Chương 139: "The Punch Felt Around the World: The Auction House Incident"

At a Marine base, Vice Admiral Garp received troubling news about Sabaody Archipelago. His eyes narrowed as he looked at the report in his hand. Rayleigh—the former first mate of Gol D. Roger—was apparently set to be auctioned off. Garp knew Rayleigh's reputation all too well; he may have aged, but underestimating him would be a costly mistake. "If they don't handle him carefully," he warned the Marines nearby, "they're going to regret it."

Meanwhile, the Straw Hat crew was searching every corner of Sabaody for their friend Camie. At the bustling auction house in Grove 1, the team gathered—Duval, Sanji, Chopper, Franky, and others—while Zoro, predictably, was lost. Frustrated by the situation, Franky suggested a direct rescue, while Nami considered the option of buying Camie back. They had little time to debate as the auction was about to begin.

Within the auction house, the infamous Supernovas were scattered among the audience. As they waited for the next auction item, many of them pored over the news from the outside world. The headline was enough to silence the room: "Ace's Public Execution Scheduled." The realization that this would spark a war between Whitebeard and the Marines hung heavy in the air.

As the auction continued, the familiar sight of Camie took the stage, a shackle around her fin. The audience erupted in frenzied bids, and when a World Noble, Charlos, raised his paddle and bid 500 million Beli, the room fell silent. Just then, the doors burst open as Luffy and Raja stormed into the hall, their eyes burning with fury. Without a second thought, Luffy launched himself toward the stage, desperate to free his friend.

The auction house erupted into chaos as Hatchan's identity as a Fish-Man was revealed. A wave of panic swept over the crowd. Spotting Hatchan, Charlos drew his pistol and fired, but Raja intervened just in time, raising a magical barrier to deflect the bullet. Seething with rage, Luffy strode over to Charlos and, with a powerful punch, struck him squarely in the face. The impact resonated through the auction house, leaving the crowd in shock.

In the aftermath, guards rushed forward to subdue the Straw Hats, but Zoro wasted no time, slicing Camie's fishbowl in half to set her free. More allies entered the fray, with Brook, Robin, and the Fish-Riders fighting alongside them. Suddenly, the back wall shattered, and a familiar figure stepped through the dust: Rayleigh, the legendary first mate of the Pirate King. In one smooth motion, he removed Camie's explosive collar and sent a wave of spirit across the room, incapacitating the guards.

Luffy and Rayleigh locked eyes, an unspoken recognition passing between them. Before long, however, news of Luffy's defiance had already spread. On Sabaody, the word of his attack on a World Noble sent a shockwave through the island. The other Supernovas, aware of the inevitable response, began to move. Somewhere in Marineford, Fleet Admiral Sengoku ordered Admiral Kizaru to take action, his orders echoing with a sense of inevitability.

Elsewhere, Disco, the manager of the Human Auctioning House, contacted his boss, Donquixote Doflamingo. However, Doflamingo, always focused on larger plans, showed little interest in the incident. He was preoccupied with the Whitebeard Pirates' movements, seeing a much bigger threat on the horizon.

Back at the auction house, the situation escalated. As Marines poured in, a powerful trio of pirates emerged: Luffy, Kid, and Law. The three Supernovas teamed up in a rare alliance, each wielding their Devil Fruit powers with lethal skill. Luffy activated Gear 3, while Law deployed his signature "Room" ability, severing limbs with surgical precision. Kid manipulated the metal around him, creating a formidable force field of destruction.

The Marines, stunned by the sudden onslaught, sent reinforcements. Kid gave a smirk to Luffy, "We'll meet again in the New World," he said before leaving the battlefield. Law, meanwhile, took advantage of the chaos to free Jean Bart, a former slave, before retreating with his crew.

With Camie, Hatchan, and Pappag now freed, the Straw Hats fought their way out of the auction house. Franky and Rayleigh led the escape, while Nami unleashed a Thunderbolt Tempo to cover their retreat. Robin swooped in to save Duval from a hail of gunfire, and together, they fought their way back to the Mighty Merry.

But just as they neared the exit, a towering figure appeared, blocking their path. Bartholomew Kuma, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, stood before them, preparing for what seemed like an inevitable confrontation.

At the auction house, the Heart Pirates clashed with Marines while attempting to make their own escape. They soon encountered the Kid Pirates, who, despite their previous skirmishes with Kuma, were now struggling with injuries. Reluctantly, the two pirate crews joined forces against a Pacifista, a massive, powerful cyborg built to crush even the strongest of foes.

On the Mighty Merry, the Rosy Life Riders and the Straw Hats finished off the last of Peterman's forces, successfully freeing Camie. As a gesture of gratitude, the Riders returned her belongings and pledged their support, vowing to help the Straw Hats until they safely left Sabaody. Together, the crew made their way to Shakky's bar.

Inside Shakky's bar, the Straw Hats listened intently as Rayleigh shared his past. He revealed that he had once sailed with the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, as his first mate. The tale of Roger's final days hung in the air, each word painting a picture of the legend that had set them all on their paths. He explained how Roger, having contracted an incurable disease, willingly surrendered himself to the Marines. In his final days, he inspired a generation of pirates to chase their dreams.

Rayleigh's expression softened as he shared a personal moment, recalling a meeting with Shanks a decade earlier. "Shanks told me about a boy who said the same things Roger once did," Rayleigh said with a smile, his gaze shifting to Luffy.

Their conversation was cut short as news of Kizaru's arrival reached them. At Grove 27, the glint of a cannonball shot across the sky, and as it landed in the harbor, the silhouette of Admiral Kizaru emerged, awaiting his orders with a calm demeanor.

Turning back to Luffy, Rayleigh extended a hand. "You've come far, Luffy. I'll coat your ship myself, for free." He glanced over at Robin, who had questions about the Void Century and the Poneglyphs. Rayleigh confirmed that Roger's crew had uncovered the truth, yet he encouraged her to continue her journey independently. "Roger may have heard the voice of all things," he said, "but there are mysteries that still remain for you to uncover."

Usopp, hesitant but curious, asked about the One Piece. But before Rayleigh could answer, Luffy interrupted, insisting that he didn't want any spoilers. "The treasure's mystery is part of the adventure," he declared. "If anyone asks again, I'm done being a pirate!" Startled by his intensity, Usopp quickly apologized.

Rayleigh nodded in understanding. Then, he asked Luffy if he truly believed he could conquer the Grand Line. Luffy's answer was simple: "I don't want to conquer anything. I just want the freedom to be Pirate King." Rayleigh smiled, but as he listened, another voice joined the conversation—Raja's. "Conquering the Grand Line, keeping the balance, and ensuring Luffy's freedom is my job as his vice-captain."

The room fell silent. Rayleigh's eyes widened in recognition of the weight of Raja's words.

With a plan in place, Rayleigh offered to coat the Mighty Merry, but the process would take three days. Shakky handed each crew member a Vivre Card to ensure they could reunite. As the Straw Hats prepared to leave, they bid farewell to Hatchan, Camie, Pappag, and Shakky. Luffy suggested hiding out in a theme park while they waited, though the others dismissed the idea—except for Chopper and Brook, who found it highly appealing.

With hearts pounding and anticipation thick in the air, the Straw Hats scattered into the groves, bracing themselves for the storm they knew was coming.