Chapter 27

disguised warriors. This is a huge stroke of luck!

— Ah... very well, Sal, I'll send someone immediately.

The Kuja pirates planned to stay at the Sabaody Archipelago for some time, waiting for their empress to return from the war, and then set off together.

After hiding the Den Den Mushi, Sal casually adjusted his tie and headed towards the treasure ship with a cunning smile on his face. His presence did not go unnoticed by the guards.

— Hey, who are you? This is Celestial Dragons' property!

— Ah... it's August D. Sal! Notify the fleet immediately!

— ...

A battle broke out but soon subsided. These minor enforcers were no challenge for him.

Moments later, Sal watched as the treasure ship left the port. The people on it had been neutralized; now the ship was under the control of the warriors from Amazon Lily. The estimated value of the entire ship was over a billion Beli, and Sal considered it nothing less than a gift to Hancock.

He had more important matters to attend to than transporting money.

But Saint Shalria, the Celestial Dragon, will surely hate him for the rest of her days. After all, he killed her two relatives and now has also robbed them.

Even if the fleet learns what happened, there's nothing they can do. At Marineford, 40,000 elite marines have gathered, and all the fleet's power is concentrated there.

[Level up: Level 58 (1970/72000)]

An increase of 2 levels in 4 days. It seems the benefit from killing the Celestial Dragons is starting to decline...

Shakky's Rip off Bar.

Rayleigh complained to Shakky, who was washing dishes in the bar.

"I've been living like I'm in hell these past days! I don't dare to step outside. I'm hiding from the fleet like a rat scurrying across the road."

"Then don't help those youngsters. Don't complain to me about your problems."

"Ha-ha, just making conversation," Rayleigh laughed, raising his glass. He was very curious about how Luffy and the other young people were doing and which one of them had caused him so much doubt.

Suddenly, Rayleigh's carefree eyes narrowed. The door swung open, and Sal entered the room.

The unexpected visit left the two of them baffled. Shakky sensed that something was off—it was a woman's intuition.

She instinctively resisted Sal's presence because Rayleigh was very dear to her.

Under the strange looks of the two, Sal felt a bit awkward and sat down on a chair.

"Are you not happy to see me? Maybe I should leave?"

Rayleigh rolled his eyes. "You've already sat down. Do you think you'll leave just because I ask?" he thought, and with a smirk, he asked, "Sal, why did you come back to this old man? Didn't you set out to realize your ambitions? Are you in trouble again?"

"As always, Rayleigh, you guessed it. I need your help in Marineford."

As soon as these words were spoken, Rayleigh and Shakky frowned. Marineford was the center of the impending war, and he dared to get involved in that mess.

Rayleigh scrutinized the familiar face before him.

"Sal, why are you going there? Is this part of your plan?"

Sal took a sip of wine and exhaled. He understood that his next answer would determine whether he could call on Rayleigh for help. If the answer is unconvincing, it could ruin their relationship.

"I want to save a man who got into trouble because of his power, Fire fist Ace

"Save Ace the Fire Fist?" Shakky, who was listening to the conversation, pondered but couldn't find any connection between them.

Sal continued, "His name is Portgas D. Ace, the only son of Roger."

"Ding..."

Rayleigh was momentarily stunned and even dropped his glass on the table. He had thought Roger's descendants were eradicated. When the fleet was conducting a search, he was occupied elsewhere and couldn't help them. Later, he learned that many pregnant women had died.

However, Sal's serious gaze reassured him. Memories flooded Rayleigh's mind. Remembering Ace's appearance, he realized that Portgas D. Ace's mother was a woman he had only met a few times, Portgas D. Rouge.

Rayleigh drained his glass of beer in one gulp.

"So that's how it is, it's him. He doesn't resemble Roger at all. Rather, he takes after his mother." But it doesn't matter whether he looks like Roger or not. That goat wasn't a looker himself.

"Hey, Rayleigh, how can you say such a thing? I consider Roger much more handsome than you."

Sal immediately defended. Roger looks exactly the same as he does now, and you say he's not good-looking. Nobody will tolerate that.

"Nonsense! He's not as handsome as I am. And I will go with you to Marineford. We can't let Roger die without an heir, so let my old bones dance."

Suddenly, strength flared up in the old man's body, and Sal's all-encompassing mood made him feel a bit guilty. He knew very well that once Rayleigh learned about Ace's past, he would definitely go to save him. That was his principle.

In essence, he used this "old friend" and put him in danger, but there was no other choice. Even with Sal's help, the outcome of the war was unlikely to change. After all, even if Garp did not participate, the fleet still had Sengoku and the three admirals.

An old and sickly Whitebeard could not turn the tide of the war.

Rayleigh got up and began packing his things: weapons that had been with him for several decades.

"Let's get ready, or we won't make it to the performance." If we're late, the boy might be killed.

Only Sal and Shakky remained in the bar. Silence fell, which Shakky decided to break.

"If something happens to Rayleigh, I won't forgive you."

"Don't worry, as long as I'm alive, nothing will happen to that old man, you sly fox."

Hearing this long-forgotten name, Shakky froze for a moment. That's what they used to call her when she met Roger's pirates. Could the person in front of her really be the one?

Sal continued talking with Shakky , paying no attention to the threats. After all, she had kidnapped him and brought him to this dangerous place, so she should bear responsibility for her actions.