Konoha's Mission Master

Xia Qi instantly lost all strength and slumped into a chair, clear tears streaming from the corners of her eyes.

She understood deeply that Rayleigh's "I'm sorry" was an apology for past feelings and debts. After saying those words, the two would no longer owe each other anything, and he would once again risk his life for his former brother.

After saying that, Rayleigh led Yakumo out of the bar, leaving Shakky sitting behind the bar, heartbroken and lost in thought.

Yakumo clicked his tongue inwardly. Rayleigh was such a scumbag. He was willing to die for his brother's son and leave an indelible mark on Shakky's heart.

This farewell is truly something to learn from!

The two gradually moved away from the bar, where uncontrollable sobbing could be heard coming from inside.

"Wait a minute, Grandpa Rayleigh."

Yakumo turned around, went back into the bar, walked to the bar counter, and looked at Xia Qi, who was sobbing, and said seriously.

“Pretty sister, since I’m the one taking him away, I promise I won’t let Grandpa Rayleigh lose his life before I die. You can wait for him here. I’m sure it won’t be long before your drunkard pushes open the door and asks you for a drink.”

After saying this, Yakumo turned and left, and the sobbing behind him gradually subsided.

“We are going to be at odds with the world; you shouldn’t have given her such hope,” Reilly said.

"You should know that I wasn't lying just now."

"Hahahaha...!!!"

"You little rascal, that's interesting! Interesting!"

The two walked on a street made of bubbles, and could clearly see the roots of the mangrove trees around them supporting the buildings on the entire island.

"By the way, do you have any other plans? But there's one thing I need to make clear beforehand: this matter must not involve our other old friends."

"Don't you want to fight alongside your brothers again?"

"You have to understand, in a few days I'll be making a name for myself on the battlefield, slaughtering everyone before I die a heroic death, and those old guys will only know about it through the newspapers. They'll probably sigh... Ah, Rayleigh, this old guy got to die in style again... Don't even mention how envious they'll be of me then... Hehehehehehehehe."

Rayleigh laughed heartily.

“Alright…” Yakumo said helplessly.

"Our next plan is to join the Whitebeard Pirates, and I will be responsible for restoring him to his peak condition."

Rayleigh glanced sideways, recalling the years he had spent dealing with Whitebeard. Back then, Whitebeard's mastery of Haki wasn't as refined as it is now, but his powerful physique alone was enough to earn him the title of the world's strongest.

With Whitebeard's peak control of Haki and his peak physical condition, there might actually be a chance of success in this matter.

“Let’s go,” Ridley said.

The two then arrived at Rayleigh's secret hideout, where they found him pulling out a snow-white Den Den Mushi from a pile of junk, fast asleep.

"Thank goodness... I'm still alive. This Den Den Mushi can directly contact Whitebeard."

Rayleigh knocked him awake.

"Pop pop pop..."

"Wait a moment...wait a moment..."

"Boom..."

The Den Den Mushi was answered, but instead of Whitebeard, a very sweet female voice answered.

"Please wait a moment, sir. My father is having a party with his sons on the deck. I'll bring the Den Den Mushi up there right away."

A few tens of seconds later…

"Gulala lala..."

A hearty laugh from the white-bearded man came through the Den Den Mushi.

"The old man... isn't dead yet?"

"Thanks to you, I'm still alive and well. I heard you're about to die, aren't you?" Rayleigh retorted, not to be outdone.

Yakumo exclaimed, "Wow, is this the basic greeting between masters? I'll circle it with a pen... I might learn it later."

A few seconds later, the white-bearded man asked.

"Seriously... what do you want from me?"

"A few days from now... I'm going to wreak havoc on Marineford with you!"

The Den Den Mushi fell silent, then a few seconds later, Whitebeard's signature loud laughter rang out again.

"Gurala la la la la...!"

"Alright, you're still in the Sabaody Archipelago, right? I'll send someone to pick you up right away."

Whitebeard never considered the possibility that Rayleigh was lying to him. He believed that Rayleigh might be killed, but he would never be coerced into saying something against his will.

Most importantly... right now, as long as you join me, Edward Newgate, in causing chaos at Marineford, we'll be brothers... brothers who will live and die together.

"We'll be waiting for you at the port tomorrow."

"Beep beep."

The Den Den Mushi has returned to sleep.

The conversation between the two big shots was very simple, without any probing or verbal exchanges. Every sentence was crisp and concise, as if two peerless masters were fighting each other with swords.

it is more than words.

