Rayleigh used his sword as a crutch and leaned on the ground, panting heavily.
As we all know, the action of forces is mutual.
He had just used all his strength to evade the enemy and collided with Caelan, leaving a scar on Caelan's chest. Rayleigh himself wasn't in great shape either.
The weakness after going all out was one thing. What really hurt was the backlash—it had shaken his internal organs, and he couldn't recover for a while.
After all, there was a massive gap between him and the Pirate King Roger.
"What a monster..."
Looking at Caelan, who looked nearly unscathed, Rayleigh was shocked.
He had taken that attack head-on and only ended up with a minor injury, which was already healing visibly.
At this rate, even the wound would disappear completely in no time.
And to think, Rayleigh had poured all his strength into that sword—it was even stronger than the one Roger casually used to send Kozuki Oden flying.
At first, he doubted Caelan had the strength of a Yonko. But after this exchange, he knew Caelan lived up to the reputation.
"I admit defeat. You're incredible."
Rayleigh raised his hands, smiled bitterly.
After such a full-powered strike, Caelan remained unaffected. Continuing the fight would only lead to embarrassment.
"You say you don't want to fight? So what does that make me?"
Caelan shook his head and laughed in contempt.
Why should he just let him go because he ran out of stamina?
If surrendering worked, he wouldn't have cashed in so many pirate bounties.
"Here's 200 million Berries. If you stop the fight, it's yours."
Rayleigh opened the case in his hand and showed it to Caelan.
Inside were the 200 million Berries that Shakky had prepared.
He had initially planned to teach Caelan a lesson and then give him the money as compensation for medical expenses.
But clearly, he had overestimated himself.
These Berries had now become his life-saving money. He had to admit, Shakky's instincts were spot on—worthy of her reputation as the former intelligence officer of the Rocks Pirates.
Looking at the suitcase filled with neatly stacked cash, Caelan raised an eyebrow.
This old man even brought some side dishes.
Still, he wanted both the 200 million and Rayleigh's bounty!
"If I don't let you go, that money's mine anyway."
"Why are you trying to bribe me with my own money?"
Caelan glared at Rayleigh and snapped.
"What?!"
Rayleigh froze at the sight of Caelan's righteous indignation.
If Shakky hadn't handed the suitcase to him personally, he would've thought this really was Caelan's money.
"Your money? Is my logo still on the box or something?"
Rayleigh pointed at the emblem on the suitcase with a dark expression.
It was the logo from Shakky's bar, and now it had become solid evidence.
"Who do you think you are, engraving your bar's logo on my cash box?"
Caelan glanced at the emblem and sneered.
Rayleigh stared at Caelan, completely stunned by the man's growing arrogance.
It took him a while to pull himself together.
"Caelan, do you really think you can beat me?"
Rayleigh's face darkened. He looked like he was ready for another round.
"Yeah? So what?"
Caelan didn't care in the slightest, his expression as calm as ever.
Rayleigh's face twisted slightly as he tightened his grip on the sword.
But after taking a deep breath, he finally held himself back.
He had no choice. The situation was beyond his control.
Even if he were reduced to ashes, his old bones couldn't handle someone like Caelan.
"Whatever your conditions are, as long as I can do it, just name them."
Rayleigh looked at Caelan and said helplessly.
Hearing that, Caelan immediately thought about Rayleigh's value.
Besides the massive bounty, there were those advanced Haki techniques—Conqueror's Haki Infusion and Armament Haki Flow—that he wanted to learn.
"Teach me Conqueror's Haki Infusion and Armament Haki Flow. If you do, I'll let you be traded in for the bounty while you're still alive."
Caelan looked at Rayleigh seriously.
Letting him go was out of the question. That bounty was just too tempting.
But if he handed Rayleigh over for the bounty, what guarantee did he have that the old man wouldn't escape later?
"Can't you just let me go?"
Rayleigh frowned and said with a sigh.
"No. What? You don't want to teach?"
Caelan gave him a dangerous look.
This old guy had piqued his interest. If he couldn't give him what he wanted, Caelan wouldn't go easy on him.
"I'll teach you."
Rayleigh sighed and agreed.
If he were exchanged alive, he still had hope of getting out.
But if it were his head being turned in, then it was all over.
"Very good!"
Caelan nodded, satisfied.
He turned around and called Nami and the others over, motioning for them to stand in front of Rayleigh so they could enjoy the same kind of training Luffy once had.
"Sigh..."
Rayleigh let out a long sigh and didn't say another word.
Teaching one person was still teaching. Teaching a group didn't make much of a difference.
"I never imagined the legendary Dark King Rayleigh would become our teacher."
Kalifa looked at Rayleigh and couldn't help but sigh.
As a former CP9 agent, she never thought she'd be taught by the Dark King himself.
"Caelan, you're amazing!"
The others were just as excited, looking at Caelan with admiration.
