Chapter 188: [188] : Lineage Exposed! Silvers Rayleigh Enters the War!

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Looking at the disconnected Transponder Snail, Sengoku frowned.

One condition—in exchange for Jinbe and Clown Buggy?

Though Jinbe was strong, he was nothing to a man like Rowen—the Straw Hats had more than one fighter at Jinbe’s level.

And the Warlord title… Rowen clearly held it in contempt.

However, Jinbe was already set to be stripped of his Warlord title anyway.

Trading him and Clown Buggy to eliminate a potential morale-damaging incident with Rowen was a worthwhile exchange for Sengoku.

’Could it be because Jinbe is a Fish-Man?’

Sengoku recalled Rowen’s history.

Marine HQ was well aware that ’Cat Burglar’ Nami was one of Rowen’s women—and her hometown, Cocoyasi Village, had been tyrannized by the Fish-Man Arlong, whom Rowen subsequently killed. Nami’s known aversion to Fish-Men was also in their intel.

’Is this to appease Cat Burglar Nami?’

And Clown Buggy, another enemy Rowen defeated early in his journey but didn’t kill. According to Marine HQ’s intel, Rowen hadn’t mastered Haki back then and couldn’t inflict fatal damage on the Chop-Chop Fruit user.

’Is Rowen trying to tie up all the loose ends from his journey?’

Sengoku’s brow relaxed slightly.

Regardless, these two were acceptable losses for Marine HQ.

As for Rowen not honoring his promise?

Sengoku almost wished for it. For an Emperor to not keep his word meant betraying his own spirit.

Once the spirit was damaged, Haki growth would be severely impacted. Powerhouses at their level could not afford to break their promises.

The word of a peak powerhouse was the best guarantee for this transaction.

As for a Warlord being under the World Government’s jurisdiction, not Marine HQ’s?

Sengoku had enough authority to handle that.

Whether the Five Elders would hold him accountable later—Sengoku didn’t have time to worry about it.

Winning the upcoming war was the absolute priority.

Soon, Sengoku’s orders reached Impel Down.

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Tap! Tap!

The sound of footsteps echoed clearly through the dim prison.

“Warlord, Knight of the Sea Jinbe,” Marine HQ Vice Admiral Stainless stated gravely, looking at the Fish-Man in the cell.

“Do you still stand by your decision?” Stainless asked calmly.

“I will never go back on my convictions!” Jinbe declared, looking up. Though imprisoned, his whale shark eyes shone with absolute resolve.

“Hmph. Bring him out. Take him away,” Stainless ordered.

“Hm?” Jinbe frowned, confused by the Navy’s actions.

Soon, Jinbe, along with another loudly wailing pirate, was escorted onto a Marine warship.

“LET ME GO! I’M JUST A PIRATE WITH A 15 MILLION BERI BOUNTY! ISN’T IMPRISONING ME ENOUGH?? ARE YOU GOING TO KILL ME TOO??” Buggy shrieked.

“SILENCE!” Stainless snapped, frowning.

“Set course for the waters near Sabaody Archipelago,” Stainless ordered, cold sweat beading on his own forehead, his expression grim.

That sea area… now had that man in it!

Sky Sovereign Rowen.

That being’s mere presence exerted a suffocating pressure even on a Marine HQ Vice Admiral like himself.

Though he was renowned on the seas, before a man of that caliber, he wouldn’t even last a single blow. But with direct orders from Fleet Admiral Sengoku, he had to comply…

“Sabaody Archipelago?” Jinbe and Buggy both looked on with disbelief.

If it were Marine HQ, or even the execution grounds, they wouldn’t be surprised. But Sabaody Archipelago… What did that mean??

Stainless offered no explanation. The warship slowly set sail for Sabaody.

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“So they’ve taken Jinbe away” In a shadowy corner of Impel Down, a pair of eyes slowly opened.

The Commander-in-Chief of the God’s Knights—Figarland Garling Saint!

Just as Rowen suspected, the World Government wasn’t foolish.

Knowing Rowen possessed various bizarre Devil Fruit abilities, and with Impel Down’s LEVEL 6 full of major criminals, if Rowen infiltrated and rampaged with his power-stealing ability, the consequences would be unacceptable.

Warden Magellan alone couldn’t protect Impel Down from Rowen.

