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 moment unnoticed by others, his lips moved slightly, silently conveying something.
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.
Sig looked up and carefully examined the parchment 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 time 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 mere existence is enough to shake the world..."
Sig's expression grew increasingly odd.
Hearing someone 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 time, the name 'Mountain Bandit King' was not yet known to the world, and no one believed in Another Piece... This map changed hands several times, 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 somewhat 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 parchment 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 exclaimed 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 Government would net you a clean 380 million berries!"
Hearing this, Sig nodded in agreement:
"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?"
The shopkeeper was momentarily stunned by Sig's reverse bargaining, unsure whether the man was a gullible customer or mocking him.
Sig then called out to the door:
"Stussy, come 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 immediately stepped inside.
The shopkeeper's face instantly turned pale, and beads of sweat formed 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 stammered in a weak defense.
"Leave your shop for now. Come see me in half an hour."
Anne left these words and, carrying the treasure map, walked out of the shop with Sig and the others.
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 commercial 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 commercial 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.