Even the vice-captain of the Pirate King had been defeated. Was there anything he couldn't do?
Soon, under everyone's expectant gaze, Rayleigh began teaching the two advanced techniques.
"Armament Haki: Flow is an advanced application of Armament Haki. It allows Haki to flow throughout your body. No matter where you're attacked, it will be protected by the strongest defense, and your attack power will be greatly enhanced. The method to practice it is..."
"Conqueror's Haki Infusion can only be learned by those with extremely strong willpower. Only the strongest on the sea can use it. More precisely, they stand at the top because they can use it. The method to practice it is..."
In just half an hour, Rayleigh thoroughly explained the theories behind both techniques.
The girls were still unsatisfied. Even though they couldn't fully understand it yet, they felt like something had suddenly clicked just from hearing it.
So they quickly wrote everything down so they could study it in depth later.
"Alright, I'm done."
"With your potential, you should be able to master these two techniques in about a year or so."
Rayleigh looked at Caelan with pride.
He was clearly satisfied with how he'd explained everything.
"A year or so? That's way too long."
Caelan frowned, clearly not happy.
"That's still too slow?!"
"It took me more than ten years to master both of these!"
When he first learned these two techniques, he took countless detours and spent over a decade perfecting them.
He had condensed everything into a crash course that would shorten Caelan's training to a year and a half. But this brat still wasn't satisfied. He was way too greedy.
"Alright, alright, you did your best."
Caelan replied perfunctorily.
Rayleigh's instruction had been solid, but a year was still too slow.
Compared to Kaido's "three-strike crash course," the difference was staggering.
Rayleigh was so infuriated by Caelan's expression that he wanted to argue.
This was knowledge he had gained from years of experience. How could it be brushed off so casually?
"You've taught me enough. Now it's time to hand you in for the bounty."
Caelan didn't give Rayleigh a chance to respond and cut him off directly.
Hearing this, Rayleigh's anger vanished, and his expression turned sour.
This brat flipped the script so fast. He had just been his student, and now he wanted to cash him in for a bounty.
Still, Rayleigh wasn't ready to give up just yet.
"Hey, I was your teacher a minute ago. Isn't this a little heartless?"
Rayleigh looked Caelan in the eye, trying to play the emotional card.
"That was the deal from the start, so stop talking nonsense."
Caelan rolled his eyes and responded flatly.
If Rayleigh's bounty had only been a few tens of millions of Berries, he might have let him go.
But this was Rayleigh—a bounty in the billions. There was no way he'd let that slide.
Besides, this might be his last chance to collect a bounty from the World Government, so he had to be extra cautious.
It had been two days since he killed Spandam. Even though he destroyed the body and left no trace, someone would eventually realize that Spandam had gone out on a mission.
With the World Government's intelligence capabilities, they would probably figure things out within the next day or two.
"Alright, alright, I give up."
Rayleigh went silent, helpless.
This brat was too stubborn, and he had no way of dealing with him.
He had no intention of resisting. Escaping from a Marine base would be easier than escaping from Caelan.
Anyway, as long as the Admirals didn't show up, he might still have a chance to slip away.
"Just wait here. Judging by the time, they should be arriving soon."
Caelan looked up into the distance and said calmly.
The Sabaody Archipelago was known as the Celestial Dragons' backyard. He and Rayleigh had stirred up such a commotion that the Marines were bound to respond.
Caelan told Nami and the others to return to the Wind Rider, while he and Rayleigh stayed behind to quietly await the Marines' arrival.
Rayleigh lay on the ground, his face pale and lifeless, like he could die any second.
"You're really something. That pose is pretty dramatic."
Caelan chuckled at Rayleigh's theatrics.
Others might not know the truth about Rayleigh's condition, but Caelan did.
He didn't have a single visible wound or drop of blood on him. Just some weakness and minor numbness.
With Rayleigh's physical durability, this was no more than a mosquito bite. It wasn't a big deal.
"Mind your own business."
Rayleigh rolled his eyes and turned away from Caelan.
He closed his eyes and began pretending to be dead.
"Haha."
Caelan laughed softly but didn't say anything else.
He could see right through Rayleigh's little trick.
He was clearly trying to feign weakness, hoping the Marines would let their guard down so he could escape.
As for a strong man's dignity?
This was Rayleigh—the same guy who auctioned himself off whenever he ran out of money. There was no way he'd care about something so trivial.
"Interesting."
Caelan murmured, eyes glinting.
He had no intention of reporting this to the World Government.
First, he had a decent impression of Rayleigh. The old man gave him money and taught him. Second, Caelan was already about to fall out with the World Government, so there was no reason to help clean up their mess.
While Caelan and Rayleigh were waiting, the entire Sabaody Archipelago was thrown into turmoil.
As expected, with all the ruckus in the Celestial Dragons' so-called backyard, it didn't take long to attract attention.
