novelnext Chapter 157 Heading to Fishman Island
Chapter 157 Heading to Fishman Island
Chapter 157 Heading to Fishman Island
Rayleigh picked up his full glass of wine, tilted his head back and took a big gulp. His gaze fell on the colorful bubbles floating outside the bar window, as if through those light bubbles he could see the Pirate King's ship, the Oro Jackson, that sailed the Grand Line decades ago.
"Back then, Shanks was just a teenager, working as an apprentice crew member on the ship with Bucky. The two kids were always bickering, fighting over meat or treasure maps, causing chaos on the ship, but they were also the two most lively and energetic characters on board."
Rayleigh's voice carried the weight of time and nostalgia.
"Roger always watched them make a fuss with a smile and never got really angry. Shanks, back then, had a head of dazzling red hair and was as stubborn as a bull. Despite being the youngest, he always thought about protecting everyone. Whenever they encountered a strong enemy, he would grab an inconspicuous short sword and rush to the front, shouting that he wanted to protect the captain and his comrades."
"He and Bucky are a match made in heaven. Bucky is obsessed with getting rich and his mind is full of treasure, but Shanks is different. From the beginning, he yearns for freedom, for the sea that Roger talked about, and for ONE PIECE. Roger also likes him very much. He often calls him to his side and tells him stories about the sea, the truth of history, and about going to the final island, Laugh Tale."
At this point, Lei Li paused, a complex look flashing in his eyes, a mixture of relief and emotion.
"We can all see that Shanks inherited Captain Roger's will; that yearning for freedom and the deep affection he had for his comrades are exactly the same. And then—"
Rayleigh sighed softly, took another sip of his drink, and his tone softened again: "Later, our crew disbanded on the spot. I went to the Sabaody Archipelago to live in seclusion, while Shanks went to sea on his own and gradually built his own pirate crew, step by step, to where he is today. He didn't eat a Devil Fruit, but he developed top-notch Haki, especially Conqueror's Haki. In this respect, he is just like Captain Roger."
"He went to the East China Sea, I think. I read in the newspaper that he lost an arm."
"Yes, he's a loyal and devoted kid. He was willing to give up an arm and gamble on the new era."
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Rayleigh looked at Uchiha Shiraha with a serious gaze: "Being able to become friends with Shanks means you have something in common with him—the courage to venture out on this vast ocean and the determination to protect those around you."
Artoria and Retsu Unohana listened quietly. They could feel the passion and romance of that era from Rayleigh's words, and the legendary trajectory of Shanks' growth from an apprentice to a great pirate.
Uchiha Shiraha listened quietly, the image of Shanks's cheerful and unrestrained smile appearing in his mind.
Rayleigh looked at the young man in front of him and suddenly smiled: "Since you are Shanks' friend, I will naturally do my best to handle the coating. After dealing with the Navy's mess, I will help you coat the ship and send you safely into the New World."
"but----"
Rayleigh abruptly changed the subject, his eyes turning serious. "The New World is a hundred times more dangerous than Sabaody Archipelago. Great pirates, the Navy, and all sorts of ambitious individuals are entrenched there. You injured Kizaru, and the Navy will never let this go. You must be careful on the road ahead."
Uchiha Hakuba stood up, nodded slightly to Rayleigh, and said firmly, "I understand."
The day after finalizing the coating arrangements, Uchiha Hakuba, following Rayleigh's instructions, steered the ship carrying the group into a secluded bay deep within the Sabaody Archipelago, surrounded by massive coral reefs and dense mangrove forests.
The bay is sheltered on three sides, with only a narrow waterway connecting it to the open sea. Layers of colorful bubbles float on the surface of the water, concealing the entire ship in the shadows. Even if a naval patrol ship passes by, it would be extremely difficult to spot the ship.
Rayleigh arrived earlier than the agreed time. He changed out of his usual clothes and put on a faded dark blue waterproof work uniform. He had a worn leather tool bag tied around his waist and carried a specially made coated toolbox that was half his height. He stepped steadily onto the deck of the ship.
Xia Qi, on the other hand, followed slowly behind in a small bubble speedboat carrying several large barrels of coating solution sealed in specially made oak barrels. When she arrived, she didn't forget to wave to Bai Yu and his group, her eyes full of leisurely smiles.
"Is this the ship? It's sturdy, and the materials are good too. After the coating, it can withstand the water pressure of the 10,000-meter-deep sea around Fishman Island."
Rayleigh walked slowly around the ship, his rough fingers gently tracing the wood grain of the gunwales, his eyes revealing his expertise.
