And while Orin was enjoying himself in the New World, the rest of his crew's journey was also unfolding.
...
Sabaody Archipelago.
In the bustling red-light district, waves of newly arrived pirates kept showing up.
Some were well-behaved, while others—too arrogant for their own good—thought they could punch their way to fame.
But without exception, they all came to realize just how vast the sea truly was.
And the remarkable stability of this area was owed to one legendary man—
A middle-aged, blond-haired uncle sitting at the bar, sipping rum.
Seasoned seafarers might recognize him at a glance:
The man who had long since retired from roaming the seas,
The former first mate of the Pirate King,
Dark King Silvers Rayleigh!
...
Ever since Roger disbanded the crew and Orin, Shanks, and the others began making a name for themselves on the seas,
Rayleigh—unlike most of the other members who completely vanished—still had some presence, at least within a certain sphere. After all, he was helping Orin watch over his territory.
His "payment" was nothing more than some Belly and free access to all of Sabaody's businesses.
For an old man like him, that was more than enough.
After all, whether it was meals, lodging, or shopping, Rayleigh barely spent a Belly in the archipelago.
His job was simple—
Get rid of any so-called "Supernovas" who either didn't know Orin's title of "Black Emperor" or knew it but still thought they could replace him.
...
Such behavior was indeed more high-profile than Roger's old "stay out of trouble" rule, and it had caught the attention of the World Government.
But after a closer look—
Oh, he's just hanging around Orin's turf?
Then never mind.
Although his actions and fame sometimes pushed the limits, Orin's influence was enough for the World Government to turn a blind eye.
After all, he was actually helping them by taking out plenty of unstable elements on the sea.
...
This also meant that plenty of people, having heard the name of the Pirate King's former first mate, came here hoping to witness the legendary figure for themselves.
"That blond hair… that's gotta be the Pirate King's right-hand man, Dark King Rayleigh!"
"No doubt about it."
"He just looks like some ordinary middle-aged coater though."
"Don't be fooled by appearances! They say the number of troublemakers who've died by his hand is at least eight hundred—if not a thousand!!!"
"He was the Black Emperor's first mate! There's no such thing as being too afraid of him!!!"
...
Inside the tavern, many who recognized Rayleigh were now watching him with awe.
Normally, pirates of his caliber were people who dominated the seas—
Not men who could be found drinking casually in a common bar.
...
"Phew~"
Shakky took a drag from her cigarette, leaning lazily against the counter. Her lips curved into a slight smile as she looked at the pirates drawn here by Rayleigh's presence.
"Who knew you had this kind of pull? The customer traffic's gone way up."
Rayleigh gave a small, helpless shrug and chuckled.
"Let's just hope these greenhorns don't start crying when they can't pay for their drinks."
...
But no matter how famous someone was, hot-headed fools kept appearing on the seas.
Even the Four Emperors had no shortage of challengers, and there were always Supernovas full of themselves.
...
"Oi!!! Dark King Rayleigh! We'll use your head as the flag for the New World debut of the Bull and Horse Pirates!!!"
Under the shocked gazes of many pirates, a group of less-than-bright fools charged in, weapons drawn.
Yet Rayleigh remained seated at the bar like an ordinary uncle, hands resting as he sipped his drink.
"Your head—we're taking it!!!"
Crack—
Black and red arcs of electricity burst forth.
Boom—
Thud! Thud! Thud!
A shadow flickered, and without anyone seeing what he did, the reckless fools were sent flying, hitting the floor and lying motionless.
They were quickly dragged away.
If they were dead, so be it.
If not, they'd better be ready to become real beasts of burden.
...
"As expected of Dark King Rayleigh! I couldn't see a single move just now!!!"
The tavern went dead silent, the only sound being Rayleigh's steady drinking. The pirates kept their distance, eyes full of fear.
For him, this was just everyday life.
Have a drink, enjoy a little massage, wander through Sabaody's markets when bored—
In middle age, he'd simply started living a retired life early.
...
Gulp, gulp…
He raised his head and finished the drink in his hand.
"The usual."
Shakky casually took the empty bottle and ticked a mark in her little notebook.
"Still putting it on Orin's tab, right?"
"Of course. No way I'm paying for something this expensive, Shakky."
Rayleigh chuckled.
...
Just as he was about to order another bottle for a pleasant evening, a figure stepped through the door—
And headed straight for Rayleigh.
"Look! Another guy!!!"
"Looks pretty young… must've just set out to sea. Heh…"
But a few seasoned ones, upon seeing this figure, widened their eyes in shock, mouths hanging open in speechlessness.
The young man walked right up to Rayleigh and slowly sat down beside him.
"One glass of red wine, please."
The magnetic, elegant voice made one instinctively think of nobility.
Rayleigh glanced at him without much surprise, smiling as he lifted his bottle in greeting.
"What? Orin didn't come back with you?"
The youth was dressed in a white shirt, short black hair, a cross-shaped longsword strapped to his back, and a natural air of cold pride.
When his hawk-like eyes turned, the piercing gaze felt like it could cut into one's soul.
"No… We parted ways some time ago. I've been traveling, challenging swordsmen across the seas. I've already caught a glimpse of the world's strongest swordsmanship."
Is that so…
Rayleigh turned his head to study the young man beside him.
Honestly, in terms of pure swordsmanship talent, he might be the most gifted person Rayleigh had ever seen.
Even Orin and Shanks might fall slightly short.
...
"So then… Dracule Mihawk, one of the highest-level swordsmen in the world I can think of—what do you want with a retired old man like me?"
At those words, Mihawk drank his wine, his sharp eyes locking onto Rayleigh's with unmatched resolve.
"You're one of the finest swordsmen I can find in the world, Dark King Rayleigh. I've come to challenge you to a proper duel. Even if it costs me my life, I will never regret it…"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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