Kuma's Demand for Compensation, Roger's Brief Stay / Dongze Appears, Destination: Laugh Tale

"Heh... It really is you! My brother!"

Rayleigh gripped the man's lapels, his voice choking up.

Roger reached out and patted Rayleigh's shoulder. His own eyes grew moist.

"Rayleigh! I'm back!"

Watching the two old friends reunite, Dongze sighed softly.

There was no bond more precious on the seas.

But when the two looked ready to talk for hours, pouring out everything in their hearts, Dongze couldn't help breaking the mood.

"Hey, Mr. Rayleigh. Did you sell yourself off again?"

Rayleigh frowned at that. Who had the nerve to interrupt his reunion with his brother now of all times?

He looked up and froze.

"Dongze!"

A familiar figure sat on a stool by the bar. Who else could it be but Dongze, who had vanished for three years?

This time, though, the sight of Dongze brought one vivid memory after another flashing through Rayleigh's mind.

The Soust Empire. Bamboo Leaf Brew. Laugh Tale. Egg wraps. Sparring in the Calm Belt. Roger's two trips to Soust.

"What is this...?"

As the memories kept surfacing, Rayleigh's expression changed drastically.

They had met Dongze more than twenty years ago? How was that possible?

Rayleigh tugged at Roger's clothes and whispered, "Roger! What's going on? We met him over twenty years ago?"

Roger scratched his head.

"Rayleigh, has your memory gotten that bad? Back when we were adventuring, you were the one who suggested going to Soust!"

Rayleigh's mouth twitched. That was how he remembered it now, but something still felt wrong.

The way those memories cut across time made them feel unreal.

Dongze heard Roger and Rayleigh whispering but paid them no mind.

Time Sword Intent was too shocking a power. So far, only a handful of people close to him knew he could travel through time.

He certainly wasn't about to tell