148: Chapter 147 Conversation with RayleighXia Qi's extortion bar.
The Straw Hat Pirates and Rayleigh were toasting each other.
"I used to be a subordinate of the Pirate King, the vice-captain of Roger's pirate group - Silvers Rayleigh."
Rayleigh, with his neat silver hair, took a sip of wine and said calmly,
"Please give me your guidance."
Franky's eyes widened.
"It's really [Pluto] Rayleigh!The right arm of the Pirate King!"
Usopp took a deep breath:
"[Pluto] Silvers Rayleigh, we were quite excited when we heard Luffy say that we were going to meet such a legend."
Rayleigh couldn't help but raise his eyebrows:
"Are you still excited to meet me?I heard you've defeated countless legends along the way."
Ajin sighed:
"[Pluto] Rayleigh, this name is as well-known as thunder.The right arm of the Pirate King Gol D.Roger is well-known to everyone and can be seen in many books."
Sanji poured a glass of wine:
"Indeed, many people have heard of this name."
Brook muttered as he picked up the food with his chopsticks:
"Gol D.Roger?I seem to have heard of this name before, but it also seems I haven't."
Xiao Ba brought a plate of hot takoyaki to the table and scratched his head:
"About twenty years ago, I helped Uncle Rayleigh when he was in trouble at sea, and that's how we became inseparable."
"Although I was very young at that time, we had a pretty good relationship until I joined the Sun Pirates.As for what happened later, well, let's not talk about it."
Sanji lit a cigarette and asked Rayleigh:
"But the Pirate King, Gol D.Roger, was executed 22 years ago.As the vice-captain, why didn't anything happen to you?Shouldn't you have been captured by the navy as well?"
Luffy turned around and chuckled:
"Haha, even though that's what was reported in the newspapers before, only the people involved know the exact situation!"
Rayleigh adjusted his glasses, took a sip, and said:
"Gol D.Roger, of course he wasn't caught—Roger turned himself in!"
Luffy already knew the truth, and the other companions had more or less guessed it.Now that the truth was confirmed, they couldn't help but be stunned.
"I think the World Government announced Roger was captured in order to gain credit."
"Roger turned himself in because he saw the end of our journey.It must have happened four years before the public execution—"
"Roger has been diagnosed with an incurable disease.Facing a disease that no one can cure, Roger may also feel pain and despair."
"At the time, there was a doctor in charge of the lighthouse, and he was considered the best.This man was Kulokas of the Twin Capes.Only he could relieve Roger's pain.We asked him to join us and complete our final journey as the ship's doctor."
"And then, three years later, Roger, nearing the end of his life, successfully completed the Grand Line, a feat that everyone said was impossible."
Rayleigh grinned as he said:
"Haha, now that I think about it, it's really amazing."
Sauron was slightly startled:
"Kurokas?It really is fate!"
Rayleigh drank the wine in his glass:
"You've already met Crocus at the Twin Capes, right?I'm old now!I really want to meet him."
Zoro continued to ask questions:
"So, what happens after you dominate the sea?"
Rayleigh stroked the wine jug in his hand and continued:
"After that, Roger was known as the 'Pirate King'.But it's really nothing special.The title means nothing to a dying man."
Rayleigh changed the subject:
"But Roger actually enjoyed it.He's a man who loves to exaggerate everything he does, whether it's at a party, in battle, or even with the little time he has left."
"Roger seemed to be enjoying himself at that time.As for our pirate group, it gradually disbanded under his orders.Everyone went their separate ways, and one after another completely disappeared.I have no idea where these companions who had been through life and death together are now and what they are doing."
"A year after we disbanded, Roger surrendered himself and was arrested.He was then publicly executed in his hometown, Rogue Town in Donghai."
"I heard that on the day Roger was executed, many of the most famous pirates on the sea gathered in the square where Roger was executed.The execution of this Pirate King attracted worldwide attention."
Rayleigh lowered his head as he narrated, and no one could see his expression.Rayleigh recalled:
"But I didn't go there.Because that guy said to me at the end - [I won't die, good brother!]"
"Both the World Government and the Navy were surprised.That public execution, which was held to warn other pirates, was the catalyst for the current Great Pirate Era because of Roger's final words."
"Roger instantly transformed his final few seconds of life into a fire that ignited the entire world.In those days of laughter, tears, and drinking with everyone, our captain lived the most wonderful life."
Weiwei covered her face and lowered her head:
"What a tragic story!"