Whitebeard knew Ace's true father, and Rayleigh's request meant that he also knew that Roger's blood flowed in Ace's veins.

“The moment I leave Sabaody Archipelago, my whereabouts will naturally be exposed,” Rayleigh said.

No.

Yakumo formed hand seals and created a shadow clone. The shape of the shadow clone gradually changed, and to Rayleigh's astonishment, another Hades Rayleigh appeared before them.

“Tomorrow… I will use this method to distract those who are watching Grandpa Rayleigh, and then the two of us will head to the dock.”

"What an amazing Devil Fruit ability," Rayleigh exclaimed.

"If I had known there would be this battle, I shouldn't have sold Chunxue in the first place... to buy alcohol."

Spring Snow is Rayleigh's weapon, a long sword.

In the corner at night, Rayleigh, holding a silver wine flask, sighed with a hint of helplessness.

"Just so you know, Whitebeard's Moby Dick definitely has some truly exceptional wines on board, the kind that are one-of-a-kind and priceless, the kings of wines."

"There's... such a good thing!?"

The next day, Rayleigh led Yakumo away from the secret hideout to a bar. The tails responsible for following them immediately began to act. Half an hour later, two mysterious figures wearing cloaks quietly blended into the crowd on the street.

Dozens of nautical miles off the coast of the Sabaody Archipelago, Yakumo, carrying Rayleigh's true form, successfully met with the people sent by Whitebeard to provide assistance.

The three of them sat down inside Marco's small boat.

Just as Yakumo had predicted... the person who arrived was none other than Marco, the highly mobile first division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, known as the Phoenix.

After all, the world's attention is now largely focused on the reaction of the world's strongest individual. Sending a large number of people to provide support at this time would easily lead to ambushes by the Navy or CP. It would be better to send Marco, who possesses the highest mobility and formidable strength...

After all, even if you can't beat them, you can still outrun them.

"Hello...who is this?"

Marco had dealt with Rayleigh several times before, and the two were quite familiar with each other. After a brief greeting, he turned his attention to Yakumo.

“Just call him Yakumo… He’s a doctor who can restore Whitebeard to near-peak condition, a world-class physician.”

Rayleigh recounted the story he had prepared with Yakumo. To be honest, he didn't know Yakumo's true identity or strength, but he was certain that this young man was indeed willing to risk his life to save Ace... and that was enough.

"How is that possible?! He's so young."

Marco exclaimed, somewhat losing his composure.

"You don't believe me?" Riley retorted.

"Of course not...it's just...he..."

Marco, as the part-time ship's doctor for the Whitebeard Pirates, knew all too well just how bad his father Whitebeard's health was, to the point where he could collapse at any moment.

"I believe facts speak louder than words. Take me to see Whitebeard, and I shouldn't disappoint you."

"I can say that," Yakumo said confidently.

“I… need to ask, Dad.”

“Wait a minute, there’s one more thing. I hope you won’t tell anyone other than Whitebeard and you that Uncle Rayleigh will be involved in this operation. You can say that you went out just to pick up me… this doctor.”

"What do you mean?"

Marco looked somewhat displeased.

"I suspect there may be a traitor beneath the captain."

"...I need to ask my dad."

Marco stared into Yakumo's clear eyes and made his choice: to hand the decision over to Whitebeard.

"Pop pop pop..."

"Gulalalalala, what's wrong, my son?"

Marco quickly explained Yakumo's proposal to Whitebeard, but Whitebeard ultimately refused, as he did not believe that any of his sons would betray him!

Yakumo had no choice but to give up.

What an admirable father he is...

At the same time, Whitebeard agreed to let Yakumo treat his body and promised to protect Yakumo's safety.

The three set off again. The small boat had been specially modified so that Marco's flames could be used as propulsion. Blue flames rose from the sea surface, and the boat flew like a cannonball.

In the afternoon, Yakumo saw Whitebeard's ship, which looked like a beluga whale lying on the sea surface from a distance. You know, among marine creatures... whales are powerful overlords!

PS: Requesting monthly votes.

Chapter 162 Dungeon World: Marineford War III

On the sea.

Marco's small boat did not slow down at all and headed straight for the Moby Dick. Just as the two ships were about to collide, the Moby Dick's side rail automatically slid open, revealing a passage.

The small boat sailed straight in, and after being dragged by a giant mechanical arm, the three arrived at a dark corridor. Bright incandescent lights shone overhead. It was dark because the end was nowhere in sight, as if they were really walking inside a giant whale. Various decorations were placed on both sides of the corridor, and the floor was made of reddish-brown wood.