CHAPTER 150 TALKING WITH A LEGEND

CHAPTER 150 TALKING WITH A LEGEND

“Cool,” I found myself saying as Rayleigh walked up to the mermaid. Without a word he grabbed the collar from her neck in both hands. Ripping it in 2 in a smooth motion he threw the 2 halves away. They exploded by the curtains. All of it took less than a second, showing just how strong and confident the Dark King was.

I heard crying out from the back of the room. Looking behind the curtains there were people still stuck in cages. “Why don’t you free them, Weston,” Rayleigh said as if he knew me. I couldn’t help but nod. Running to one of the people knocked out by my Haki I grabbed the keys at his belt.

Running to the cages I began opening cages then passed the keys to people as they cried happy tears. Even the people that had been sold already were still there. A new chance at life they desperately moved for the keys and I released them all one by one. By the time I came back to the main auditorium everyone but Rayleigh was gone.

“Apparently the marines learned I was being sold at the auction, they are outside for me,” the old man laughed.

“Why were you being sold?”

“Eh, I needed money. I was going to get bought by someone rich, then steal all their stuff,” he laughed. I joined him. “Better go catch up with your crew.”

“Wait, uh my crew is already at Shakky’s bar. We need someone to coat our ship,” I said.

“I know,” Rayleigh said. “Don’t worry. I’ll help these people escape,” waving at the still scared once slaves. “Then I’ll meet you there. Go help your captain.” I nodded, excited to be able to talk to the old guy. I ran out of the slave auction to find the captains tearing through the lines of marines easily. Luffy began punching wildly, Zoro slashing through marines just enough to not kill. I began decreasing the temperature around me.

Jumping to their side I waved my hand at the marines, causing a wave of cold air. Then with my Jitte I joined Zoro in slashing my way through. The 3 of us comfortable fighting by one another we instinctively knew what the others would do. I ducked down as Luffy extended his leg out in a kick. He jumped up in the air as a wave of water shot from my Jitte to hit a few marines running at us. Zoro jumped forward, intercepting a line of them about to fire their guns at us, slashing through the barrels with ease.

We were quickly through the thick of them. “Hey Straw Hats!” Kidd yelled. He was a pale man with spiked red hair. “I hope we never meet again!”

“Same to you!” Luffy yelled.

“Didn’t make friends with the other captain’s, cap?” I asked.

“Nope, they were all pissed we punched those fish dragons,” Luffy said.

“To each their own. Come on, gotta get to Grove 13,” I said. They nodded and both ran in different directions. I cursed, grabbing their collars. Dragging them with me straight ahead we made it to Shakky’s bar easy enough. The other Straw Hats had made themselves at home. Shakky was passing out drinks and the 3 slave girls were already at work. They eyed me, but I ignored them. They didn’t need me to remind them what they had been through.

“Where have you 3 been?” Nami asked.

“We went to an Action,” Luffy said.

“Auction, we will explain later,” I said. “Rayleigh here yet?” I asked Shakky.

“Just got here,” the old man said walking out from the back room. He smiled widely seeing the Straw Hats all around. A piano in the corner, Brook was playing it without singing. Franky, Usopp, Robin, Sanji, Nami, and Chopper sitting with drinks in their hands they were having a good time. Their cheeks rosy, the party had already started.

“I need some medicinal help,” Rayleigh said, hefting up Hacchan. I cursed having forgotten about him and the mermaid. She was in the back as well. We soon had Hacchan laid up on a table and Chopper was pulling the bullet out and bandaging him. While he did, Cammie the mermaid cried by his side while we explained what happened.

Well I explained, Luffy gave pointless details like, there was no food, or the guy had a bunch of spiky hair and could control metal. They were upset at first that he hit a Tenryuubito, but I explained I couldn’t have put so many guards of the Dragons in an illusion, which was probably true. Probably not, but still they forgave him especially hearing how thankful Cammie was.

Once Chopper deemed Hacchan was fine there was a little drama after Nami and Usopp recognized him from Arlong’s. Then Nami forgave him, which was nice. Apparently he had turned a new leaf and ran a Takoyaki shop with Cammie in the area. They were robbed and she got kidnapped by accident. Leading to her being sold as a slave.

After that was over we were able to ask the real questions. “You were the first mate on the Pirate King’s ship?!” Luffy yelled as Rayleigh explained who he was.

