59 Rayleigh shock

Cling!

A loud, piercing sound filled the air.

With a casual swing, he unleashed a powerful slash aimed directly at Rayleigh's back.

Everyone was startled as their eyes widened in surprise. They wondered why Whitebeard had suddenly launched an attack.

"Whitebeard, you haven't changed a bit."

Rayleigh, with his back to the crowd, tilted his head slightly, wearing a helpless expression on his face.

But as soon as he spoke, a sharp light suddenly flashed.

A long sword swiftly resisted the attack at the last moment.

Clang!

Sound of metal clash reverberated in the air.

Under everyone's surprised eyes, Whitebeard slash was easily blocked.

"Even in my old age, I can still handle the strike of the world's strongest man."

Rayleigh held his long sword with a smug smile on his face.

But their brief exchange was over

Yet, there was something off about the slash he had just blocked.

Strength!

Powerful impact!

Like a towering mountain crashing down from the sky, its force relentlessly surged towards him.

The once confident smile froze, replaced by a look of shock and astonishment.

Clang~

The aftermath of the slash lingered, causing his long sword to tremble violently.

The immense force crashed down, directly pressing Rayleigh against the bar counter

The arm that held the long sword trembled constantly.

It seems that he has tried his best to stop it!

"How can it be?!"

Rayleigh nearly shouted out, using his left arm to prop himself against the bar counter, his eyes filled with utmost astonishment as he stared at Whitebeard.

As old friends and longtime rivals.

He knows the true strength of Whitebeard.

So when Rayleigh saw Whitebeard's attack, he didn't care much.

Rayleigh, being the Pirate King deputy captain, believed that he could easily handle Whitebeard attack, despite the latter's reputation as the world's strongest man

But with just one strike, it shattered his expectations.

The force behind the slash made him feel like he was facing the peak Whitebeard.

It was fierce and terrifying!

"Guurarara~"

"Rayleigh, even you, the renowned right hand of the Pirate King, have grown old!"

Whitebeard looked at the slightly embarrassed Rayleigh, put away his Naginata, and burst into laughter.

As the overwhelming power dissipated, Rayleigh breathed a sigh of relief.

But soon,

He felt a tingling pain in his wrist from the impact.

Even though he blocked the blow just now, the huge force still caused slight damage to him.

Thinking that a mere sword attack could slightly damage him

The shock that he had finally suppressed resurfaced on his face, accompanied by a wry smile.

"Now I understand how you managed to save Ace!"

At first, he thought Whitebeard had succeeded by sheer luck.

He also found it hard to believe.

He didn't know how Whitebeard achieved this miracle.

Sometimes he even wondered if the Marines deliberately held back their best to let Whitebeard escape.

Until now.

After facing a direct attack from Whitebeard,

He realized that Marines hadn't deliberately held back their strength.

He understood that the reason for their defeat was simply because Whitebeard was overwhelmingly strong, making Marine no match for him.

"It's been a while, Whitebeard."

At that moment, Shakky, who was leaning on the bar, greeted Whitebeard with a warm smile, treating him like an old friend from years past rather than the strongest person in the world.

"Guurarara~"

"It's been ages since I last saw you. Does that troublemaker Garp still come to bother you?"

Whitebeard laughed.

"I'd rather not hear that name right now."

Shakky shook her head in a helpless manner.

During her time as a pirate, Shakky had the misfortune of being targeted by Garp. She was relentlessly pursued for several years, only managing to escape his grasp after retiring from the pirate life.

With a smile, she brought out a wine jar and placed it in front of Whitebeard.

She knows Whitebeard's habit and that he rarely uses small bowls when drinking.

"The familiar fragrance, is this wine from North Blue?"

Whitebeard eagerly grabbed the jar and gulped down its contents.

"Bingo!"

Shakky flicked her fingers.

"You're in luck, these wines arrived just two days ago."

Rayleigh chuckled beside them.

"Really? Well, in that case, I'll have to drink a lot more!"

Whitebeard took a few more sips, savoring the taste.

Seeing the three people engrossed in their conversation, the Whitebeard pirate commander and all the pirates in the tavern finally snapped out of their daze.

They all turned around simultaneously.

Their eyes focused on Rayleigh.

And recalled Whitebeard's words from earlier.

The Pirate King right hand?

"Is he Dark King Rayleigh, the Deputy Captain of Pirate King Roger?!"

The pirates exchanged glances.

To their surprise, they not only saw Whitebeard here.

They also saw the right hand of the Pirate King who was famous in New World in the old era!

"The world's strongest man and the Pirate King's companion meeting in this very tavern!"

"If this news gets out, it will shake the world, right?"

"Of course! They are all legendary figures who once sailed the treacherous seas of the New World!"

The pirates in the tavern whispered among themselves.

"Ugh."

"I'm living in seclusion now, and here you come, all swaggering. Later, the Marines will come to trouble me again."

Hearing the whispers around, Rayleigh let out a helpless sigh.

"Guurarara~"

Whitebeard chuckled and placed the wine jug down.He didn't care about Rayleigh's comment and proceeded to talk about business: "We need to return to the New World. Our ship requires coating, but the coater was frightened off by me. We need your help with this matter."

"Coating?"

When Rayleigh heard Whitebeard talk about business, his smile narrowed slightly. He responded: "The Whitebeard Pirate Group is not small, so it will take some time to complete the task."

Whitebeard didn't care.

Since the war is over, Whitebeard wasn't in a rush to return.

So he didn't mind wasting a little time at all.

"Hehe~"

"Aren't you living in seclusion? Coating Whitebeard with such a fair face, aren't you afraid that Marine will trouble you?"

Shakky blew out a smoke ring, playfully teasing.

"Ahhh~"

"Yeah, can't you folks find me in private? My old bones can't handle all this commotion."

Rayleigh looked at Whitebeard, spreading his hands in a helpless gesture.

"Guurarara~"

"You, known as the Dark King, are you also afraid of those Marine little guys?"

Whitebeard laughed.

Rayleigh could only offer a faint smile in response.

As Marco and the others watched the two of them engaged in conversation, they exchanged glances, their faces filled with delight.

As the people from the past era grow old.

Whitebeard hadn't felt this happy in ages.

Seeing their father sitting with his old friends, drinking and chatting freely, they were filled with genuine happiness as his sons.

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