"Congratulations, correct," Setsuna offered a kind reminder.
Hearing Setsuna's confirmation, the auction house owner's legs gave out, and he fainted, foaming at the mouth.
Rayleigh ignored him, looking at Setsuna. "May I ask what brings a Warlord specifically to find an old man like me?"
Setsuna looked at Robin and smiled. "Robin, didn't I promise the Five Elders I'd help them find Pluton? What do you think would happen if I handed this [Pluton] over to them?" (T/N: Dark King in Japanese can also means Pluto/Hades, which sounded almost the same as Pluton.)
Robin chuckled softly, her eyes sparkling. "I'm afraid the power of this [Pluton] would greatly disappoint them, since it can't even sink a small island."
Rayleigh initially thought the World Government had discovered his whereabouts, sending Setsuna to capture him. But hearing the latter part, he couldn't help but smile wryly.
'I wasn't the Ancient Weapon Pluton.'
Rayleigh took the bottle from his waist and took a large gulp. "Gulp gulp gulp… Did you come specifically to amuse yourself at this old man's expense?"
"Not entirely," Setsuna leaned forward slightly. "You don't seem to hold any hatred toward me? I thought you might want to avenge that fish-man."
Rayleigh was visibly taken aback. "Did Shakky tell you that?"
Seeing Setsuna shake his head in denial, he let out a long sigh. "Hatchan chose to be a pirate. He should accept a pirate's fate. Dying on this path is his own road. No one else to blame."
Setsuna sighed with disappointment. "What a pity. I wanted to take this opportunity to experience the Dark King's strength."
"Spare me," Rayleigh waved his hand with a sigh. "These old bones can't wield a sword anymore."
Having joked enough, Setsuna turned serious. "I need an Eternal Pose pointing to a specific island. It's a 48-season island, inhabited by many ferocious beasts."
Rayleigh instantly understood which island Setsuna meant, his expression becoming rather peculiar. "What does someone like you want to go there for?"
Setsuna said matter-of-factly, "I plan to capture those beasts and raise them on the ship. Their meat must be exceptionally delicious."
Rayleigh was speechless for a moment, then laughed. Considering the rumors he'd heard about the other party, it did fit the character.
"The Eternal Pose should be with Shakky. However…" Rayleigh hesitated. "That island is near Amazon Lily. If you encounter their fleet on the way, please show restraint."
"As long as they don't provoke us first, I naturally won't trouble them," Setsuna said calmly.
Rayleigh could only smile wryly, 'That's exactly what I'm worried about… Amazon Lily provoking first.'
Rayleigh kicked the auction house owner to death, then led everyone back toward Shakky's bar.
Setsuna didn't stop him. Although the owner had been savvy, he was still a human trafficker.
Human traffickers didn't count as people.
Returning to Shakky's bar, Rayleigh said succinctly, "Shakky, find that Eternal Pose pointing to the 48-season uninhabited island northwest of Amazon Lily."
Shakky looked somewhat surprised. "What do you need that pose for?"
"It's not for me. It's for this esteemed guest," Rayleigh pointed helplessly at Setsuna. "If we don't give them the pose, they might just go to Amazon Lily and 'borrow' a guide."
Setsuna clapped in approval. "As expected of the Dark King Rayleigh. You saw right through me. Without the pose, I certainly wouldn't mind capturing a few 'human poses.'"
Shakky looked at Rayleigh with great interest. "How rare. Someone can actually threaten you?"
Rayleigh smiled wryly, shaking his bottle. "Ever since the God Valley incident, I've had a weakness."
"So it's my fault for dragging you down?" Shakky covered her mouth with a light laugh, her eyes full of tenderness.
Setsuna felt speechless, 'I finally escaped the lovey-dovey bombardment from Minato and Kushina in the Naruto World. Now you two are starting this here in the One Piece World?'
Shakky quickly found the pose from under the counter and handed it to Setsuna.
Setsuna pushed the door open but paused at the threshold, "Ace, you stay here. I think… you have some questions you want to ask them."
Ace looked gratefully at Setsuna. There were indeed some things he didn't want to ask in front of everyone.
"Ace?" Rayleigh's gaze shifted to Ace. The more he looked, the more familiar the face seemed.
…
On the calm sea of the Calm Belt, the [Gluttony], this mobile gourmet fortress, was sailing at full speed toward its destination… Rusukaina.
Although in the Calm Belt, with the Titan's intimidation, ordinary Sea Kings didn't dare appear.
After this period of growth, Titan's size had surged to 2,000 meters.
Though still not comparable to the super Sea Kings in the deep sea, which could reach 5,000 meters, if you factored in bloodline bonuses, those super Sea Kings might not be Titan's match either.
The ship slowly docked. Setsuna stepped ashore, Conqueror's Haki bursting from within.
Instantly, the entire sky seemed to darken slightly. The sea surface rippled strangely.
Conqueror's Haki, like a tangible tsunami carrying a king's majesty, instantly swept across the entire island.
Setsuna naturally had no intention of tempering his crew. These beasts were each terrifyingly strong. Almost any single one was stronger than CP9. Over five hundred beasts were stronger than Lucci.
But fortunately, although these beasts were powerful, their mental resistance was extremely poor, completely unable to withstand his Conqueror's Haki.
"Alright, everyone come down and move the beasts," Setsuna clapped his hands.
"Yes, sir!"
The crew quickly divided into several teams, landing with specialized anesthetics and reinforced chains.
While everyone was busy moving the beasts, on Amazon Lily near Rusukaina Island…
"Sister! Bad news!" Marguerite rushed into the palace in panic. "Lilard and Yuria are suddenly in heat, causing a huge commotion in the sea!"
"How could this be?" Hancock frowned delicately. Those two sea serpents were crucial combat power for the Kuja Pirates. It was because of them that Sea Kings didn't dare approach Amazon Lily.
Just then, Nyon hurried in, leaning on her snake staff. "I just received the latest intelligence. Gecko Moria's Thriller Bark has appeared in nearby waters, being towed by a giant sea serpent over a kilometer long."
"Lilard and Yuria's abnormal reaction is likely due to sensing this sea serpent's presence."
"Oh?" Hancock elegantly brushed her raven-black hair, her red lips curling into a dangerous smile. "In that case, let's capture that sea serpent and breed it with Lilard and Yuria."
Nyon's expression changed drastically upon hearing this. "Hancock, we should be cautious. Moria is nothing to fear, but that giant sea serpent is rumored to be Chiaki Setsuna's symbol…"
Having once been part of the Rocks Pirates, she naturally knew how terrifying Golden Lion's strength was.
A man who could defeat, even kill, Golden Lion warranted the utmost caution.
"Silence!" Hancock's beautiful eyes flashed, her Haki radiating. "Anyone who hinders me turns to stone."
Her slender finger lightly touched her crimson lips, revealing a smile that could topple nations. "The palace garden could use a few proper decorations anyway."