Goodbye, Rayleigh

Everyone returned to the cabin, closed the doors, and the Sirius rumbled out of the bubble's range before floating up.

Hiyori said, "The Sea King are asking us, are they asking us if we're leaving already?"

"Tell them that's how it is."

Sirius was in a good mood.

Black successfully obtained the materials for the power reactor, and who knows, he might actually be able to replicate a Pluton power reactor.

"Please tell them thank you for me."

I definitely should thank you.

These Sea King were surprisingly reasonable.

If they are determined to prevent us from finding Pluton, breaking through their blockade will not be an easy task.

Of course, this is likely because they see themselves as Joy Boy.

Speaking of Joy Boy, shouldn't we be talking about that Straw Hat Kid?

Hiyori meticulously translated Sirius's words to the Sea King.

The Sea King responded quickly.

The enormous monsters swam around the Sirius, emitting long, deep cries in unison.

The sounds rose and fell in unison, echoing each other as if in a chorus.

Hiyori smiled. "They're wishing us a safe journey."

"I see." Sirius smiled slightly. "Then let's take their good wishes to heart."

Interesting guys, see you again sometime.

The Sirius did not surface; it continued forward.

After the Thriller Bark, the Paradise comes to an end.

After that, there's only one island left that's not really an island: the Sabaody Archipelago.

The Sirius's speed was astonishing, even when it was submerged at sea.

Soon, the scene they had seen before reappeared before Sirius and the others.

The roots extend from the sea surface down into the deep sea, intertwined and sprawling, like a forest in the water.

"We've arrived at Sabaody Archipelago!"

Yamato laughed heartily.

It's been over a year or two since I last came here.

It was night when they surfaced. Sirius found a secluded spot to dock, and then it was time to say goodbye again.

"Here, Brook, take this."

Sirius tossed Brook a small bag.

Brook opened the bag and saw that it shone with a dim golden light; it contained a bag of gold.

"Money is probably necessary to return to Twin Capes," Sirius said with a smile.

Brook's eyes welled up with tears of emotion, and he said solemnly, "Thank you very much, Mr. Sirius."

He did not refuse.

We've already owed Sirius such a huge favor; a little more wouldn't matter.

"Let's go see Laboon quickly," Yamato a grin. "Don't keep him waiting any longer."

"Kindness."

Brook said, "Well then, everyone, see you in the New World!"

"Okay, I'll be waiting for you in the New World." Sirius nodded.

Under the cover of night, Brook left without looking back.

Watching his departing figure, Rama stroked his chin, "Won't some people think he's haunted if they see him?"

Sirius glanced at him sideways.

"Next," Jack began, his voice filled with anticipation, "Is Fish-Man Island!"

Despite being Fish-Man, Jack has never returned to Fish-Man Island. He longs for his parents' hometown and had wanted to go back to see it since Wano Country.

"Wait a moment,"

Sirius looked in a certain direction on the island. "Let's go see an old friend first."

His Observation Haki had already scanned the island, and then he detected a familiar aura.

Somewhere in the Sabaody Archipelago, a drunken old man staggers among the mangroves.

Strangely, although he was drunk and even his steps were unsteady, the path he walked was perfectly straight.

Soon, he crossed the hill and came to the bottom of a slope.

Looking up the slope, there's a tavern.

"Kindness?"

The old man stopped at the bottom of the slope.

His cloudy eyes quickly cleared, and a joyful smile immediately bloomed on his face.

He strode forward, showing no trace of his previous drunken state.

He pushed open the bar door in two quick steps.

What greets you is a very noisy scene.

In front of the bar, several people were crowded together, chatting and laughing with Shakky behind the bar.

One of the men turned around, smiling and greeting him, "Yo, Rayleigh!"

"Hahaha, Sirius."

Rayleigh laughed heartily, casually closed the bar door, and walked over.

Sirius nudged Luo, who was sitting next to him, with his buttocks, "Come on, I saved you a seat."

