Anyone Who's Been a Pirate Knows

"I'll buy myself?"

Rayleigh opened his eyes, his gaze as calm as a still, deep well, looking up at Storm.

"White Dragon, I'm just an old man with a coating now. I even have to borrow money from the tavern to pay for my drinks."

"I can't afford myself, let alone Devil Fruit!"

Rayleigh not only drinks, but he also loves to gamble.

Every time he lost all his money, he would sell himself to a slave auction house in the Sabaody Archipelago, and then walk away.

For over a decade, this has been the way it has always been.

This kind of old pirate, who's "completely wicked," certainly can't save money.

That's a real shame.

Storm expressed his regret, but his face remained expressionless.

He plopped down next to Rayleigh and asked casually, as if chatting with an ordinary old man.

"Actually, I've always been curious about something, and I wonder if the famous Pluton Rayleigh could help me find the answer."

Before Rayleigh could speak, Storm asked on his own.

"Why is your nickname 'Pluton'?"

Faced with this unexpected problem, Rayleigh was momentarily at a loss.

He tried to reach out, but his severely fractured arms wouldn't move as he wished, and in the end, he only managed to twitch twice.

However, this action also reflects Rayleigh's current speechless mood.

"Aren't we enemies? Why should I answer your question?"

"Um..."

Storm frowned slightly, feigning distress, and then replied.

"For the sake of me saving your life?"

"Those who frequently engage in piracy know that when encountering enemies, the best course of action is to kill them all."

"You're still alive, shouldn't you be grateful to me for saving your life?"

Rayleigh had to admit that in all his years of life, this was the first time he had ever encountered such an unpleasant new kid!

"Although it's not very mature for an adult to say this, I still have to say it—I really don't like you."

Rayleigh lowered his arms as if he were laying down two limp noodles.

"As for my 'nickname'... it's not like I wanted to be called 'Pluton' myself."

"Like you, do you only get the name ' White Dragon 'White Dragon because of your own name?"

"I am called 'White Dragon' because I really do have a Blue-Eyes White Dragon."

Storm answered seriously, then immediately asked a question in return.

"But you're called 'Pluton,' is it because you own a [Pluton] ship?"

If it's just [Pluton]

Rayleigh would still think that the White Dragon was addressing him.

But there is a quantifier "ship" added in front of [Pluto].

So, this [Pluton].

It can only refer to one of the Three Ancient Weapons, the most evil warship named after a god.

[Pluton, the Pluton]!

For the first time, Rayleigh took White Dragon seriously, recognizing this young Shichibukai.

"What do you know? About that [Pluton]?"

I certainly don't know more than you do.

Storm replied calmly.

"You're the one who 'knows everything,' aren't you?"

"Hahaha... Hahaha!"

Rayleigh looked at Storm, and he suddenly laughed, the laughter growing louder and louder until tears almost streamed down his face.

"The Shichibukai... Hahahaha! I never expected the World Government to appoint such an interesting guy as Shichibukai!"

"White Dragon, what do you want to know? I can tell you 'everything' about you."

Rayleigh has never hesitated to reveal the secrets of Raftel to the outside world.

In fact, when he met the Straw Hat Pirates, he had wanted to tell these "newbies" the secret of the Laugh Tale.

However, "Nika the Master," who had obtained the answer beforehand, directly rejected it...

Now Rayleigh has met a new person who interests him.

Even if the opponent had just defeated him.

Rayleigh didn't mind telling the other party the secret of the Laugh Tale.

"No thanks, I have no interest in the sea's past."

Storm refused without hesitation.

"I believe in the power of human will to overcome nature, and I only feel disgusted by any so-called destined gods or saviors."

"What interests me most is still that question from before."

Why is your nickname 'Pluton'?

Rayleigh's smile froze instantly.

I'm discussing "everything" with you right now!

The Void Century, the Great Kingdom, Joey Boy, Ancient Weapon, The D Clan...

We can discuss anything!

Why is this kid so fixated on that ridiculous nickname?

Rayleigh answered curtly.

"I have no idea!"

"But I'm really curious!"

"Storm said seriously."

"Gol D. Roger, Silvers Rayleigh, Spark Gaban."

"The 'Pirate King' of the Roger Pirates and his 'Twin Wings of the King'."

"If your nickname is 'Pluton,' then shouldn't the other two be nicknamed 'Uranus' and 'Poseidon'?"

"But I've never heard of anything like this before."

The Three Ancient Weapons of the Great Kingdom: Uranus, Pluton, and Poseidon.

The Roger Pirates' three trump cards: Roger, Rayleigh, and Gaban.

If "Pluton" is Rayleigh.

Roger and Gaban could also correspond to a "king," right?

"Pirate King and the Twin Wings of the King..."

Rayleigh's expression faltered for a moment, as if he were lost in memories of the past.

Several seconds passed before he came to his senses and stared at Storm.

"I take back what I said before. There are some things about you that are somewhat likable."

"Hey~"

Upon hearing this, Storm immediately showed a look of disgust.

And at this time...

Ghost Princess flew over.

"Lord White Dragon!"

Storm immediately abandoned the heavily injured old pirate and looked at Perona.

"What did the proprietress from that tavern say?"

The tavern owner?