Thus, Garling Saint had been dispatched here. His presence wasn’t just to prevent Rowen from breaking into Impel Down; it was also to set a trap.

Garling Saint plus Magellan, plus Impel Down’s entire garrison—if Rowen was foolish enough to lead the Straw Hats in an invasion, they could activate a transport magic circle, directly teleporting the God’s Knights from Mariejois to here.

They would be ready to kill Rowen in Impel Down!

But so far, the man hadn’t chosen to invade. And now, Jinbe, who had resisted the mandatory summons, had been taken away by Marine HQ.

“Sengoku’s orders? Interesting…” Garling Saint slowly closed his eyes.

His authority was second only to the Five Elders.

He too was waiting for an opportunity—an opportunity to be promoted to the Five Elders. Their positions hadn’t changed in far too long. Only a truly great upheaval could provide such an opportunity.

And now—Garling sensed this was the beginning of that great upheaval.

“Sky Sovereign Rowen,” Garling murmured the name.

He had witnessed the man’s Conqueror’s Haki during the Mariejois incident. But Rowen’s Haki then, though strong, was nothing compared to the power he now possessed.

Even Garling felt a sense of gravity when thinking of Rowen. Fortunately, they, the God’s Knights, still held a power capable of dealing with him…

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Sabaody Archipelago.

“Buggy? Buggy is also in the Navy’s hands?” Rayleigh asked with interest after Rowen hung up the call.

“Uncle, you know Buggy?” Hearing Rayleigh’s words, Nami and Zoro looked on with disbelief.

During their battle with the Buggy Pirates, they were just rookie pirates who had newly set sail. Rowen at the time couldn’t even use Haki and couldn’t harm the Chop-Chop Fruit user.

Zoro’s swordsmanship was also useless against Buggy.

Nami hadn’t even truly joined the crew yet.

Thinking back, Nami and Zoro felt a wave of nostalgia.

Back then, they were almost helpless against a Chop-Chop Fruit user like Buggy, having to rely on Luffy’s rubber abilities to send him flying.

But now, a pirate of Buggy’s level wasn’t even qualified to be glanced at by them.

But why would a legendary figure like Rayleigh know Buggy?

“You don’t know? Buggy, just like Shanks, was once an apprentice on our crew,” Rayleigh replied, a nostalgic look in his eyes.

That spirited Buggy from back then—Rayleigh had high hopes for him. Buggy’s swimming talent was the best Rayleigh had ever seen.

Unfortunately, after eating the Chop-Chop Fruit and becoming unable to swim, his spirit was crushed. He went from a spirited rookie pirate to a cowardly loser.

“EH?? A ROGER PIRATE?? THAT BUGGY??” Nami and Zoro were stunned.

Luffy also stared, mouth agape, completely incredulous.

“If you don’t know, then why did you trade for Buggy?” Rayleigh was now also curious. He had thought Rowen was doing him a favor.

“Buggy possesses the aptitude for Conqueror’s Haki. My comrade needs that aptitude,” Rowen replied with a calm smile, not hiding anything.

Back then, Rowen’s strength was insufficient; he didn’t even know the System could plunder others’ Conqueror’s Haki aptitude.

Buggy’s aptitude was perfect for Vivi.

Of course, out of respect for Rayleigh, Rowen wouldn’t take Buggy’s aptitude for free. He would make a trade with Buggy—removing the Chop-Chop Fruit in exchange for Buggy’s Conqueror’s Haki aptitude.

The aptitude was wasted on Buggy anyway; his spirit shattered by becoming unable to swim, he could never awaken it. And Buggy’s dream was to find all treasures, making swimming ability highly desirable.

Though his Born of the Sea Trait was now gone, for Buggy, being able to swim was enough.

Rowen’s mindset had changed. Previously, he didn’t take Buggy’s fruit because he didn’t want to create an unstable future variable. But now—a powerhouse in his own right—he didn’t care about a mere Buggy.

Besides, he needed Rayleigh to re-emerge.

Towards a legendary powerhouse of this caliber, who had been to Laugh Tale, honesty was paramount to gain his support.

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“You can even see others Conqueror’s Haki aptitude?? And plunder it??” Rayleigh and Shakky’s pupils constricted sharply.

They thought stealing others’ powers was already outrageous enough.

But Rowen could even see if someone possessed the aptitude for Conqueror’s Haki—and even steal it!

