I guarded Impel Down for a hundred years in the pirate world.

No one can face two admirals at the same time, let alone three.

Even Figo wouldn't do!

Kong believed this wholeheartedly.

But facing Garp, he said, "That's right. There are always people more powerful than you in this world, but Uncle Figo is undoubtedly at the very top. Keep it up, kid!"

……

East China Sea, Rogge Town, on the coast.

On a small boat drifting on the dock, a blond young man was sleeping.

Suddenly, the sound of orderly running footsteps startled him awake. He frowned slightly, sat up, and saw that there were countless marines running and lining up on the shore, numbering over a hundred!

The team was led by a colonel.

The blond youth's expression changed instantly. He crouched by the eaves of the boat, observing from the shadows, his expression slightly tense.

His name is Silvers Rayleigh, he is 20 years old. His house was burned down by pirates not long ago, so he could only steal this small boat and wander around, making the boat his home. He has only been in Loguetown for a few days.

But... what's going on here?

All I did was steal a boat.

This looks like the entire Marine Corps of the Loguetown Naval Branch has been mobilized. Is it really necessary?

Chapter 63 Rayleigh, I'll get you as a Marine!

It doesn't seem like they're here to arrest me.

After observing in the shadows for a long time, Rayleigh felt a little relieved. These lined-up marines seemed to be waiting to welcome some important figure.

"That's right, I'm not wanted..." He took a sip from the wine jug to calm himself down, straightened up, met the gaze of the naval captain who was looking over, and asked, "Sir, what happened?"

"Don't be afraid, this ship is yours."

"Yes, of course it's mine."

"Then could you please move slightly in that direction? A large ship will be entering the port shortly."

Colonel Valente, the branch commander stationed in Loguetown, was mild-mannered, so Rayleigh naturally obeyed his orders.

In fact, he wished he could just row away from here, but firstly, the food on the boat had not been replenished, and secondly, he was afraid of being seen as guilty.

So he unanchored the boat, used a pole to push it away from the shore, and quickly rowed in the direction Valente had pointed out, moving it a little further away.

Valente didn't care; he was feeling a little nervous. As a branch colonel in his early thirties, and the highest-ranking officer of an important branch like Loguetown, he was considered young and promising, but he had never had much opportunity to meet Admiral Steelbone Sky before.

Not to mention, the Den Den Mushi also mentioned that before Steelbone Sky, the warden of Impel Down, the underwater prison, would arrive first, and he would lead all the marines of the Loguetown branch to pick up the ship, on which a large number of pirates would be escorted.

The order also carried a hint of strangeness.

He didn't know who the warden of Impel Down was. In terms of position, he was indeed at the same level as a Marine Admiral or even a Fleet Admiral. But why would someone who guards a prison suddenly come to Loguetown? And why did he bring a large number of pirates with him?

And how large could the quantity be? Was it really necessary to have the entire marines welcome them with such a grand display?

In his unease, the outline of a large ship gradually appeared at the edge of his vision. To Valente's even greater surprise, the ship was not a warship, but seemed to be... a slave ship from Sabaody?

The slave traders of Sabaody claim to serve the Celestial Dragons, but they don't know how to be modest. They decorate their ships in an extremely luxurious way, making them very different from ordinary merchant ships. Valentine had seen this several times, and as a righteous marine, he also deeply abhorred it.

His brows furrowed slightly until the boat drew closer and he saw the figure standing at the bow. Only then did he gasp in surprise and fall into a reverie.

Several of his lieutenants approached him to ask what was going on, but he only shook his head: "Prepare to receive the ship!"

As the slave ship gradually approached the shore, Figo leaped ashore, and Valente rushed to greet him.

"Are you the warden of Impel Down?"

"Just call me Director Figo." Figo smiled and said, "Judging from your reaction, it seems like we've met before. Are you Mia's student?"

"Is it really you?!" Valente said with a hint of excitement, "Yes, more than ten years ago, when I was still in the elite battalion, I saw Teacher Mia chatting with you. Your appearance... really has hardly changed."

The key is that the chain hanging on her wrist is extremely eye-catching; once you see it, it's hard to forget.

He paused, then hesitated, "You call Teacher Mia 'Sister Sister'? You're her..."

“We were recruits from the same elite battalion. I’m 70 years old this year,” Figo said with a smile.

Valente's eyes widened in shock, and the lieutenant beside him was even more dumbfounded. You must be joking, he looks to be at most forty or fifty years old, and he doesn't look like he's the same generation as Lieutenant General Mia at all!

“Alright, now that you’re Mia’s student, I can rest assured about the rest.” Figo said, “I stole this ship. There are some slaves on board whom I rescued. You’re in charge of arranging for them to be sent back to their hometowns one by one. If any of them cause a problem, I’ll have Mia deal with you.”

He turned around and shouted, "Let's get off the boat!"

"I see." Valente snapped out of his reverie, looking at Figo with admiration. No wonder he was Teacher Mia's friend; the slave traders didn't hesitate to rob, putting justice into action. He glanced at the former slaves disembarking from the ship and exclaimed, "Please rest assured!"