Luo rolled his eyes.

Rayleigh sat down next to Sirius, picked up a bottle of wine from the table, and gulped it down. "Sirius, you're treating us to this, aren't you?"

"Of course, Old Lei!"

Shakky smiled and said, "Otherwise, I wouldn't have brought out so many fine wines."

I made a fortune today!

"Drink to your heart's content," Sirius said generously. "We can drink all of Shakky's stock without any problem."

Instead of sitting at the bar, Yamato was playing games with Page One and Bepo at the table behind him, grinned and said, "That's right, we've found the legendary Golden Country!"

"Oh! They went to the Sky Island!"

Rayleigh said with some nostalgia, "They went there too back then."

"We also saw a note left by Roger," Yamato said.

"Oh, that sounds like a fantastic adventure."

"Of course! It was the best adventure ever! I wrote it all down."

"In that case, could you tell me your adventure stories too?" Rayleigh said with a smile, swirling his wine glass. "Just as an appetizer."

"Sure!"

Yamato volunteered.

The last time they met was when Rayleigh told them stories of his past adventures.

This time, it was Yamato who told Rayleigh their own adventure story.

From the South Blue to the West Blue, and from the West Blue to the Grand Line, Yamato great enthusiasm.

There was nothing to hide; after all, the Roger Pirates had been to almost every place they had been.

"Oh, so that's how Black came to be?"

"Incredible! They actually destroyed the Celestial Dragon's Strongest Shield!"

"You actually dug out the passage connecting the South Blue and the West Blue?"

"Haha, it's normal for people to want to join you once you become famous. Roger had the same problem back then."

"Is Crocus still healthy? That puts my mind at ease."

"Oh! Hiyori Awakening the same ability as Roger Oden!"

"You've even found Laboon's partner? That's wonderful! After decades of waiting, the promise has finally come true."

"So the rebirth of the Giant Soldier Pirates was also thanks to you guys."

"Did something like that really happen on Sky Island?"

However, there were also things that would greatly alarm Rayleigh.

"You went to the moon?"

When Rayleigh heard Yamato mention this, he spat out a mouthful of sake, and his eyes widened in surprise.

"I can't believe this actually happened."

Shakky couldn't help but exclaim in amazement, "What an amazing young man! Old Lei, you guys didn't even manage to do something like this back in the day, did you?"

Rayleigh shook his head. "By the time we realized there were even more beautiful sights beyond this world, it was too late. Roger no longer had time to continue sailing."

"It doesn't matter!"

Yamato confidently declared, "After we arrive in Laugh Tale and have seen all the sights in the world, we'll head to the stars!"

"The starry sky? That sounds wonderful," Shakky said with a smile.

"Hahahaha," Rayleigh laughed heartily, "Then it's settled, we'll all sail together."

"Of course!"

Yamato nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

The story continues, but it has already come to an end.

"You saw Pluton."

Rayleigh put down his glass, his attitude becoming slightly more serious. "Then you should know just how terrifying the opponent you'll ultimately face will be if you continue to aim for Laugh Tale."

He laughed and said, "That's something even Roger couldn't handle."

"That's better!"

Yamato stood up, as if to declare something, "In that case, those of us who defeated him have surpassed you, haven't we, Sirius!"

That's it.

Sirius smiled, raised his glass, and clinked it against Rayleigh's.

"Hahaha, surpass us? That's a great goal." Rayleigh downed his drink in one gulp. "Then I'll be watching."

"By the way, Rayleigh,"

Yamato suddenly remembered something, "The Sea King say that Sirius is Joy Boy, but who exactly is Joy Boy? Is Sirius really Joy Boy?"

"Joy Boy?"

Rayleigh murmured the name, his smile growing even brighter. He remembered the day they laughed together after reading Joy Boy's story.

"That's an amazing guy. Legend has it he can bring laughter to people. So Yamato,"

He asked with a smile, "Do you think Sirius is?"