Chapter 218Clatter!An exquisite ceramic teacup slid off the table and shattered into pieces.Fleet Admiral Sengoku covered his face and let out a long, helpless, and angry sigh: "It's that man again, Garp! What on earth is wrong with your family's bloodline!"The Marine officer responsible for the report was breaking out in a cold sweat, but he braced himself and continued: "According to the latest intelligence sent back from the front lines, besides the Straw Hat Crew, several Supernovas were also present. Furthermore, the figure of the legendary pirate, Dark King Silvers Rayleigh, has also been spotted!"The one who kidnapped the three Celestial Dragons is indeed Straw Hat Luffy.Our contact with the vanguard forces and the CP0 guards has been completely severed; it's highly likely they've been wiped out."He took a deep breath and delivered the final conclusion: "Taking three World Nobles hostage is an unprecedentedly heinous incident in the eight hundred years since the World Government was founded!"Sengoku's face was grim. Suppressing the urge to smash the table, he asked in a low voice: "Has Straw Hat made any demands?"The reporting officer shook his head: "There is no news yet."It was possible that someone of sufficient weight had not yet appeared."How scary~"In the corner of the office, a man wearing a yellow-and-white striped suit sat with his legs crossed, slowly sipping tea. He looked up with a peculiar smile on his face and spoke in his uniquely slow tone:"In any case, since they've laid hands on the nobles of the World Government, we can't just sit idly by, can we, Sengoku-san?"He put down his teacup, stood up, and straightened his suit, saying:"Allow this old man to head out. I'll be back before you know it, so please rest easy."Sengoku looked at the man before him, one of the Marineford's highest combat powers, and nodded with a heavy voice: "I'll leave it to you, Borsalino."Chapter 307: The Truth of the Pirate King"Hi~ hi~"Kizaru responded lazily as his body began to emit flecks of golden light.The Straw Hat Crew just had to cause such a massive disturbance at a time like this.It was hard for them not to associate this with another matter.Meanwhile, inside the Human Auction House at Grove 1 of the Sabaody Archipelago.Disco, the person in charge of the auction house, whose face was covered in blood and dust, dialed his superior's transponder snail.The transponder snail mimicked a face wearing sunglasses with an arrogant grin, followed by a low, demonic laugh."Fuffuffuffuffu~""This isn't funny at all! Mr. Doflamingo!"Disco screamed at the transponder snail with all his might: "Isn't this your shop? Where on earth are you right now?!"His voice carried a sob: "The shop's reputation is completely ruined, and now it's involved in the kidnapping of Celestial Dragons! I'm a dead man! Please, find a way to handle this! If something happens to the Celestial Dragons here, we're all finished!""Fuffuffuffuffu... I'm telling you, Disco, human trafficking is already outdated, you idiot!"Doflamingo, on the other end of the transponder snail, said in high spirits, "The era is already smiling!"The era is smiling?Disco looked utterly bewildered, failing to understand the other's jargon. "Mr. Doflamingo! What are you saying? Are you going to abandon us in this unprecedented moment of crisis?""Shut up!"The voice from the transponder snail suddenly turned cold. "What a troublesome fellow. While you're busy blaming your misfortune on me, the footsteps of a new era are already approaching!"Doflamingo's voice grew increasingly manic."I—no, we—have just received a compulsory summons from the Marines. All Shichibukai are to prepare for war! How do you view this era? The Whitebeard Pirates versus the Seven Warlords of the Sea, fuffuffuffuffu..."The transponder snail hung up, leaving only the dull dial tone.Disco slumped to the ground, his face ashen.He had been abandoned.Clearly, Doflamingo's excitement was focused on something else entirely.Outside the auction house, in the center of the safe zone cleared by Conqueror's Haki.Luffy and Rayleigh's conversation was also taking place."Using Celestial Dragons as bargaining chips to trade with the World Government for your brother Ace's return?"After hearing Luffy's concise plan, Rayleigh was stunned for a moment before bursting into even heartier laughter. "Hahaha, not bad, not bad at all. I think it's a great plan."So similar!Too similar!This lawless attitude was exactly like that old bastard Garp.As one of the very few people who knew Ace's true identity, Rayleigh understood very well what Ace's capture signified.If the World Government hadn't yet realized Ace's bloodline, then this seemingly whimsical plan of Luffy's might actually have a chance of succeeding!Roger had previously left instructions for them, the old soldiers, to live out their remaining years in peace and not get involved in the World Government's affairs.The fact that the World Government hadn't taken action against the remnants of the Roger Piratesfor all these years might have been a deal between Roger and the World Government.He had even entrusted his child to someone else.But that was the Captain's bloodline, after all.Now that Luffy showed such courage and initiative, Rayleigh, beyond his shock, couldn't help but feel greatly excited."It's a very bold plan!"Rayleigh patted Luffy's shoulder hard and said, "It's been a long time since I've seen something so interesting."He felt a long-lost sensation, reminiscent of back then at God Valley.Having received the approval of the Pirate King's first mate for his plan, Luffy was also very happy.After all, this plan