After hearing Rayleigh out, Werther understood. Rayleigh's reason for following him was obvious.
Rayleigh must have been at the auction too. He had seen Werther buy that collection of fine wines, so the old drunk had followed him out.
"Heh, all right. You don't have to call me Mr. Werther. Just Werther is fine.
"So, Old Ray, are you planning to steal my wine? Those few bottles of the very finest stuff mean a great deal to me. If you try to take them, I'll fight you to the death."
A glint flashed through Rayleigh's eyes, but Werther did not look as though he was lying.
Fighting Werther, one of the strongest of the new generation, to the death over a little wine would be unwise. Besides, Rayleigh was not that kind of man.
If Werther had bought the wine simply to enjoy it, Rayleigh would have tried to snatch some without hesitation. But if it held some special meaning for him, Rayleigh would not take it by force.
"Ah, that's a shame. I was hoping to taste those wines. I only had wine that good a few times back when I was a pirate, and I still remember it fondly.
"In that case, goodbye, Werther."
Werther was surprised Rayleigh had backed down so readily. It seemed the members of the Roger Pirates, like the Straw Hat Pirates now, had a sense of justice.
The Marines called them pirates, but to Werther, they were Adventurers like him. And Roger had been a great Adventurer.
"Wait."
Werther called Rayleigh back, took a bottle of fine wine from his Pocket Watch, and tossed it to him.
Rayleigh turned and caught it with ease. He glanced at the label and smiled.
It was not one of the very best bottles, but it was