Amazon Lily

Watching the two men admire each other, Gawain and Shakky exchanged a glance. Shakky propped herself against the bar with one arm and smiled helplessly.

"These guys who love fighting are still the same as ever. No matter when it is, they always have to spar a little."

As she spoke, Shakky picked a piece of dried fruit from Gawain's plate and put it into her mouth. While chewing, she removed the cigarette butt from her lips and pressed it directly against the bar to put it out.

Gawain glanced at Shakky. He had wanted to say something, but after a brief daze, he quietly turned his head away.

Avoiding Shakky's slightly exposed cleavage as she leaned low over the counter, Gawain looked toward Rayleigh instead and said,

"Don't listen to Shakky, Mr. Rayleigh. If you hadn't possessed such masterful Conqueror's Haki, then what would be greeting you now wouldn't be me, but the Marines' army."

As soon as he finished speaking, Gawain patted Gion's arm and asked softly,

"Though the old generation's stamina may decline, their various skills only become more exquisite.

How did Rayleigh's Conqueror's Haki feel? Although it flashed by in an instant, it carried far too much experience within it, didn't it?"

After saying that, Gawain raised his bottle toward Rayleigh. Rayleigh gave him a thoughtful look, then clinked bottles with him.

At the side, seeing the two men drinking so happily, Shakky gave Gion a languid smile.

"Men really are men. They truly love things like alcohol, so let them drink.

As for us, there's dried fruit and cake here. Besides, aren't you going to try the cotton candy?"

"I know what I'm doing!"

Gion replied coldly, then carefully took a small bite of the cotton candy.

The moment she bit into it, the sweetness was astonishing. Gion could not help revealing the faintest smile.

And at the instant Gion bit into the candy, Shakky rested her chin on her right hand and smiled at her.

"It's delicious, right? That'll be one hundred thousand Beli!"

"One hundred thousand?"

Gion froze. She immediately looked at the cotton candy as if it were some ferocious beast. She had never eaten candy this expensive in her life!

"Hahaha!"

"So you really got ripped off!"

Rayleigh and Gawain burst into laughter together. As they laughed, they finished off all the rum between them.

After placing the empty bottles on the bar, Rayleigh said to Shakky,

"Bring some more alcohol for me and young Gawain. It looks like we have quite a bit of serious business to discuss today."

Meanwhile, Gawain pushed the cotton candy Gion had shoved away back toward her.

"Eat without worry. Shakky was only joking. Her shop only charges Marines and morally bankrupt pirates."

"I won't stand for you saying that, young Gawain."

As Shakky brought fresh drinks over to Gawain, she retorted,

"Shouldn't you two be on my list of customers too?"

"How could that be? I'm not a Marine, and I certainly won't become some kind of thief.

Gion used to be a Marine, but now she's my subordinate. So waive the bill, Shakky."

Gawain teasingly raised his bottle and clinked it against Rayleigh's.

"Rayleigh, I've settled the drink bill, so it's time to discuss serious matters. What do you think?"

"Go ahead, young Gawain. It's been a long time since I met a Celestial Dragon as interesting as you.

I only hope it's not too much trouble. Otherwise, this old man might not be able to handle it."

Rayleigh took a small sip of wine and looked at Gawain meaningfully, waiting for his answer.

Gawain lightly tapped the table with his fingers.

"What if I wanted you to join my ship, Rayleigh?"

"Hahahaha!"

Rayleigh burst into hearty laughter, slapping his thigh as he laughed.

"Saint Gawain, that joke truly made me laugh. We should be talking about serious matters, but your proposal isn't serious at all!

I'm already this old, tsk tsk, seventy-three years old.

Look at my beard, look at my hair. If Whitebeard weren't still active, I could be called White-Haired, or even Whitebeard, hahaha.

And then there's my current status: a retired sailor who lost his captain long ago.

Perhaps you don't know this, but I swore an oath, Gawain.

A man like me has no right to board any ship at all!"

With that said, Rayleigh laughed as he drained an entire bottle of rum.

"I've stayed on Sabaody all these years. Gion, your Marines should know how quiet I've been.

Other than places I could reach by swimming, I've never gone anywhere.

Other than the decks I occasionally stepped on while doing coating work, I have never boarded another ship.

If you want me to teach you how to use Conqueror's Haki, that's no problem. You don't look like the kind of person rotten to the core. They're only Conqueror's Haki techniques; if they can be passed down, there's no need to take them into the grave.

But boarding a ship..."

Rayleigh lowered his head. A blinding gleam reflected off his glasses as he played with the bottle in his hand and said with deep emotion,

"There is no ship in this new era that can carry me!"

After he spoke, the room fell silent for a moment. Gawain took a drink, then nodded lightly.

