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12.04% One Piece: Starting by Refusing Shanks / Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Loguetown - When Aokiji Met Rayleigh

章節 43: Chapter 43: Loguetown - When Aokiji Met Rayleigh

"Hey, did you hear? Some old guy just bailed out that failing underground casino on West Street."

"What? Are you kidding me? That place was on its last legs—no way anyone could save it."

"I'm serious! The old man's got deep pockets. He bet big every time, but only won his first round. After that, he kept losing, over and over, like the casino was rigged."

"Yeah, I heard that too. The old guy's something else—kept losing and just wouldn't stop. He's down over a million Berries now. Talk about stubborn! A million Berries would keep a family of three comfortable for years!"

As Takumi made his way back to the tavern, he overheard bits of conversation on the street.

He didn't need to ask—he knew they were talking about Rayleigh.

Whether or not Rayleigh single-handedly revived a dying casino, Takumi couldn't say. But losing a fortune? That was classic Rayleigh.

At least Rayleigh had the sense to give most of his money to the tavern keeper before heading out. Otherwise, he'd probably be flat broke by now.

As Takumi continued on his way, he turned a corner into a narrow alley and, wouldn't you know it, there was Rayleigh, strolling along with a big grin on his face.

"Hey, Takumi!" Rayleigh called out with a friendly wave.

Takumi nodded back, his face impassive.

Rayleigh chuckled. "Well, today wasn't my lucky day. I ended up placing a bet while watching someone else, even though I was out of money. And wouldn't you know it? The result was exactly what I predicted. If only I had some cash, I'd have made it all back! What a shame. So, how about it? Got any spare Berries to lend an old man?"

Takumi sighed inwardly. Seriously? You've fallen so far that you're asking to borrow money?

You're the Dark King Rayleigh, for crying out loud...

"No," Takumi said flatly.

"Really? Not even a little?" Rayleigh asked, sounding disappointed. "Come on, I'll pay you back with interest. How does ten percent sound?"

"No deal," Takumi said with a slight smirk. "But I'll tell you what—I'll lend you the money if you forget about that drink you said I owe you."

Rayleigh stared at Takumi for a moment, then burst out laughing. "Ha! I can't believe you'd go that far to get out of buying me a drink. Fine, fine, I'll pass on the loan."

Takumi just shook his head. So, in the end, drinking is more important to you than gambling or money, huh?

He couldn't understand why Rayleigh was so insistent about that drink.

Honestly, if it were up to Takumi, he'd choose a bottle of good booze over a hundred thousand Berries any day.

"Alright, enough about that. Let's head back to the tavern and keep the drinks flowing!" Rayleigh clapped Takumi on the back, intending to steer him forward.

But just as his hand was about to make contact, Takumi took a quick step forward, leaving Rayleigh's hand hanging in the air.

It might have seemed like a coincidence, but Rayleigh knew better. Takumi had done that on purpose.

Rayleigh withdrew his hand, a thoughtful look on his face. "You really don't like people touching you, huh?"

"I don't like people bothering me either. Can you keep it down?" Takumi muttered.

Rayleigh laughed again, louder this time. "You're a real piece of work, kid."

Takumi didn't bother replying, just picked up his pace and headed straight for the tavern.

Rayleigh followed him, still chuckling.

When they arrived at the tavern, they found Bartolomeo sitting on the stone steps outside.

The moment Bartolomeo saw Takumi, he sprang to his feet, grinning widely. "Hey! I asked the tavern keeper—you're Takumi, right? I'm Bartolomeo. Wanna be friends?"

Takumi didn't even blink.

"Oh? Making friends, are we?" Rayleigh said with a knowing smile.

Bartolomeo's excitement was palpable. "Takumi, you're amazing! You're even younger than me, and yet... Man, I really wanna be friends with you! Please, what do you say?"

"No," Takumi replied without hesitation, walking past him and into the tavern.

Bartolomeo froze, his face contorting with disappointment. "Oh no... he hates me..."

As Rayleigh walked by, he patted Bartolomeo on the shoulder. "A real friend can handle a little rejection. If you can't take that, you should give up now. Takumi's not someone you can win over easily."

With that, Rayleigh followed Takumi into the tavern.

Bartolomeo watched them go, the gears turning in his head. The dejection he felt moments ago was quickly replaced with renewed determination.

Clenching his fist, Bartolomeo muttered, "Yeah! If I can't even handle this, then I don't deserve to be Takumi's friend. Just wait, Takumi—I'll prove myself to you!"