News King Morgans darted toward Island No. 27 like a cat that smelled a fish market.
As a Carrier Pigeon Fruit user who couldn't fly, his wings were practically flapping smoke.
"Quick! Quick! Quick!"
"Big news, coming through!"
Morgans' eyes sparkled with excitement.
Just when he thought he would be the first to arrive, a sleazy golden flash zipped past him.
He couldn't even see what it was clearly, but for some reason, it just felt shady.
"Ohhh, is Admiral Kizaru joining the party? That makes it even better!"
Morgans flapped his wings faster. With an Admiral involved, the scoop would be even more explosive.
Thinking about the fight between Aokiji and Caelan last time, which brought him record-breaking traffic, Morgans couldn't stop grinning.
…
At the same time, the Straw Hat Pirates—who had arrived early since there were no strong enemies to face—were also drawn to the massive disturbance on Island No. 27.
"There's something huge going on over there! Let's check it out!"
Luffy pointed in the direction of Island No. 27 and shouted.
"That looks really dangerous. We shouldn't go."
Usopp grabbed Luffy's left arm, trying to stop him.
"Yeah, don't go."
Chopper held onto Luffy's right arm and pleaded softly.
"I'm gonna be King of the Pirates! There's nothing to be afraid of!"
Luffy shouted, dragging Usopp and Chopper toward Island No. 27.
"That's a clash between two great swordsmen! I have to see it!"
Zoro ran with his swords, more excited than anyone.
Sanji and Franky followed behind, muttering curses as they went.
…
Naturally, the first to arrive was the Flash Man himself—Kizaru.
"Long time no see, Admiral Kizaru."
Caelan looked at the familiar figure and greeted him.
"Long time no see."
Kizaru glanced at the chaotic battlefield, then looked at Caelan with caution.
He was shocked to see Rayleigh lying on the ground pretending to be dead.
The last time he had met Caelan was back in Alabasta, when he had been ordered to deal with Crocodile and ended up getting beaten instead.
Back then, he already knew Caelan wasn't ordinary.
He hadn't expected to hear about him again so soon—and this time, he had actually defeated Aokiji. (Gecko Moria was nothing.)
And now, Caelan had defeated Rayleigh too.
In just over a month, he had brought down two top-tier powerhouses. It was astonishing.
"This is scary. Even the Pirate King's vice-captain was defeated?"
Kizaru pushed up his glasses with a wildly exaggerated expression.
"You flatter me. I had to work pretty hard to take him down."
"The vice-captain of the Pirate King truly lives up to his name."
Caelan adjusted his bloodstained shirt to cover the wound that was nearly healed, then spoke with deep emotion.
"Really? That's impressive. He is a legendary pirate, after all."
Kizaru nodded, genuinely impressed.
As Roger's right-hand man, Rayleigh was a man who had once shaken an entire era. It made sense that even defeating him wouldn't come easy.
As for Caelan not having any major visible injuries, Kizaru didn't question it.
Maybe he had suffered internal injuries.
Watching Kizaru get completely fooled, Rayleigh, who was lying on the ground, twitched his eyelids a few times and could barely hold it in.
(To be continued.)
Chapter 93: Execute Him
"Admiral Kizaru, I was just about to turn in Rayleigh for the bounty when you showed up. Please help me process it."
Caelan looked at Kizaru and smiled as he spoke.
"Huh?! You want to turn him in for a bounty?"
Kizaru looked at Caelan in disbelief.
The World Government had always taken a hands-off approach with the remnants of Roger's crew. As long as they didn't cause trouble, they were mostly ignored.
That was because they were incredibly powerful and knew too many secrets about the World Government. Plus, they were scattered across the world. If one of them were captured, the others would likely rise up in response, creating massive trouble for the Government.
And now Caelan wanted to turn Rayleigh in? Wouldn't that spark a whole new wave of chaos?
"Of course. I'm a bounty hunter aligned with the World Government. Isn't it normal for me to claim the bounty on Rayleigh?"
Caelan nodded seriously.
Rayleigh, still lying on the ground, didn't believe a word of it.
Aligned with the World Government? Then how did he get Conqueror's Haki strong enough to rival a Yonko?
This kid had no regard for authority. He had to be scheming something.
"Eliminating dangerous pirates is certainly a noble deed."
"But there are still many of Roger's former crewmates hiding out, and the current Yonko, Red-Haired Shanks, has deep ties with them. Are you sure about this?"
Kizaru held his head as if it were aching.
If he had known, he would've come slower. He hated dealing with troublesome situations like this the most.
"It's just a pirate. What's there to be afraid of? Admiral Kizaru, you should help process the bounty first."
Caelan chuckled.
Roger's own son was about to be executed, and those people didn't make a move. If Rayleigh got caught, they probably wouldn't intervene either.
And even if they did, Caelan was confident he could handle them. He might even get more treasures out of it.
"Well, since you insist, I won't say more."
