Remnants of the Old Era

Rayleigh, the Pluton.

The identity of the visitor is self-evident.

"I don't even know when I met such a rich guy." Rayleigh shook the empty bottle. "How can I thank you?"

"He's the slave the navy's been looking for lately."

Shakky chuckled softly from the side.

Without her saying anything, Rayleigh recognized Oboro, because Oboro had already removed her disguise.

"Could I trouble someone as important as you to help me take it off?" Long tugged at his collar, revealing the slave collar.

Rayleigh smiled without saying a word.

At this moment, Shakky pushed a glass of wine in front of the old man and reminded him, "He helped you settle your bill."

"Well... I guess I'll have to give it a try. After all, I'm indebted to them, and I've been struggling financially lately." Rayleigh joked, slamming the bottle down on the table before walking over to Oboro. Oboro stood up and met his gaze.

"As expected of Celestial Dragons's creation... it's extraordinary, much more troublesome than ordinary slave collars."

Rayleigh leaned forward slightly, his eyes behind his glasses scrutinizing the object on Oboro's neck.

"You might... die."

After watching for a while, he rolled his eyes and said to Long.

Dom nervously swallowed.

"It's alright, please go ahead and do it."

Long was very calm.

After speaking, Rayleigh's rough hands gripped the collar, and then he exerted force with his fingers. At the same time, a metallic sheen appeared on the skin of his arm, a sign of his Haki.

His gaze sharpened as he scrutinized the power his opponent displayed at such close range.

He was observing.

He came to Rayleigh for two reasons: first, to break free of the collar and the constraints imposed by the Celestial Dragons; and second, to learn about Haki and understand the techniques and methods of using this power.

First, there was a cracking sound, and the surface of the collar cracked, bursting into fragments, followed by sparks and electricity.

A flash of light appeared on Rayleigh's glasses as he instantly crushed the collar, pulled it off Oboro's neck, and then, with a burst of leg strength, darted out of the tavern at an astonishing speed.

Boom! The three people inside the house heard a deafening explosion.

The door was swaying and trembling...

A moment later, when Rayleigh, wearing slippers, walked back in, he was covered in a layer of black ash and his hair looked a little messy, but he was not injured.

"That was really dangerous."

Rayleigh muttered something to himself and sat down again.

"Boss!"

Dom's eyes lit up with excitement.

Without this ring, at least Oboro wouldn't be in mortal danger.

"Who is this old man?"

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but look at Rayleigh, who seemed... ridiculously strong.

He initially thought the man was just a drunkard, but the aura and speed he displayed in that instant were something Dom had never seen before in all his years at sea.

I have never heard of such a person in the Sabaody Archipelago.

Thanks.

Long smiled.

"No need to thank me, this way... we're even." Rayleigh raised the wine glass that Shakky had filled and gestured towards Oboro.

Oboro couldn't actually guarantee that Rayleigh would intervene, but at the moment, Rayleigh was the only one on Sabaody Archipelago who might help him.

Long came with a "let's give it a try" attitude.

"So... how did you find out about me?"

Suddenly, Rayleigh changed the subject.

He had lived a quiet life in the Sabaody Archipelago for many years, just an ordinary old man.

The only person who knows his identity is Shakky, but Shakky will not tell outsiders.

"Actually, it's no secret that you're in Sabaody Archipelago."

Oboro replied.

In the original work, when Luffy and his crew arrived at Sabaody Archipelago, Kizaru reported to the Navy that he had discovered some information about Rayleigh Pluton the island two years ago... but Garp suppressed it with the excuse that "this kind of thing is not worth bothering Sengoku".

But there must be someone within the Navy who knows about Rayleigh's whereabouts... Besides, the Sabaody Archipelago is practically right under Marineford's nose.

The two sides had simply reached some kind of unspoken understanding.

"Ha ha ha ha."

Rayleigh burst into laughter.

"It seems... you're not just Celestial Dragons's slave, that's interesting. There aren't many clever juniors like you on the high seas... Shall we set sail?" Rayleigh continued chatting.

Meanwhile, Oboro was already preparing to leave with Dom.

The former was asking Oboro Jun whether he planned to become One Piece.

After all, Dom looks like One Piece.

Moreover, most of the slaves who escaped the Celestial Dragons' control ultimately could not escape this sea.

It's impossible to find a secluded place and live out your life in peace.

You could say it's fate, or you could say that only by rising up can you take control of your own destiny.

"Um."

Long nodded.

"Now that the situation has stabilized, hurry up and leave... If you stay on the island any longer, no one can save you."

Rayleigh added, "I hope to see news about you in the newspapers soon."

Long didn't respond and took Dom out the door.

"Boss, who is this guy?"

Once outside, Dom finally couldn't resist his curiosity and asked a question.

"Just remnants of the old era."

He said in a low voice.

What do you think?

Inside the store, Shakky looked at Rayleigh.

This is the first time in many years that a slave has escaped from the Celestial Dragons.

For the Celestial Dragons, this would damage their reputation, so the effort to capture them would inevitably be unprecedented.

However, the fact that Long was able to escape shows that he must have some extraordinary abilities.

"It's a little scary."

Rayleigh downed his drink in one gulp, his expression suddenly turning serious.

"Um?"

Shakky stopped holding the cigarette.

Terrifying? Shakky thought she was hallucinating when this man actually uttered the word "terrifying."

"When I used Haki just now, his God changed from 'observational' to 'clear,' as if... in a very short moment, he understood the principles of Haki. He came to you to find me not simply to remove the collar, but perhaps... that's his real purpose," Rayleigh said.

"Really? Is it that amazing?"

Shakky looked surprised.

You can learn it in one glance?

How could that be...

"Is it just your imagination?"

She questioned.

"Maybe... I also find it a bit unbelievable." Rayleigh chuckled. "Perhaps I'm being overly sensitive."

"Even if he understood it, Haki is not something that can be learned in a short time. Without systematic training and guidance, even if he develops a certain form, it will not be solid."

"It's strange... At first glance, he seems like an ordinary person, but I get the feeling that he's a little dangerous."

"The fact that he was able to get here means he definitely has an intelligence network behind him... I recognize the tattoo on that little One Piece who came with him; he seems to be from a Flame Dragon Pirates. They're not very noticeable, and their captain's bounty isn't high either." Shakky finished speaking and closed the distance between herself and Rayleigh. "You're happy, aren't you?"

"What are you so happy about?"

Rayleigh asked the question he already knew the answer to.

"When did you become so kind-hearted, helping everyone out?"

"Didn't you say that someone paid my bills for me?"

Rayleigh scratched his head and grinned foolishly.

Shakky didn't investigate further. She came out from behind the counter, turned off the storefront lights, and prepared to close up shop.

"Quite mysterious..."

Meanwhile, Rayleigh was thinking about leaving Oboro.

He had originally thought that Oboro would ask him to help him escape from the Sabaody Archipelago.

Unexpectedly... it was just taking off the collar.

Judging from this... they probably don't plan to leave Sabaody Archipelago for the time being.

The island is unlikely to remain peaceful for some time to come.