Takumi, having overheard Rayleigh's words to Bartolomeo, rolled his eyes as he entered the tavern.

The tavern keeper, noticing their return, quickly brought over some drinks.

Takumi took a swig, then sighed. "Why'd you have to fill his head with all that nonsense?"

Rayleigh chuckled. "Better to make a friend than an enemy, right? That green-haired kid looks like a punk, but he's got a good heart. Maybe he can't do much for you now, but who knows? Someday he might be a real asset."

Takumi snorted. "Yeah, right. I don't need it."

He knew better than anyone what Bartolomeo's future held.

Bartolomeo was better off idolizing Luffy than hanging around him.

"Just drop it," Takumi said flatly, taking another drink.

Rayleigh just smiled, saying nothing more.

The tavern keeper chuckled as he wiped down a glass. "You're something else, Takumi, talking to Rayleigh like that. Even if you're not the first to do it, you've definitely gotta be the youngest."

"No harm done," Rayleigh said with a wave of his hand. "The kid's not wrong—I was meddling. It's all good."

As Rayleigh laughed and took another drink, the door to the tavern suddenly creaked open, letting in a cold draft.

The tavern keeper barely had time to react before the lock on the door shattered with a loud crack.

A tall figure stepped inside, descending the stone steps toward the tavern floor.

The tavern keeper's breath caught in his throat.

Aokiji ducked slightly to peer into the dimly lit tavern. When he saw who was sitting with Takumi, his eyes widened in surprise.

"Well, well, if it isn't the Dark King Rayleigh. What brings you to Loguetown? Here for Roger's anniversary?" Aokiji pushed the door open and strolled inside.

The tavern keeper paled, terrified.

Rayleigh, however, didn't seem the least bit concerned. He took another sip of his drink and smirked. "I've been retired for a while now, but you Marines just can't seem to let go."

"Retired or not, you're still a pirate as long as that bounty's on your head," Aokiji said as he sat down on the other side of Takumi. He raised a hand to the tavern keeper. "Hey, could I get a glass of sherry, please?"

********

Support me on Ko-fi at ko-fi.com/gered to read up to chapter 90!


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章節 44: Chapter 44: Loguetown - Seeing Isn’t Always Believing

Neither Takumi nor Rayleigh seemed at all surprised by Aokiji's sudden arrival.

The tavern keeper, however, wasn't nearly as composed. The moment he heard Aokiji was a Marine, his face drained of color.

So when Aokiji asked for sherry, the poor man didn't even register it. His mind was racing, trying to figure out what to do. He couldn't bear the thought of Rayleigh being taken away.

Seeing the tavern keeper frozen in place, Aokiji repeated himself, "Hey, can you hear me? I asked for a glass of sherry, please."

"Ah!" The tavern keeper snapped back to reality, his face twisting in irritation. "I don't have any sherry for you! If you want a drink, try somewhere else in town!"

"Oh, I see. No sherry, huh?" Aokiji scratched his head and shifted his gaze to the rum Takumi was drinking. "In that case, I'll have what the kid's having."

The tavern keeper clenched his fists, clearly angered. "I already told you, I'm not serving you anything! This place was reserved by Mr. Rayleigh and the boy here from noon onward. Every drop of alcohol in this tavern belongs to them, and I'm not selling you a single drop. Got it? Now get out!"

"There's no need to get upset." Aokiji sighed. "I just wanted a drink. If the place is reserved, then so be it."

"Get him a bottle," Rayleigh said casually, not the least bit concerned.

The tavern keeper was incredulous. "Mr. Rayleigh, he's a Marine—he's here to arrest you! Why would you offer him a drink?"

Rayleigh waved it off. "No worries. Even if he wanted to arrest me, I doubt he could. Ha!"

"This..." The tavern keeper was caught between a rock and a hard place.

Aokiji chimed in, "Relax, I'm not here to arrest Rayleigh. Though, I'll admit I'm a bit surprised to find him here."

Actually, he was even more surprised to find Takumi hanging out with Rayleigh.

Resigned, the tavern keeper shook his head and grabbed a bottle from the shelf, setting it down in front of Aokiji.

Aokiji uncorked it, took a swig, and then looked over at Takumi. "Well, well, I didn't expect you to be rubbing shoulders with the Dark King himself. Maybe Smoker's worries aren't so far-fetched after all."

Smoker's concern was that Takumi, after turning down the Marines, might end up becoming a pirate.

