Rayleigh looked at Luffy, who was excitedly pulling on his Straw Hat, a smile gracing his lips.
"I've wanted to see you guys ever since that day. Anyway, since you've made it this far, he must be getting anxious waiting in the New World."
"Is that so... Is that how it is...?" Luffy looked around, realizing a certain snake wasn't there, then sat cross-legged, excitedly swaying.
"I really want to see him too..."
Robin suddenly stood up, remembering the poneglyph on Sky Island. After a moment of hesitation, she stood up abruptly.
"...Mr. Rayleigh, pardon my rudeness... I want to ask what the Will of D truly is. I saw it on the poneglyph on Sky Island, carved next to the history text. Why did he use such writing?
Do you know what happened in the world during the 100-year Void Century, which began 900 years ago?!"
Robin's tone grew increasingly agitated.
"Ah... we know... we know all of history.
But young lady... don't be too hasty... Use your own ship, and gradually approach the truth... Perhaps we were too hasty after the Ohara incident... Even if I tell you everything about history now, with your current strength, you would be powerless.
The answers you get from traveling the world may not be the same as ours. Even so, if you still want to know... I can tell you now."
Robin took a deep breath, the figures of the Straw Hat crew flashing through her mind, and she smiled with relief.
"No need... I want to continue my journey."
Usopp wanted to ask what the final Great Treasure was, but Luffy, with rare sternness, harshly refused him.
Luffy stood on the table, roaring at Usopp,
"I don't want to know what's in One Piece!
Even if I don't know anything!
But everyone risked their lives to set sail!
If I hear anything from this old man's mouth!
I won't be a Pirate anymore!!
I don't want to experience a boring adventure!!"
Usopp looked at Luffy like this and felt... flustered.
"I know... I know... I just asked casually! I'm not curious at all! Really!"
Rayleigh smiled.
"Back to the main topic... I'll go coat your ship now. You guys use this time to buy things... An Admiral is coming soon. You can come find me again in about three days, on the evening. I need to move your ship from spot 41 to another location to work. This is my Vivre Card... Just use this to find me."
Rayleigh turned and left, stopping only when he was certain no one was around.
"Alright... no one's here now, you can come out."
With a rustling sound... a thumb-sized Little White Snake slithered out from the bushes, and Orochimaru's characteristic hoarse voice emerged.
"At this moment, shouldn't I say, 'As expected of Pluton Rayleigh'... Heh heh heh."
Rayleigh's mouth twitched... What was with that villain-like statement?
"So... what do you need me for, and why hide from Luffy...?"
Orochimaru's snake clone stiffened for a moment, then spat out a newspaper from its mouth... Rayleigh hesitated again... but still picked up the newspaper... It reported the news of Fire Fist Ace's public execution. Although Rayleigh was shocked... he didn't react much. What did Whitebeard's business have to do with him?
"What are you trying to say?"
Orochimaru sneered.
"You all are really slow, aren't you? Such a special name, others might not think of it, but how could you not...? Ace... the Supreme Grade Blade, Ace, Pirate King Roger's most beloved weapon.
Ace's original name was
Gol D. Ace, but he disliked that surname, so he changed his name to Portgas D. Ace."
Rayleigh's pupils widened in shock as he looked at the newspaper.
"Is he Roger's son...? No... that's not right... the timing doesn't match..."
Orochimaru didn't explain further.
"This has nothing to do with you. I came just to tell you,
If you want to see Roger again,
Please arrive at the Marineford War on time.
And for the next two years, I'm entrusting Luffy to you."
Rayleigh was dazed by the barrage of news, so much so that he couldn't even ask more questions, watching helplessly as the snake clone disappeared.
"Wait!!!! You'd better explain clearly!!!"
On the other side... Orochimaru was wrapped in a paw-shaped bubble, floating in the sky, his face grim. That damned Kuma... at least let him change his clothes!!
The story goes back to when Orochimaru dealt with that group of Marines.
After sending Luffy and the others away, Orochimaru unleashed his power to his heart's content. Those Marines were like ants in his eyes.
When the last Marine fell, Orochimaru let out a long breath, as if some long-suppressed emotion in his heart had been released.
Orochimaru stretched, shaking off the blood from his hands. His lazy posture made it seem as if this fierce battle was just a game.
He successfully received the memories transmitted by the snake clone, confirming that Rayleigh had been notified. So, the rest was to wait until the Marineford War.
Originally, Orochimaru planned to meet up with Luffy and the others first, then help fight Kizaru... After Kuma sent Luffy and the others flying, he would then find a way to get that stubborn Kuma out... After all, Kuma would be completely modified and would have lost his self-awareness by the time of the Marineford War, so now was the best time to get Kuma away.
This was Orochimaru's original plan.
Orochimaru, flying in the sky, gritted his teeth... As a result, he did see Luffy, but only for a glance. He watched Luffy excitedly waving and running towards him, and then in the blink of an eye, he was flying.
That's right... Kuma, that sly old fox, directly teleported behind Orochimaru.
And the pose was already set. Orochimaru hadn't even reacted before he was flying.
He even maintained the pose of smiling and waving.
ヾ(•ω•`.)
Is Kuma so eager to get him out of this game?! Seriously! But thankfully, back on Thriller Bark, Orochimaru had left behind an improved version of the Four Symbols Seal.
The moment Kuma lost consciousness, the sealing jutsu would activate, sealing Kuma's soul within his own body.
Thus, Kuma would effectively become his own Jinchuriki. In that case, later during the Marineford War, all they would need to do is have the Revolutionary Army retrieve his body.
Orochimaru changed his posture, thinking to himself and muttering,
"I wonder if the letter I sent out reached them. Sabo will definitely go, but what about Dragon and the others? Will they go?"
No, the most crucial thing right now is Luffy. He could already imagine Luffy's expression; this would cause psychological trauma!
Watching his brother, who was still smiling and waving, suddenly disappear.
When Luffy is angry, he doesn't think Luffy's cerebellum would react much. He might not even remember that Kuma intentionally sent them flying, not to mention Kizaru and others were still chasing them.
Wait! Orochimaru frowned, trying hard to remember.
He always felt like he had forgotten something... Kuma... Kuma... Kuma! Ah!
Crap! Pacifista! I think I forgot to tell those guys. Σ(°ロ°)
Luffy and the others... they should be able to win, right...? Feeling inexplicably guilty...
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