At this moment
Somewhere in the waters outside Totto Land in the New World, a massive ship sailed across the vast ocean.
The ship was extraordinarily luxurious, painted entirely in deep maroon, a colossal twin-masted sailing vessel.
On the sail near the stern, a giant character for "snake" was embroidered, while the main sail at the front bore an enormous skull surrounded by nine serpent heads.
Beneath the hull, two enormous pythons dragged the ship forward, appearing both majestic and terrifyingly ferocious.
"Hancock, your ship is truly remarkable. I've seen countless impressive vessels in my time and yours ranks among them. The luxury is one thing, but those two pythons beneath your hull—they actually allowed us to pass unhindered through the waters near Fish-Man Island, even amidst those colossal Sea Kings. What exactly is the origin of those snakes?"
On the deck stood an old man with round-framed glasses and a vertical scar over his right eye.
He was none other than the legendary right-hand man of the Pirate King Roger, vice-captain of the Roger Pirates—the "Dark King," Silvers Rayleigh!
Ahead of him, a beautiful woman in a crimson open-front coat flashed an annoyed expression and snapped at him.
"Rayleigh! Shut up!"
"Sister~"
Beside Hancock, a tall and fat woman—one of the three Gorgon Sisters, Boa Marigold—quickly intervened, smiling as she explained to Rayleigh.
"Rayleigh-san, please don't take offense. The two snakes you mentioned are national treasures of Amazon Lily, known as 'Yuda.' They are an extremely rare species of giant, highly venomous pythons. They secrete a toxic fluid that coats their bodies, instilling fear in sea creatures and keeping them away from our ship."
Rayleigh chuckled, completely unbothered.
"Ah, I see! No wonder we haven't encountered any sea monsters attacking the ship along the way. I was worried because we had to coat the ship in such a hurry—ahahaha!"
On the other side, Boa Sandersonia, clicking her tongue playfully and grinned.
"Rayleigh-san, you're too humble. I think you're the best coating craftsman on Sabaody Archipelago!"
Rayleigh laughed heartily before turning his gaze toward the sea ahead.
There, islands began to appear one after another in the distance, scattered like stars across the vast ocean—clearly a densely populated region.
"Totto Land, we've arrived." Rayleigh adjusted his round glasses, his tone turning serious as he glanced at the Pirate Empress Boa Hancock, beside him.
"Hancock, are you truly prepared? Once we enter here, it'll be like stepping into hell."
Hancock's face showed a rare trace of hesitation, but she quickly steeled her expression and turned to Rayleigh.
"Rayleigh, you've seen the news too. Luffy was injured so badly by that Caesar and now there's no news of him—we don't even know if he's alive or dead! How can I just sit here? If Luffy dies, this empress will surely perish as well. These past few days, I haven't dared to imagine what kind of mental and physical torment Luffy is enduring right now! You saw it—his crewmates, some dead, some injured, their fates are just... just..."
As she spoke, Hancock's beautiful eyes reddened and she couldn't hold back her tears.
"Ah, i understand. Truly, as Gloriossa said, this is a doomed romance" Rayleigh sighed.
"If you're afraid, stay on the ship and don't go down" Hancock wiped away her tears, lifting her chin like a proud swan.
"Hahaha, at my age, what is there to fear? I'm already halfway into the grave. Even if true hell lies ahead, I'll charge through it today!"
Rayleigh's eyes burned with intense confidence, making him seem even more manly.
Some of the young women on the pirate ship couldn't resist touching Rayleigh, curiously tugging at his face.
Rayleigh's smile stiffened.
Suddenly, the ship rocked violently.
The sea beneath them churned wildly as a towering wave, dozens of meters high, surged from the direction of Totto Land with terrifying momentum.
Rayleigh, Hancock and the others frowned, turning their gazes towards the source.
At the horizon, no island was visible, but the sky itself seemed to warp.
It was as if an invisible hand had wiped away all the clouds in an instant.
An intangible shockwave erupted from some distant point, sweeping across Whole Cake Island at a horrifying speed, triggering a colossal tsunami!
Rayleigh's pupils constricted sharply, his emotions in turmoil as he stared fixedly in that direction.
Hancock was the same, her expression unprecedentedly grave, all traces of her earlier arrogance gone.
When the raging tsunami passed and the sea calmed, as silence fell over the ship.
Everyone looked to Rayleigh and Hancock.
Rayleigh exhaled deeply, meeting Hancock's gaze.
Both saw the gravity reflected in each other's eyes.
"No mistake—someone is fighting there. Judging by the terrifying aftermath, the combatants' strength is likely..." Rayleigh weighed his words before solemnly declaring.
"likely no weaker than Roger or Whitebeard!"
Hancock shuddered, her face twisting with conflict as she stared into the distance.
After a pause, Rayleigh spoke again.
"We can still turn back now, Hancock. There's no need to risk our lives. We could go search for Luffy instead."
Hancock hesitated, then gritted her teeth.
"Sandersonia, which of Whole Cake Island's territories lies in that direction?"
Sandersonia quickly retrieved an Eternal Pose, checking its bearing and distance.
"About 160 miles in that direction is Oven Island—a famous territory of Whole Cake Island under Charlotte Oven of the Big Mom Pirates."
"Go around there! We'll head straight to Whole Cake Island. With you here, Rayleigh, we can capture Caesar's son, Katakuri! Then, I'll make that Caesar regret ever hurting Luffy!"
Hancock's face regained its composure, but a trace of hatred and killing intent flashed in her eyes.
Rayleigh sighed, choosing not to dissuade her further.
Truth be told, Rayleigh himself was seething with anger.
Having spent two years with Luffy, training him day and night.
Luffy truly was like Roger—possessing immense talent and a unique charisma.
Anyone who came into contact with him, whether enemy or ally, would inevitably be influenced by his charm, drawn to him and eventually become his comrade.
Take the former Warlord Crocodile, for example, or Buggy the Clown.
But right now, Rayleigh was preoccupied with another concern.
"That Katakuri was already the strongest of Big Mom's Sweet Commanders. Now, with his father Caesar awakening his Oni bloodline, his power has become monstrous—even Kizaru was defeated by him. Sigh… If he's the only one on Whole Cake Island, there might still be hope of capturing him alive. But if other top fighters show up to interfere, escaping unscathed might be impossible!"
------------------------------
Read 40 chapters ahead and support me on patreon.
patreon (.)com/Newbietranslator