This Courage

Rayleigh did not do anything excessive.

He was just acting drunk for a while, at an inappropriate time and place, posing as a drunkard and an old man.

But in such a serious atmosphere, even the slightest commotion he made was enough to attract everyone's attention.

This diverted some people's attention.

After finally managing to subdue Rayleigh, Vice Stainless of the Marine Headquarters, with a gloomy face, ordered his soldiers to throw the unconscious Rayleigh back into the house before turning and leaving.

Behind the bar was Shakky, smoking a cigarette with a smile on her face.

He glanced at Rayleigh's bruised and swollen face, took a drag of his cigarette, and said casually, "They're here?"

Shakky knew Rayleigh too well; the old man wouldn't 'go crazy' for no reason, nor would he do anything meaningless.

"Hmm... it was nearby just now, but it's already far away." Rayleigh, who seemed to have fallen asleep, opened his eyes, took off his broken glasses, and said calmly.

"That young man... he's got some skills."

Shakky raised an eyebrow, rested her chin on her hand, and praised him.

She was talking about Oboro.

"His five senses are astonishing. At that distance, he could even detect my gaze... This requires cultivating Observation Haki to an exceptionally high level. But he... clearly doesn't Haki, so I'm very curious... how he managed to do it."

Rayleigh brushed the dust and footprints off his clothes and slowly stood up.

"Using you? Isn't he afraid you'll turn around and drag him down with you?" Shakky laughed. "It seems he's certain that with your status and background, you'd never collude with the Navy... He's seized this opportunity to kick you while you're down. He knows you very well... He knows not only your identity but also your personality inside and out."

"It's not that he knows my personality inside and out, it's just that... the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Even if I don't help him, he should be able to leave safely, but the trouble will definitely be bigger."

Rayleigh sat down on a chair at the bar, his mind clear.

"And you... how do you feel? How does it feel to help future newcomers?"

Shakky teased.

"His current predicament is only temporary. The difficulties in the future will be far greater than they are now. Even if he manages to escape Sabaody Archipelago... as long as he is on this sea, he will always be the World Government's number one target. Moreover, it is very possible that he could leave now and die the next day... nothing is certain. I am just impressed by his courage... even my captain has never done something like killing Celestial Dragons in a positive sense."

"My little bit of help is actually of no value to his fate."

"I do hope he can live on, but the problem is, no matter how you look at it... it seems very unlikely."

"However, given his past as a slave to the Celestial Dragons, I can understand why he would target them."

"For a long time, although no one said it, everyone had become accustomed to submitting to them... The World Government and those Celestial Dragons were also 'lost' in their own arrogance. The deaths this time were the result of their long-term 'numbing' of themselves."

"What makes me feel gratified is that... the emergence of this courage indicates that... it is very likely that in some places and corners that we do not know about, some people have already 'awakened'."

"This is a good sign."

Rayleigh said a lot.

"Unfortunately... I can't save him with my abilities. This is not something that one person or one force can do."

"However... his death can wake up more people, and that's the most important thing."

"Hehe."

After Shakky finished speaking, she pushed a glass of wine in front of her, saying, "It's free, please."

"Thanks."

Rayleigh.

"No need to thank me. Speaking of which, the cost of this drink... could be considered as payment from that young man."

Less than an hour later, Oboro and Dom finally arrived at the neighborhood where the shipyard was located.

Once here, Long's heart was completely at ease.

As far as the eye can see, there are many areas of water reflecting off the ground, each of which could potentially lead to an exit to the seabed.

Long squatted beside a pool, dipping his hand into the water to feel the currents beneath...

Meanwhile, Dom, dressed in ill-fitting clothes, had already rushed out to deal with the surrounding naval soldiers. Since they were looking for water, they could no longer hide in the shadows and would inevitably have to show themselves. Even after multiple disguises, there wasn't a soul in sight on the street. If they appeared, they would be instantly spotted as suspicious individuals.

Once the fighting began, someone in the navy immediately notified the higher-ups.

Dom, wielding a sharp blade, charged in and out of the naval ranks three times, slaughtering men and horses... completely overwhelming them.

For ordinary naval soldiers, One Piece like Dom, worth tens of millions, is not someone they can handle.

Dom was giving Oboro time to find his escape coordinates.

Fortunately, the person in charge of the naval force here is only a naval warrant officer, and there aren't many people in the force.

Dom is able to hold the line for the time being with his fighting strength.

The navy's deployment of forces here is not strong, indicating that they are not worried about this place... Although there are many water sources here, there are none that can allow ships to sink and leave, not even the smallest vessels. Moreover, to sink underwater, apart from submarines, a coating is necessary; otherwise, it's all wishful thinking.

A person can sink to the bottom of the sea, but the distance they need to sink is greater than the foundation beneath the island, and it would take a long time, even though the soil layer here is already the thinnest.

Very few people can hold their breath for such a long time.

Swimming underwater reveals a variety of dangerous aquatic creatures, including Sea Kings.

They would have to swim underwater, across the massive foundation of the entire Sabaody Archipelago, before they could return to the surface, break through the water, and breathe oxygen... How is that even possible?

It's practically the same as sending someone to their death.

"This won't work."

Meanwhile, Oboro was rapidly moving between various water sources to determine if the water was connected to the seabed. If the current was gentle, it meant that the seabed was sealed off. What he was looking for was a surface gap with an undercurrent that flowed downwards.

"This isn't it either..."

"Although there are undercurrents, the underwater stone walls are narrow, and they will definitely get smaller as you sink deeper. I'm afraid even two people of similar build wouldn't be able to pass through. Moreover, the distance is too long, and considering the water pressure and the need to hold your breath..."

Dom couldn't completely block all the naval soldiers, so some would still rush towards Oboro or fire at him, but fortunately it didn't affect his actions too much.

However... as time passed second by second, even Long's forehead was covered in sweat.

He was calculating the time.

Given Kizaru's speed, how long would it take him to get here immediately after receiving the message? If he doesn't find an escape route within that time, something terrible will really happen.

"Found it!"

Fortunately, Oboro eventually found a water source connecting to the seabed.

This water source is only about five or six meters in diameter, more like the eye of a pool. However, the underwater currents are very obvious, indicating that although the gap on the ground is small, the space will become larger and the strata will be thinner as you go down, which can greatly save time to reach the seabed.

"Dom".

Oboro stood up, kicked away a naval soldier who was charging at him with a knife, and shouted something.

The former was still fighting with the naval warrant officer... and was injured.

It wasn't that the warrant officer was particularly strong, but rather that more and more naval soldiers from all around were arriving after hearing the news.

The situation had reached a point where white shadows were moving in all directions.

Gunshots were already ringing out one after another.

A hail of bullets rained down on the spot where Oboro stood.

If they don't leave soon... these ordinary navy personnel alone will be enough to hold them back and make it impossible for them to move an inch.

Dom ceased fighting and used his ability to vanish into the void.

A door or window opened beside Oboro, and Dom jumped out.

"They're gone."

Long grabbed his shoulder and plunged headfirst into the water, splashing up a spray.

The two immediately swam into the deeper water.

Dom looked panicked... because he didn't know beforehand that his boss would help him escape in this way.

How could he possibly escape? He's not Fish-Men.