The marines began to whisper amongst themselves, discussing how different officers led different soldiers, and how they all looked at the slaves with kindness.

This calmed the slaves, but some still pleaded in whispers, "Our benefactor saved our lives, may we follow you?"

There were strong, burly men and beautiful, flower-like girls. Figo simply shook his head and waved his hand, saying, "Dream on. Many people want to follow me; this good fortune isn't for you! Just obediently go home with these marines!"

The burly man choked up, and the girl shed tears.

Figo then said to Valente, "On the way here, I also captured some pirates and locked them up on the ship. You take the marines aboard and temporarily detain them in the Loguetown jail. Pick and choose the ones who are qualified, and then transfer them to Impel Down."

"Yes!" Valente responded loudly, leading his marines onto the ship, thinking to himself that they had been captured along the way, not specifically for transport.

While you're at it, grab... while you're at it...

What the hell!

What the hell is this?!

……

In the distance, Rayleigh was observing from the shadows.

"So, a very important person has indeed arrived?"

His gaze fell on Figo, and he quickly moved aside, his heart pounding rapidly.

Did he see me?

Didn't you see it?

No, no, no, calm down, Rayleigh. You're not a wanted criminal. You just stole a boat. That scoundrel has at least twenty more small boats like that.

However, it was not a good place to stay for long. Rayleigh decided to wait for the marines to return, then quickly replenish his food supplies and row away from Loguetown.

Soon he saw a commotion among the marines, and after a long while, they dragged a group of dejected men off the arriving ship... they all seemed to be captured pirates.

Although it looks like a merchant ship, that guy is indeed a navy officer?

One pirate was brought down, then ten pirates were brought down, and Rayleigh didn't seem to care.

100 pirates were brought down, then 300 pirates were brought down...

Rayleigh's eyes widened, glancing at Figo, then at the slave ship that didn't seem that big. This, this, this...

I need to get going!

He jumped ashore and ran towards a nearby shop!

……

On the other side, the extremely long escort team attracted the attention of all the residents passing by. Before the Great Pirate Era, Loguetown had not yet become a must-pass holy place for all East Blue pirates. The security here was good, and the residents did not have many opportunities to see pirates, let alone see so many pirates at once.

A young man with a bag slung over his shoulder and a straw hat in his hand stood in the crowd, his mouth agape in an "O" shape.

His name is Gol D. Roger, he is 19 years old, and he was preparing to set sail to begin his adventure, but he never expected to encounter this kind of thing.

Being a pirate seems dangerous.

But I'm even more excited now.

Once the group had gone some distance, he grinned widely and continued striding towards the shore.

“You continue escorting them, be careful not to cause any accidents. Xiao Kong will be here soon, I'll go pick him up, you don't need to come with me,” Figo suddenly smiled and said to Valente.

"Little Kong?" Valente, who had long since become a Figo fanboy, looked even more admiring upon hearing this: "Yes! I will definitely take good care of them and then immediately go to welcome you and General Kong!"

……

Meanwhile, Rayleigh, who had just bought food, boarded 'his own ship' and was about to leave when he suddenly heard a boastful exclamation.

"Amazing! Amazing! Amazing! What a huge ship! What a beautiful ship!"

Rayleigh glanced instinctively toward the shore and saw Roger, twirling his straw hat on his fingertips, standing beneath the massive slave ship, sighing with emotion.

“It’s a pity, such a big ship can’t be sailed by two people.” Roger looked at him. “Your ship is quite good too, it should be able to withstand some storms! Hello, I am Roger, Gol D. Roger, what is your name?”

Who is this overly friendly kid? Rayleigh, who was in a hurry to leave, didn't want to pay attention to him, but then it suddenly occurred to him... Couldn't the two of them drive away?

Which two people? Him and me?

Is it really that natural to want to steal a boat?

Suddenly finding the other person somewhat agreeable, Rayleigh replied, "Rayleigh."

"Rayleigh? Haha, it's decided, we'll set sail in your ship!" Roger's lips curled into a wide smile: "Let's turn the world upside down together, Rayleigh!"

What the heck?

So the child is sick?

Rayleigh was taken aback, his pupils suddenly dilated, and he glanced behind Roger before straightening his face.

"Whose child are you? Stop talking nonsense here. What do you mean by turning the world upside down? Are you still asleep?"

"Get lost! I'm going to be a marine someday. If you keep talking nonsense, I'll arrest you!"

"...Huh? The Navy?"

Roger blinked, vaguely sensing that something was amiss, and suddenly turned around.

A tall figure was standing there.

Chapter Sixty-Four: The World Is Crying

“Hey, old man, I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere before…” Roger looked up at Figo.

Have you seen it? Of course I have.

Roger visited Loguetown once when he was 5 years old, and again when he was 12.

It was indeed somewhat of a coincidence that the future Pirate King Roger and his first mate Rayleigh set sail at that moment, but it wasn't entirely a coincidence.