A Week Later, Sabaody Archipelago.
Shakky's Rip-off Bar
The bar wasn't crowded.
A few drunks sat around a round table, chatting intermittently.
"Did you watch the live broadcast of Marineford?"
"I did, the Navy lost so badly."
"Yeah, first it was Whitebeard, then the 'Revolutionary' Monkey D. Dragon. The Navy Headquarters is almost like a marketplace now."
"Don't forget Jon Joestar. That guy toyed with ten thousand marines and got away unscathed!"
"Right, if it weren't for him, the Whitebeard Pirates wouldn't have escaped the Navy's encirclement so easily."
"Speaking of Jon Joestar, I have a secret piece of information."
"What is it?"
"Spill it!"
"I heard that after leaving Marineford, the Whitebeard Pirates ran into the Beasts Pirates who tried to take advantage of the situation. In the end, even Kaido was defeated by Jon Joestar!"
"No way! The 'Strongest Creature on Land, Sea, and Air,' one of the Four Emperors, actually lost?!"
"Well, that's what my uncle's servant's kid said, so keep it to yourselves."
"Got it~"
"Anyway, if Jon Joestar defeated Kaido, maybe Kaido's title as the 'Strongest Creature' is just an empty claim."
"If he can't win, I could probably do it too."
As soon as the words fell, laughter erupted from a corner of the bar.
The drunks were slightly taken aback.
Following the sound, they saw a shabby old man laughing heartily.
They were annoyed and started shouting, "You're disturbing our drinking, old man! Are you looking for a beating?"
"Don't think that just because you're old, we won't hit you!"
"Shut your mouth if you know what's good for you!"
Hearing this, Silvers Rayleigh showed no anger. He smiled, saying, "Sorry, I couldn't help it."
Facing their glares, he waved his hand generously, "As an apology, I'll buy you all a drink... Shakky, give these gentlemen a drink on me."
Behind the bar, the proprietress Shakky blew a smoke ring, her tone flat, "Rayleigh, are you serious?"
Before Rayleigh could reply, she added, "Instead of acting generous, how about paying off your tab first?"
"Hahaha, Shakky, you're so strict." Rayleigh scratched his head awkwardly, "I'll hit the casino tonight and win big..."
Turns out, he's just an old drunkard and gambler.
The drunks exchanged glances, deciding to ignore Rayleigh.
Unexpectedly, Rayleigh took the initiative to chat with them, "That war was incredible, with Kaido and Jon Joestar fighting fiercely; Monkey D. Dragon faced off against the combined forces of the three Admirals and handled it with ease.
Of course, Akainu led the charge, while Aokiji and Kizaru seemed to hold back..."
Growing more animated, Rayleigh gestured energetically.
The drunks burst into laughter.
"Hey, old man, from the way you talk, you'd think you were part of that world-changing war."
Rayleigh nodded matter-of-factly, "Of course. I was on the Red-Haired Pirates' ship the whole time, just didn't show up."
The drunks laughed even louder.
Red-Haired? Why not say you know the Pirate King?
Shakky sighed in exasperation.
Suddenly, the bar's wooden door was pushed open with a bang!
A tall, handsome young man walked in.
Sweeping his gaze over the crowd, his face darkened, "You have ten seconds to leave, or you'll die."
The atmosphere froze instantly.
The drunks, mouths agape, couldn't utter a word.
Jon thought.
Maybe I didn't look fierce enough?
Clearing his throat, he said calmly, "Now, you have five seconds left."
Suddenly snapping out of it, the drunks scrambled out of the bar, shouting as they went.
"The Madman is here!"
"Jon Joestar is here!"
"Run for your lives!"
A person's name is as impactful as their presence.
A notorious pirate arriving on the island was akin to a bandit raid.
Shakky was stunned.
Wait, they haven't paid!
She looked at Rayleigh.
Rayleigh just kept laughing.
"I didn't expect it to be you." He waved, "Care for a drink?"
With the riffraff gone, Jon dropped his tough guy act, walking briskly to Rayleigh.
Passing the bar, he seemed to remember something, pulling out some valuables from his personal space, "Sorry about earlier. Consider these my token of appreciation."
Perfume, handbags, cosmetics...
Shakky's eyes lit up.
Once again, women are easy to please.
Rayleigh's expression turned odd as he scrutinized Jon, shaking his head, "I thought you came to challenge me."
"Challenge?" Jon waved it off, "No, no, I'm just a decoy to attract the Navy.
Besides, Luffy's ship is still here. Since I'm leaving, I thought I'd give them a little help..."
Understanding dawned on Rayleigh.
Wow, this 'bait' is really valuable.
Rayleigh asked curiously, "Kid, do you know what your current bounty is?"
"2.6 billion," Jon scoffed.
Rayleigh half-jokingly, half-seriously stared at Jon, "What if I handed you over to the Navy? I'd never have to worry about gambling funds again, right?"
Hearing this, Jon shrugged, "Silvers Rayleigh, the right-hand man of the Pirate King, the 'Dark King,' cares about such trivial amounts?"
Rayleigh chuckled.
His eyes twinkling mischievously, he continued, "By the way, do you know what people call you now?"
"What?" Jon asked.
Rayleigh enunciated clearly, "They call you—the Uncrowned 'Fifth Emperor.'"
"'Fifth Emperor' is fine, but why 'Uncrowned'?"
Jon's face darkened.
"You don't have your own territory," Rayleigh explained.
With a smirk, he added some gossip he heard at the casino, "Charlotte Linlin (Big Mom) seems very interested in you. Because you demonstrated both Sengoku's and Kaido's abilities, she urgently wants to have a child with you to inherit such a miraculous power."
Jon: Σ(дlll)
Here's a joke.
Me, Jon Joestar, a fresh nineteen-year-old guy.
Being fancied by a nearly nine-meter-tall, sixty-six-year-old grandma.
Uh...
Jon shivered.
No way!
That terrifying scenario is absolutely a no-go!
I've heard of small horses pulling big carts, but never of a small horse pulling a dump truck.
Jon's eyes sharpened, "Matters of the heart can't be taken lightly!"
A man can be killed but not humiliated.
Someone else can deal with that dump truck!
"But," Rayleigh adjusted his glasses, "The Big Mom Pirates have already sent someone to find you."
Jon: ???