smile tugged on her lips.

"I saw how those bastards ended up, so I'll pass on that," I replied, dismissively waving my hand to the side. "I don't feel like taking a beating right now... thank you very much," I added, chuckling as I shook my head. 

"They were small fries... and if you can beat up Gecko Moria, what makes you think I'd do any better?" Shakky asked, her smile widening as confusion disappeared, replaced by amusement and curiosity. 

'So she already knows about Moria... Damn, I haven't even read anything about it in the newspaper..' 

I didn't let my surprise show on my face. Messing with people is my shtick, no way I'mma let her mess with me so simply.

"I don't know, reading the atmosphere, I guess?" I replied, shrugging my shoulders. "You clearly know who I am, but you still tried to rip me off, so you're either capable of beating me up yourself. Or you have someone who can back there," I added while gesturing to the back of the bar. 

Shakky heard my words and immediately began laughing, to which I merely shrugged.

"A youngster who knows when to fight or not... now that's something you don't see every day..." Shakky remarked after several seconds of laughter as she turned to me. 

"I like you, boy. You're interesting," she added, giving me an approving nod as she opened the fridge and placed another beer bottle in front of me.

"On the house," she added, opening the bottle and pushing it towards me.

'It's not like I just gave you enough money to buy a year's worth of beer bottles.'

"How generous of you..." I remarked, rolling my eyes in annoyance as I downed the beer bottle in one gulp.

"I'll take this as payment for whatever question you came here to ask," Shakky replied, playfully tossing the Berries stack in her hand. "The drinks are complimentary," she added, raising an eyebrow, likely having grasped my thoughts.

"How do you...?" I asked in genuine confusion as I stared at Shakky with wide-opened eyes.

"You came here straight after fighting Moria... meaning you'd land on mangrove 41 based on your travel path from the Florian triangle..." Shakky remarked, pausing to take a drag from her cigarette.

"You came all the way here at the other end of the Archipelago, and despite knowing I'll try to rip you off, you didn't leave," she added, casually twiddling with her fingernails.

"So you came here for a purpose, meaning you're here to start something with my husband, or you're looking for me..." she added, and I struggled to keep my jaw from slacking.

"You don't look nearly stupid enough to start something with that person, which only leaves me, and I have nothing to offer but information... sound about right?" she added, giving me a smug smile as she looked at my shocked expression.

'So much for not letting her mess with me...' 

I mechanically nodded, feeling utterly and thoroughly defeated in my own game, having received a taste of my own medicine.