"Coating is not as simple as just wrapping a layer of film. The core of the bubble coating in the Sabaody Archipelago is to use the sap of the Yarchiman mangrove tree to extract the original solution, and then combine it with special processes and a powerful and stable film layer. Ordinary craftsmen only know the basics. I have been learning and practicing this skill for a long time."
After saying that, Raleigh began the formal coating process.
He first opened the toolbox, took out a series of specially made conduits, and then took out several rolls of coated base cloth with a bright white luster, his movements were skillful and smooth.
He first directed Artoria and Retsu Unohana to clean up the debris around the ship, then personally climbed to the top of the mast, fixed the first conduit to the bow of the ship, and gently injected a layer of almost invisible dark Haki into the conduit.
In an instant, the original liquid extracted by Yang Shu Eve flowed down the tube, enveloping the bow of the ship like a crystal stream. Rayleigh flipped his wrist, and layers of Haki covered the original liquid. The originally liquid liquid instantly solidified into a transparent film as thin as a cicada's wing but extremely tough, which shone with a warm luster in the sunlight.
Then he squatted down and meticulously processed every gap on the bottom of the boat, not even missing the smallest rivet hole, to ensure that the membrane layer was flawless.
"The water pressure at a depth of 10,000 meters can crush steel into dust. The key to coating is to ensure that it is seamless, stable, and flexible."
While busy, Rayleigh casually explained, "The original liquid infused with Haki is alive and can deform along with the hull. Haki is the skeleton, supporting the entire membrane. Without the Haki coating, it will directly collapse in the middle layer of the deep sea, and the people and the ship will sink to the bottom of the sea and never rise again."
Artoria stood guard by the ship, vigilantly watching the movements outside the bay, while also being captivated by Rayleigh's fluid and graceful skills.
Uchiha Hakuba leaned against the ship's railing, watching Rayleigh's focused profile without disturbing him. He only occasionally stepped forward to help Rayleigh when needed, and a silent yet harmonious understanding formed among them.
Shaki leaned against the bubble speedboat, drinking her wine and jokingly saying, "That old guy Rayleigh is usually so lazy, but once he picks up the coating tools, he's like a completely different person. I heard that back on Roger's ship, he could repair ships, coat them, steer—he could do everything. He was the most reliable all-around butler on the ship."
The coating process lasted for more than ten days. Rayleigh was not impatient at all. Every inch of the ship was repeatedly polished, coated, and infused with Haki until the entire ship was completely wrapped in a perfect layer of bright white bubble film. The ship floated on the water, as light as sea foam, yet strong enough to withstand cannon fire.
As he completed the final step, Rayleigh wiped the sweat from his brow, put away his tools, and looked at the brand-new ship before him with a satisfied smile.
"It's done."
He patted the hull: "This membrane can safely protect you as you descend to Fishman Island. Even if you encounter a normal impact from a giant deep-sea sea king, it won't break. Just sail with peace of mind."
The next two weeks or so will be the most leisurely and peaceful time by the bay.
Rayleigh didn't return to the bar immediately, but stayed in the cabin near the bay. During the day, he would occasionally give Bai Yu and his group pointers on how to sense Haki, teach Artoria how to use Observation Haki to predict danger in battle, and marvel at the terrifying Conqueror's Haki that Uchiha Bai Yu and Artoria possessed from birth.
As evening fell, the group gathered around the campfire in front of the cabin, grilling fresh seafood and drinking the fine wine that Shakky had brought. They listened to Rayleigh recount stories buried by time, and Bai Yu and his companions finally learned why Rayleigh had chosen to become a coating craftsman in the Sabaody Archipelago after the Roger Pirates disbanded.
The night was gentle, and bubbles from the Sabaody Archipelago floated in the night sky, glowing faintly. Rayleigh took a sip of warm wine and looked out at the dark sea in the distance. "The day Captain Roger surrendered, our entire pirate crew had already disbanded."
Rayleigh's fingertips gently traced the rim of his glass: "The Oro Jackson vanished. We, the crew who followed the captain across the world, went our separate ways. Crocus returned to Twin Capes to continue guarding the lighthouse; Bucky went to the East Sea, determined to find treasure; Shanks set sail, following in the captain's footsteps; and I, after many twists and turns, finally arrived at the Sabaody Archipelago."
"Many people are curious why I, as the right hand of the Pirate King and the legendary Pluton, don't continue to travel the seas, but instead hide here as an inconspicuous coating craftsman, even relying on it to make a living, living like an ordinary old man."
