Whoever took that picture was really trying their hardest to get him killed.
"Let's quickly get what we came from and leave this island" Rayleigh said and the three of them agreed without hesitation and promptly left the area. However they didn't notice the figure that was following behind them in the shadows.
The three of them quickly found a secluded alley to escape from the unwanted attention.
"Things aren't looking so good for us" Naruto said as soon as they rounded the corner.
"A lot of bounty hunters will be gunning for us now. Even the stronger ones might decide to join in" Rayleigh frowned, displeased by their current circumstances. The worst scenario was finally happening.
"We should get going before things become troublesome" Roger suggested.
However, as soon as Roger finished speaking a fourth voice interrupted their conversation.
"Are you guys lost?"
The three of them turned around as one to see a man standing at the entrance of the alley. He was an average-sized man with light skin, and dark red colored hair tied in a ponytail, with an even fringe and two strands framing his face.
The group of three immediately tensed up as soon as he took a step forward.
"Who are you?" Roger asked with a chilling tone. The smile on his face nowhere to be seen. The atmosphere immediately felt heavy.
However despite their hostile attitude towards him, the man still smiled and said. "You can call me Spencer. I'm just an ordinary bar man working on this island. Also there's no need to be suspicious. You guys aren't the first group of pirates with a bounty to come here"
"If we are not the first then why was everyone staring at us" Naruto asked not buying his excuse one bit. Roger and Rayleigh also nodded.
"Well, can you blame them. You guys are a mysterious pirate group that no one as ever heard of. And yet you still managed to take down the infamous gorge pirates. Anyone will be curious about you guys. And I am no exception" Spencer explained. Don't they understand that having a bounty brings a lot of attention.
"Well what is it to you?" Rayleigh asked with one hand on the hilt of his sword. If Spencer was to give the wrong answer he will immediately cut him down.
However, despite knowing this Spencer still smiled and said. "You guys don't know your way around this island, but I do. It would be unfortunate if you were to encounter the marines or some bounty hunters. So I'm offering my help"
Naruto and the other exchanged looks before huddling together to discuss.
"I don't trust this guy" Naruto whispered earning him a nod from Rayleigh.
"Neither do I. Especially with that innocent smile on his face"
"He seems okay" Roger shrugged nonchalantly.
"Shut up"
After a quick discussion Rayleigh said. "We have nothing to lose. Let's just see where it goes from here. It won't be too late to cut him down later"
"Okay" Naruto and Roger nodded without much suspense.
Spencer patiently waited for them to finished their discussion. And not long after the three of them break off from each other before Rayleigh turned to Spencer and said. "Lead the way"
"Alright. follow me." Spencer said before turning around to leave the alley. Naruto and the others followed behind him. Before they knew it they had already walked out of town and were heading towards a cliff not far from the town. On the top of the cliff was a small bar.
Naruto turned to Spencer when he saw the bar and asked. "Why the hell did you build a bar outside of town and on top of a cliff for that matter?"
"Why else? For people like you of course. Now come on" Spencer laughed before leading them into the bar.
When they entered the bar, they saw a few people drinking and eating in the bar but they didn't seem to care about their presence. They only gave them a quick glance before looking away.
Spencer greeted a few of the customers as he led them to the counter.
"Boss where have you been?! I've been looking all over for you!" The bar man shouted as soon as he laid eyes on Spencer.
"Sorry, sorry. I ran into some new comers in town, so I invited them over to the bar" Spencer explained before jumping over the counter.
"Travelers?" the man turned to naruto's group of three seated in front of the counter. A look of surprise flash across his face before he politely said.
"Forgive my rudeness. My name is Taro. I handle the bar in the boss stead." The barman introduced himself. Taro was a young man of average height. He has chestnut-shaped light hair and a pair of goggles on his head.
"You look nothing like a barman" Naruto was quick to point that out.
"Yeah, I get that a lot. But here in the grand line where pirates dominates most of the seas, you can't afford to look weak" Taro laughed.
"So what brings you guys to the grand line?" Spencer asked after he poured the three of them a glass of rum.
"What makes you think that we are not from the grand line?" Rayleigh countered with a fierce look. However Spencer wasn't mad that Rayleigh refused to answer his question. Instead he shrugged and said.
"A hunch. Also the fact that your crew just got it first bounty. Any pirate group worth their salts wouldn't have settled for less. So my guess is that you are a newly formed pirate group from one of the four seas that recently entered the grand line in search of treasure or adventure."
"You are right. We came to the grand line in search of adventure" Roger admitted with a laugh before taking a gulp from his cup. Oy for him to get smacked on the back of the head from Rayleigh and Naruto.
"ROGER!"
Spencer and Taro laughed heavily at their action.
'Well there goes our plan' Naruto facepalm. Since the plan was already ruined, there was no point keeping up with it anymore. Naruto ignored Roger's apologies and asked.
"So where exactly are we?"
"The island you guys are on right now is called Cactus Island due to the shape of the mountain. It's the second island recorded on the log pose after the twin cape" Spencer informed as he refilled their drinks. "If you guys came through the reverse mountain then you would have passed the light tower at the entrance of the Grand line."
"Well that explains somethings." Rayleigh muttered to himself. Then, he looked at Spencer and asked. "Can you tell me about the situations of the marines in the Grand line?"
"Not much. But there have been news of a few rookie marines that have been taking the ocean by storm. I'll advice you to be careful out there" Spencer said as he poured Rayleigh another glass of rum.
"Hey, Rayleigh? Do you feel kind of funny?" Naruto asked as he examined the inside of his cup in confusion.
Did I drink too much? He couldn't help but wonder as his vision suddenly turned blurry and he fell to the ground unconscious.
"Naruto?" Rayleigh looked at him in surprise. Did he had to much to drink? Come to think of it he hasn't heard Roger's voice for a while now.
Perplexed, Rayleigh turned to Roger only see him passed out on the counter as well. Rayleigh immediately understood what was going on and quickly reached for his sword.
However, before he could draw his blade his body suddenly slump over as he slowly lost consciousness.
'Shit. I let my guard down' Rayleigh glared at Spencer as he lost consciousness. The last thing he saw was that annoying smile on his face.
Spencer sighed in relief. For a moment there he thought Rayleigh was immune to his sleeping medicine. If it had been so, they would have had to put in a lot of effort to take him down.
Once he made sure that Rayleigh and the others were was unconsciousness Spencer turned to the other inhabitants of the bar who had been watching in anticipation and shouted.
"Men! Tonight we celebrate!"
"YEAHHHH!"