Before awakening, no one could confirm if another possessed this aptitude. Yet Rowen could not only see it—but could he even artificially create Kings??

“My Conqueror’s Haki came from Kid,” Sanji stated calmly, seeing Rowen was being open.

“Incredible,” Rayleigh finally understood why Black Leg’s Haki had just awakened. So it was just recently stolen from that Supernova.

At the same time, Rayleigh smiled. To be honest about such a great secret… As expected of Sky Sovereign Rowen!

“I will strip away both his Devil Fruit ability and his Conqueror’s Haki aptitude, allowing him to regain his ability to swim,” Rowen stated frankly, looking at Rayleigh.

“That’s what Buggy needs most,” Rayleigh smiled.

As a top-tier powerhouse, Rayleigh also understood the Conqueror’s Haki aptitude was useless in Buggy’s hands. With his spirit shattered, Buggy could never awaken it.

Trading it for his former swimming ability was a good deal.

“That’s great, Vivi!” Nami cheered, hugging Vivi’s arm. The order of who would receive Conqueror’s Haki was already decided. Sanji was first, Vivi was second.

Nami, Chopper, and Usopp, due to their innate timidity, would struggle to awaken it even if given the aptitude.

And Vivi, whose Sand-Sand Fruit ability was progressing rapidly, would undergo a qualitative change once she obtained Conqueror’s Haki.

“Mm!” Vivi nodded firmly. She had been waiting for this day for a long time.

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“Rowen! When are we going to save Ace??” Luffy asked anxiously.

“On the day of the public execution. The Whitebeard Pirates will also go to save Ace. We will join the battle then,” Rowen stated gravely.

Trading for Buggy and Jinbe wasn’t just for Buggy’s aptitude and securing a future helmsman for the crew—

—In the original story, the Impel Down breakout was one of the few black marks on Luffy’s reputation. Those escapees were vicious criminals, a great danger to civilians.

Rowen wouldn’t let that happen again.

Plus, he sensed another powerful presence in Impel Down besides Magellan; the World Government was clearly prepared.

Thus, from the beginning, Rowen had ruled out attacking Impel Down. Joining forces with the Whitebeard Pirates to attack Marine HQ was the optimal solution.

“Two Emperors attacking Marine HQ at once? What an epic battle!” Rayleigh laughed heartily.

Seeing Rayleigh’s reaction, Rowen confirmed that Rayleigh didn’t know Ace was Roger’s son. Not surprising… Rouge became pregnant with Ace after the Roger Pirates disbanded.

Roger had only entrusted this secret to Garp.

Rowen looked at Rayleigh.

“Hm?” Rayleigh looked back.

“Are you going to join us… to save Roger’s son, Portgas D. Ace? Rayleigh,” Rowen asked, smiling, curious to see Rayleigh’s choice.

“!!!” Rayleigh’s pupils constricted sharply.

ROGER’S SON??

Rayleigh snatched a newspaper, looking closely.

Yes… the eyebrows… he could see a shadow of Roger.

D? Ace!

Did Roger use the name of his own sword, one of the 12 Supreme Grade Swords, Ace, for his son?

“Roger… had a son,” tears streamed down Rayleigh’s face.

The One Piece world valued spiritual inheritance, true, but blood ties were also unbreakable. Otherwise, why would Roger go to such lengths to entrust Ace to Garp?

Seeing Roger had a son, and so grown up… even Rayleigh was overcome with emotion, weeping openly.

“Luffy! Isn’t Ace your brother? Aren’t you Dragon’s son? Why is Ace the Pirate King’s son??” The crew stared, stunned, looking at Luffy.

“Ace and I are sworn brothers! And Ace didn’t want others to know about his identity!” Luffy explained loudly.

Luffy wasn’t surprised Rowen knew—with their spiritual link, Luffy found nothing strange about Rowen knowing Ace’s identity.

“Looks like I have to lend a hand for the dreams of the young,” Rayleigh wiped the tears from his eyes, an astonishing crimson-black light flashing in his own.

This war wasn’t just about executing Roger’s bloodline.

Monkey D. Luffy, the inheritor of Roger’s will, was also participating.

What reason did he have not to fight for this legacy?

Dark King, Silvers Rayleigh—CONFIRMED TO ENTER THE WAR!

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