Just as Caelan was waiting for the Berries to be delivered, Morgans and the Straw Hat Pirates arrived, slightly behind schedule.
"Big news! Big news!"
Morgans shouted the moment he arrived on the scene.
Caelan, standing tall and covered in blood, was laughing and chatting with Kizaru, while the Dark King Rayleigh lay unconscious on the ground.
"Silvers Rayleigh, the Pirate King's right-hand man, defeated by a rookie bounty hunter!"
In a flash, Morgans shouted out a potential headline with excitement.
"No, no, that's too plain."
Morgans shook his head, dissatisfied.
"Under the witness of a Marine Admiral, the era of pirates ends, and a golden age of bounty hunters begins!"
"Yes, that's the one!"
Morgans was ecstatic, muttering to himself with glee.
"That guy lying there is really the Pirate King's vice-captain?"
Luffy looked at the old man on the ground and widened his eyes in disbelief.
"This is bad, Luffy, we should get out of here!"
Usopp's legs were trembling as he stammered.
The three people in front of them included a legendary pirate on the ground, a bounty hunter, and a Marine Admiral. For a small-time pirate crew like theirs, this was extremely dangerous.
"No. I want to save Rayleigh and ask him about the Pirate King!"
Luffy shook his head and looked at Rayleigh firmly.
He might be a bit crazy, but that's Luffy for you.
"Are you nuts?! What does Rayleigh have to do with us? And those two don't look like people we can mess with!"
Usopp clutched his hair in frustration, nearly breaking down.
Why did Luffy have to lose it now?
This could cost them their lives!
"Zoro, Sanji, let's hold him back."
Usopp turned to the two with urgency in his voice.
"There's a great swordsman is right in front of me. There's no way I'm backing down."
"Besides, that bounty hunter already has his eyes on us."
Zoro gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, his voice serious.
Two months ago, when they first met in the East Blue, Caelan was still just a swordsman. But now, he had become a great swordsman.
Zoro was eager to fight him, hoping to make a breakthrough.
"This is crazy!"
Usopp and Chopper clung to each other and cried loudly.
…
Kizaru noticed Luffy and the others and couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.
Why did Vice Admiral Garp's grandson have to show up here? That kid's always a handful.
If Caelan turned his attention to Luffy, things would get complicated.
"Caelan, the weather's really nice today!"
Kizaru looked up at the sky, trying to steer Caelan's focus.
"It is. And I'd say my luck's not bad either."
Caelan nodded in agreement, but his gaze was locked on Luffy and his group.
Compared to when they met at that floating restaurant two months ago, not much had changed about him.
"Haha, well, congratulations then."
Kizaru gave an awkward smile, though he was inwardly tense.
"Admiral Kizaru, I think I see a few pirates over there."
Caelan turned to Kizaru with a faint smile.
This guy really was soft on Luffy.
"Really? They're just small fry. Not worth the effort."
Kizaru looked down at his toes, feigning nonchalance.
"No matter how small, I'm not picky."
Caelan smirked and began walking toward the Straw Hat Pirates.
It wasn't about greed for their bounties; besides, capturing Luffy now wouldn't benefit him. He just wanted to group Luffy and Rayleigh together.
Give Rayleigh a "luck buff" and see if he could break out of prison midway.
"Sigh..."
Kizaru let out a long sigh and quietly pulled out a Den Den Mushi.
Vice Admiral Garp, I did what I could.
…
Under the horrified gaze of Usopp and Chopper, Caelan slowly approached.
"Can you let that old man go?"
Luffy pointed at Rayleigh and asked seriously.
Morgans looked at Luffy like he'd seen a ghost.
Was this kid brain-dead?
He's asking someone to forfeit a 3.8 billion Berry bounty? How shameless can you be?
Caelan's mouth twitched.
He really did say whatever he wanted, without caring what anyone thought.
"If you want to save Rayleigh that badly, then stay with him."
Caelan looked at the Straw Hats and spoke.
"Haha, bring it on! We're not afraid of you!"
Luffy laughed boldly, showing no fear.
"W-we're terrified!"
Usopp and Chopper sobbed, tears streaming down their faces.
"Let's go! A duel with a great swordsman—this is what I live for!"
Zoro drew his two swords, full of fighting spirit.
Zoro was itching to test himself.
"What a bunch of idiots."
Though Sanji and Franky were speechless, they still stepped forward, ready to fight.
They had no choice. Even if their crewmates were a bunch of lunatics, they couldn't abandon them.
Together, they stared down Caelan, brimming with resolve.
"Tsk."
Caelan curled his lip and charged toward them.
If this had been the Straw Hat crew during the Wano arc, maybe he'd need to be careful.
But now? They were nothing.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Swish!
With just a few punches and kicks, Luffy, Chopper, Usopp, Franky, and Sanji were left with swollen bumps on their heads, collapsed on the ground, unable to move.
Out of respect for the swordsman, Zoro was knocked unconscious with Caelan's blade.
"Kuina… are you alive?"
In a daze, Zoro thought he saw Kuina waving at him.
"Admiral Kizaru, I'll leave these ones to you too. Settle their bounties along with Rayleigh's."
Caelan dusted off his hands and stacked Luffy and the others beside Rayleigh like a pyramid.
You want to save Rayleigh? Fine. Stay with him!
"You're in quite the mood today."
Kizaru didn't know what else to say.
Vice Admiral Garp's grandson was seriously a handful.
Rayleigh, lying beside Luffy, was also speechless.
He thought these kids might be monsters like Caelan, but they were beyond disappointing.
Caelan had the strength of a Yonko, mastered all three forms of Haki at top levels, and was a monster in both physique and swordsmanship.
And these kids didn't even have Haki!
This fight with Caelan had brought Luffy and the others crashing back to reality.
As Kuina faded from view, Zoro slowly regained consciousness.
Two months ago, he had been defeated by Mihawk with one strike and couldn't see his level.
Now he had been defeated by Caelan with one strike, and still couldn't see through him.
Just as the Straw Hats were questioning their life choices, Caelan looked toward the nearby sea.
"Garp's here."
A warship with a dog-head figurehead had arrived near the island, clearly detected by Caelan's Observation Haki.
(To be continued.)
***
For every 200 PS = 1 extra chapter. Support me on P/treon to read 30+ advanced chapters: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)