On The Eve Of The Wedding, Rayleigh Appears!

On their journey back, they once again encountered and vanquished a small pirate group. Since Roger's proclamation, the world had plunged into chaos, giving rise to countless pirate factions.

Upon returning to Nine Snakes, only three days remained before the wedding. In adherence to Granny New's strong suggestion for the ceremony's solemnity, Arias and Hancock reluctantly parted ways for a few days, much to the chagrin of the young couple who had just tasted the forbidden fruit.

The evening before the wedding, Shakky and Rayleigh arrived simultaneously. Arias accompanied Hancock to personally greet them.

"Is this the boy?" Shakky and Rayleigh scrutinized Arias, finding it hard to believe that Hancock was on the verge of marriage. Despite their skepticism, the invitation from Granny New prompted their journey to Nine Snake Island out of curiosity.

As Rayleigh observed Arias, he perceived nothing particularly remarkable about the young man, aside from his handsome appearance. However, Shakky experienced a different sensation. Arias seemed to exude an inexplicable charm that captivated her, causing an unexpected stir in her heart.

This unexpected feeling left Shakky genuinely surprised.

As the former empress of Amazon Lily and with a close relationship with Pluton Rayleigh, Shakky's knowledge surpassed that of others. Sensing a potential issue, she refrained from probing Arias directly, recognizing the inappropriate setting for such inquiries.

Granny New took the initiative to introduce everyone.

"This is Shakky, the former empress of Amazon Lily. Next to her is Rayleigh, a coating craftsman on Sabaody Island and Shakky's friend. They assisted Hancock in escaping back to Nine Snake Island."

Rayleigh, adopting a kindly uncle demeanor, extended his hand to Arias. "Hello, my name is Rayleigh, just an ordinary coating craftsman."

Arias, also scrutinizing Rayleigh, wondered if this was Pluton Rayleigh. As a time traveler with ambitions and a keen interest in the world's famous figures, the excitement of encountering Rayleigh in the flesh was undeniable.

Shaking Rayleigh's hand, Arias casually remarked, "Silver Rayleigh, the right arm of Roger the Pirate King, known as Pluton, actually met me today."

His words fell like thunder, freezing the smiles on Rayleigh and Shakky's faces.

Who is this guy?

Rayleigh, having lived in seclusion on Sabaody for many years, couldn't fathom how this young man possessed such detailed knowledge about him.

Even Hancock was unaware of this secret.

"Who are you? How do you know?" Rayleigh's eyes, once cloudy, now bore an edge like a sharp sword.

Sensing Rayleigh's vaguely hostile gaze, Hancock swiftly positioned herself in front of Arias, ready to confront any threat.

Arias gently pulled Hancock behind him and met Rayleigh's gaze. "Arias, I was born on an unknown island in North Blue. The old man who taught me my skills once told me your story and mentioned that the renowned Pluton Rayleigh has secluded himself as a coating craftsman."

"I believe the person he spoke of is you."

Rayleigh frowned. Since living in seclusion, even most of Roger's crew members were unaware of his whereabouts. The identity of this person who knew his true story perplexed him.

"What's his name?" Rayleigh inquired.

Arias shrugged, "How would I know? He asked me to call him Lao Tianshi, but he never revealed his true name."

Suspecting that Rayleigh didn't believe him, Arias unleashed his energy, attempting to attack Rayleigh. However, Rayleigh effortlessly blocked the punch with one finger, wrapped in Emission Haki.

Yet, Rayleigh sensed a different energy beyond Haki. This unique energy hinted that the source was not the man standing before him. Could the old man Arias mentioned truly exist?

Despite Rayleigh's thorough memory search, the name Lao Tianshi eluded him, and the unfamiliar energy puzzled him.

Forced to reassess the young man before him, Rayleigh, who had impressed Hancock, accepted Arias's invitation to discuss matters further.

In the palace, Arias and Hancock occupied the main seats, with Rayleigh and Shakky taking the guest seats. Sensing Rayleigh's confusion, Arias got straight to the point.

"You witnessed the passage of a century on Raftel, comprehending the world's truths. Aware of Roger's limited time, you plan to await the birth of the next king."

Rayleigh, expressionless, questioned, "Do you believe you'll be the next Pirate King?"

Arias smiled, stating, "The King of Thieves remains a thief. It lacks intrigue. However, the Celestial Dragons have perpetrated too much evil for too long. It's time for them to step down."

Rayleigh, taken aback by Arias's audacity, questioned how someone with such strength dared to speak against the god-like Celestial Dragons.

Ignoring the ridicule, Arias responded, "A tree that embraces others starts from a tiny seed; a nine-story tower begins with foundational soil; a thousand-mile journey commences with a single step."

He continued, "A minuscule ant nest can collapse a dike; a single spark can ignite a prairie fire. Most importantly, they bullied Hancock!"