Chapter 92 : Thank You!!

Ivankov, standing by the side, could no longer tolerate Luffy's naivety and slapped him on the head. "Straw Hat boy, what on earth is going through your head? He broke one of your legs!"

Luffy grinned cheerfully. "Compared to him saving Ace, a broken leg is nothing!"

Ivankov felt a bit helpless and began to question if Luffy really was the son of a Dragon after all. The personalities of these two were so different that they seemed like complete opposites!

Ace remained silent, unsure of how to respond. He regretted the situation more than ever.

After a moment, Luffy added, "Actually, I could sense that Big Red Nose didn't have any ill intentions towards me at the time!"

Ivankov: ??? 

Ace: ???

Breaking your legs isn't considered malicious?

Is it considered malicious to nearly kill someone?"

Luffy continued, "Back then, Big Red Nose must have just wanted to teach me a lesson, like how Shanks lost his arm for that! Only, Big Red Nose ended up breaking my leg instead!"

Ivankov: ??? 

Ace: ???

Luffy then said with a hint of distress, "But at that time, I wasn't in the right frame of mind to listen to what he was saying. My leg got broken for nothing!"

Ivankov was left speechless, and even Ace, who knew Luffy well, didn't know how to respond!

"Hahahaha."

At that moment, a white-haired old man wearing an overcoat and holding a jug of wine entered the room, laughing heartily upon hearing Luffy's words.

Luffy looked surprised and said, "Hey, Uncle Rayleigh, what are you doing here?"

Rayleigh took a seat on the edge of the bed and explained with a smile, "I was originally headed to Marineford to find Buggy, but when I ran into you on the way, I decided to check in and see how things were going."

Rayleigh was becoming increasingly impressed with Luffy; his energetic personality was just like that of his former captain!

"Is that so?" Luffy smiled and said, "Uncle Rayleigh, please thank Big Red Nose for me when you see him! Thank him for saving Ace!"

Luffy felt a deep and genuine gratitude towards Buggy at that moment.

In comparison to Ace's life, losing one leg of his own seemed insignificant.

Rayleigh shook his head and said, "It's better to tell him yourself when you see him in the future. As for me, I've changed my plans for now and won't be going to Buggy anytime soon."

"Okay," Luffy replied, nodding. He didn't say much more but kept Rayleigh's words in mind.

Rayleigh then asked, "By the way, Luffy, what are your plans moving forward?"

Without hesitation, Luffy responded, "I'm going to find my crew! They're all waiting for me right now!"

Rayleigh gave a noncommittal nod and asked, "And then?"

Luffy answered matter-of-factly, "Of course, I'll continue the adventure!"

Rayleigh chuckled and said, "Do you really think you're ready for the next adventure with your current strength? Have you already forgotten what happened on the Sabaody Archipelago?"

Luffy fell silent. The defeat by Kuma and Kizaru at the Sabaody Archipelago, along with the events at the Navy Headquarters and Impel Down, had clearly exposed his weaknesses.

At this, Rayleigh, sensing Luffy's unease, offered his true intention: "Luffy, would you consider training with me for a while first? Strengthening yourself before continuing your adventure?"

Luffy looked up sharply, deeply moved but still somewhat hesitant.

Ivankov and Ace, standing by, remained silent. This was a matter Rayleigh had already discussed with them.

Regarding Rayleigh, the right-hand man of the legendary Pirate King, wanting to become Luffy's teacher, both Ivankov and Ace were pleased to see it. However, it ultimately depended on Luffy's own decision.

Luffy pondered for a moment, his gaze growing resolute. He looked at Rayleigh and asked, "Uncle Rayleigh, can you make me stronger?"

Rayleigh nodded confidently and replied, "At the very least, you won't be completely helpless when you face the likes of Kizaru or Kuma again!"

Luffy asked again, "How long will the training take?"

Rayleigh considered this and said, "Although your foundation is solid, and despite losing a leg, plus the need to master the three types of Haki, it will take at least two to three years."

"Two years!" Luffy declared with determination. "I want to finish my training in two years!"

"Then you'll need to work hard!" Rayleigh said with a smile, clearly pleased with Luffy's resolve.

It's rare to see someone maintain such confidence after witnessing overwhelming strength and enduring numerous setbacks. Luffy clearly has the heart of a warrior!

However, Luffy soon looked troubled again and said, "But you need to find a way to inform everyone! They're all trying to find ways to join me!"

"Hehe, you can think about that later," Rayleigh chuckled, turning to Ace and asking, "And you? Have you made up your mind?"

Rayleigh had previously invited Ace to train with him, but Ace had hesitated and never responded.

Ace recognized his own lack of strength this time, but Rayleigh's status made him somewhat uncertain—he was still hesitating.

After a long silence, Ace shook his head and declared, "No! I'm joining the Whitebeard Pirates to defend the territory Dad left behind with them!"

Rayleigh frowned upon hearing this and said, "You won't be able to hold it! This sea is a ruthless place; it's survival of the fittest! Once Newgate is gone, the predators around him won't let such a vast territory go easily."

"Besides, your identity will only attract endless enemies!"

"Instead, you should focus on improving your strength first, and then reclaim the territory!"

Ace understood Rayleigh's point but still shook his head. "No matter what, I need to meet everyone first!"

Seeing Ace's determination, Rayleigh chose not to argue further. He sighed and said, "Alright, alright. If you run into any trouble you can't handle, just come to me!"

Ace didn't respond, as Rayleigh's words seemed to fall on deaf ears.

Even if it meant his own death, he wouldn't accept that person's help!

The room fell into a heavy silence.

Suddenly, Ivankov seemed to recall something and said, "By the way, Buggy told me before that you two also have a brother named Sabo, right?"

Luffy and Ace were both taken aback. Although they didn't understand why Ivankov brought this up, they nodded in response.

Seeing their reaction, Ivankov smiled and said, "We have a cadre in our revolutionary army named Sabo, and Buggy said he's your brother!"

Ace: "!!"

Luffy: "!!"

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