"Ten billion belly reward for the Great Blade Sword Master Shano, if I were you, I wouldn't move recklessly."
A deep and slightly hoarse voice came from behind, the sword blade pressed slightly, the sharp cold light almost touching Shano's neck.
"I haven't moved, have I?"
Shano still didn't turn around, speaking casually, "What a surprising way to meet... Netherworld King Rayleigh."
"You recognize this old man?"
The voice from behind carried a hint of surprise.
"The right and left arm of the Pirate King, Deputy Captain of the Roger Pirates, it's hard not to recognize, right?"
Shano glanced at the sword beside his neck, "I originally thought I'd meet you at a bar, have a drink or something, didn't expect it to be like this... Can you tell me the reason?"
In the cold light of the blade, reflecting Rayleigh's silver-haired, aged face.
"Already forgotten?"
Rayleigh squinted at him, "About four or five years ago, you killed some Fishmen in the East Sea, one of them was an Octopus Fishman named Hachi, who once saved my life in the sea, and I made a promise never to allow anyone to harm or bully him, but he ended up dying by your hand."
"Hachi..."
Shano recalled for a moment.
Such a distant name, a member of the Ah Long Pirates, he only remembered Ah Long, Hachi indeed also left an impression, what were the other officers' names... Croobi? Qiu?
"Ah, I remember now."
Shano grinned, "That guy followed Ah Long and invaded my hometown, I tore him to pieces, as it should be, right? If not killing him, should I invite him for a drink?"
"Of course he should have been killed."
Rayleigh unexpectedly shook his head, "That child was innately kind and reliable, but unfortunately followed the wrong person. Since he chose to leave the Sun Pirates and joined with villains like Ah Long, inevitably, whether intentionally or unintentionally, he was bound to commit many evil deeds."
"Then I don't understand."
Shano slightly tilted his head, "Since you also agree he deserved to die, also knowing I was right to kill him, why then do you draw your sword against me now?"
"If you always stayed in your hometown, remained a civilian, I would never come to trouble you, in fact, as early as five years ago, I learned from the newspaper about the total destruction of the Ah Long Pirates, yet never went to the East Sea to find you."
Rayleigh paused and then continued:
"But now the situation is different, you became a pirate and came right up, if I remained unmoved, I would indeed be ashamed of this promise, this life-saving grace."
"Since choosing to be a pirate, you must be prepared to die at any time, just like Hachi paying for his evil deeds, isn't that so?"
Rayleigh sighed softly, "However, at the end of it all, Hachi was in the wrong, and this old man truly doesn't wish for a promising new generation who can stir the New World to fall, so I have no intention to take your life."
Shano finally turned his head, squinting at the old man before him: "Then what do you mean?"
"Use your little finger to atone."
Rayleigh said with a complex expression, "I need it to mourn Hachi's soul, just a small thing, it shouldn't be too much, right? Either you do it yourself or this old man can help."
Shano stared at Rayleigh for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed.
"Use my little finger to atone?"
His mouth curved into a mocking smile, "And have me do it voluntarily? Do you think that's possible, Rayleigh, have you grown old, lived in seclusion too long, your mind also muddled?"
Rayleigh's brow furrowed slightly, the sword edge still steadily pressed against Shano's neck: "Young man, this old man isn't negotiating with you."
"Coincidentally, neither am I negotiating with you."
Shano's smile abruptly vanished, his gaze suddenly sharp:
"So much nonsense, in the end, it's all for a scumbag, wanting me to pay the price, yet still posing sanctimoniously before me..."
As he spoke.
His right fist suddenly clenched tight, the black-red Supreme King Haki instantly became tangible, entwining upwards, the violent energy fluctuations causing the air to ripple and distort!
"——What are you pretending, Rayleigh!"
Rayleigh's pupils contracted, Observation frantically warned, but before he could react——
Boom!!!
Shano's fist had already slammed fiercely towards his face!
Rayleigh could only hastily block with his sword.
But the power of this punch was far beyond imagination, the sword blade was bent upon impact, the terrifying impact forcefully entered his body, sending him flying away!
Screech——!!!
Rayleigh's body carved a furrow hundreds of meters long in the grassland, eventually crashing into the auction house's front gate far away.
Thud!
The entire building shook violently, the exquisitely classical carved door shattered under the impact, and amidst the swirling dust, the nobles inside the auction house let out terrified screams, the crowd scattering like a tide in all directions.
Within the enveloping dust.
Rayleigh slowly stood up, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, raised his head, and looked in disbelief at the black-haired youth walking towards him step by step.