Inside Rayleigh's small cabin, the laughter of the three men came to an abrupt halt.
"A year ago, a man kidnapped five kings, broke into the Holy Land Mary Geoise during the Levely to cause a massive scene, and killed a Marine Admiral while escaping! Have you seen that news?"
After the laughter just now, the relationship between the three seemed to have moved a step further. Rayleigh took the initiative to talk about the major event that happened at the Levely a year ago.
The news of the Marine Admiral's death had been reported, but it wasn't quite like what he had heard from the public.
"The incident where five kings were kidnapped, yeah, we know about it," Rune said, pointing a finger at Roger's head.
"This guy was even very interested in that person."
Roger laughed heartily. "That's how a man should be, Rune! That man who caused a scene in the Holy Land Mary Geoise—I heard he's recruiting powerful companions all over the world! So, this year is what I feel is the best time for my debut! I hope to encounter him on the sea in the future! After all, you and I both know what kind of scum the Celestial Dragons are!"
Attacking the Holy Land, killing a Marine Admiral during the escape, and even conveniently destroying a Gate of Justice.
For such things, Rune could only think of Rocks. After all, besides him, no one would do something so crazy.
At this point in time, Rocks had not yet established his pirate crew; he was recruiting companions all over the world through the 'Davy Back Fight' game, secretly accumulating power.
"Before we go to fight him, we have to recruit companions first! Prepare funds, build connections, and then build a big ship!"
Listening to Roger's excited tone, Rune showed a fierce smile on the side. Having transmigrated and possessing extraordinary power, fighting against the strong was something that made him very excited.
Although he knew nothing about this era, being able to live wantonly in the Old Era with Roger was also a good thing!
The way Rune and Roger were laughing excitedly was caught by Rayleigh's keen gaze. He froze in place, finding it hard to imagine what was going on with these two guys in front of him.
To go and make contact with that kind of troublesome guy... if nothing unexpected happened, wouldn't they start fighting as soon as they met?
Especially the aura radiating from the two of them right now—just how strong must they be to be this confident!
Rayleigh covered his face again, truly not daring to imagine how difficult and painful his future life would be.
However, as a man, since he had made a decision in his heart, he had to walk forward firmly. Hesitation was not something he was good at!
The feeling Rune and Roger gave him wasn't that of purely evil people, but rather free-spirited brothers with a deep bond.
"Speaking of funds, how are we going to get them? Plunder villages or towns? Or maybe... countries?" Rayleigh asked with a hint of testing intent.
"Gahahaha! That is indeed the style of a pirate!" Roger laughed, then looked at Rayleigh seriously.
"However, I am not that kind of person. We will obtain funds through the lost treasures in this sea!
Of course, taking out other pirate crews is also a top choice for obtaining funds and supplies!
In short, we must never lay a hand on civilians, villages, towns, or countries! Rayleigh, this is my iron rule and my bottom line! Whether it's our future companions or right now, this rule must be followed unconditionally!
But, if they dare to lay a hand on my companions, I won't follow any principles or iron rules anymore!"
"Exactly," Rune smiled slightly. In such a world, things like countries and the World Government weren't important at all.
What mattered was having a few close friends and companions. For homeless, wandering men like them, the only ones they could trust most were each other.
Rayleigh's expression was one of surprise, and he was deeply moved by these words. If they were to kill innocents and plunder wealth from the weak like low-life pirates, he would rather not be a pirate at all.
"Pay for things from ordinary people, and only swing our fists at the strong. Got it, Rayleigh?"
Rune added.
Rayleigh accepted this readily, a smile appearing on his face, as if he had accidentally met kindred spirits.
Boom! The sound of cannonballs exploding rang out on the sea outside, sending up sprays of water near their boat.
After realizing what was happening, the three of them ran out of the cabin one after another. Upon reaching the deck, they found a warship in the distance firing at them.
"It's a small Marine warship!" Cold sweat broke out on Rayleigh's forehead. He hadn't expected a Marine warship to come chasing them so soon.
"Not good!"
With his extraordinary long-distance vision, Rune saw the person standing at the front of the warship.
"It's that kid Zephyr!"
"Just what kind of grudge do you two have with the Marines! Why is a Marine genius like him coming to catch you both!"
Rayleigh shouted at Rune beside him, then calmed down, his face full of worry.
"Gahahaha!" Roger suddenly laughed. "Don't worry, Rayleigh! We can just use this opportunity to get to know each other better!"
After hearing Rayleigh's words, Rune covered his chin and grinned wickedly.
"Grudges, huh... when we were kids, we often fought with Garp. Now he's become a Marine and come to catch us. Once, I put a noble's kid into a cesspool to hold his breath... that shouldn't count as breaking the law, right... at least from my perspective."
If they hadn't forged a friendship with Garp through fighting, they probably would have had bounties on their heads long ago.
"Uh!" Rayleigh was stunned when he heard this. That was something that could get you the death penalty on the spot!
In this world, as a civilian or citizen, just daring to talk back to a noble could easily result in a death sentence, let alone shoving a noble's child into a cesspool to hold their breath.
"Rayleigh, please take the helm. Rune and I will handle the cannonballs and threats! We have to lose him quickly, otherwise, it'll be troublesome if Garp and the others catch up!"
Roger made the decision on his own, and he and Rune were already standing at the front of the small boat warming up.
"Alright, I've already decided on the course; we're going to Reverse Mountain to enter the Grand Line." Rayleigh did as told, also wanting to see what kind of strength the two had.
They talked such a big game—if they didn't have the strength to back it up... they would just be two boastful guys.