"Rayleigh's bounty is 3.8 billion Berries. That's a massive amount. I'll need to get approval from Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
Kizaru gave Caelan a long look and sighed helplessly.
3.8 billion Berries was no small sum, even for the World Government.
Soon, the news that Caelan had captured Rayleigh and requested the bounty reached both Marine Headquarters and the World Government.
"That old man Rayleigh got caught by Caelan? And he wants the bounty?!"
Sengoku was so shocked he yanked out several strands of his beard.
Back when he and Garp were chasing Roger, they had countless encounters with Rayleigh.
Rayleigh's strength was genuinely at the level of an Admiral. Even in his old age, with his slippery evasive techniques, it would take at least two Admirals to guarantee a successful capture.
And now he'd been captured by Caelan? It was unbelievable.
Moreover, Rayleigh's capture might not be a good thing. It could provoke other former Roger Pirates who had been laying low for years.
The sea, which had barely maintained balance, might become turbulent once again.
Thinking of this, Sengoku couldn't help but feel a migraine coming on.
"That's right. He wants the bounty immediately. Please arrange for the release of 3.8 billion Berries."
Kizaru replied casually.
This kind of thing was better left to others to stress over.
"Alright, I'll send someone over right away."
Sengoku rubbed his forehead and hung up the Den Den Mushi.
Choosing who to send was a headache in itself.
Whoever went would not only be responsible for delivering the money but also had to escort Rayleigh back with Kizaru.
Akainu was too extreme. Aokiji was still in the hospital recovering. And Sengoku himself couldn't leave.
"Crunch, crunch."
Sengoku's gaze drifted to Garp, who was loudly munching on senbei. He was the best option.
"Garp, take the money and go."
He hadn't been able to control Garp in the past, but today was different.
"Nope."
Garp ignored him and kept munching.
"It seems your grandson is in the Sabaody Archipelago too. If I send Akainu…"
Sengoku shook his head, as if picturing a tragic scene.
"Dammit!"
Garp glared at Sengoku and stormed out of the office.
He didn't need to think twice. If Akainu went, Luffy would be reduced to ash.
Soon after, a dog-headed warship carrying 3.8 billion Berries set sail toward the Sabaody Archipelago.
…
The Five Elders also received the news quickly and immediately convened a meeting.
The capture of the Pirate King's right-hand man was a huge deal that could shake the entire sea. It was worth a serious discussion.
"Have the relics of the old era grown this weak? Getting captured by a rookie… how embarrassing."
Saint Nasjuro sneered, holding the First Generation Kitetsu in his hand.
"Haha. In the end, they're just mortal men. How could they ever compare to us immortals?"
Saint Saturn swirled his red wine, looking intoxicated.
This was their pride. To them, the rise and fall on the sea were just temporary waves.
Only those with eternal life, like themselves, could laugh at the end.
The so-called remnants of Roger's crew, after over twenty years, were no longer a threat.
"Even so, the sea is far from peaceful."
Saint Mars wasn't as optimistic.
The Four Emperors were still carving up territory. The Revolutionary Army was on the move. And countless new pirates were thirsting for Laugh Tale.
It felt like the Will of D. was particularly active in this era.
Only the Nika Fruit was a bit reassuring, as it showed no signs of awakening so far.
"Unruly pirates, huh? If we publicly execute the Pirate King's right-hand man, all those fools might wet themselves in fear." Saint Saturn said.
"I'm afraid publicly executing Rayleigh would also cause significant casualties for the Marines."
Saint Mars frowned, concerned.
"Hmph. The Navy has already become rebellious. Only Akainu is still loyal."
"This is a great chance to strike and bring them back in line. We can also recruit new loyal soldiers."
Saturn snorted in displeasure, his eyes glinting coldly.
The Navy had become increasingly disobedient in recent years, often giving only lip service to orders from the World Government. This was a perfect time for a purge.
"What about Caelan, the one who captured Rayleigh? He now has the strength of a Yonko. How should we deal with him?"
Saint Peter asked in a serious tone.
Previously, they had viewed Caelan as an unstable element who needed to be eliminated.
But now that he possessed Yonko-level strength, they simply didn't have the resources to handle him.
"As long as he doesn't make a move against the World Government, we'll leave him be."
"If he wants to fight pirates, let him. Hopefully they injure each other. That would be ideal."
Saint Saturn replied calmly.
The World Government's key combat forces were already tied up dealing with the Revolutionary Army and the Four Emperors.
Taking out Caelan would require at least two Admirals, and they simply couldn't spare them.
Letting him continue to clash with other pirates would be the most beneficial outcome.
"Execute Rayleigh. Ignore Caelan. Anyone opposed?"
Saint Saturn swept his gaze around the table.
"Agreed."
"Seconded."
The other Four Elders gave their approval one after another.
Just as Caelan was waiting for the Berries to be delivered, Morgans and the Straw Hat Pirates arrived, slightly behind schedule.
