Kill Uehara Naraku...
It's really a bit dirty work!
Dark King Rayleigh sighed faintly in his heart, lamenting the corruption and darkness within the Navy. The more useless the Navy Vice Admirals stationed at the Shampodi Archipelago are, the more pirates entering the latter half of the Grand Line.
"Forget it."
Dark King Rayleigh glanced at Uehara Naraku, turned to leave on his own: "Kid, consider your fifty thousand Belly as a lesson learned..."
"Stop!"
Uehara Naraku hurriedly stepped forward to stop Dark King Rayleigh, his face full of anger from being played: "Hey, you dare to mess with me... Do you know who I am?"
"I know, I know..."
Dark King Rayleigh nodded with a smile, as if comforting an ignorant child, and continued with a smile: "Aren't you Vice Admiral Uehara Naraku, the commanding officer of the Shampodi Naval Base...who on the island wouldn't know you?"
"Since you know I'm a Vice Admiral..."
Uehara Naraku clenched his fist, glaring at Dark King Rayleigh, threatening with a sinister smile: "Then do you know the consequences of offending me in Shampodi? I'm not the same as those guys like Onigumo! If you dare offend me, I can throw you into Impel Down right now!"
As he was saying these words...
Uehara felt a bit strange inside.
That long-forgotten desire to perform really is a bit nostalgic!
However, all along this world did not need him to perform, and Uehara Naraku's scripts were long taken away by his subordinates...
Unfortunately...
Dark King Rayleigh didn't seem to catch on.
"Is your perspective so narrow?"
Dark King Rayleigh patted Uehara Naraku's shoulder with a smile and continued: "Kid, do you know who I am?"
This Vice Admiral...
Really is brainless!
And as a Vice Admiral, not recognizing him as the Vice Captain of the Roger Pirates—it's just too unqualified...sometimes these young Navy members really should be properly educated.
It's hard to understand how such a young and foolish guy became a Vice Admiral, able to share the same rank as Garp...
Garp is someone who could corner the Roger Pirates into a desperate situation, while Uehara Naraku this Vice Admiral was caught twice, yet still boasts about his rank...
"Whoever you are..."
Uehara Naraku pushed away Rayleigh's hand and said sternly: "There are few people in this world I can't provoke, but I know for sure, you are not among them!"
When he said this, Uehara Naraku angrily waved his fist, ready to punch down!
"Are you too impulsive?"
Dark King Rayleigh smiled and shook his head, reaching out to grab Uehara Naraku's fist. A flash of light appeared at the corner of this elder's eyes as he chuckled lightly: "I made fifty thousand Belly today, so I'm in a very good mood..."
Aside from making fifty thousand Belly...
He also enjoyed the fun of teasing a Navy Vice Admiral.
It's so amusing to pick on a small Navy.
Rayleigh slowly twisted Uehara Naraku's arm, looked at Uehara Naraku's face full of shock, and continued to laugh: "Today isn't suitable for fighting, better go enjoy a good drink, so as not to waste my good mood..."
The next moment, Dark King Rayleigh's smile deepened, he suddenly released Uehara Naraku's fist, and Supreme King Haki burst out of Rayleigh's body!
Under his control, the Haki directly hit Uehara Naraku head-on!
This legendary Vice Captain could control his Haki freely, and under this direct impact of Supreme King Haki, it's definitely not something ordinary people can withstand!
Dark King Rayleigh watched the man in front of him pass out from the Haki's impact, and couldn't help but chuckle as he shook his head and sighed: "Seriously...how can such a Vice Admiral protect the civilians living in Shampodi?"
After speaking, Dark King Rayleigh squatted down, rummaging through Uehara Naraku's wallet, slowly nodding as he said: "Hmm, still a poor wretch? He only carries a few ten thousand Belly on him... Could it be that the kid used all his money to buy me as a slave?"
Despite looking down on such a small amount of Belly...
Rayleigh's hand still honestly pocketed the money.
With satisfaction, Rayleigh nodded, rubbed his chin, and left on his own, muttering to himself as he departed: "Made such a big sum today, fifty thousand Belly should be able to buy a bottle of rum from Shakky? Selling rum for fifty thousand Belly, what a rip-off..."
Since Dark King Rayleigh retired, he stayed in the Shampodi Archipelago, with Shakky, an old friend, always accompanying him.
And Rayleigh wasn't heading to Shakky's bar for the drinks.
But to share this interesting little story today.
After Dark King Rayleigh left, Uehara Naraku slowly opened his eyes, summoned a Radio Snail from thin air with his hand, and dialed Yakushi Kabuto.
Yakushi Kabuto seemed to be very accommodating, and addressed Uehara Naraku without reservation: "Lord Naraku, is there anything you need me to do?"
"Yes, there actually is something..."
Uehara Naraku stood up, rubbed his forehead, and asked: "I want to add someone to the execution list... Do you think it's appropriate?"
"Lord Naraku, you jest!"