"Are you ready, Rune?" Roger finished his warm-up and asked Rune beside him.
"Don't use that move yet; this boat won't be able to handle it!"
"Don't worry, Roger!" Rune's gaze sharpened again. Through prediction, he aimed at a cannonball flying toward the boat, then waited for the moment it approached him. He threw a punch with his clenched fist toward the cannonball.
A powerful wind from Rune's fist surged into the air, hitting the incoming cannonball and detonating it in mid-air on the spot.
"What!" Rayleigh, who was at the helm, was shocked. What kind of move was that?
It wasn't Haki, nor was it any special technique; it was simply the air pressure generated by the swing of a fist that blew up a cannonball in mid-air.
Rayleigh's boat even pushed back several meters on the sea surface because of Rune's punch.
That fist wind had not disappeared; instead, it rushed straight toward the front of the warship a hundred meters away, heading straight for Zephyr.
"Tempest Kick!" Zephyr watched the impact of the fist wind and suddenly raised his leg to swing out a large air-slicing attack.
The power of the Tempest Kick was not inferior at all, colliding head-on with Rune's fist wind and canceling each other out in the air.
cannonballs flew wildly, and fist winds and Rokushiki Tempest Kicks continuously clashed across the distance.
Out of absolute trust, Roger was laughing on the side, ready to act and staying alert for any other incoming crises.
Seeing the terrifying air pressure generated by sheer physical strength alone, Rayleigh understood at this moment that the guy throwing punches in front of him was, like himself, a monster-like existence.
After a series of long-distance exchanges, not only did they fail to lose Zephyr, but the warship actually got closer to the small boat.
"Rayleigh, a few more monsters will be catching up in a bit. I mean, just in case, we'll temporarily separate from you to cover you and the boat so you can safely escape the battle, and then we'll meet up at the Twin Capes Lighthouse!"
Roger told Rayleigh the next part of the plan. He knew that once Garp, Sengoku, and the others caught up, things would become very difficult to handle.
"How are you going to meet up without a boat!" Rayleigh was amazed. If they didn't have a boat, how were the two of them going to cross Reverse Mountain and reach the entrance to the Grand Line, the 'Twin Capes Lighthouse'?
"Heh!" Rune's whole body trembled with excitement. He looked back at Rayleigh and instructed:
"It's fine, Rayleigh! I'll bring Roger back safely. I'm never wrong about people; you'll be a great companion in the future!"
In the past, it was only Garp alone fighting them, but now it was different.
Garp had joined the organization known as the Marines and had many extraordinary companions to help him. Even for the two of them, it would be difficult to deal with.
In order to prevent the boat from being damaged, Rune naturally understood Roger's intention and personality very well.
They would stay behind and keep fighting!
Facing off against the four of them: Sengoku, Garp, Tsuru, and Zephyr.
They wouldn't retreat until they were sure Rayleigh had escaped the danger zone!
As they spoke, a stray bullet was fired from Zephyr's warship, hitting the skin on Rune's right forearm.
His forearm was hit by the bullet, leaving only a slight graze and a faint burning pain.
"Are you okay! Rune!" Rayleigh saw this and quickly asked about the situation, looking very worried.
"I'm fine. My constitution is very special; ordinary firearms can't hurt me at all." Rune looked at the graze. "Because of this, I need to eat a lot."
Rune's physical constitution was very special; it would adapt and evolve according to the environment, and it could also release the potential limits of his physical body, thereby significantly improving his overall combat power.
Adaptation: If he were in a high-temperature environment, he would feel very uncomfortable at first, but his body would gradually develop heat resistance.
Evolution: When Rune falls into a desperate situation, such as being unable to breathe in the sea, gills would evolve behind his ears, giving him the characteristic of breathing underwater.
Releasing Physical Potential: This is the most special power Rune has discovered through years of training. He is able to unlock his own physical limits, thereby obtaining unimaginable power.
Being special also came with a great price, which was that his food intake would be many times more than that of an ordinary person.
Just now, when his skin was hit by the bullet, his adaptation and evolution abilities were passively triggered. While strengthening his skin's toughness, he also instantly adapted to the damage brought by the impact, though it wasn't completely without injury.
Boom—behind the small boat, three warships were rapidly approaching.
During the time Rune was blocking Zephyr, Garp, Sengoku, and Tsuru had already arrived in this sea area to provide support.
"Rayleigh! Rune and I have been used to facing this kind of situation since we were kids!" Roger saw Garp and the others arriving as backup and grinned broadly, starting to warm up. He said, "I believe you're a trustworthy companion! So we won't let you fall into danger!
As the start of our adventure, let's meet at the Twin Capes Lighthouse! The currents ahead are very turbulent, so be careful!"
Roger warmed up while walking toward the stern. Once finished, he gathered his strength and stepped into mid-air, charging alone toward those three warships.
"Hey! I'm the one who should go over there!" Rune saw Roger rush out and shouted at him with some displeasure, "You bastard!"
Roger's laughter echoed in the air. "I don't want you to get hurt, Rune!"
"Idiot! Me too! Can you handle three of them!" Rune cursed at him.
Afterward, Rune didn't get a response from Roger, knowing his mind was made up. He looked at Rayleigh again with a grin.
"See you at the Twin Capes Lighthouse, Rayleigh!"
As his voice fell, Rune also gathered his strength and leapt from the front of the small boat, charging toward the warship where Zephyr was.
This could also be considered a test of trust; if Rayleigh didn't wait for them at the Twin Capes, then they wouldn't have lost much.
However, only Rune knew in his heart that Rayleigh would definitely wait for them, because he was one of Roger's future right-hand men.