"Big news! Big news!"
Morgans shouted the moment he arrived on the scene.
Caelan, standing tall and covered in blood, was laughing and chatting with Kizaru, while the Dark King Rayleigh lay unconscious on the ground.
"Silvers Rayleigh, the Pirate King's right-hand man, defeated by a rookie bounty hunter!"
In a flash, Morgans shouted out a potential headline with excitement.
"No, no, that's too plain."
Morgans shook his head, dissatisfied.
"Under the witness of a Marine Admiral, the era of pirates ends, and a golden age of bounty hunters begins!"
"Yes, that's the one!"
Morgans was ecstatic, muttering to himself with glee.
"That guy lying there is really the Pirate King's vice-captain?"
Luffy looked at the old man on the ground and widened his eyes in disbelief.
"This is bad, Luffy, we should get out of here!"
Usopp's legs were trembling as he stammered.
The three people in front of them included a legendary pirate on the ground, a bounty hunter, and a Marine Admiral. For a small-time pirate crew like theirs, this was extremely dangerous.
"No. I want to save Rayleigh and ask him about the Pirate King!"
Luffy shook his head and looked at Rayleigh firmly.
He might be a bit crazy, but that's Luffy for you.
"Are you nuts?! What does Rayleigh have to do with us? And those two don't look like people we can mess with!"
Usopp clutched his hair in frustration, nearly breaking down.
Why did Luffy have to lose it now?
This could cost them their lives!
"Zoro, Sanji, let's hold him back."
Usopp turned to the two with urgency in his voice.
"There's a great swordsman is right in front of me. There's no way I'm backing down."
"Besides, that bounty hunter already has his eyes on us."
Zoro gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, his voice serious.
Two months ago, when they first met in the East Blue, Caelan was still just a swordsman. But now, he had become a great swordsman.
Zoro was eager to fight him, hoping to make a breakthrough.
"This is crazy!"
Usopp and Chopper clung to each other and cried loudly.
…
Kizaru noticed Luffy and the others and couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.
Why did Vice Admiral Garp's grandson have to show up here? That kid's always a handful.
If Caelan turned his attention to Luffy, things would get complicated.
"Caelan, the weather's really nice today!"
Kizaru looked up at the sky, trying to steer Caelan's focus.
"It is. And I'd say my luck's not bad either."
Caelan nodded in agreement, but his gaze was locked on Luffy and his group.
Compared to when they met at that floating restaurant two months ago, not much had changed about him.
"Haha, well, congratulations then."
Kizaru gave an awkward smile, though he was inwardly tense.
"Admiral Kizaru, I think I see a few pirates over there."
Caelan turned to Kizaru with a faint smile.
This guy really was soft on Luffy.
"Really? They're just small fry. Not worth the effort."
Kizaru looked down at his toes, feigning nonchalance.
"No matter how small, I'm not picky."
Caelan smirked and began walking toward the Straw Hat Pirates.
It wasn't about greed for their bounties; besides, capturing Luffy now wouldn't benefit him. He just wanted to group Luffy and Rayleigh together.
Give Rayleigh a "luck buff" and see if he could break out of prison midway.
"Sigh..."
Kizaru let out a long sigh and quietly pulled out a Den Den Mushi.
Vice Admiral Garp, I did what I could.
…
Under the horrified gaze of Usopp and Chopper, Caelan slowly approached.
"Can you let that old man go?"
Luffy pointed at Rayleigh and asked seriously.
Morgans looked at Luffy like he'd seen a ghost.
Was this kid brain-dead?
He's asking someone to forfeit a 3.8 billion Berry bounty? How shameless can you be?
Caelan's mouth twitched.
He really did say whatever he wanted, without caring what anyone thought.
"If you want to save Rayleigh that badly, then stay with him."
Caelan looked at the Straw Hats and spoke.
"Haha, bring it on! We're not afraid of you!"
Luffy laughed boldly, showing no fear.
"W-we're terrified!"
Usopp and Chopper sobbed, tears streaming down their faces.
"Let's go! A duel with a great swordsman—this is what I live for!"
Zoro drew his two swords, full of fighting spirit.
Zoro was itching to test himself.
"What a bunch of idiots."
Though Sanji and Franky were speechless, they still stepped forward, ready to fight.
They had no choice. Even if their crewmates were a bunch of lunatics, they couldn't abandon them.
Together, they stared down Caelan, brimming with resolve.
"Tsk."
Caelan curled his lip and charged toward them.
If this had been the Straw Hat crew during the Wano arc, maybe he'd need to be careful.
But now? They were nothing.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Swish!
With just a few punches and kicks, Luffy, Chopper, Usopp, Franky, and Sanji were left with swollen bumps on their heads, collapsed on the ground, unable to move.
Out of respect for the swordsman, Zoro was knocked unconscious with Caelan's blade.
