As Sig walked into the treasure map shop, his subordinates and the people from the Pleasure District wisely chose not to follow him inside, instead waiting quietly outside the door.
At the edge of the crowd, Stussy stood silently.
Behind her, a man in a black suit, indistinguishable from the other subordinates, subtly moved closer to her.
Then, in a mont unnoticed by others, his lips moved slightly, silently conveying sothing.
Stussy's expression remained flawless as she also moved her lips, engaging in a silent exchange with him.
Their conversation was brief.
Afterward, a deeply complex look flashed in Stussy's eyes, and she quickly lowered her head to hide her expression.
.....
"Treasure maps?"
Sig looked up and carefully examined the parchnt maps hanging on the walls. These maps were partially obscured, never revealing their full details.
Whenever Sig's gaze lingered on a particular map, the shopkeeper would cheerfully step in to explain the story behind it.
"You have a good eye, sir. This treasure map was purchased from a retired pirate with a bounty of over 100 million berries. It's said that the original owner of this treasure was the legendary Captain John..."
"And this map here... it was left behind by a great pirate with a bounty of over 400 million berries thirty years ago..."
Sig listened briefly, his eyes scanning the maps on the wall.
Finally, his gaze settled on a map with a rather peculiar design.
Unlike the other maps, which typically depicted islands surrounded by waves, this one had no wave lines to represent the sea.
"This treasure map is truly extraordinary..."
Seeing Sig's interest in the map, the shopkeeper's expression turned serious, and he lowered his voice.
"Sir, have you heard of Another Piece?"
Sig gave the shopkeeper a slightly strange look but remained silent.
The shopkeeper, however, continued enthusiastically.
"Surely you've heard of the legendary mountain bandit, the Mountain Bandit King of the East Blue, also known as the Pirate Mountain Bandit King, Sig?"
"He's a living legend, recently making waves!"
"For the first ti in 800 years, he infiltrated the holy land of Mary Geoise and secretly stole a fortune large enough to buy several countries."
"This treasure is also tied to the Celestial Dragons' national treasure. Its re existence is enough to shake the world..."
Sig's expression grew increasingly odd.
Hearing soone else hype him up felt... strange.
"This treasure map in our shop also has a history."
The shopkeeper, oblivious to Sig's expression, continued:
"Over twenty years ago, a drunk man found a glass bottle washed ashore on the coast of Sabaody Archipelago. Inside the bottle was this treasure map..."
"At the ti, the na 'Mountain Bandit King' was not yet known to the world, and no one believed in Another Piece... This map changed hands several tis, going through many twists and turns... Eventually, I won it in a bet with a bounty hunter at a tavern in Sabaody Archipelago..."
The shopkeeper rambled on, telling a convoluted and sowhat touching story.
Particularly the part about the love triangle—"he loved her, but she loved her"—was oddly captivating.
Sig glanced at the so-called Another Piece treasure map. The parchnt was slightly yellowed, with minor tears, giving it an authentic, aged appearance.
If Sig hadn't known for a fact that he'd never done such a thing, he might have believed it.
"So, how much would this treasure map of the Mountain Bandit King's great treasure, Another Piece, cost?"
Sig feigned interest and asked.
"This treasure map is the crown jewel of our shop, the most precious and mysterious of all..."
The shopkeeper sighed, his eyes filled with a sense of history, but then his tone shifted:
"But you, sir, have been so patient, willing to listen to the story behind the map. I'm deeply moved."
"Originally priced at 40 million berries, I can give you a 50% discount..."
"50% off... 20 million berries for just a treasure map?" Sig exclaid softly.
The shopkeeper studied Sig's expression carefully and continued:
"This isn't just any ordinary treasure map. The Celestial Dragons have placed a bounty of 400 million berries on it!"
"If you find the exact location of the treasure through this map, simply reporting it to the World Governnt would net you a clean 380 million berries!"
"Well said!"
Hearing this, Sig nodded in agreent:
"This treasure map contains the Celestial Dragons' great secret and their vast wealth."
"If it's not sold for 100 million berries, how can it live up to the reputation of the legendary Mountain Bandit King?"
"100 million?"
The shopkeeper was montarily stunned by Sig's reverse bargaining, unsure whether the man was a gullible custor or mocking him.
"Yes! 100 million."
Sig then called out to the door:
"Stussy, co over and pay."
As soon as he spoke, not only Stussy but also Anne, the person in charge of the Pleasure District here, walked in.
When Sig had entered the shop, they had been waiting quietly outside, not wanting to disturb him. Now, hearing his call, they imdiately stepped inside.
The shopkeeper's face instantly turned pale, and beads of sweat ford on his forehead.
He watched as Anne took down the treasure map from the wall and gave him a cold look.
"Selling fake treasure maps to the real deal? You've got quite the nerve."
The shopkeeper's eyes widened, and his face turned ashen.
"But... but it's real," he stamred in a weak defense.
"Leave your shop for now. Co see in half an hour."
Anne left these words and, carrying the treasure map, walked out of the shop with Sig and the others.
A short while later.
In a lavishly decorated private room at a bar.
Sig sat on a couch, listening to Anne's explanation while examining the treasure map spread out on the table.
This island, known as the comrcial hub of the first half of the Grand Line, was controlled by multiple factions behind the scenes.
Including the Pleasure District, several so-called "Dark World" rulers had territories here, jointly managing this comrcial island.
However, this wasn't the real Pleasure District.
The true Pleasure District, under Stussy's control, was actually in the New World.
"A globally franchised Pleasure District? What kind of business tycoon is this?"
Sig couldn't help but laugh bitterly.
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