"Dark King Rayleigh?!"
"Silvers Rayleigh?!"
"The right-hand man of the Pirate King?!"
"The former First Mate of the Pirate King's crew?!"
At the mention of the title "Dark King" and the name "Silvers Rayleigh," Arlan and the others nearly flipped the table in shock. Their jaws dropped, eyes wide, it was hard to believe that the unassuming old man before them was that Rayleigh: the legendary vice-captain of the Roger Pirates, the man known as the Dark King.
Arlan looked Rayleigh up and down with disbelief.
"So this is what they mean by 'hidden in plain sight'? The Dark King himself, living in seclusion this close to Marine Headquarters, right here on the Sabaody Archipelago…"
"I heard Dark King Rayleigh was a great swordsman," Oliver said, eyes gleaming as his hand absentmindedly caressed the hilt of his blade. "Man, I'd love to challenge him."
"So the Captain wasn't lying after all. This really is a big deal!" Millie and Mina stared at the legendary figure with awe, scanning for what set him apart from an ordinary old man.
Dimitri, Gorbo, and Backan didn't say much, but their expressions said enough, shocked and awed, like the others.
After all, the tale of Gold Roger was as well-known as any in the world. He was the one who ushered in the Great Pirate Era. And as Roger's right-hand man, Rayleigh's fame was global. Nearly every pirate on the seas had heard of the Dark King. To see him in person today? No wonder they were all stunned.
Rayleigh laughed heartily at the reaction, his voice deep and warm.
"Hahaha... I left piracy behind a long time ago. No need to call me 'Dark King' anymore, I'm just a humble coating mechanic these days."
Though he tried to downplay it, he didn't deny it.
"I understand," Aeridar replied, giving a respectful bow. "I only came to ask for your help coating my ship."
As the right hand of the man who had changed the world, Rayleigh's contribution to Roger's rise couldn't be overstated. Aeridar's bow wasn't out of fear, it was out of genuine respect for a living legend.
"Eh, it's no big deal. Leave it to me," Rayleigh replied with casual ease. He was slightly surprised by Aeridar's humility, such politeness was rare among pirates. But he liked the young man's attitude, and so he agreed without hesitation.
"Good," Shakky interjected, rolling her eyes. "Maybe this'll keep him busy instead of wandering off every damn day."
"Thank you, Rayleigh-san. I'll have my crew bring the ship over," Aeridar said with a smile.
Gorbo placed 10 million Berries on the table without a word.
Before Rayleigh or Shakky could respond, Aeridar spoke again.
"That's for the coating. But I'm also hoping to pay for some information, Auntie Shakky."
He leaned in slightly, voice low but firm.
"How many pirates on the Sabaody Archipelago right now have bounties over 100 million?"
The atmosphere shifted in an instant.
Shakky gave Aeridar a meaningful look, then let out a soft chuckle.
"Hehe~ Other than your Chris Pirates, there are seven pirates on the island with bounties over 100 million. Six of them are Supernovas, and one… well, he was defeated by the Marine Grand Expeditionary Fleet a few months ago in the New World and just recently limped back to the first half of the Grand Line."
"Six Supernovas and one who failed in the New World…" Aeridar raised an eyebrow. "That's quite the crowd."
"'Failed'?" Shakky smiled knowingly. "That's not an unfair word to use."
"Is there more to the story?" Aeridar asked with interest.
Shakky nodded slightly.
"He goes by 'Paperman'—Bright Ward. Bounty: 235 million Berries. He's a Paramecia-type Paper-Paper Fruit user and the captain of the Paperman Pirates. He was one of last year's Supernovas."
Her tone turned faintly amused.
"He had a crew of 134 elite members, but three months ago, while in the New World, they sailed straight into a storm, only to be spit out right in front of the Marine Grand Expeditionary Second Fleet."
There was a beat of stunned silence.
"…Pffft—Hahahaha!!"
Everyone burst into laughter.
"That's not a 'failed pirate', he's just plain unlucky!" someone choked out between cackles.
"What the hell kind of karma did this guy build up in a past life to get thrown straight into the Marines' lap like that?!"
Shakky shook her head, her smile tinged with pity.
"The Second Fleet was commanded by Admiral Sakazuki. Against Akainu's power, the Paperman Pirates were obliterated. Their ship was sunk, and fewer than thirty of them survived. It was a miracle they made it back to the Grand Line at all."
"Jeez, that poor bastard…" Aeridar muttered, while the others shook their heads in sympathy.
The Paper-Paper Fruit? What a bad match-up. Against Sakazuki's Mag-Mag Fruit, the guy probably couldn't even get close. Just a bit of heat and poof, burnt to ash. What could he possibly do in that fight?
He was already weaker than Sakazuki to begin with, and his Devil Fruit was a complete hard-counter. Honestly, even Fire Fist Ace had a better chance than this guy. His misfortune was downright legendary. The fact that he escaped at all was probably sheer dumb luck.
"And what about the other six Supernovas?" Arlan asked after the laughter died down.
Shakky took a drag from her cigarette, blowing out a smoke ring as she answered.
"I'll go from the lowest bounty up."
She spoke smoothly, each name precise and deliberate.
'The Fiend'—Urtes, born in the South Blue. Captain of the Fiend Pirates. Bounty: 100 million Berries.
'Totem Warrior'—Kohl Goff, born on the Grand Line. Captain of the Totem Pirates. Bounty: 126 million Berries.
'Rain Scorpion'—Smythe Betilla, born in the West Blue. Captain of the Rain Pirates. Bounty: 170 million Berries.
'Orc'—Dorot Otto, born in the North Blue. Captain of the Dorot Pirates. Bounty: 190 million Berries.
'Black Knight'—Roldy Limmings, born in the West Blue. Captain of the Knight Pirates. Bounty: 210 million Berries.
'Night Executioner'—Mondos Bank, born in the South Blue. Captain of the Night Pirates. Bounty: 235 million Berries.
"So many pirate crews entered the Grand Line full of ambition," Shakky said at last with a sigh. "But now… only a handful remain."
"The Grand Line is a brutal survival game," Aeridar murmured coldly. "Strength and luck, you need both. Only the strong can rise to the top of this world."
His voice carried a heavy edge. After all he'd been through, he knew better than anyone how true that was.
If luck hadn't been on his side during that fight with Vice Admiral Syrons in Alabasta… he might've been dead already.
And if he hadn't run into Gecko Moria on Jaya Island, hadn't managed to defeat him and take his place among the Seven Warlords of the Sea, then when he encountered Kizaru in Water 7… it wouldn't have been a mere probing strike.
The Admiral would've gone all in, aiming for capture.
Against the overwhelming assault of a Marine Admiral, the Chris Pirates would've ended up no better than Bright Ward's Paper Pirates—crushed and scattered.
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