(T/N: This Novel was written in 2023, so there are a lot of difference compared to the current original work.)
Shakky, as the most famous information broker on Sabaody Archipelago, and possibly one of the top information brokers in the Grand Line, naturally had all sorts of informants and networks.
This included the Marine Branch located on Sabaody Archipelago.
It could be said that the moment Jin handed Hatchan over to Sentomaru, Shakky's informant relayed the news to her shortly after.
Rayleigh raised an eyebrow.
A few seconds later, he stood up, grabbed his sword leaning against the wall, and prepared to go out.
"Are you going to break into the Marine Branch? The Marines have been turning a blind eye to you living in seclusion on this island. If you go, they might send an Admiral to capture you."
Shakky reminded him.
"I can't just stand by and watch Hatchan get thrown in prison, can I?"
Rayleigh shook his head with a bitter smile.
After all, Hatchan could be considered his savior.
Once, when Rayleigh was shipwrecked, and it was thanks to the young Hatchan's rescue that he survived.
What's hard to understand is how someone who could swim from Sabaody Archipelago to Amazon Lily could nearly die in a shipwreck.
But having connections is really great.
The King of Plot Armor, Luffy, goes without saying.
He had connections in all major factions, be it pirates, Marines, or the Revolutionary Army.
Even Hatchan could successfully redeem himself by linking up with the Pirate King's right-hand man.
"Purupuru purupuru purupuru~"
However, just as Rayleigh picked up his sword and before he could step out the door, the Den Den Mushi behind Shakky rang again.
Shakky, answering the call for the second time, listened to the other party and her expression changed dramatically once more.
"Monkey-boy's ship is about to be stolen."
Rayleigh's eyes widened.
'Damn, what's going on today?'
'Why is it so eventful?'
...
Sabaody Archipelago, Grove 44.
The Straw Hat Pirates' Thousand Sunny was docked here.
Over the past year and a half, pirates, bounty hunters, and even Marines who wanted to seize this ship had been endless.
But due to one person's intervention, no faction had succeeded.
That person was the Warlord of the Sea, Bartholomew Kuma!
For a year and a half, Kuma had repelled countless pirates trying to steal the Thousand Sunny.
However, today, he failed.
Sizzle!
A silver Chakra Sword pierced through Kuma's right wrist.
It nailed him firmly to the trunk of a nearby Yarukiman Mangrove Tree.
Not just his right hand, a Chakra Blade was embedded in each of Kuma's limbs.
Sparks flew from the split wounds, revealing mechanical bones made of wires and chips.
"I told you to mind your own business."
Jin dispersed his Susanoo, wearing an expression that said 'I'm really fed up with you'.
Over the past year and a half, Kuma had experienced countless fierce battles, so his body was already at the end of its rope.
Because of that, dealing with him wasn't much harder than dealing with Hatchan.
Jin turned his gaze to the intact Thousand Sunny at the port, nodding with satisfaction.
"Mmm~ This ship is just right."
"Isn't this going too far? Beating a seriously injured man like this, and even trying to steal someone else's ship?"
Just as Jin was about to go up and admire this pirate ship that was about to become his ride, a voice full of disapproval sounded from behind him.
Jin turned around calmly, his expression unruffled.
"Oh? It's the [Mediocre Teacher] Rayleigh?"
Upon seeing the other party's face, a smile spread across Jin's face.
When the other party also got a clear look at Jin's face, Rayleigh's first thought was, 'So young!'
'Judging by his age, he should be a few years younger than Luffy.'
'Yet he was able to defeat Bartholomew Kuma.'
'Even though Bartholomew Kuma was now covered in wounds, he was definitely not someone a pirate with a bounty below 100 million Berry could defeat.'
'And now, he was actually defeated by a boy who looked no older than fifteen.'
'So unbelievable.'
Then, hearing the other's address for him, Rayleigh frowned inwardly.
He had two epithets: [Dark King] and [Right Hand of the Pirate King].
'But what the hell was [Mediocre Teacher]?'
However, seeing the Thousand Sunny behind Jin, Rayleigh temporarily put that aside and said sternly:
"Young man, this ship does not belong to you. If you wish to embark on a journey, you should find your own ship."
After helping Luffy with the ship matter, he still had to go to the Marine Branch to rescue Hatchan, so he didn't have time to waste.
But it seems Luffy held a higher place in Rayleigh's heart.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have chosen to get the ship first before going to save someone.
"What a joke,"
Jin's smile widened.
"Isn't the primary job of a pirate 'stealing'? There's a perfectly good ship right in front of me. Why should I let it go? Did the Roger Pirates back in the day get their food and supplies through hard labor?"
Rayleigh was momentarily stunned.
When their Roger Pirates were dominating the seas, the money they used certainly wasn't earned through honest work.
It was stolen too.
They just tried not to steal from civilians, but rather from other pirates.
The so-called 'robbing the robbers'.
Regardless, money obtained this way could be spent with a slightly clearer conscience.
Jin spoke again with a mocking expression:
"Speaking of which, the Straw Hat Crew are pirates too, aren't they? So it's okay for the Roger Pirates to rob robbers, but not for me to do the same? Quite the double standard, Rayleigh-san~"
Jin never considered himself a good person.
But that didn't stop him, a true villain, from disliking hypocrites.
'Damn, you're a pirate, and you still talk about benevolence, righteousness, and morality.'
'Cuih… Disgusting!'
'And you want the common people to think well of you?'
'In a word, disgusting!'
'Disgusting! Disgusting!'
'Cuih… So disgusting!'