"How...?"
At those words, cold sweat broke out on everyone in the Straw Hat Crew.
Stronger than the Pirate King?!!!
Chopper, ever blunt, stiffened while holding the small figure in his arms, his face going rigid as he shouted,
"Luffy just declared war on Austin! Don't tell me...!!!"
Rayleigh was momentarily stunned by that, then looked toward the Straw Hat Crew.
Every one of them wore a grave expression.
His own expression instantly became rather strange. He took a sip of wine to calm his nerves.
No way?
Austin shouldn't break the promise he had made to Roger and crush the hope of the future, should he?
After a moment of silence, he could only force out a dry laugh.
"Don't worry. Austin is a very measured person. He probably won't go too far. After all, he watched you grow up."
"Really?!!!"
The Cowardly Trio raised their heads hopefully and looked at Rayleigh.
Rayleigh wanted to nod, but then he recalled Austin's utterly unpredictable way of doing things and gave an awkward smile instead.
Although he had once been Austin's Vice-Captain,
he was old now, after all. In a head-on fight, he could no longer defeat the current Austin. All he could do was offer a few words of comfort.
Luffy, on the other hand, had the fearless spirit of a newborn calf. With a serious expression, he adjusted his straw hat.
"I understand, Rayleigh. I won't back down from a fight with Uncle Austin!!!"
After that, they stopped discussing the battle with Austin. Worrying about it would not help anyway.
Usopp asked a question.
"Uncle, what exactly is One Piece?"
But the moment the words left his mouth, Luffy cut him off. He said he did not want to know yet and wanted to seek it through his own