And at this moment…
Other than the Navy's top brass—
While everyone else was shocked, and while many of them concluded that Luffy's actions were simply too brainless and too overconfident…
Over on the Sabaody Archipelago—
On Island 13, on a street inside Shakky's Rip-off Bar…
Rayleigh.
Shakky.
The two of them were the owners of this bar.
And they were also… once upon a time, notorious big shots who had made their names across the seas.
One of them had once captivated the entire world—an unrivaled beauty whose looks and sizzling figure had bewitched countless men.
And the other was even more terrifying.
Before retiring, Rayleigh had been the vice captain of the Roger Pirates, known across the world as—
"The Pirate King's Left Hand."
In other words…
The legendary right-below-the-king figure!!!
However…
Ever since that year—
After the Pirate King turned himself in at Loguetown and was publicly executed…
From that moment on, Rayleigh washed his hands of piracy. He stopped being a pirate, and together with Shakky, he went into hiding on the Sabaody Archipelago.
They ran this bar together.
And Rayleigh also had another identity—
An elderly ship-coating craftsman.
He'd done that for more than a decade.
Now his hair was completely white, and he'd become a true veteran at the craft.
And in everyday life—
Even though he had been retired for many years…
Through the News Coo newspapers distributed by the Marines,
and through the local connections and intelligence network that Rayleigh and Shakky had built on the islands…
Rayleigh kept track of everything happening on the Grand Line, down to the very latest developments.
Naturally, that meant he knew about Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates as well.
It was just…
Even he hadn't expected it.
This powerful Supernova captain—who had inherited the straw hat from an old crewmate of Rayleigh's, Red-Haired Shanks…
Would actually dare…
Not long from now…
To publicly beat a Celestial Dragon on the Sabaody Archipelago, in front of everyone!
That was no small matter!!!
"Interesting…"
Inside the bar.
At the front of the counter—
Shakky struck an elegant pose, lit a cigarette, and exhaled a ring of smoke as she said,
"The moment a Celestial Dragon gets beaten, it means you'll definitely draw an admiral."
"At that point, the entire Sabaody Archipelago will be thrown into chaos—Island 13 included."
At the same time, the entire Sabaody Archipelago will also end up drawing an admiral-level monster… all because a Celestial Dragon was assaulted!
After she finished speaking—
Rayleigh, sitting across from her and drinking, immediately understood what she was getting at.
Beneath his white hair, he smiled.
"Shakky… you're thinking that when the islands fall into chaos, it'll be the perfect chance to turn up the 'rip-off' dial, aren't you?"
As for the woman in front of him—
Back at God Valley, he had protected this breathtaking beauty with his strength and swordsmanship.
And after decades together…
How could Rayleigh not know exactly what Shakky was thinking right now?
And back then—
When the Roger Pirates first encountered Shakky on the Grand Line…
This "World's Most Beautiful Woman" at the time—
Had relied on her beauty and sheer savagery to beat their captain Roger until his teeth were on the ground…
Then forcefully extorted them for "tolls" and "fees."
That was the day Shakky ushered in an era of oppression!
All the old-guard powerhouses…
were practically driven into collective sexual repression!!!
"So…"
"Rayleigh, you old man… if it were you—when Straw Hat Luffy gets targeted by a Navy admiral…"
"Would you step forward for the sake of that old straw hat on his head?"
Shakky flicked ash from her cigarette, smiled with deep meaning, and deliberately asked.
"…"
In response—
Rayleigh's first reaction was to fall silent, almost on instinct.
Then he showed a bored, amused grin.
Even though—
He was already getting up there in years.
A man in his seventies.
In terms of pure strength, he was still a legendary-tier powerhouse.
Across the entire Grand Line, he remained among the absolute top level.
But unfortunately…
Even Rayleigh himself had to admit—
Once a person grows old, both stamina and energy decline along with it.
If he went up against a Navy admiral…
Rayleigh wouldn't be afraid.
But being able to hold them off for a short time didn't mean he could keep trading blows and burning stamina forever.
Not to mention…
He'd be doing it specifically to protect Luffy—who had gone and caused trouble.
Just thinking about it gave Rayleigh a headache.
So he subconsciously shook his head, ready to refuse.
But then he remembered—
Not long ago, when the Red-Haired Pirates passed through here, Shanks personally came to visit.
And Shanks had specifically mentioned and emphasized this:
If Luffy and his crew ever made it to the Sabaody Archipelago someday—
No matter what…
He hoped Rayleigh would look after them a little.
Whether it was ship coating or just drinks—
At the very least, treat them warmly a few times.
So that the inheritance of that straw hat wouldn't be in vain!!!
"Mm…"
Deep in thought—
Rayleigh stroked his beard and slowly spoke what was truly on his mind.
"All I can say is… we'll see."
"Right now, the only thing that's been revealed is the 'beating a Celestial Dragon' part. The follow-up hasn't been unveiled yet."
"Maybe… I won't even need to step in."
"Maybe Kuma alone—as a powerful 'background'—will be enough to protect Straw Hat Luffy and the others."
Rayleigh's mind turned.
He directly pulled the topic back to the main point.
After all—
The focus of this second segment was Bartholomew Kuma.
So it was obvious what it was implying.
When the admirals mobilize and start hunting the Straw Hats…
Kuma will definitely intervene.
And he will definitely save them.
There was no question about it!!!
So—
Once Rayleigh reached that conclusion…
He wasn't worried at all.
At least for now, he could just keep watching the ranking video.
Maybe—
With Kuma's ability, the Paw-Paw Fruit—
The power that can "repel" anything—people or objects alike—
Even if he faced the three admirals…
He could still fight while calmly and smoothly—
Sending Luffy and the others flying away, one after another,
one at a time,
helping them escape danger…
Who's to say that couldn't happen?
"Oh…"
Hearing Rayleigh's reasoning—
Shakky crushed out her cigarette and nodded in agreement.
"You're right. I underestimated Kuma."
"If the ranking video went out of its way to bring him up—and put him on screen…"
"Then the odds that he can hold the Straw Hats in place with just his own strength… really aren't small at all!"
"Otherwise, there'd be no way to bring out your title—'Dark King'—properly!"
(End of Chapter)
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