Rayleigh chuckled softly, his tone devoid of any resentment, but rather filled with relief.
"Actually, the answer is very simple. I'm tired, and I want to stay by this sea and wait for the new era that Shanks talked about to arrive. And Shakky is here too, that's enough."
"Captain Roger opened the door to the Age of Exploration with his death. His last words inspired countless people to head out to sea in search of ONE PIECE, freedom and dreams, so that new blood and new souls could continue the story of the sea, instead of staying in their respective countries."
Rayleigh's eyes became incredibly serious: "If I continue to roam around under the name of Hades, I will only become an obstacle to the new era."
Rayleigh refilled Bai Yu's teacup and continued, "Coating is the best way for me to stay at sea without disturbing this ocean."
He paused, then continued, "The Sabaody Archipelago is the gateway to the New World. Countless pirates and adventurers with dreams stop here, needing coatings to reach Fish-Man Island. As a coating craftsman, I can not only make a living with this skill, but also witness those young figures, one after another, sailing towards the New World to pursue the freedom Captain Roger spoke of. Watching them is like seeing myself back then, seeing Shanks back then..."
"Paki saw us all, sailing off with high spirits."
"Each layer of coating not only encases the ship, but also the dreams of those young people."
Rayleigh's voice lowered: "I personally sent them into the deep sea, into the New World, as if I were protecting this will called freedom for Captain Roger. Sometimes Shakky says that I'm not just an ordinary coating craftsman, but clearly a teacher. But I think I'm just a nostalgic old man, guarding memories and waiting for those who have inherited the will to appear."
"Just like you guys, just like Shanks."
Rayleigh looked at Uchiha Shiroha.
"Shanks is the captain's most promising child. He has Conqueror's Haki and inherited the desire for freedom. And you, at such a young age, have such strength, a calm temperament, and are loyal and righteous. You are also someone who can stir up waves in the new era. I am coating you with this material so that I can personally send this hope to a farther place."
The longer the wine is aged, the more mellow and fragrant it becomes. Rayleigh has also been teaching Bai Yu and his group how to deal with the harsh weather in the New World these days.
When the day of parting arrived, Rayleigh personally escorted the ship to the bay's exit, watching the gleaming white coated vessel slowly sail into the sea, heading towards Fishman Island.
He stood on the shore, waving, with Xia Qi leaning against him, a gentle smile on her face.
"Mr. Raleigh, until we meet again."
Rayleigh laughed and shouted, his voice carrying clearly through the sea breeze to everyone's ears: "Go! In the New World, live out your legends! I'll be here, waiting to hear the news of your fame spreading across the seas!"
The ship gradually sailed away, disappearing into the end of the colorful bubbles and the azure sea. Rayleigh still stood on the shore, his gaze distant, as if he could see again many years ago the large ship named Oro Jackson, carrying Roger and a crew of companions, setting sail towards the direction of the rising sun.
As the ship sailed away from the secluded bay of the Sabaody Archipelago, the shimmering white coated bubbles gently rippled on the sea surface, like moonlight lifted by the sea breeze.
Uchiha Hakuba stood at the bow of the ship, gazing at the gradually shrinking outline of the archipelago.
The coating, personally crafted by Rayleigh, was exceptionally sturdy. When the ship broke through the waves, the bubble membrane only slightly dented before quickly rebounding, completely isolating the seawater. The cabin was well-ventilated and had a clear view, making it feel like being in a flowing, transparent crystal palace.
As the rudder slowly turned into the deep-sea channel, the ship began to sink steadily. The sunlight gradually thinned from the sea surface, and the azure seawater deepened layer by layer, from light blue to azure, then to deep inky blue, and finally plunged into an endless darkness.
The journey to the 10,000-meter deep sea is far more fantastical than imagined.
At first, groups of colorful tropical fish could be seen around the hull, curiously circling the coated bubbles, their tail fins sweeping across the transparent membrane, leaving fine watermarks.
Coral reefs stretched out their colorful branches in the seawater, sea lilies swayed gently with the current, and shellfish were half-buried in the sand. Artoria leaned against the membrane wall, her golden eyes filled with wonder. She had never seen such a magnificent underwater scene before, and all she could see was awe at the wonders of nature.
As the ship continued to descend, the light grew dimmer and dimmer. Just as visibility was about to be completely lost in darkness, the bioluminescent creatures unique to the deep sea quietly lit up.
Tiny, luminous planktonic organisms, like countless stars, converged to form a flowing river of light, gently swirling around the hull of the ship.