Chapter 73: Rayleigh's Heart, Red-Hair's Admiration
"That's right, the Dark King Rayleigh!"
"My number one target on the Sabaody Archipelago!"
"So, Rayleigh, how about you teach me to master Conqueror's Haki and the coating technique?"
Satan laughed heartily.
The Dark King Rayleigh, he had finally met him.
"Kid, I don't believe I know you."
"And, why should I teach you?"
Rayleigh scratched the back of his head and refused directly.
"Don't be so hasty. I've prepared a few secrets for an exchange!"
"If I told you that the son of the Pirate King Roger is in mortal danger and about to die..."
"...as his vice-captain, would you save him or not?"
Satan laid out his conditions directly.
He didn't believe in some legendary charisma that could make great masters submit.
But since they were pirates, there was room for negotiation.
Everyone in the world acts for their own benefit.
There's no deal that can't be made in this world, only chips that aren't big enough.
Even for the Dark King Rayleigh, he had a sufficient bargaining chip.
Sure enough, hearing this, Rayleigh's brow furrowed. "The captain had a son?"
"Of course!"
"That guy has been under Whitebeard's protection all this time!"
"But, he's been captured by the Marines now. Faced with the captain's son, will you save him or not?"
Satan watched the Dark King Rayleigh.
The latter fell into deep thought.
The son of the Pirate King Roger... the Marines would never allow the blood of a criminal to flow in this world.
To save him or not?
Rayleigh pondered. After a long while, Rayleigh laughed loudly.
"What a terrifying young man you are!"
"But, I'm old now. Everyone has their own choices!"
"And everyone must pay the price for their choices."
"This matter, I will not get involved!"
Rayleigh chose to refuse.
"Just as I thought!"
"It seems the captain's son isn't enough to attract you!"
"Then, I suppose other secrets will have a hard time attracting you either!"
"But, what if the one who inherited Roger's will is about to die? Would you care then?"
Satan said faintly.
"Are you threatening me?"
Rayleigh's eyes turned cold.
"It's not a threat. That Straw Hat kid is too much of a troublemaker!"
"He has no power, but he's extremely good at causing trouble."
"If I'm not mistaken, this island will be where his journey ends!"
"Because an Admiral will make a move!"
Satan said faintly.
"What, an Admiral will make a move?"
Rayleigh was startled.
"That's right. It seems you don't know the Straw Hat kid's identity."
"Do you know whose son he is?"
Satan saw it clearly.
Rayleigh didn't care about Ace.
That's why, in the original story, when Ace was facing public execution, Rayleigh never showed up.
If Rayleigh had appeared at the Summit War, Ace certainly would not have died.
A strong person is enough to change the tide of battle.
However, Rayleigh did not appear, yet he saved Straw Hat Luffy on the Sabaody Archipelago.
And he knew Luffy?
It must be because of his connection with Shanks.
A Luffy who inherited Roger's will was far more important than Roger's biological son!
Understanding this relationship, a smile hung on the corner of Satan's mouth.
Rayleigh was going to be his free instructor; that was settled.
"Whose son?"
Rayleigh frowned.
He had heard from Shanks that he had found the successor to Roger's will.
He had lost an arm there, betting it on the future.
For a pirate who hadn't even entered the New World to be facing an Admiral now was too soon.
He would absolutely not allow Roger's will to be extinguished.
"The son of the Revolutionary, Dragon!"
"The grandson of the Marine Hero Garp!"
"Now, a person like that, do you think the world will let him go?"
A smile appeared on Satan's lips. The fish was on the hook.
"Shanks, you really found an incredible rookie!"
"If that's the case, it seems I really should move these old bones of mine!"
Rayleigh was serious. He could be indifferent to Ace's death.
After all, Ace had joined Whitebeard and had not inherited Roger's will.
But the Straw Hat kid was different. Roger's will could not be extinguished.
"Then, the deal is on!"
"You teach me to master Conqueror's Haki and teach these two the coating technique!"
"I can tell you how to resolve the Straw Hat crisis in the near future!"
"I can even step in and help you resolve it!"
Satan proposed his conditions.
"It seems I cannot refuse this deal!"
"But, mastering Conqueror's Haki is not something that can be done overnight."
"I can only teach you the tricks and methods. How far you can go in the future will depend on you."
Rayleigh sighed.
This Satan fellow came prepared.
When did such a terrifying monster appear on the seas?
Not only was his strength immense, but his cunning was also extraordinary.
"Teaching me the methods is enough!"
"If you can, teach me the training methods for Armament and Observation Haki as well!"
"Although I understand them, when it comes to teaching others, I'm just a novice!"
Satan laughed.
Rayleigh was settled!
Not only did he want to perfectly master Conqueror's Haki, he also wanted to get the Haki training methods to guide his crew.
After all, the teaching methods he currently used didn't seem to be suitable for his members.
"Such a confident kid!"
"Before we begin, tell me, what is your name?"
Rayleigh asked.
"Satan!"
"Satan, so it's you!"
Rayleigh understood.
Satan, the Demon King with a 300 million Belly bounty.
The being who had beaten a Celestial Dragon and breached Impel Down.
Either of these things was a great feat!
And, in his chats with Shanks, Shanks had also mentioned Satan.
Rayleigh remembered that in the letter, Shanks had written:
Uncle Rayleigh, I've met an incredible monster.
This guy came from the Whitebeard Pirates' ship and traveled with me for a time. But he is not a member of the Whitebeard Pirates.
You know what?
My own Haki was only awakened after being guided.
But he is different. His Haki awakened just from seeing someone else use it. And his Conqueror's Haki awakened under my pressure.
His theories on swordsmanship are even more shocking.
This guy's ambition is also unusually great.
He refused my invitation. I don't know where his ambition truly lies.
But without a doubt, this guy makes me see another Captain.
No, perhaps he will surpass the Captain.
That guy is a monster!
I don't know what kind of bloody storm he will stir up on the seas in the future.
Luffy has a great mountain blocking his path.
Thinking of the information Shanks had given him, Rayleigh looked at Satan, his eyes shining with a bright light.
So this kid is Satan?
It's truly an era where new talents emerge!
These seas are becoming turbulent again.
With a rookie like Satan appearing, could it be that the seas are about to become as turbulent as they were in my youth?
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