"Kuina… are you alive?"
In a daze, Zoro thought he saw Kuina waving at him.
"Admiral Kizaru, I'll leave these ones to you too. Settle their bounties along with Rayleigh's."
Caelan dusted off his hands and stacked Luffy and the others beside Rayleigh like a pyramid.
You want to save Rayleigh? Fine. Stay with him!
"You're in quite the mood today."
Kizaru didn't know what else to say.
Vice Admiral Garp's grandson was seriously a handful.
Rayleigh, lying beside Luffy, was also speechless.
He thought these kids might be monsters like Caelan, but they were beyond disappointing.
Caelan had the strength of a Yonko, mastered all three forms of Haki at top levels, and was a monster in both physique and swordsmanship.
And these kids didn't even have Haki!
This fight with Caelan had brought Luffy and the others crashing back to reality.
As Kuina faded from view, Zoro slowly regained consciousness.
Two months ago, he had been defeated by Mihawk with one strike and couldn't see his level.
Now he had been defeated by Caelan with one strike, and still couldn't see through him.
Just as the Straw Hats were questioning their life choices, Caelan looked toward the nearby sea.
"Garp's here."
A warship with a dog-head figurehead had arrived near the island, clearly detected by Caelan's Observation Haki.
"Hahaha! Old man Rayleigh, why are you so pathetic?"
His voice came before he did. As soon as Garp landed ashore, he burst into laughter.
Rayleigh, lying on the ground, frowned and had the urge to curse.
Damn it. Today was the most humiliating day of his life.
He had been seen like this by Garp, an old rival, by a Marine Admiral, by a group of rookie brats... and worst of all, by that loudmouth news hawk, Morgans.
By tomorrow, the news that he'd been beaten to the ground would be known worldwide.
A lifetime of prestige, shattered in an instant.
Thinking of this, Rayleigh put on an expression of pained dignity.
"Grandpa! Grandpa!"
Luffy recognized Garp's voice immediately and called out with excitement.
Grandpa!?
Rayleigh was stunned for a second, then broke into a grin.
The grandson of the so-called Marine Hero had turned into a pirate and was now caught, waiting to be turned in for a bounty. How interesting.
Rayleigh's expression relaxed as he started looking forward to the next development.
"Luffy?!"
Garp heard Luffy's voice and quickly led a squad of Marines over.
Luffy and his crew were all lying next to Rayleigh, each with a massive lump on their heads.
Garp couldn't even make fun of Rayleigh at that moment. Clearly, his grandson had also been given a beating.
Thankfully, they only had superficial injuries and no bleeding.
Just as he was about to rush over to check on Luffy, Caelan blocked his path.
"Vice Admiral Garp, let's settle my bounty first."
Caelan raised his hand with a smile, stopping Garp.
"Bogard, hurry up and bring the payment."
Garp looked at Caelan.
There were two of them here—him and Kizaru—and yet this kid was totally unafraid.
Still, he had no intention of fighting. It was only natural for bounty hunters to target pirates. If his grandson was stupid enough to become a pirate, then getting captured was on him.
Being a pirate was one thing, but clinging to someone like Caelan and then getting knocked out? That was entirely his own fault.
Besides, Caelan had clearly gone easy on Luffy and the others. With the strength to defeat Rayleigh, if Caelan had used full force, Luffy wouldn't be standing. He'd be paralyzed at best.
"Thanks, Vice Admiral Garp."
Caelan stepped aside and handed Rayleigh and Luffy over to Garp.
"Mr. Caelan, this is Rayleigh's bounty—3.8 billion Berries. And this is the Straw Hat crew's bounty, totaling 200 million Berries."
Bogard, Garp's adjutant, led a group of Marines carrying an entire container of Berries over to Caelan.
"Alright, perfect!"
Caelan opened the container and began inspecting it.
Stacks of Berries were piled neatly into blocks. Each bundle was one million Berries. Including the Straw Hats' bounty, there were exactly 4,000 stacks.
Garp was thoughtful enough to include the Straw Hats' bounty as well.
"Caelan, kid, why do you need so much money? It's just paper. Isn't it a pain to carry?"
Seeing the greedy glint in Caelan's eyes, Garp couldn't help but ask curiously.
"I've come this far thanks to Berries. I guess I'm sentimental. I just want to gather as much as I can."
Caelan was in a good mood and responded cheerfully.
"Oh, so you didn't have it easy either, huh?"
Garp patted Caelan on the shoulder, feeling a bit emotional.
In his mind, he imagined a story of Caelan being a poor man who rose to greatness through sheer hard work.
His fondness for collecting Berries probably came from childhood poverty—a lingering obsession.
"Yeah. It wasn't easy at all."
Caelan nodded with a deep sigh.
He'd fought hard to scrape together all these Berries, yet it still wasn't enough to satisfy the bottomless pit that was his system.
The road ahead was long, with no end in sight.