"I understand."

Setting down his bottle, Gawain clapped his hands.

"Why is it that, even though pirates are thieves, so many people are still willing to join them?

It's all because of old-timers like you among the pirates. Your spirit truly inspires admiration.

Tsk tsk, how many young people have you led astray over the years?

Since you refuse, I won't force you. Just as you said, you're seventy-three years old. How could I force an elderly gentleman like you?"

At that point, Gawain changed the subject.

"But you said yourself that you intended to teach me all the techniques of Conqueror's Haki, right?

A promise is a promise. Starting today, you'll be my teacher in Conqueror's Haki, Mr. Dark King!"

"Haha, I knew that was what you wanted. Other than Conqueror's Haki, is there any other power you Celestial Dragons can't obtain?

Whether it's Devil Fruits, Two-Color Haki, swordsmanship, or martial arts, as long as you want it, there will always be countless people to help you train.

But Conqueror's Haki alone..."

Rayleigh gave Gion a meaningful glance.

"Those who possess Conqueror's Haki are simply too few among the Marines. As for the World Government, perhaps only the Five Elders, who are so busy with every kind of affair that they cannot spare the attention, possess it.

People like Garp and Sengoku won't stay by your side.

So, when I learned that you were the protagonist behind yesterday's two outbreaks of Conqueror's Haki, I had already made some guesses about this situation.

I simply didn't expect you to arrive so quickly!"

After saying that, Rayleigh picked up another new bottle and placed it between himself and Gawain, speaking softly.

"What else could I do but teach you? It's not as if I can kill you. Leaving aside little Gion's Black Blade, which is itching to strike, and leaving aside Shakky's and my old lives.

Just look at Sabaody Island. Such a beautiful island would become far too dull if it suffered a Buster Call.

This world is so magnificent. Devil Fruits and Haki offer room to develop nearly every shred of our potential.

Devil Fruits are the power of imagination, while Haki is the power of will.

Look, aside from martial arts, we can even develop imagination and will!"

Rayleigh's pupils dilated slightly. In the next instant, his Conqueror's Haki erupted. The invisible Haki rapidly condensed, and then tiny yet exceptionally distinct black-blue lightning wrapped around the bottle in his hand.

"So, the first thing I will teach you is...

Will is strength!"

Bang!

With a crisp crack, Rayleigh's bottle popped open by itself. The black-blue lightning wrapped around the cork and flung it straight out the window.

The Conqueror's Haki around Rayleigh slowly faded. He took a sip of wine, then muttered softly,

"I'll teach you everything I know, every bit of my understanding of Conqueror's Haki.

In exchange, this old man hopes the rest of his life can be a little quieter.

Sabaody is a good place. I'd like to be buried here, so from now on, the Marines should leave me alone!"

"No problem." Gawain nodded leisurely.

"Good."

Rayleigh smiled in satisfaction. Then he looked around and shook his head.

"Sabaody Island isn't suitable for training Conqueror's Haki. There are too many people here, and the impact would be too great.

Pick a place, somewhere close to Sabaody, an island with few inhabitants. I'll find time to swim over to whichever island you choose."

"Alright. What do you think of Amazon Lily?"

Gawain answered quickly.

"That island lies in the Calm Belt, and there are few passing ships nearby to begin with. Amazon Lily doesn't have many native residents, and they enjoy fighting. Most of them are skilled in Two-Color Haki, so they should also be more receptive to Conqueror's Haki."

"Cough cough? Are you serious?"

Rayleigh froze. He cast a difficult glance at Shakky, and when he saw that she said nothing, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Let's make this clear first: we never met beforehand. This was entirely your idea, not this old pervert's selfish desire for the Island of Women!

You heard that clearly, Shakky?

Still, Amazon Lily really is a good choice. It's vast, filled with wild beasts, and has plenty of Sea Kings nearby. Its terrain is also quite suitable for developing Two-Color Haki. It truly is a fine place to train.

Then it's settled. I'll rest for a while and leave tonight or tomorrow morning.

Even at my speed, using Geppo and swimming will take several days to get there. So when will you meet up with me?"

Hearing Rayleigh's question, Gawain considered it for a moment before answering,

"I'll be going to the Ryugu Kingdom in two days. After staying there for a while, I'll arrange my itinerary and find time to head to Amazon Lily for a period."

"Alright, then it's settled!"

I'm from Dandong, Liaoning, and there's an outbreak here. Sigh.

Staying home in quarantine is perfect for writing, though. I've stocked up on five cartons of cigarettes, which should be enough. I just hope they don't take me away for centralized quarantine.

I haven't gone out in a long time, so I shouldn't be a close contact. Don't worry, I should be fine, haha.