Borsalino's eyes swept coldly across the room as her Haki flared, sending an invisible wave of pressure enveloping the tavern. Many pirates in the second half of the Grand Line were well aware of Haki, quickly realizing that the young woman before them was not someone to cross.
The restless crowd fell dead silent, hastily pulling back their stares and looking away.
Borsalino walked straight to the counter and sat down, lightly tapping the polished wood with her fingers. She ordered a mild fruit wine, intending to quietly gather intelligence on the island.
Just as the bartender pushed the glass toward her, a warm yet sharp and penetrating gaze locked onto her. A subtle chill ran through Borsalino. Looking up, her eyes met Rayleigh's gaze from the shadowed corner.
She let out a helpless sigh in her mind. Others might be fooled by her simple attire, but a world class powerhouse like Dark King Rayleigh was a different matter entirely; subtle details could never escape his perception. Then again, she had made no real effort to hide her presence, or she would not have released her Haki moments earlier.
Sure enough, Rayleigh picked up his glass of liquor and strolled over, casually pulling out the stool right beside her. Resting his elbow on the counter, he turned his head to examine the young woman with keen interest, his gaze calm and filled with genuine curiosity.
A moment later, Rayleigh threw his head back and burst into laughter. The hearty sound echoed through the tavern, instantly drawing startled glances from the surrounding pirates.
The sudden outburst left Borsalino momentarily stunned, unable to guess what the Dark King had in mind.
Setting his glass down, Rayleigh offered a slight nod of apology, his tone light and conversational. "Forgive me, forgive me. How rude of me."
"I simply recalled a bet I made with Gaban regarding how long it would take for Garp, that relentless old dog who chases us everywhere, to catch our scent and storm over here."
He looked at Borsalino, a playful glint dancing in his eyes. "When the Marines' most brilliant rising Logia star sneaks onto the island, that old fellow cannot be far behind. It appears I have won another month of drinking money from Gaban."
Borsalino held her wine glass, adopting an innocent expression. "I am merely carrying out a routine mission, a pure coincidence. It has nothing to do with Vice Admiral Garp, though whether he catches wind of this next is another story."
"Hahaha, little girl, you are quite amusing." Rayleigh waved his hand, his sharp smile open and confident. "I have always been a good judge of character. From the moment I saw your picture in the papers, I knew you were by no means as simple as you appear on the surface, let alone a conventional Marine who blindly obeys orders."
After a brief exchange, the tension dissolved into a relaxed yet subtle atmosphere. Rayleigh did not probe into her objectives, nor did he display any hostility. He spoke offhandedly, like an old friend catching up.
"Our Captain is naturally restless and remains our greatest headache. Since the Marines' rising star has arrived right at our doorstep, I imagine the main fleet will encircle us soon. It is best if we depart early to avoid the unnecessary commotion."
With that, Rayleigh snapped his fingers and paid for Borsalino's drink, his movements effortless and smooth.
"Consider this a small token of appreciation for listening to an old man babble."
"I look forward to our next encounter," Borsalino replied with a faint smile.
Rayleigh paused, then laughed heartily. "Hahaha, I certainly hope it will not be inside Impel Down."
Offering a casual wave, he turned and walked out of the tavern. His back appeared completely unbothered, exuding the effortless poise of a veteran master.
Borsalino watched his departing figure in silence, her mind turning over the interaction. She knew full well that at her current level, she stood virtually no chance of victory against a prime Rayleigh in a head on clash. However, if her goal was merely to stall him until Garp and Zephyr arrived with reinforcements, she was entirely capable of holding her ground.
Fortunately, Rayleigh had no desire to fight. Otherwise, the situation would have turned exceedingly troublesome.
After Rayleigh departed, Borsalino remained at the bar, quietly sifting through the chatter of the surrounding pirates. Amidst the noisy, chaotic banter, one particular rumor caught her attention, leaving her momentarily stunned. Read this novel at novelping.com for the best experience.
BIG MOM, Charlotte Linlin, was also present on this lawless island.
Borsalino complained bitterly in her mind, thoroughly exasperated by her own luck. She had accompanied the training camp for a simple practical assessment, planning to treat the assignment like a relaxed vacation, as ordinary pirates in the Grand Line posed no threat to her. Yet somehow, she had managed to cross paths with both the Roger Pirates and the Charlotte Linlin Pirates.
Instead of fighting for dominance in the New World, these two giant pirate crews had chosen to gather on this single island to join the chaos. It was utterly absurd.
The situation had spiraled far beyond control, pushing the threat level to its absolute maximum. Borsalino did not linger any longer. She stood up immediately, intending to contact Zephyr to report the emergency and request main fleet backup from Headquarters.
