Now that he had finally withdrawn from worldly affairs, he really did not want that. Besides, he wanted to see exactly what kind of person Roger had been waiting for.
Rayleigh immediately laughed. "So you've really met a different kind of Marine through me?"
"Hey, I told you already. I'm a Marine now, but that might not be the case later."
Facing this question again, Rayleigh grew curious. "What do you mean by that?"
"Why won't you be one later?"
Mu Chen did not hide anything from Rayleigh. "Right now, my rank is low. I've only just been promoted to colonel, so for the time being, I'm just training and catching pirates. What else can I do?"
"But if I become a Vice Admiral or an Admiral someday, things will be different."
"Oh? You sure have confidence in yourself, kid."
"An Admiral?"
What Mu Chen said was practically boasting. Was becoming an Admiral really that easy?
Still, Rayleigh had some understanding of Mu Chen's strength.
And there was also Mu Chen's pair of blood-red eyes. Rayleigh had always felt that those eyes were incredibly powerful.
But Mu Chen was not just making empty boasts. First, he had the system, so becoming stronger was only a matter of time. Second, he had a fairly good relationship with Garp and Zefa. He would inevitably receive special treatment in the future, so reaching the position of Admiral was not impossible.
"But I'm curious. If you become an Admiral, how would things be different?"
Hearing that, Mu Chen gave a bitter smile and spoke indifferently. "At that level, I'll inevitably have dealings with the Celestial Dragons. I'm afraid I won't be able to stop myself from taking out a couple of them."
The moment Mu Chen said that, Shanks and Buggy, who had been watching the show, were shocked. Their eyes widened like lightbulbs, and their mouths hung open wide enough to fit a ball.
Once he reached the rank of Admiral, his strength would definitely be at the very top. Mu Chen figured he would become even more unconstrained. If some Celestial Dragon got in his way or interfered with his slacking, he truly would not mind killing one or two.
"Do you know what you're saying?"
Rayleigh had not expected the young man before him to be so bold. What kind of insane words were those? He could talk about killing Celestial Dragons without even changing expression. It was simply shocking.
"All right, Rayleigh. You people have been to Laugh Tale, so don't make such a fuss."
Faced with Mu Chen's unpredictability and casual attitude, Rayleigh did not even know what to say.
Only they knew Laugh Tale's secret, and back then, they had sworn to die before revealing it. That secret was indeed connected to the Celestial Dragons. But hearing Mu Chen say that, Rayleigh could not help wondering whether Mu Chen also knew Laugh Tale's secret.
"Could it be...?" Rayleigh asked suspiciously.
"Don't overthink it. I don't know Laugh Tale's secret."
What Laugh Tale was hiding remained a mystery even now. After all, the manga still had not ended.
Mu Chen only guessed that the secret must be related to the Void Century and the Celestial Dragons.
Rayleigh opened his mouth, wanting to say something else.
"All right, stop guessing. It's getting late. I need to return to Marineford. I snuck out this time to slack off."
"Slack off?"
Rayleigh did not understand the term, but he understood that Mu Chen had sneaked out.
Mu Chen did not care what Rayleigh and the others were thinking or what expressions they wore. Given the situation, they probably would not fight anyway.
"All right, Uncle Rayleigh, I'm leaving. I'll come chat with you next time I sneak out to slack off."
Mu Chen spoke calmly as he prepared to leave, casually undoing the ropes binding Shanks and Buggy.
"You two are going to sea to become pirates, so remember not to casually kill civilians like the others do. Otherwise, I really will arrest you."
Although Mu Chen said that, even if they were to be arrested, it probably would not be his turn to do it.
Shanks and Buggy no longer knew what to say. They had never seen a Marine like this. What pirate did not kill civilians? He trusted them just like that?
Just as Mu Chen started moving, Rayleigh called out to him. "Kid, I'm planning to open a bar in Area 13. Come find me when you have time. Oh, right, what's your name?"
"Mu Chen."
With that, Mu Chen left without looking back.
Only Rayleigh, Shanks, and Buggy remained in the quiet alley.
"Vice Captain Rayleigh, you're just letting that Marine leave? What if he brings the main force to kill us?"
"Come on, you even told him where you are?"
Buggy was still terrified. He simply did not trust any Marine, especially one who had just beaten them up. "It's fine. He won't."
"All right. From now on, work hard and sail the seas. I'm retired. I don't want to get involved in anything anymore."
Rayleigh watched Mu Chen's departing back and became increasingly interested in the young man. He had never seen such a Marine. If Mu Chen had been deliberately approaching them, Rayleigh would not believe it. What Marine would dare say he wanted to kill Celestial Dragons? Whether it was true or not, if word got out, Mu Chen would die regardless of whether he was a Marine.
Yet Mu Chen had told him that so openly. It was obvious that Mu Chen had something on him.
After saying that, Rayleigh left.
"Vice Captain Rayleigh, don't go! We finally got to meet you!"
Shanks wanted to keep Rayleigh around, but Rayleigh had already vanished without a trace.
"All right, Shanks, the Sabaody Archipelago isn't safe."
"I'm leaving. I don't trust that Marine."
Buggy did not say another word and immediately slipped away.
Shanks was still recalling the fight from earlier, along with what Mu Chen had said. He had originally wanted to ask Buggy what Mu Chen had done to him, especially about Mu Chen's eyes. He was very curious, but Buggy had already left, so he let it go.
"Mu Chen, I'll remember that. I won't lose next time."
At dusk, Mu Chen was already waiting for Tokikake on the deck of the warship. Today's gains had been considerable. Nearly five hours of slacking had earned him 1,800 Slacking Points. Earning Slacking Points like this felt amazing. He had to do it this way again next time.
But the most unexpected thing was running into Shanks, Buggy, and Rayleigh.
Before you continue