Misunderstanding Cleared

In the deep sea, all was dark and silent.

The Bedrock had transformed into a heavy rock submarine, silently cruising dozens of meters beneath the surface. Rain stood before the periscope, quietly watching the sheep-headed sailing ship above through several high-purity glass lenses.

"The Going Merry..."

A rare trace of gravity flashed through Rain's dark eyes. As a transmigrator familiar with the story, he knew what this ship had been through. By now, the Going Merry's keel had long since snapped. The fact that she had crossed raging winds, towering waves, and the Buster Call's artillery fire to reach this place was nothing short of a miracle that defied the laws of physics.

It had all depended on the ship's soul—the Klabautermann.

"Using her own soul as fuel to forcefully send those idiots out of hell... What an incredible ship." Rain muttered softly. As a bounty hunter who regarded ships as vital companions and mobile fortresses, he offered the highest respect to this little vessel nearing the end of her life.

Before long, the currents gradually calmed.

Through the periscope, the iconic silhouette of Water 7's enormous fountain finally appeared at the end of the horizon.

However, Rain did not surface immediately. He saw snowflakes drifting across the sea at some point.

Beside Galley-La Company's massive rescue ship, the Going Merry, having completed her final mission, floated quietly on the water. Her main mast had completely snapped, and her hull had split down the middle. She could no longer sail forward even one more meter.

Rain stopped the Bedrock and silently watched the scene on the surface through the periscope.

The Straw Hat Pirates stood on the rescue ship's deck, every one of them crying their hearts out. That usually carefree rubber boy was now holding a torch, personally setting fire to his beloved pirate ship.

The flames soared into the sky, glaringly bright amid the freezing wind and snow.

"I'm sorry... I wanted to carry everyone even farther..."

An ethereal, gentle voice echoed across the sea. It was the Going Merry's final farewell. Listening to that voice, Rain silently closed his eyes and removed his hood.

Only after the flames on the sea had completely died out and the Going Merry had turned to ashes and sunk to the seabed did Rain pull his hood back up and place his hand on the main control slate beside the helm.

"Surface."

Water 7, the shoreline outside Dock One.

Having just held the funeral, everyone was immersed in overwhelming grief and utter exhaustion as they prepared to go ashore and rest. Suddenly, huge waves churned in the distant sea, and a strange sailing ship with a rugged design, completely encased in grayish-white rock, burst through the water.

With a dull grinding of stone, the heavy rock dome covering the deck split apart like flower petals and retracted in every direction, finally becoming a layer of sturdy armor attached to both sides of the hull.

A tall figure draped in a dark gray cloak, carrying a bulging giant pack on his back, slowly emerged from the shadows and stepped ashore via the gangplank.

The atmosphere instantly froze.

"That outfit... and that stone ship..."

Paulie, a foreman of Galley-La Company, went pale and yanked out the rope hidden in his sleeve. Beside him, the Franky Family's underlings stumbled back in fright.

"No mistake! That guy's a bounty hunter! The absolute monster, 'Grayrock' Rain, who slaughtered his way through Baroque Works in Alabasta and recently took down the eighty-five-million-berry pirate Odel by himself!"

"A bounty hunter?"

The moment those words were spoken, every Water 7 resident and shipwright present saw red. The Straw Hat Pirates had just stormed Enies Lobby to save their companion. Not only were they Robin and Franky's saviors, they were also friends of Water 7's mayor, Iceburg. Now that the pirates were all badly wounded and drained of strength, a top-tier bounty hunter had suddenly appeared. His purpose could not have been more obvious!

"Protect the Straw Hat Pirates!"

"Don't let that guy get anywhere near them!"

Paulie, Peeply Lulu, and Tilestone, the three main shipwrights, stepped forward without hesitation to block the way.

Faced with this tense standoff, Rain acted as though nothing had happened. He carried the several-hundred-pound Seastone pack in one hand, his gaze passing over the crowd and landing on the Straw Hat, who was still wiping away tears.

"Don't be so hostile." Rain's voice was hoarse but calm. "I only came to Water City to find shipwrights to repair my ship. And while I was at it... to watch the end of this grand show."

"Quit lying! How could a bounty hunter possibly let such a huge prize slip away?!" Paulie roared, preparing to strike.

"Please stop, Mr. Paulie. Everyone."

Just as the conflict was about to erupt, a cool yet gentle voice came from behind the crowd.

Nico Robin walked forward, dragging her exhausted body. She glanced at Rain, then turned to the Water City residents who were facing him as though he were a great enemy and gently shook her head.

"He is not our enemy." Robin's voice was not loud, yet it carried a conviction that made people believe her. "If it weren't for him, we might not have escaped Enies Lobby so smoothly. Spandam, the highest-ranking CP9 officer who held the Golden Den Den Mushi and tried to launch a Buster Call to wipe us out, was personally dealt with by him."

The entire crowd erupted in uproar.

"What? That hateful CP9 chief was taken out by this hunter?" Paulie's eyes widened.

"Then he isn't our enemy. He's actually our ally?" Mayor Iceburg also let out a sigh of relief.

Robin looked at Rain, her eyes carrying a tacit understanding only the two of them shared. She knew very well that Rain had dealt with Spandam in order to loot the World Government's treasury, but objectively, he had indeed removed the greatest obstacle for the Straw Hat Pirates. Besides, since Rain had not taken advantage of the chaos at Enies Lobby, he was even less likely to make a move openly here in Water 7.

Hearing Robin's explanation, the hostility in the surrounding crowd's eyes instantly vanished, replaced by the particular warmth and straightforwardness of Water 7's residents.

"So that's how it is! If he helped Straw Hat and Franky, then he's an honored guest of Water 7!" Paulie laughed heartily and put away his rope.

"That's right! Leave your ship to Galley-La Company! We'll turn it into the finest warship on the entire sea!"

Faced with the abrupt change in attitude, Rain remained expressionless, though a hint of helplessness flashed through his eyes. These pirates and the people here were equally absurdly thick-skinned.

"Hey! Big guy!"

Luffy sniffed, roughly wiped the tears from his face, and walked over to Rain. He tilted his head, examined Rain's bandaged right arm, and suddenly his eyes lit up.

"Ah! I remember now! You're that 'Stone Uncle' from Alabasta! You helped us beat up that sand bastard too, right?"

Luffy's words further confirmed Rain's status as an ally.

"My name isn't Stone Uncle. And I'm not that old." Rain looked down at this supernova who had just created a miracle, helplessness in his eyes. "After causing such a mess at Enies Lobby, the World Government will soon put unimaginable bounties on all of you. Your heads are prime targets now."

"Hehe! Are you going to come catch me, then?" Luffy pressed down his straw hat and grinned, without the slightest fear.

"Someone loved like this—how can he be called a pirate?" Rain heavily dropped the giant pack onto the ground with a dull boom. It was filled with strategic materials that would soon transform him completely.

"If you did nothing wrong, then the problem with you being wanted lies with the World Government. My travels are also meant to find that problem, and then solve it."

Rain raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the Straw Hat Pirates before finally settling on Luffy.

"Now, there's something else I need to tell you—about your brother, Ace."