Chapter 229: Goodbye, Rayleigh
Sabaody Archipelago.
After landing on the island, Ace asked Yamato to take Carols and Otama to explore, while he led Luffy to find the man they had come for.
Their destination was Area 13, where Ace pushed open the door to Shakky's Rip-Off Bar.
"Hey, if it isn't Ace! What a rare visitor," said Shakky, polishing a glass lazily behind the counter. When she saw Ace walk in, a knowing smile curved her lips.
"Ms. Shakky, is Master Rayleigh here?" Ace asked politely, taking a seat at the bar.
"He hasn't been back for about a week." Shakky sighed lightly, pulling out a small Den Den Mushi from beneath the counter. "But don't worry, Ace-kun. If you're looking for him, I'll give him a call—he should be back soon."
She dialed the number, and about an hour later, the door creaked open.
Silvers Rayleigh, the "Dark King," stepped inside with a cheerful smile, his silver hair glinting under the dim bar lights.
---
"Ace," he said, "I heard you stirred up quite the mess in Big Mom's territory recently—"
But before he could finish, Rayleigh's gaze landed on the boy napping beside Ace, a straw hat hanging loosely on his back.
That straw hat…
Rayleigh's expression shifted slightly, his eyes sharpening with recognition. He knew that hat well.
He had heard of Monkey D. Luffy long before this meeting—and had even been keeping an eye on his progress. Still, Rayleigh hadn't expected their first meeting to happen like this. Then again, knowing the bond between Ace and Luffy, it wasn't that surprising.
"Master Rayleigh!" Ace stood and greeted him respectfully. Then he turned, clenched his fist, and brought it down squarely on Luffy's head.
"Wake up, Luffy!"
"OW! That hurts!" Luffy yelled, clutching his head. "Ace, you're starting to sound just like Grandpa—you always hit people!"
As Luffy pouted, he finally noticed the old man standing near the doorway. His instincts immediately kicked in.
"Oi, Ace," he said curiously, "is this the master you were talking about?"
"That's right," Ace replied. "This is Silvers Rayleigh, also known as the Dark King. I'm sure you've heard of him."
Luffy's eyes went wide, his mouth forming a perfect O. "Dark King Silvers Rayleigh… the right-hand man of the Pirate King himself?!"
He slapped Ace on the shoulder, grinning ear to ear. "Wow, Ace! You actually found me the perfect master! I'm so satisfied—hahaha!"
"Show some respect, you idiot!" Ace smacked him again.
"It's fine, Ace," Rayleigh said, chuckling as he studied Luffy with interest. "You must be Monkey D. Luffy. I've heard a lot about you."
---
His eyes lingered on the straw hat.
Just like Shanks said…
He recalled that meeting years ago, when Shanks had stopped by Sabaody before returning to the New World.
> "Mr. Rayleigh, you'd be surprised—there's a kid out there in the East Blue who said the exact same thing Captain Roger once did."
Rayleigh smiled faintly at the memory.
"I've been looking forward to meeting you," he said, gesturing toward the straw hat. "And I see now that Shanks was right—that hat suits you perfectly."
"Eh? You know me, old man?" Luffy blinked, then grinned. "Guess my name's pretty famous, huh?"
Rayleigh chuckled quietly. "You could say that."
Luffy leaned forward eagerly. "So, do you know Shanks too?"
"Of course," Rayleigh said with a warm smile. "He was just a cabin boy on our ship back in the day. When he stopped by here years ago on his way back from the East Blue, I was shocked to see him missing his left arm—and wearing Roger's old straw hat."
"Heheh!" Luffy laughed proudly, placing the hat back on his head.
Rayleigh's gaze softened. "Time flies… That kid, once a trainee on the Oro Jackson, has become one of the Four Emperors ruling the New World. Even that red-nosed boy who used to bicker with him—Buggy—he's made quite a name for himself too."
"Buggy?!" Luffy nearly spat out his juice, choking. "You mean that weird clown?!"
Ace laughed under his breath. He vaguely recalled seeing Buggy's name in a newspaper after the war—apparently the man had escaped Impel Down during Blackbeard's rampage and gathered a motley crew of strong followers.
Ace wondered quietly whether the World Government would elevate that clown to the ranks of the Seven Warlords of the Sea like in the original timeline… but he didn't bring it up.
---
Instead, Ace looked back at Rayleigh.
"Master Rayleigh, I brought Luffy here to ask a favor," he said seriously. "I want you to train him—to teach him how to use Haki properly. Please don't refuse."
Rayleigh raised an eyebrow and looked Luffy over carefully from head to toe.
"Training him, huh…" A grin spread across his face. "I don't see a problem with that. It's been a while since I've taken on a pupil anyway."
Ace smiled in relief. "Thank you, Master Rayleigh. I'll owe you for this."
Rayleigh waved dismissively. "No need for thanks. Teaching promising youngsters like you two is about the only fun we old-timers have left."
Then, with a sly glint in his eye, he asked, "By the way, I heard you picked a fight with Big Mom not too long ago. That woman's dangerous. Didn't she get furious with you?"
"Of course we fought," Ace said, smiling faintly.
"Oh?" Rayleigh's eyes gleamed with curiosity. "And how did that end?"
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