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 test each other out."

After saying that, Shakky picked a piece of dried fruit from Gawain's plate and put it into her mouth. As she chewed, she removed the cigarette butt from her lips and stubbed it out directly on the bar.

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

Avoiding the glimpse of Shakky's chest exposed slightly as she leaned low over the counter, Gawain looked instead at Rayleigh and said,

"Don't listen to Shakky, Mr. Rayleigh. If you hadn't possessed such mastery over Conqueror's Haki, then what you'd be facing now wouldn't be me, but a Marine force."

As his words fell, Gawain patted Gion's arm and asked softly,

"Though old predecessors may lose some physical strength, their various skills only become more refined.

What did Rayleigh's Conqueror's Haki feel like? Though it vanished in an instant, it contained so much experience, didn't it?"

With that, Gawain raised his bottle toward Rayleigh. Rayleigh thoughtfully clinked his bottle against Gawain's.

Beside them, seeing the two men drinking happily, Shakky gave Gion a lazy smile.

"Men really are men. They just love things like alcohol. Let them drink.

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

"I know what I'm doing!"

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

One bite was astonishingly sweet, and Gion could not help showing the faintest smile.

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. The cotton candy instantly looked like some monstrous beast to her. She had never eaten candy this expensive in her life!

"Hahaha!"

"You really got ripped off!"

Rayleigh and Gawain burst out laughing together. As they laughed, the rum between them was completely drained.

After setting the empty bottle on the bar, Rayleigh said to Shakky,

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

As for Gawain, he 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 depraved pirates."

"I can't let that slide, young Gawain."

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

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

"How could that be? I'm not a Marine, and I certainly don't plan to become a thief.

Gion used to be a Marine, but now she's my subordinate. So give us a free pass, Shakky."

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

"Rayleigh, I've settled the drinks bill. Now it's time to discuss serious business, don't you think?"

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

I only hope it isn't too much trouble. This old man can't handle anything too big."

Rayleigh took a small sip of his drink 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 roared with laughter, slapping his thigh as he laughed.

"Saint Gawain, that joke really got me. We're supposed to discuss serious matters, but your proposal is anything but serious!

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

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

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

You may not know this, but I made a vow, Gawain.

A man like me has no right to board any ship, not even a single one!"

With that, Rayleigh laughed and drained an entire bottle of rum.

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

Aside from places I could reach by swimming, I never went anywhere.

Aside from the decks I occasionally stepped on while doing coating work, I 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 sort of person rotten to the core. It's 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 glint reflected off his glasses as he toyed with the bottle and said with deep emotion,

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

As his words fell, the room fell quiet for a moment. Gawain took a sip of his drink, then nodded gently.

"I understand."

Setting down his bottle, Gawain clapped his hands.

"Why are so many people willing to join pirates when pirates are clearly thieves?

It's all because of old pirate predecessors like you. Your spirit is truly admirable.

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

Since you refuse, I won't force you. As you said, you're already seventy-three. How could I force an elderly gentleman like you?"

At that point, Gawain shifted the subject.

"But you said it yourself—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 hand-to-hand combat, so long as you Celestial Dragons want it, countless people will help you train.

But Conqueror's Haki alone..."

Rayleigh gave Gion a meaningful glance.

"There are simply too few people in the Marines who possess Conqueror's Haki. As for the World Government, perhaps only the Five Elders, too busy with endless affairs to spare their 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 eruptions of Conqueror's Haki, I had some guesses about this situation.

I just didn't expect you to come so quickly!"

With that, Rayleigh picked up another fresh bottle and placed it between himself and Gawain, speaking softly.

"What else could I do but teach you? It's not as if I could kill you. Leaving aside young Gion's Black Blade, itching to strike, and leaving aside the lives of Shakky and me.

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

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

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

Look, aside from physical skills, we can even develop imagination and will!"

Rayleigh's pupils dilated slightly. In the next instant, his Conqueror's Haki burst forth. The invisible force rapidly condensed, and fine yet exceptionally clear black-blue lightning coiled around the bottle in his hand.

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

Will is power!"

Bang!

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

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

"I'll teach you everything I understand about Conqueror's Haki.

In exchange, I hope the rest of my life can be a little quieter.

Sabaody is a fine place. I'd like to be buried here, so from now on, the Marines are not to disturb me!"

"No problem." Gawain nodded leisurely.

"Good."

Rayleigh smiled in satisfaction, then 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.

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

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

Gawain answered quickly.

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

"Cough, cough? Are you serious?"

Rayleigh froze. He cast Shakky a difficult glance, and when she said nothing, he sighed in relief.

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

You heard that clearly, right, Shakky?

Still, Amazon Lily is indeed not bad. Its territory is vast, there are many wild beasts, plenty of Sea Kings, and its geology is suited for developing Two-Color Haki. It truly is a good place to train.

Then it's decided. I'll rest for a while and set out tonight or tomorrow morning.

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

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

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

"Fine, it's settled then!"

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

Staying home in quarantine is a good chance to write. I stocked up on five cartons of cigarettes, so I have enough. I just hope they don't take me away for centralized quarantine.

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