Chapter 108 Rayleigh: No! The Sabaody Archipelago is in Trouble

After being knocked on the head by Shakky, Naruto quickly reacted and put away Gale Breaker once again.

As for being hit like this, he didn’t mind at all.

It's better to say that he has already gotten used to it.

In fact, after Roger voluntarily surrendered himself, most of his crew members went their separate ways.

As for Naruto, who had no home to return to, he first spent a year or two protecting Rouge before staying with Rayleigh and Shakky for a considerable amount of time.

In fact, there’s still a dedicated room for Naruto on the second floor of the bar.

This was precisely why Shakky didn’t get angry when Naruto called her ‘Auntie Shakky’.

It can even be said that Shakky had watched Naruto grow up with her own eyes.

Though not related by blood, their bond was closer than that of family.

"That kind of little boat really suits your personality."

Shakky said as she poured Naruto a glass of rum before leaning against the counter and lighting a cigarette.

"I thought I’d never see you board a pirate ship in my lifetime."

"Auntie Shakky, Gale Breaker isn’t a pirate ship, you know."

Naruto retorted with a grin after downing the drink in one go.

"It doesn't matter." Shakky replied, completely unfazed. In her eyes, it was only a matter of time before Naruto became a pirate again, given his personality.

"Did you come here just to get your ship coated? If you’re in a hurry, I can find you a coating craftsman."

After hearing this, Naruto shook his head and chuckled.

"Haha, I actually came here to see you guys."

In front of Shakky, Naruto reverted to acting like a child, completely devoid of the imposing aura of the so-called [Great Hero].

"Such a smooth talker. What have you been learning all these years out there?"

Poking Naruto’s forehead with her finger, Shakky sighed helplessly.

"If you’re looking for Rayleigh, head to Grove 1. He’s probably near the auction house there."

Rayleigh, the first mate of the Pirate King, also known as the [Dark King].

In his old age, his favorite pastime was selling himself as a slave at auctions, taking the money, and then escaping.

How should one put it?

If you thought he was doing it for money, that wasn’t quite accurate.

After all, as the Pirate King’s right-hand man, he certainly wasn’t lacking in treasures or wealth.

Most likely, he did it purely for fun
 just one of the ways an old man entertained himself.

Naruto simply nodded at Shakky’s words before waving goodbye and rushing out the door.

He’s like a little kid saying to his mother who is cooking, "I’m going out to play for a bit, be back soon."

Shakky rested her chin on the counter, smiling as she watched Naruto’s retreating figure.

Suddenly, she seemed to remember something.

"Ah, right. Today’s the day the Celestial Dragons are out for their stroll."

Shakky’s Rip-Off Bar might seem like just a run-down tavern with little business, but in reality, it was an ‘intelligence exchange’ that traded in classified information.

Though it appeared to be run solely by Rayleigh and Shakky, the latter’s intelligence network was no weaker than the World Government’s.

The distance between the Celestial Dragons’ holy land, Mary Geoise, and the Sabaody Archipelago wasn’t far.

Coupled with the exclusive [Bubble Lift] used by the Celestial Dragons, whenever they wanted to buy slaves, it took them only a few dozen minutes to reach the slave auction houses.

Because of this, the probability of Celestial Dragons appearing in the Sabaody Archipelago is not low.

"Ah
 let’s hope that kid doesn’t cause any major trouble."

Though she said this, Shakky’s eyes sparkled with amusement.

Clearly, she knew exactly what would happen if Naruto ran into them
 but she didn’t particularly care.

This wasn’t Shakky deliberately using Naruto to deal with the Celestial Dragons.

Unlike others, she was well aware of Naruto’s strength and didn’t give a damn about the so-called ‘rule’ that attacking a Celestial Dragon would summon a Marine’s Admiral.

She genuinely hadn’t remembered this time.

Meanwhile, Naruto had already made his way to Grove 1.

This was the Sabaody Archipelago’s largest hub for slave auction houses.

As he scanned the area with his Observation Haki, Naruto couldn’t help but inwardly sigh.