was just a sudden flash of inspiration.He had dealt with the Marines quite a bit, but dealing with the World Government was a first.A big figure like Rayleigh must have dealt with the World Government many times.He needed someone with experience.Sure enough, Rayleigh's tone turned a bit more serious: "However, to make this kind of deal with the World Government, you must be fully prepared. Those guys will do whatever it takes to maintain their so-called absolute justice and the foundation of their rule. They might not care as much about the lives of a few Celestial Dragons as ordinary people might imagine.""They wouldn't just ignore the lives of the Celestial Dragons, would they?"Zoro, carrying the wado ichimonji, kicked the unconscious Saint Charlos at his feet and asked with a frown.In his view, the World Government should value these people who called themselves gods very highly.Rayleigh shook his head and said, "Sometimes, before a higher goal, the lives of Celestial Dragonsare no different from ordinary ones."He thought back to the incident decades ago known as God Valley, the truth of which the World Government had done its best to bury."However, that is usually only in extreme circumstances. Generally speaking, the safety of the Celestial Dragons is still one of their highest priorities.But for the trade, we must find an intermediary who has enough weight and can temporarily represent the will of the World Government," Rayleigh said.Hearing this, Luffy grinned. "An Admiral's weight should be enough, right?""Guhahaha, of course it's enough! At the very least, acting as a messenger is absolutely no problem."The group waited right there for the Admiral to arrive.The Celestial Dragons were tossed on the ground like trash. Seeing this, the Supernovas in the shadows all had strange expressions on their faces.They had realized it now.Straw Hat hadn't targeted the Celestial Dragonswithout a reason.Does he want to clash with an Admiral?He's a complete madman."It looks like Straw Hat even has a connection with Rayleigh. What do you think, Doctor?"Urouge had returned to his normal size, still maintaining that strange smile that appeared no matter what.Beside him was Law, who held his hat and chuckled, "I don't know. Nothing Straw Hat Captaindoes now would surprise me."Beating up Celestial Dragons just like that.At least their group of Supernovas lacked that kind of courage."Look at them; they aren't taking what's about to happen seriously at all," Law said, looking at the Straw Hat Crew ahead.And it was indeed the case.Luffy looked very relaxed.Surrounded by fallen Marines and unconscious Celestial Dragons, with the encirclement gradually tightening in the distance, the atmosphere within the small area where Luffy and Rayleigh were had settled into a strange, brief calm.The Admiral had not yet arrived."By the way, old man,"Luffy sat down cross-legged casually and looked at Rayleigh.Rayleigh seemed to have recognized him the moment they met.And."You seem to have something to say to me?"Rayleigh smiled and sat down very relaxedly on the spot. He then took out a flask from his waist that he had produced from somewhere, took a swig, and wiped his mouth: "Ah, I've wanted to meet you for a long time.""You knew me before?" Luffy was startled."You could certainly say that," Rayleigh laughed.At this time, Uta and the others also walked over and saw Rayleigh and Luffy sitting on the ground.This was Uta's first time seeing Rayleigh. She pulled on Nami's sleeve and asked in a low voice: "Nami, who is this old man?"He had an extraordinary aura; one could tell at a glance he was no ordinary person.She had only reunited with Luffy on the Sabaody Archipelago and knew nothing of Rayleigh's identity.Nami, Vivi, Robin, and the others had already gotten over their initial shock, but their expressions were currently complex.They had known they were coming to see Rayleigh, but seeing him with their own eyes was still incredibly shocking.After all, it was that man.Like Golden Lion Shiki whom they had encountered before, he was a living legend."That person's name is known to everyone."Nami took a deep breath and said in a low, reverent tone: "The Right Hand of the Pirate King, the former first mate of the Roger Pirates, Dark King Silvers Rayleigh."Vivi added: "His deeds and portraits have been recorded in various historical documents and bounty compilations."Indeed, the name Dark King Rayleigh was one that anyone in the Grand Line with even a slight understanding of the sea would have heard at least once.Just like the Pirate King Gol D. Roger.But Uta didn't know him from books or news."First Mate Rayleigh?"Uta blinked her heterochromatic eyes, a look of realization appearing on her face.She remembered; he was the senior Rayleigh that Shanks often mentioned."So,"Zoro crossed his arms, his gaze shifting between Rayleigh and Hachi, who was hiding to the side looking a bit embarrassed, as he raised a question that everyone was curious about: "Why would a legendary figure like you know that octopus... know Hachi?"He corrected himself, as Hachi was now considered a friend."You mean Hachi? That was about twenty years ago. I encountered a storm at sea, my ship was destroyed, and I drifted near Fish-Man Island. I was seriously injured at the time and almost became food for Sea Kings."Rayleigh looked at Hachi and said with a bright smile: "It was the young Hachi who found and saved me."He paused, his tone full of emotion, "He is my savior. Even though he was just a child then, he had a kind heart. Our relationship remained very good until Hachi joined the Sun Pirates later on."The Sun Pirates?