On the Radio Snail, Yakushi Kabuto laughed, but his voice turned suddenly serious: "Whose name needs to be added? I will handle it immediately! It should be Dark King Rayleigh, the Vice Captain of the Roger Pirates, right? I'll send people to capture him right away!"
"Not him."
Uehara Naraku curled his lips, speaking with pleasure: "Tsk, just a minute ago, Dark King Rayleigh stole a lot of money from me and even toyed with me, a Navy Vice Admiral. But just for this little thing, sending this elder to the execution platform seems too harsh, right? Kabuto, you need to adjust your attitude!"
"Yes..."
Yakushi Kabuto respectfully agreed over the Radio Snail.
"Alright."
Uehara Naraku slowly turned his head towards the No. 13 area of the Shampodi Archipelago, where Shakky's Summerkitty Bar was located. The smile on his lips grew increasingly subtle: "The person about to be executed is a bar owner known for extortion. I'll personally capture her; you just need to send someone to take her away."
"...Bar owner?"
Yakushi Kabuto hesitated for a second inside the Radio Snail and immediately thought of someone. He couldn't help but say, "I'll arrange for it immediately. Borsalino happens to be free, so let him head over and escort her back!"
If it were a normal person escorting Shakky...
The Dark King Rayleigh might try to snatch her away.
However, if it's an Admiral of the Navy Headquarters, at least for some time, the Dark King Rayleigh won't be able to do much and can only watch helplessly as Shakky is taken away.
This is a foolproof plan.
Shampodi Archipelago Area 13.
Shakky's Summerkitty Bar.
The Dark King Rayleigh sat across from Shakky, pulling out money to buy a bottle of rum, smiling as he recounted the events of the day, particularly mentioning Uehara Naraku, this bungling Vice Admiral.
"I really didn't expect that..."
After recounting the day's events, Rayleigh reached for the glass in front of Shakky, slowly drank the contents, and continued with a light laugh, "Having such a Vice Admiral here, it seems the future will be quite interesting..."
"Don't go too far."
Shakky lit a cigarette for herself, blew out a smoke ring, and said with a frown, "You're not young anymore. If the Navy notices you again, the days ahead won't be easy..."
"Ha..."
Rayleigh poured himself a glass of wine, smiled, and shook his head, "The Navy will notice eventually. Besides, I won't be absent from that war for long either..."
Originally Rayleigh just wanted to rescue Crocus and help save Fire Fist Ace along the way. Now he also has to lend a hand to help the Red Hair Pirates rescue Shanks.
This war, he is destined not to miss.
If the Dark King Rayleigh joins the battle, the World Government and Navy definitely won't be able to ignore him as the Vice Captain of the Roger Pirates!
"Forget it, do as you please."
Shakky shook her head and extended her hand to the Dark King Rayleigh, "But before you go, give me your Life Paper..."
"...Alright."
Rayleigh nodded slowly.
Life Paper is a special item of the Grand Line, representing the life force of the owner, allowing people from afar to instantly know their condition.
Generally...
It is only given to family members.
If the Life Paper remains intact, it means the owner is still well and can reassure family members a bit;
If the Life Paper is damaged or shrinks, it means the owner is injured; If the Life Paper turns to ashes, it means the owner's life has ended...
This war is too dangerous.
The power of the World Government and the Navy is not what it used to be.
Even the Dark King Rayleigh occasionally observes the Admirals who come to Shampodi for patrols. The strength of the Three Great Admirals of the Navy Headquarters has definitely increased significantly!
In recent years, many Great Pirates from the old era, who had been hiding, were all sent to Impel Down by the Three Great Admirals of the Navy Headquarters just as they emerged!
Apart from the strengthened Three Great Admirals of the Navy Headquarters, there are also those formidable guys from the Seven Warlords of the Sea, and the colossal CP Organization under Yakushi Kabuto!
This espionage organization...
Has almost become the nightmare of the entire ocean!
Especially since the CP Department defeated the Red Hair Pirates, this also means that this espionage organization already possesses the combat power of a Four Emperors Pirate Gang.
Even a strong person of the caliber of the Dark King Rayleigh would find it hard to say that no accidents would occur if he participated in this war...
This point...
Both the Dark King Rayleigh and Shakky understand clearly.
The atmosphere in the entire bar suddenly became a bit oppressive. After drinking a bottle of wine, the Dark King Rayleigh took out his Life Paper and handed it to Shakky, preparing to leave Shakky's bar.
Rayleigh adjusted his glasses, a smile slowly appearing on his face, "Forget it, I'll just go tease that Vice Admiral and make myself happy!"
"..."
Shakky shook her head speechlessly.
Just as the Dark King Rayleigh left Shakky's bar, a figure wearing a Navy uniform walked in, arrogantly saying, "I've received a report that this shop is involved in extortion. If you don't want to come with us, give me ten million Belly!"
It was Vice Admiral Uehara Naraku of the Shampodi Archipelago.
"..."
Shakky frowned, extinguished the cigarette in her hand, and looked at Uehara Naraku, who had come into the bar to ask her for money, her expression subtly strange.
Is this Vice Admiral, who had just been tricked by Rayleigh, trying to extort her now?