Luffy breathed a sigh of relief:
"Mr.Rayleigh, the man who inherited Roger's will and spirit, will carry on the torch."
"Yes!Just like the Shanks you know, I unexpectedly met Shanks here about ten years ago.At that time, I was quite curious why Shanks gave the straw hat that Roger personally handed to him to someone else."
Rayleigh smiled slightly, and Luffy's figure was reflected in his glasses.
"Now it seems that what Shanks said is true.You really have the potential to surpass Captain Roger, and evenSo.Joey Boy!"
Robin couldn't help but ask after hearing this:
"Mr.Rayleigh, what exactly does the so-called [D] stand for?And what about the blank hundred years of history?"
Rayleigh laughed heartily:
"Hahahaha, if you want to know, why not explore it yourself?Besides, each of you already has the answer in your heart, right?"
Rayleigh's sharp eyes swept over the crowd:
"But O'Hara is still a little hasty.If you really want to know everything, I can tell you now!"
Luffy smiled and waved his hand:
"No, Mr.Rayleigh.Strictly speaking, we are not here to seek a specific [answer].We will not forget the meaning of travel."
Rayleigh was surprised when he heard this:
"Oh?Monkey D.Luffy, you didn't just come here to get coated with an old man like me, right?"
Luffy said seriously:
"Uncle Rayleigh, there is one thing you must know.As you know, I am the grandson of Garp.However, I have a sworn brother—Portgas D.Ace, the son of Gol D.Roger and Portgas Rouge!"
Then Luffy briefly talked about Ace's situation.
Rayleigh was stunned, then seemed to remember something:
"Ace.this is really, hahahaha!"
"That Roger guy actually has a son?Hahahaha, this is really.good news worth celebrating!"
"but--"
Rayleigh's tone suddenly became calm:
"The Roger Pirates had already disbanded long ago.Furthermore, Ace probably already knew his identity, but he still chose to become Whitebeard's son.From that moment on, he made the choice to distance himself from Roger."
Luffy nodded:
"Uncle Rayleigh, you're right.This was Ace's own choice.But I also understand that if it weren't for the bond of blood, Roger wouldn't have allowed mother and daughter to hide their identities and hope for a peaceful life.And if it weren't for love, Ace's mother wouldn't have endured for three years before giving birth to Ace."
"Ace is not only a legacy entrusted to him by Roger, but also the child his mother fought tooth and nail to protect.No matter how much Ace rejects the identity of the 'Son of the Pirate King,' it cannot change.He has truly inherited a certain will from Roger."
Rayleigh was silent for a while after hearing this:
".So, you don't want an old man like me to come out and protect him, do you?"
Luffy shook his head.
"I didn't expect Mr.Rayleigh to come out to protect Ace.I just informed him of the situation.We all hope that tragedy will never happen."
Rayleigh looked at Luffy deeply:
"The dangers of the Grand Line far exceed what you know.There are many powerful enemies on the sea.Can you rule this sea?"
Luffy showed his signature smile:
"Rule?There's no need to rule!This world belongs to everyone, not just a small group of people.There's no construction without destruction!"
"The freest person on this sea is the Pirate King, but I'm not a pirate, and I won't need pirates in the future!How can a pirate's territory be a utopia?"
"However, the environment created by pirates is definitely much safer than the countries governed by the World Government.At least if they work hard, they can still barely survive.But under the control of the World Government, survival is a luxury.Many conspiracies and tricks are only used by the navy, and even pirates disdain to use them."
"Let me ask you, if everyone can live and work in peace and contentment, who would still be willing to fight and kill?"
"My devil fruit ability is exactly the same as Joyboy's, but I think it's not the Nika Fruit that makes Joyboy successful, but Joyboy who makes the Nika Fruit successful!"
"History before the establishment of the World Government has been ruthlessly erased.Without history, all those born on this sea are spiritual slaves.Therefore, there is no creation without destruction!"
Rayleigh stared at Luffy in front of him thoughtfully:
"It seems that this straw hat is really suitable for strong men!Surpassing Joy Boy, maybe you can really do it!"
Luffy then said:
"Mr.Rayleigh, I only have one last question!"
Lei Li pursed his lips and said, "You say it!"
"One piece of the great secret treasure, it both exists and doesn't exist, right?"
Luffy said softly.
Rayleigh's eyes widened when he heard this, but he didn't say anything more, just nodded slightly and barely noticeable.
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