One chasing the other, the two soon arrived at Island 13.
Even without using Observation Haki, Yuno spotted Rayleigh.
Rayleigh wasn't standing in front of Shakky's bar, but off to the side, quietly watching in their direction.
"Hey, old man, I finally found you…" Yuno's brows lifted the moment he saw him. Without hesitation, he rushed forward. "Senior, could you lend a hand?"
Behind him, Kizaru also caught sight of Rayleigh. His expression darkened as he muttered, "Silvers Rayleigh…?"
Could it be that Silvers Rayleigh is behind all of this? The Quincy… the Roger Pirates…
A thousand thoughts raced through Kizaru's mind. He even began wondering if Quincy was somehow connected to Roger's crew.
"Oi, youngster, that's not very kind of you." Rayleigh narrowed his eyes, instantly realizing Yuno was trying to shift the blame.
After dodging another laser and returning a crackling lightning strike toward Kizaru, Yuno suddenly dove into the ground, weaving through the admiral's attacks. "Unkind? Old senior, you're the unkind one! I risked my life to buy you out of the Celestial Dragons' hands! Isn't it reasonable to ask for just one favor—help me go to sea?"
Of course, Yuno's words were complete nonsense. With Rayleigh's ability, who could possibly enslave him? Yuno was just fabricating an excuse.
"Hmph! Junior, don't spout lies so shamelessly!" Rayleigh snorted coldly. This brat really dared to twist the truth without blinking. If not for Yuno's meddling, he would've already taken the money and gone off to drink and gamble.
Listening to their exchange, Kizaru's eyes gleamed suspiciously. Do these two really have no connection? Or are they just putting on an act?
"One Piece's right-hand man, Silvers Rayleigh…" Kizaru's voice turned sharp. "What's your relationship with Quincy?"
Rayleigh simply raised his hands in mock surrender, showing he meant no harm. "Don't get me wrong. I've retired from piracy. I'm just an old fool living out his days in idleness. I've got nothing to do with this reckless youngster."
To kill a Celestial Dragon—Rayleigh wanted absolutely nothing to do with such a madman.
"A dangerous man like you hiding under the Navy's very nose… that's unacceptable!" Kizaru's gaze turned cold. Normally, he would've avoided direct confrontation with someone like Rayleigh, preferring to push responsibility elsewhere.
But this time was different. Two Celestial Dragons were dead. If the culprit wasn't caught, the Navy would shoulder the blame—and the World Government wouldn't listen to excuses.
The timing of Rayleigh's appearance only made matters worse.
Yuno suddenly stopped in his tracks, then burst forward in the opposite direction, charging straight at Kizaru. His fist, wrapped in swirling plasma, struck with explosive force.
Kizaru, his focus still half on Rayleigh, reacted a split second too late. Yuno's punch landed cleanly, sending the admiral flying in a flash of golden light. With a deafening crash, Kizaru's body pierced through dozens of buildings.
Seizing the moment, Yuno pulled out his Den Den Mushi and contacted Lao G. Without hesitation, he ordered, "Set sail on the merchant ship. I'll deal with Kizaru, then head straight to you!"
He hung up quickly, narrowly dodging another beam of golden light.
"Good boy…" Rayleigh's eyes widened slightly. This youngster's strength was nothing to scoff at—he had actually managed to send an admiral flying. Still, Rayleigh could see it clearly: Yuno's condition was abnormal.
That kind of explosive attack wouldn't last for long.
Kizaru shot forward in a burst of golden light, his expression grim. But this time, he refrained from attacking. Ahead of him, Rayleigh and Quincy stood on opposite sides.
Faced with this situation, Kizaru didn't dare act rashly without fully grasping what was going on.
The Quincy was already troublesome—let alone the legendary "Dark King" Silvers Rayleigh, former right hand of the Pirate King.
Yuno saw Kizaru stop and spread his hands toward Rayleigh.
"Look, Senior, the Navy won't let you off so easily. How about we team up and take this guy down?"
Rayleigh frowned, glancing sideways at Yuno before snorting coldly.
"If you hadn't deliberately lured him here, I'd probably still be enjoying myself in some bar."
"What's your relationship?" Kizaru asked coldly, eyes narrowing.
"I have nothing to do with this young man!" Rayleigh said, exasperated. "You don't understand, do you?"
Kizaru clearly didn't believe him. It didn't matter—how could Quincy just appear here with such obvious intent?
"Hey, hey, are you really severing ties with me, Senior?" Yuno grinned, refusing to let Rayleigh distance himself.
He knew Rayleigh was implicated the moment Kizaru laid eyes on him. After all, one was a Navy Admiral, the other the Pirate King's right hand.
Yet, in the original Sabaody Archipelago events, the Navy always turned a blind eye to Rayleigh's presence. As Rayleigh himself had said, he was now just an old man in retirement, posing no direct threat.
Besides, laying a hand on him could trigger huge ripples—Roger's remnants might get involved, not to mention the possible influence of Red-Haired Shanks. That was likely why the Navy deliberately ignored him.
Rayleigh's face darkened. Friendship? What friendship? Where does he even get this nonsense from?
"Don't talk nonsense!" he snapped.
Kizaru stayed silent, fiddling with the Den Den Mushi in his hand. A sharp click echoed, and his expression hardened. He was about to speak.
But his movements didn't escape Yuno and Rayleigh's perception.
Without hesitation, Yuno struck. There was no way he'd let an Admiral call for reinforcements.
Thunder roared, and a massive lightning column erupted forward!
Kizaru's face sank as lasers fired from his fingertips.
Boom! Boom!
Smoke and dust rolled across the battlefield as Yuno burst through, holding a spear of condensed white plasma.
"Electric Spear!"
He hurled it like a javelin.
Kizaru's body split into golden light to evade, but the Den Den Mushi transmitted the sounds of battle elsewhere.
Even while dodging, Kizaru pointed again, golden beams firing to block Yuno's path.
"Kuzan, are you nearby? There's a problem here…"
Before he could finish, Yuno rushed in, lightning chains sparking around his body. His speed rivaled Kizaru's, though the Admiral narrowly dodged.
Still, Yuno had heard enough. Another Admiral? Aokiji, the one who can freeze the sea? This is going to be tricky…
His eyes flicked toward Rayleigh. He needed this old man's help.
"Senior, I've got some information. How about you hold Kizaru off for a while?"
Rayleigh eyed him warily. This brat is cunning… is he trying to set me up?
Dodging another beam from Kizaru, Yuno landed and whispered:
"Senior… you should be familiar with the surname Portgas, right?"
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