"I feel like they're not talking about the same thing..."
Kizaru watched the two of them share their heartfelt sighs and felt an odd disconnect.
They were clearly having two different conversations, but somehow both sounded reasonable.
"The money's been delivered, so we'll be leaving now."
Garp bid farewell to Caelan, then escorted Rayleigh and Luffy away with Kizaru.
"See you around."
Caelan watched them go, muttering softly. The next time they met, they would most likely be enemies.
Luffy turned back as he was being taken away.
"Heyyy! I'll definitely defeat you one day!"
He wasn't discouraged by the crushing defeat. In fact, it had lit a new fire in him.
To become the Pirate King, he'd have to surpass the world's strongest bounty hunter.
"My dear grandson, it's been a while. Did you forget about Grandpa's Fist of Love?"
"Now tell me, are you still planning to be a pirate?"
Garp cracked his knuckles, face full of menace as he glared at Luffy.
All of Luffy's bounty money had come out of Garp's own salary, not a single Berry from the World Government.
He had burned through most of his savings just to redeem Luffy. Now he had to skimp on rice crackers and donuts.
And yet this brat had the audacity to provoke Caelan.
If he got captured again, there wouldn't be enough money left to save him.
"Grandpa! I'm going to be the Pirate King!"
Luffy shouted with defiance, head held high.
"Fist of Love!"
A black fist covered in Armament Haki smashed down on Luffy's head.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Just you wait, Caelan! I'm going to beat you!"
Luffy refused to back down and turned to yell at Caelan again.
"Haha… so naive."
Caelan didn't reply. He just muttered to himself.
Now that he had 4 billion Berries, he had already surpassed the limits of the pirate world.
No matter how many sit-ups Luffy did, Caelan didn't care.
Caelan, backed by the Twelve Labours, was at least 10,000 times better at sit-ups than Luffy.
After Garp and Kizaru left, Morgans also took his leave sensibly. Caelan then began his feast.
"These Berries smell damn sweet."
He took a deep breath, savoring the intoxicating scent of money.
"System, recharge!"
As the mountain of Berries vanished, the total in the system panel reached 4.627 billion—a record-breaking number.
Once he found a quiet place, he'd be ready for another transformation.
…
Holy Land Mariejois
Spandam's father, Spandine, rushed toward the Five Elders' meeting hall.
He had urgent news to report.
He hadn't been paying attention for a few days, then suddenly noticed that his son Spandam's life card had turned to ashes.
When he went to investigate Enies Lobby, he discovered that all the senior agents of CP9 had been taken away by Spandam two days earlier. None could be contacted.
"Caelan, how dare you!"
Spandine's eyes were bloodshot with rage.
His son had been killed, and CP9's elite agents were gone. The organization now existed in name only.
He wasn't seeking revenge for his son. But if Caelan had wiped out CP9, the World Government absolutely would not let him live.
"Captain Spandine, the Five Elders will see you now."
The moment the guard made the announcement, Spandine stepped into the palace, red-eyed and filled with fury.
(To be continued.)
Chapter 96: Dead End
Caelan returned to the Wind Rider, and just as he was preparing to set sail, he received news from Gecko Moria.
"The Celestial Dragons really are filthy rich. They just bought a few more Devil Fruits. I heard there are two Mythical Zoan and one Logia among them."
"Damn it, I really want to snatch one!"
Moria's eyes were bloodshot with envy as he sighed.
The thought of such rare Devil Fruits being fed to slaves by the Celestial Dragons made his heart ache.
If those Fruits had gone to him, he could easily cultivate a few more fighters on the level of the Seven Warlords.
The speaker had no intent, but the listener did. Caelan had taken it all in.
"If you're that jealous… then let's take them!"
"Caelan-sama, I was just kidding!"
Moria waved his hands in a panic, clearly terrified.
He had been speaking casually, but this monster actually took him seriously!
"Moria, I'm not joking."
Caelan stared at him, deadly serious.
"Those Celestial Dragons are trash, but their status is protected. If we touch them, the World Government won't let us go!"
Moria surrounded Caelan, trying his best to reason with him.
"Haha. And yet you're happily using the shadows of CP9? You think the World Government's going to let you off?"
Caelan sneered, disdain in his voice.
The moment he wiped out CP9, he had already become a sworn enemy of the World Government.
And besides, he didn't recognize so-called 'world nobles.'
"I'm being hunted from all sides anyway. Might as well make it worth it!"
A fierce glint flashed in Caelan's eyes. He had already made up his mind.
"Robin, Nami, are you in?"
Nami and the others looked at Caelan. They could feel his imposing aura. He didn't even take the Celestial Dragons seriously.
"Let's do it."
Robin spoke first, her voice steady and unwavering.
After all, Caelan had defied the World Government for her sake. No matter what he decided to do, she would support him.
"Let's do it!"
Nami, usually the cautious one, also spoke up.
