Chapter 27: I Congratulate You on Getting Rich

Knocking over the bamboo rack, second floor.

“So, you’ve become the god of the Sky Island?”

Rayleigh was bewildered; two years ago, Seven had appeared briefly, then vanished again—he’d assumed the kid had fallen into the World Government’s hands.

He never imagined he’d gone to the Sky Island, subdued its people and the Shandians, and crowned himself god in one fell swoop.

“These coins are from the great golden pillar on Gold Town, right? That golden pillar over ten meters in diameter and more than sixty meters tall?”

“Seven, I congratulate you on becoming rich!”

Ignoring Rayleigh’s starry-eyed, envious, and bitter expression, Seven turned to Xia Qi, who stood gaping.

“Auntie Xia, you’ve worked hard.”

After a long pause, Xia Qi nodded: “Kid, now that this deal’s done, I can rest for at least half a year.”

After settling the commission and transaction details, Xia Qi stepped aside and used a Den Den Mushi to contact a buyer.

Seeing this, Rayleigh quickly lowered his voice.

“Seven, lend me some Beli later—I still have gambling debts unpaid.”

“No problem, but—”

Seven grinned: “Uncle, I’m just about to build a ship to sail the seas. How about this—I give you all these gold coins.”

Rayleigh’s face tightened instantly.

Then Seven continued: “All you have to do is tell me where the Golden Jacks is anchored.”

“What do you say?”

Two years ago, Seven would never have dared sail openly on the Golden Jacks—it would have drawn immediate attention from the Marines and the World Government.

What are you trying to do??

The Marines just executed the Pirate King, and now you’re sailing off in the Pirate King’s ship—what exactly are you planning?

Now? I don’t give a damn.

Rayleigh stared at Seven for a long, long time, then sighed.

“Better not, Seven.”

“You know the saying—tall trees catch the wind. If the Golden Jacks reappears on the sea, the Marines and World Government will definitely launch a Holy War.”

“Besides, that ship’s too big for you to sail alone!”

Seven didn’t press further; if he learned the Golden Jacks’ location, he’d take it. If Rayleigh, the first mate, refused to say, he’d ask again later.

After all, the Morning Star Pirates currently had only a captain and a first mate—crew members were indeed scarce.

“Is two hundred million Beli enough?”

Hearing this, Rayleigh was so delighted he instinctively reached to pat Seven’s shoulder—then froze, embarrassed, realizing he couldn’t reach.

Rayleigh’s 1.88-meter height made him look like a child next to Seven’s 2.6-meter frame.

“You… grew taller.”

Seven flipped the script, patting Rayleigh’s shoulder: “I’m only seventeen—I’ll keep growing. This year, I might even hit three meters.”

With that, Seven crouched slightly: “Here, Uncle Rayleigh—last chance.”

Having successfully patted Seven’s shoulder, Rayleigh smiled warmly: “You little rascal, you’ve changed. Want to find a spot and spar a bit?”

So what if you’re tall?

There are plenty of dumb giants in the New World.

Today, I’ll make sure you know—even if you’re taller, Uncle Rayleigh will always be your uncle.

“Sure,” Seven grinned brightly.

“I remember there’s an unnamed island east of Sabaody Archipelago. Let’s go there and spar?”

If Rayleigh and Seven sparred on Sabaody Archipelago, they’d inevitably draw attention from the Marines and World Government.

Seven didn’t care—he didn’t live there—but for Rayleigh’s retirement, the island was clearly the best choice.

“An island? No need.”

“Three hundred million Beli,” Seven held up three fingers.

Rayleigh casually grabbed a double-edged sword—partly to settle his gambling debt, partly because he was itching to teach the brat on board a lesson.

You correct children early.

As soon as they stepped out of the bar, Seven grabbed Rayleigh like a chick and shot straight up into the sky, racing toward the island at top speed.

Mid-air, Rayleigh sighed helplessly: “Seven, I could’ve swum there.”