Takumi rolled his eyes. "Don't worry, that's not happening."

"People are the most unpredictable creatures," Aokiji said, taking another sip. "You can't be sure of your future self's choices, no matter how certain you feel now. The future is full of unknowns."

Takumi understood that logic, sure.

But so what?

His system—The Traveler's System—already limited his choices, but even without it, his nature wouldn't allow him to join any side.

Some things never change.

Takumi smirked. "I know what I'm doing. Whether it's the Marines or the pirates, I'm not interested. Not now, not ever. Believe it or don't—it's not my problem."

Aokiji chuckled and asked, "You really won't consider joining the Marines?"

"Not a chance."

The moment Takumi finished speaking, he heard the familiar chime of the system in his mind.

[Ding! By refusing Marine Admiral Aokiji's invitation, your sign-in progress has increased by 10%. Current total progress: 60%. Reward: Armament Haki Level +1. Current Armament Haki Level: 5.]

Takumi could instantly feel his strength surge.

The increase in Armament Haki didn't cause any noticeable changes to those around him, so Aokiji and Rayleigh had no idea he'd just gotten stronger.

Interesting.

Takumi couldn't help but chuckle.

When he'd met with Shanks and Garp, it took several invitations before his progress ticked up. But here, with Aokiji's seemingly casual question, the system registered it immediately.

Just goes to show, appearances can be deceiving.

"Well, that's that then," Aokiji said with a shrug. Unlike Garp, who would have pressed the issue endlessly, Aokiji wasn't one to insist. If Takumi wasn't interested, that was the end of it.

Taking another drink, Aokiji added, "Just because I'm not arresting you now doesn't mean I won't later. I promised Smoker I'd help him on Roger's anniversary. So if you two start acting up, I won't hesitate to take you down."

Rayleigh laughed heartily. "Don't worry, I'm just here to pay my respects to Roger. Once that's done, I'll be on my way. I'm not looking to cause any trouble—unless I don't have a choice, that is."

"Let's hope it stays that way." Aokiji downed the last of his drink and got up to leave.

"You sure you don't want to stay for a few more?" Rayleigh asked with a grin.

Aokiji waved him off. "No thanks, I've got to call Garp back."

Takumi sighed inwardly.

Of course. This was Garp's doing...

Even when he's not here, that crafty old fox finds a way to meddle.

After leaving the tavern, Aokiji pulled out his Transponder Snail and made the call.

On the other end, Garp's voice crackled with urgency, "So? Did the kid say yes?"

Aokiji scratched the back of his head, chuckling. "He turned me down."

"Damn," Garp muttered. "Well, I figured as much. Let him be, then."

Aokiji added, "By the way, when I was at the tavern, I ran into Rayleigh."

"What? Who'd you say?"

"Dark King Rayleigh."

"What the hell's he doing in Loguetown?" Garp paused, then continued, "Wait a minute—what's he doing with Takumi?"

"No idea. They seem to be drinking buddies." Aokiji scratched his head. "Rayleigh says he's retired, and Takumi's made it clear he's not joining either side. So, them having a drink together isn't that strange, really."

Garp fell silent for a moment, then burst out laughing. "Haha! You're right. As long as the kid doesn't become a pirate, I'm fine with it... Hey! Luffy, get back here! What? You want to be a pirate? You little brat, you and Ace are becoming Marines, no two ways about it!"

Aokiji heard a series of punches and Luffy's yelps before the line went dead.

Tucking the Transponder Snail back into his coat, Aokiji yawned and lazily made his way toward the Marine base in Loguetown.

Back inside the tavern.

Once Aokiji had left, the tavern keeper finally exhaled in relief. "Seems like that Marine, Aokiji, isn't so bad. He's way better than Smoker. And he knows you, Mr. Rayleigh—he must be pretty high up in the ranks. A Vice Admiral, maybe?"

Rayleigh took a sip, his tone nonchalant. "No, he's an Admiral."

The tavern keeper blinked, then gasped in shock. "What? An Admiral? Him?"

Rayleigh smiled. "Yep. But that's not what should surprise you."

The tavern keeper was puzzled. "What could be more shocking than an Admiral showing up in Loguetown?"

Rayleigh glanced at Takumi, who was quietly drinking, and smiled. "Isn't it more surprising that the laziest Admiral in the Navy came here personally to recruit Takumi?"

********

Support me on Ko-fi at ko-fi.com/gered to read up to chapter 90!


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