Rayleigh instantly perked up his ears and struggled to sit up, glaring at Storm, completely devoid of his previous nonchalant demeanor.

"White Dragon! What did you do to Shakky?"

Without even glancing at Rayleigh, Storm gave Perona the order.

"Negative Ghost!"

"No problem!"

Even in her soul form, Perona's ability to use the Ghost- Hollow-Hollow Fruit remains unaffected.

A White Ghost was released from her body and instantly pierced through Rayleigh's body.

Rayleigh, already severely injured, had no time to dodge and was directly hit by the "Negative Ghost".

The old pirate, who had just managed to sit up straight, was forced to lie flat again under the influence of the "Negative Ghost".

Old Rayleigh's eyes were lifeless; he muttered to himself.

"A pirate who couldn't even protect his comrades... he's not even worth as much as trash..."

Storm ignored the extremely negative Rayleigh and just looked at Perona.

"Huh? Oh!"

Perona, recalling Storm's instructions, immediately replied.

"That old woman said she would raise the money as soon as possible and then prepare a Devil Fruit!"

The "old woman" Perona was referring to was, of course, Shakky.

Just because Storm let Shakky go doesn't mean he'll do nothing.

Rayleigh has no money?

Shakky is rich!

Storm first sold Rayleigh to the World Government.

Then he sold Shakky the "fate" that the other party was about to encounter.

Those who frequently follow the pirates know that you should eat as much of one fish as possible!

Shakky's financial resources are naturally inferior to those of the World Government.

However, the other side's intelligence gathering capabilities are still very outstanding.

Shakky spends most of her time in the Sabaody Archipelago.

It wouldn't be difficult for her to collect a Devil Fruit.

In fact.

The "buyers" that Storm has just approached are not just the World Government and Shakky.

He had just sent Rayleigh's message to Gecko Moria.

Gecko Moria had originally planned to go to Impel Down.

If Rayleigh's shadow could be "cut" away by Gecko Moria, that would be his good fortune.

Storm didn't mind at all.

However, don't expect him to personally hand over Pluton Rayleigh to Gecko Moria.

Gecko Moria was able to receive this message, but he naturally paid a certain price.

Storm's requirements were: a Devil Fruit, or a Devil Fruit User.

Gecko Moria readily agreed.

Devil Fruit might be hard to find.

However, Devil Fruit User are not so hard to find.

Storm was very satisfied with Shakky's attitude.

He had already decided that if Shakky didn't cooperate, he would hand her over to the World Government as well.

Since you like living in seclusion so much.

Sabaody Archipelago and Impel Down are actually not that different... right?

Fortunately, Shakky was cooperative enough.

Storm nodded slightly to Perona.

"Thank you for your hard work, Perona. You can go play after everything is finished."

"Marvelous!"

Perona soared three zhang high, like a nimble lark.

A little while later...

A familiar aura finally appeared within Storm's [Observation Haki].

Golden light shimmered in the sky.

Kizaru makes a dazzling appearance!

"As expected, it's Pluton Rayleigh..."

As soon as Kizaru appeared, his gaze locked onto the old pirate next to him, whose arms were broken and who could no longer get up.

"They actually defeated a pirate of that caliber..."

"The White Dragon is practically monstrous!"

Perona recognized the newcomer and gasped in surprise, flying back to Storm's side.

"Admiral Kizaru!"

"Huh? Devil Fruit User?"

When Kizaru saw Perona flying in the sky, a faint look of surprise flashed across his face, as if he had only just noticed her.

In fact, Kizaru had already searched his memory but found no relevant bounty posters for Perona.

This pink-haired girl who can fly has abilities and characteristics that are too obvious.

If Kizaru had seen Perona's bounty poster, he would definitely have been deeply impressed.

But no...

Perona has no bounty on her head.

Kizaru's initial assessment is --

Perona is a newcomer who was brought aboard the ship by Storm!

"Miss, I must remind you, the terrifying man standing next to you is none other than Shichibukai with a bounty of 95 million Beli!"

"Hehehe--"

Perona simply made a face at Kizaru.

"Lord White Dragon is not scary at all!"

"Such a strong sense of trust is truly enviable!"

Kizaru adjusted his glasses, sighed, and slowly focused his attention on Storm.

"White Dragon, you really do surprise me time and time again~"

Kizaru's words were absolutely heartfelt.

What surprised him was not the chaotic Island 13.

Rather, it was Storm's still incredibly stable aura!

It was as if defeating Pluton Rayleigh, hadn't taken any toll on Storm at all.

"That's really scary~"

Since the White Dragon is still at his peak.

Therefore, the Gorosei's mission is naturally invalidated.

Kizaru calmly took out two small treasure chests and handed them to Storm.

"These are things the Gorosei asked me to bring. You can check them yourself."

In this "Pluton Transaction," the World Government offered five Devil Fruit plus one Artificial Devil Fruit.

But this time Kizaru only brought two.

Storm had anticipated this.

He reached out and took the two treasure chests from Kizaru, and opened the lids without hesitation.

Two Devil Fruit lay quietly inside.

Having thoroughly studied the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia, Storm immediately recognized the names of the two Devil Fruits.

[Paramecia: Bubble- Bubble Fruit]!

[Logia - Cloud Fruit]!

Served at four o'clock!

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