Explanation was his last stubbornness.

After flying for a while, Rayleigh finally realized: “This isn’t elementization?”

Seven smiled but said nothing.

Of course not elementization—with the flight cloak, every bit of energy saved counts.

After all, at this point, Rayleigh was only fifty-six—still young, still at the tail end of his peak, a top-tier swordsman with all three Haki types—a worthy opponent.

…

East of Sabaody Archipelago, an unnamed desert island.

Silvers Rayleigh, double-edged sword in hand, was about to speak when he saw Seven raise one hand before him and pull a purple-glowing tachi from thin air.

Rayleigh frowned: “This sword… even Observation Haki can’t get near it?”

“Uncle, watch out.”

The moment he spoke, Seven lunged forward at blinding speed, wielding his sword Dream One, leaving afterimages behind him.

Rayleigh raised his double-edged sword, coated in Armament Haki, and blocked effortlessly.

It looked easy—but the sheer force from the purple tachi numbed his arms.

“Your strength… is incredible.”

CLANG~ CLANG~ CLANG~

In an instant, Rayleigh blocked three strikes, each more shocking than the last, triggering a memory of something Seven once said aboard the ship.

Brute force creates miracles.

Both men leaped back, using the recoil. Rayleigh shook his numb arm: “Brute force really does create miracles, kid. Uncle’s going serious now.”

After coating his blade with Armament Haki, Rayleigh wrapped his wrists in crimson-black energy—soon spreading over the blade: Conqueror’s Haki Coating.

It might seem unfair, but Seven’s unreasonable strength… was truly unbearable.

Rayleigh wanted to ask: What the hell have you been eating these past two years? How did your strength explode like this? Growth is one thing—but strength like this?!

Then, the next second.

When Rayleigh saw the purple tachi in Seven’s hand now fully wrapped in crimson-black Conqueror’s Haki—from hilt to blade—he nearly dropped his jaw. His once-sharp, calm eyes widened impossibly.

“You’re a monster!”

Seventeen years old. Conqueror’s Haki Coating.

Even Roger himself hadn’t reached this level at Seven’s age.

Back when they sailed together on Roger’s ship, Rayleigh knew Seven had awakened Conqueror’s Haki—but he never imagined it would be this powerful.

It even subtly surpassed his own!

Rayleigh tore off his cloak, his battle aura surging. He gripped his double-edged sword tightly and launched a fierce assault.

The two blades, both wrapped in Conqueror’s Haki, clashed head-on. Though inches apart, an invisible force locked them in place, preventing any further movement.

Visible crimson-black ripples spread outward.

Where they passed, exposed rocks shattered into dust. Cracks spiderwebbed from the point of impact, spreading across the ground, deep beyond sight.

Radiant energy flared wildly around the swords, like a neutron star on the verge of explosion.

The sky darkened instantly; the once-clear heavens were torn apart by crimson-black Haki.

The pressure of the Conqueror’s Haki clash enveloped the entire island, halting even the sea breeze—only those two earth-shaking auras echoed through heaven and earth.

Birds, lizards, and other animals on the island, news birds flying overhead, even fish in the waters nearby—all were stunned unconscious.

Sea Kings were no exception.

Facing Rayleigh’s increasingly rapid attacks, Seven still didn’t use Observation Kill.

It’s just sparring—not a fight to the death.

Besides, ultimate techniques are for enemies.

During the hours of sparring with First Mate Rayleigh, Seven’s mind accumulated experience from Wu Xiang Yi Xin—and the fusion progress finally broke past the 25% threshold.

26%

All Seven could think of was releasing the sword momentum gathered in his body—using Dream One to unleash the Wu Xiang Slash.

Leaping backward into the air, Seven took a deep breath.

“Uncle Rayleigh, this move has a name.”

For hours of fighting, neither had named a single technique—following Mi Sang’s logic: if I don’t name it, it’s just a basic attack.

“Attack, Seven!”