Early the next morning, Werther arrived at a bar on Sabaody. He was waiting for someone he'd come to think of as a drinking buddy.
Before long, that person arrived: Dark King Rayleigh.
Werther had run into Rayleigh several more times while wandering Island, and they'd shared a few drinks. Rayleigh proved good company over a bottle, so the two had become drinking buddies.
"Werther, sorry to keep you waiting."
Rayleigh was wearing the same old outfit. For someone who sometimes went six months without going home and spent so much time roaming around, keeping his clothes clean and tidy was an achievement.
"Not at all. I only just got here. Where are we drinking today? I've still got a few good bottles."
"My treat today. I can't keep letting you pay, Werther. You're always the one bringing the good liquor. Makes an old man feel bad."
Werther paused. He knew Rayleigh loved to gamble, and that he never used Observation Haki to cheat at the tables.
But Rayleigh was only an average gambler and lost more often than he won. The man was usually broke.
"Doesn't matter. As long as we enjoy the drinks, who pays is all the same."
Rayleigh laughed. He knew the Great Swordsman before him had a bloodthirsty reputation, but after spending so much time together, he'd noticed a few things about Werther.
Werther never bullied ordinary civilians. Wherever he ate, he always paid his bill.
What surprised Rayleigh most had happened one day while they were drinking in Restaurant. A young boy came running past with a slice of cake in his hand.
Perhaps he'd been running too fast. The boy tripped beside Werther, and the cake landed squarely on Werther's shirt.
The boy's father rushed over and hurried to apologize. But the moment