“Yeah, I was known as Silvers Rayleigh.”

“Dark King Rayleigh?” Robin asked, intrigued. Yôur favorite stories at novelhall.com

“The same,” Rayleigh said. “But I still have to thank you for stepping in with Hacci at the auction house. Back 20 years ago he saved my life.” The octopus was asleep from the anesthetic so he didn’t elaborate.

“No problem,” Luffy said. “It was sick what they were doing there.”

“Still, the Pirate King was executed 22 years ago,” Sanji said bluntly. “Did octopus-guy there save you from being executed too?”

“No, the government never really bothered to try to capture us,” Rayleigh admitted.

“What?!” A few people exclaimed.

“Gold Roger, the pirate king, turned himself in,” he admitted to the stunned shock of those in the room. “He came down with an incurable disease before that, and wanted to go down with a bang. The government accepted his surrender as a show of strength. Little did they know he would cause the next Great Pirate Age with his execution.”

“Who?” I asked.

“Copper Walters,” Rayleigh said. “But his full name was Walters Watanabe.”

“What!?” I asked, amazed. My eyes wide I couldn’t believe the implication he was getting at. I was related to the Jolly Rogers. The most famous crew in existence.

“Yeah,” Rayleigh said. “Your dad joined us at the start of our journey. Around the time we got Oden.”

“Is he alive?” I asked.

“I don’t know,” Rayleigh admitted. “But you’re his son, that’s for sure. I saw you back when you were a wee lad of 4.”

“Shit,” I said, shocked. Looking to the others in the crew they appeared to be as shocked as I was. I felt a little bad asking since they all denied knowing their answers. “I guess I should wait for the journey too. Like Garp said.”

Rayleigh laughed. “Garp told you to wait?” I nodded with a frown. “You would only get your answers if you gave up on One Piece.”

“What?!” I asked, “I wouldn’t do that.”

“I’m sure, just like your dad didn’t,” Rayleigh said. “I’ll give you a hint instead. You’ll get your memories back if you go to the country of Leton.”

“Leton?” I asked. Rayleigh nodded. I opened up my shop screen. Pouring through the Log Poses until I found Leton. It was there. For only 1 Berrie. I about fell over, expecting a huge amount. I guessed the system or whatever was playing with me. I dismissed it for now.

“You good?” Rayleigh asked.

“Yeah, I can get my answers later,” I said. Rayleigh nodded.

“So, you needed someone to coat your ship? Your ship is at Grove 41 correct? I’ll go coat it, but it will take a few days. The Marines may have sent a Fleet Admiral so you should watch out,” he said getting up. He started to walk towards the door. “You may want to lay low.”

“Should we split up?” Zoro asked. Robin and Nami looked at me, I ignored them.

“That’s a good idea. Shakky, do you have a Vivre Card?” I asked the woman.

“I do,” she said, digging under the bar.

“What’s that?” Luffy asked.

“It’s a card that you split in half. No matter where you are, the card will pull to the other, so you can find one another,” I said. Shakky pulled out a large piece of paper folded in half. She cut it down the middle.

“Oh,” Luffy said. Taking off his hat he pulled a small white card out of his hat. “My sister gave me one, I think.” He picked up the card, but it appeared to have been burned. “Why the hell is it so small?”

“If it’s attuned to a person, it follows their life force,” Shakky said. “That means they are weak.” She eyed me. I shook my head slightly. Reaching forward I began folding one side of the paper she had then tore off a piece.

“How long to coat the ship, Rayleigh?” I asked. My own history forgotten as I grew excited about what was to come.

“3 days,” he said, picking up a canister from a sidewall.

“So we meet in 3 days?” I asked the others as I started passing out sections of the cards.

“What are we supposed to do?” Chopper asked. “Can we go back to the amusement park?”

“No, gotta hide for a few days,” I said. “Keep the card on you.” I directed at Zoro. “Set it down and it will point you where to go. We meet back here in 3 days, in the evening.”

“You sure about this?” Nami asked. Robin beside her I nodded solemnly at them.

“The way it’s gotta be,” I said. “I’ll...miss you.” The girls frowned, hesitant but nodded.

“Miss us?” Usopp asked.

“Well yeah, I’m not hiding away for 3 days with you,” I said. “You are unlucky enough to get caught.”

“Don’t say that,” he cried as he took his paper. I laughed and we were out the door.