Stepping through the tavern doors, bright sunlight washed over her as crowds moved along the bustling street. Two young figures caught her attention instantly. One had messy red hair and was laughing heartily, while the other possessed a prominent red nose and a face full of indignation.
They were none other than young Shanks and Buggy.
The two future Emperor level figures who would one day dominate the seas were currently immature apprentices, squabbling over trivial matters every single day.
"You clearly stole my meat skewer! That is completely unfair!" Buggy shouted indignantly.
"I will make it up to you next time. It is just a skewer!" Shanks laughed, unbothered.
"What do you mean just a skewer! That was my last one! You do this every single time!"
Their youthful arguments echoed clearly above the noisy street. In the middle of their bickering, Shanks suddenly paused, his eyes locking onto Borsalino as she walked toward them.
His gaze landed squarely on the finely crafted saber resting at her waist, and his expression instantly turned sharp and vigilant. He had seen that distinct blade in the newspapers; it belonged to the famous Marine supernova, and her tall build matched the reports perfectly.
Seeing him stop abruptly, Buggy followed his gaze toward the tall, striking young woman. He curled his lip in annoyance and barked, "Alright, Shanks! You thick browed hypocrite, you turned out to be a pervert too! In the middle of our argument, you are staring at a pretty woman? We are not finished here!"
Shanks raised a hand to quiet Buggy, his posture shifting into high alert as his right hand rested quietly on the hilt of his sword. Already hovering on the threshold of a Great Swordsman, his instincts were exceptionally sharp.
Lowering his voice, he spoke in a firm, serious tone. "Stop messing around. She is a Marine."
"What?! A Marine?!"
Buggy's eyes widened in shock, and he scrambled backward a full pace in terror, his face draining of color. The bluster he had displayed seconds ago vanished instantly, replaced by sheer panic.
Having her identity recognized twice in short succession by Rayleigh and young Shanks, Borsalino facepalmed mentally, deciding then and there never to bother with stealth disguises again. It was entirely pointless.
Looking down at the jumpy apprentices before her, she could not help but smile inwardly. Buggy remained as cowardly as ever, panicking at the slightest hint of trouble. Shanks, on the other hand, possessed remarkable perception for his age, truly worthy of a future Emperor who would shape the era.
Stepping forward slowly, Borsalino spoke in a soft tone tinged with playful mockery. "Brats, Garp is coming, you know."
That single sentence shattered their composure. The terrifying memory of being pursued across the seas by Garp was burned deep into their minds, and both boys froze on the spot. This chapter is updated first at novelping.com.
Buggy stammered, his voice trembling violently. "H-How does he know we are here?! We hid so well!"
A subtle, devilish smile touched Borsalino's lips. Raising the Den Den Mushi in her hand, she said softly, "Because I am about to tell him right now."
"RUN!!"
Shanks' face changed drastically. Abandoning everything else, he turned and bolted down the street.
Buggy nearly lost his mind in terror, scrambling after him on all fours while screaming in outrage. "Damn Marines! You do not play fair! We will remember this!"
The two young figures darted into the narrow alleyways, disappearing in the blink of an eye, leaving behind only their fading, frantic shouts.
Watching the two flee in utter chaos, Borsalino let out a light chuckle. Gathering her thoughts, she pulled out the Den Den Mushi and dialed Zephyr's direct line.
After a few tones, the connection established, and she reported the situation concisely. "Instructor Zephyr, the situation has changed drastically. The Roger Pirates are hiding on this island, and Charlotte Linlin's presence has also been confirmed. The threat level of this assessment is out of control. We need to issue the highest alert immediately and request main fleet reinforcements from Headquarters."
On the other end, Zephyr was visibly shocked, his tone heavy with gravity. "What? Both Roger and Charlotte Linlin are there?!"
"Damn Cipher Pol! Their intelligence is completely outdated, failing to track pirate movements!"
Taking a breath, Zephyr composed himself. "I will report directly to Fleet Admiral Kong to mobilize Headquarters reinforcements at once! Exercise extreme caution, avoid engaging the enemy, prioritize your safety, and wait for the main fleet!"
"Understood," Borsalino replied before ending the call.
Abandoning any thought of casual wandering, she prepared to expand her Observation Haki to pinpoint the exact locations of Roger and Linlin.
BOOM!
An earth shattering explosion erupted from the heart of the island!
Flames surged into the sky as scalding crimson magma tore through the earth, erupting high into the atmosphere. Rolling heat waves swept across the island, painting half the sky in violent shades of red as intense pressure radiated outward.
Borsalino paused, staring at the towering pillar of magma in the distance, the corner of her mouth twitching slightly.
Well, there was no need to search anymore.
It had already blown up.