‘What a bunch of scum.’

But since they’d crossed paths with Naruto today, it was simply fate that they were doomed.

Before long, Naruto detected a familiar presence in the back of one of the auction houses.

Rayleigh, who was currently shackled with Seastone cuffs, seemed to sense something and looked up.

After casually knocking out a few of the auction house’s underworld enforcers to keep them quiet, Naruto made his way unimpeded to the room where Rayleigh was being held.

"It’s really
 been a long time, Naruto."

Rayleigh stood up and looked at Naruto, who was now taller than him, with a hint of nostalgia.

He tried to reach out and pat Naruto’s shoulder but found his wrists still bound by the cuffs.

Then, under the stunned gazes of the other slaves, he used his Haki to destroy the cuffs’ internal mechanisms and forcibly removed them.

"Uncle Rayleigh, after all these years, you’re still doing this kind of thing?”

Naruto looked at Rayleigh with amusement, pulling out the last bottle of sake he’d brought from Baratie.

Strictly speaking, after arriving in this unfamiliar world, the person who had spent the most time with him wasn’t Roger or Gaban, but this always unkempt-looking [Dark King] Rayleigh.

"Haha
 I lost a bet again."

Hearing Naruto's teasing, Rayleigh simply took a sip of the offered sake with a chuckle, showing no trace of embarrassment.

In fact, for powerhouses like Naruto and Rayleigh, whether it was fishing or gambling, they could never lose as long as they were willing to use Observation Haki.

But the two of them shared the same stubborn mindset: "I refuse to believe I'll lose (or go fishless) this time!"

"Let’s go somewhere else to talk. This place-"

Rayleigh suddenly paused mid-sentence, as if sensing something, then turned his gaze toward Naruto.

Sure enough, Naruto’s face had also darkened with a trace of killing intent
 not directed at Rayleigh, but at someone else.

"Don’t make too big of a scene, alright? Your Uncle Rayleigh and Auntie Shakky still plan to retire here."

Rayleigh sighed, knowing some things couldn’t be avoided today. He could only offer a word of caution.

"Don’t worry-"

To this, Naruto’s reply was simple-

"I will control myself and not sink the entire island."

And utterly exasperating.

"Oh, one more thing."

Suddenly remembering his original purpose, Naruto summoned Gale Breaker right in front of Rayleigh.

"I'd also like to trouble you to help me with the coating, Uncle Rayleigh."

"Sure, sure. What a hardworking life I lead."

With one hand holding the Gale Breaker, Rayleigh examined it for a moment before expressing admiration for its unique structural design. Then, with a few crisp snaps, he removed the explosive collars from the enslaved people in the backstage area.

"Leave quickly... unless you want to get caught up in the battle that's about to happen."

As he spoke these words, Naruto had already burst through the auction house's walls.

There, several Celestial Dragons, wearing their signature glass-dome helmets and dressed like astronauts, stood arrogantly.

One of them was viciously kicking an enslaved person in the abdomen with the tip of his shoe, the flesh there already torn open.

The reason for doing this was simply that the enslaved person had crawled too slowly while carrying him on their back.

This kind of tyrannical behavior was nothing unusual, whether to the Celestial Dragons themselves or the silent onlookers who had long grown accustomed to such scenes.

Bang!

At that moment, Naruto's figure crashed into the scene.

"Who are you?! You filthy lowlife! How dare you defy the dignity of the Gods!!!"

The snot-nosed Celestial Dragon at the front seemed startled by Naruto's sudden intrusion, but then locked eyes with his terrifying gaze.

Whether this guy was born with some kind of defect or simply too used to being unchecked, he showed no fear even as a powerhouse like Naruto approached. Instead, he grew furious, pulling out an ornately decorated pistol ant.

Then, he shot at Naruto without hesitation.

"Good. It seems that after all these years, you've forgotten what it feels like to bleed."

The bullets struck Naruto's head and chest, only to be deflected harmlessly away.

Naruto's face twisted into an expression of killing intent mixed with disgust.

"It's time to remind you."