Caelan had saved her entire village. She couldn't bear to turn away from him now.
"Let's do it!"
Vivi answered loudly.
As the princess of Alabasta, she should have been more rational.
But Caelan had promised to protect Alabasta. She had no reason to hesitate.
Kalifa and Tashigi exchanged glances before responding together.
"Let's do it!"
Although they had once served the World Government and were still slightly conflicted, they had made their choice.
Besides, it was just the Celestial Dragons. Why not?
Perona also silently stood beside Caelan and voiced her determination.
"I'm in too."
Gritting his teeth, Moria finally gave in to Caelan's resolve.
Following a boss like this, he had no choice but to go all the way.
His worn-out ambition was suddenly reignited in the face of Caelan's madness.
"Alright!"
"Where are they? Let's go kill them!"
Caelan nodded with satisfaction as he looked at the united group.
"They're at another port. They left not long ago. We can still catch up!"
Moria pointed in the direction they had gone.
Soon, the Wind Rider and Moria's ship charged toward the Celestial Dragons like mad beasts.
As they approached, Caelan spotted CP0 agents in white uniforms standing guard on the deck.
"Stop! The Celestial Dragons are aboard this ship!"
The CP0 agent shouted, attempting to drive Caelan and his group away.
If it were anyone else, they would've already fired a cannon without hesitation.
But this agent was mindful of intelligence and recognized both Caelan—on par with the Four Emperors—and Gecko Moria, a former Warlord of the Sea.
"Haha. I'm here to beat up Celestial Dragons."
Caelan paid no attention and sped up instead.
"Damn it!"
The CP0 agent cursed internally, feeling like the sky was collapsing.
For years, no one had dared lay a hand on the Celestial Dragons. Their so-called 'divine authority' had intimidated countless pirates.
But those who did dare to attack were all absolute monsters, beyond reason or restraint.
And without a doubt, Caelan was one of them.
The ship was already on the brink of destruction.
Before Caelan could even board, the CP0 agent picked up a Den Den Mushi and contacted the Five Elders.
…
Main Hall, Holy Land Mariejois
The Five Elders had just received a report from Kizaru: Rayleigh had been successfully handed over.
The five old men lounged lazily on sofas, red wine glasses clinking. Their mood was excellent.
"A mere 3.8 billion Berries for the Pirate King's right hand. What a bargain!"
Saint Mars swirled his wine glass, closing his eyes in delight.
"Every time we captured a pirate of this level in the past, we had to deploy top-tier forces. The cost in manpower and resources was like a war. Even if successful, it often came at a huge price."
Saint Saturn was just as sentimental.
Even now, their elite troops were being whittled down. Training new ones cost time and treasure.
"But now we don't have to worry. With Caelan working for us, everything's easier."
Saint Warcury said smugly.
Anything that could be solved with money wasn't a real problem.
With over 170 member nations paying tribute, they held the greatest wealth in the world.
"If this keeps up, he'll start hunting the Four Emperors next, right?"
"Which one will it be? Charlotte Linlin? Kaido? Or Whitebeard?"
Saint Nasujuro leaned back into the sofa, speaking comfortably.
"No matter who it is, we profit. Even if it's 5 billion Berries, give it to him!"
Saint Saturn waved grandly, filled with bravado.
"Hahaha. Bounty hunters like him are just tools we use."
At his words, the other Elders burst out in laughter.
"Cheers to our hero!"
The five raised their glasses in celebration, openly mocking.
Just then, Spandine entered, eyes red.
"Reporting to the Five Elders, two days ago, Caelan wiped out the CP9 unit near the Florian Triangle."
Spandine knelt before them, his voice trembling.
The Five Elders, who had been brimming with joy, suddenly froze, all eyes fixed on Spandine.
"Impossible! You must be mistaken!"
Saint Saturn erupted, releasing an oppressive aura that nearly crushed Spandine.
"Two days ago, my son Spandam led all senior CP9 agents to the Florian Triangle to capture Nico Robin, the 'Devil's Child' aboard Caelan's ship."
"Afterwards, I discovered my son's Vivre card had turned to ashes. I investigated everything and concluded that it was Caelan's doing."
Spandine spoke slowly, his voice strained under the pressure.
"Impossible! Absolutely not!"
Saint Saturn roared in denial.
Caelan's position was too important. He couldn't believe it.
If Caelan remained a bounty hunter, he would be the World Government's sharpest weapon—eliminating unruly legends one after another.
But if Caelan turned against them, he would become a powerful enemy—one who required at least two Admirals to restrain.
Just then, another Den Den Mushi rang. Saint Nasujuro impatiently picked it up.
"Five Elder Stars, Caelan has attacked the ship of Saint Charlos. He has..."
The voice abruptly cut off with the sound of a body hitting the floor.
Then, silence.
Saint Nasujuro crushed the Den Den Mushi in his hand, his face ashen.