One Piece: The Archangel's Guide

Chapter 310: Dragon and Rayleigh

The rumor that the Holy Land Mary Geoise had been destroyed by pirates spread like wildfire.

Even though it never appeared in the World Economic News, it still caused a massive stir across the seas. World Government affiliated nations scrambled to contact Mary Geoise to confirm the truth. Many kingdoms, already on the brink of ruin from paying the Heavenly Tribute, began to seriously consider withdrawing from the World Government.

In the underworld, ambitious players celebrated, raising troops and preparing to make their move.

Just as the chaos was about to reach its peak and ignite the world... the situation took a 180-degree turn.

The restless kingdoms fell silent overnight. Civilians, who had been terrified of the impending chaos, received royal decrees: "Discussion of this matter is forbidden. Violators will be executed!!"

And just like that, the news vanished.

A few days later, horrifying reports emerged from several kingdoms in the Four Blues that had declared their independence. Pirates had descended upon them, slaughtering their entire populations, looting their treasuries, and leaving the kingdoms in ruins.

The World Government made a rare public statement, expressing "sympathy" for the kingdoms. They noted that, as they were no longer affiliated nations, the Marines had no obligation to respond to their requests for aid. They pointedly stated that the atrocities were the work of vicious pirates who had heard the kingdoms had left the World Government's protection.

After that, any kingdom still wavering on the edge immediately abandoned all thoughts of secession.

The very next day, the World Government announced that, to deal with the "growing pirate threat," the Heavenly Tribute would be increased: by 30% for "wealthy" nations, and 10% for "poor" nations. They also released the list defining "wealthy" and "poor," and strongly implied that wealthy nations would receive much better protection.

The member nations all agreed. Many kingdoms on the "poor" list even volunteered to pay the "wealthy" rate.

A short time later, a new series of headlines hit the papers.

[Five Elder Saint Jaygarcia Saturn has died of old age. Saint Figarland Shamrock has been appointed as his successor.]

[Marine Admiral Borsalino, by unanimous recommendation of the Navy, has been appointed as the new Fleet Admiral. On his first day, Fleet Admiral Borsalino swore to the world that he would eradicate the pirate menace. At the same time, he has initiated a World Military Draft! Those of great strength who join, after passing inspection, may be promoted directly to the vacant Admiral positions! Unconfirmed reports suggest that even those who have "strayed from the path" may be ablea to join the Marines, in the name of Justice.]

[A major incident has occurred at Sabaody Archipelago, the future site of Marine Headquarters! The Supernovas were overwhelmed by Marine officers and new 'Sheriff' model cyborgs. Just as they were about to be defeated, two mysterious figures appeared, repelled the Marines, and allowed all ten Supernovas to escape.]

On the deck of the Thousand Sunny, somewhere in the world.

Clack.

Rayleigh adjusted his glasses as he finished reading the paper. He looked up at the calm sea. "Figarland Shamrock, hmm?" A knowing, mocking smile played on his lips. "He really ought to thank Louis. If it weren't for him, that seat on the Five Elders never would have opened up... Don't you agree, Garp's son?"

He turned to the man in the green cloak sitting next to him.

Monkey D. Dragon looked up from his own paper, a faint smile on his tattooed face. "You're right. Under normal circumstances, no matter how strong he or Garling were, they would have died in the post of God's Knight Commander."

Rayleigh's smile widened. "You've become quite the big shot yourself. I remember when you were born, Garp was chasing us all over the sea, bragging about you. The first time we met, you were just a little kid trailing after his coattails. Decades pass in the blink of an eye. I never thought you'd be the one to raise the flag of rebellion."

He took a swig of rum. "Back then, Roger and all of us... we thought for sure you'd become an Admiral."

At this, Dragon's expression darkened. "There is no justice in the Marines. I had no reason to stay."

"Is that so?" Rayleigh took another drink. "Looks like you found out about the big secret, too."

Dragon simply nodded, saying nothing.

Just then, Shakky, wearing a spider-web-patterned shirt, emerged from the cabin, followed by a procession of what looked like mummies. The "Weakling Trio" looked on nervously. They had seen the monstrous power these two wielded yesterday.

Luffy, however, stumbled out onto the deck, plopped down, and yelled, "SANJI! I'M STARVING!"

"Coming right up!!" a voice yelled from the kitchen.

Luffy sighed in relief, then finally seemed to notice the two men sitting nearby. "Oh! It's you guys! Thanks so much for yesterday! I really thought we were gonna die!"

Dragon turned, looking at the boy's bright, sunny face. His heart ached with a strange, profound sense of guilt.

Rayleigh swirled his rum, his eyes on Luffy's straw hat. "As a pirate veteran, I couldn't just stand by and watch a rookie's journey end like that, could I?"

"Eh? You're a pirate too, old man?" Luffy's eyes sparkled.

"I was. I retired 20 years ago."

"Still, that's so cool!"

Robin emerged from the cabin, her gaze locking on Rayleigh. "You're... 'Dark King' Rayleigh, Roger's right-hand man, aren't you?"

"What?!" Luffy's jaw dropped. "Roger... the Pirate King?! Old man, you were on his crew?!"

"Ah... yes," Rayleigh nodded, not bothering to hide it.

The entire crew froze. Even Zoro, in the crow's nest, looked down.

"A crewmate of the Pirate King... hiding out on Sabaody?" Sanji said, setting down plates.

Brook, the skeleton, tilted his head. "Roger? I think I remember hearing about a rookie with that name back in the day..."

This made even Dragon and Shakky pause and look at the skeleton.

Rayleigh, however, just looked intrigued. "A living skeleton. A Devil Fruit user?"

"Yohohohoho!" Brook tipped his hat, then his own skull. "I ate the Revive-Revive Fruit! I came back to life, but my soul got lost for a year, and by the time I found my body, only my bones were left!"

"Brook..." Rayleigh's expression changed. The tall skeleton, the afro that hadn't decayed, the cane-sword... It clicked. "Do you... by any chance... know Crocus, from the Twin Capes?"

Brook's jaw dropped. He nodded slowly.

"Crocus," Rayleigh explained, "joined our crew for a short time, looking for a certain group of pirates. One of them... was a musician named Brook, who had a big afro."

Brook's empty sockets filled with tears.

Luffy, meanwhile, had sat down next to Dragon. "So, Ossan, are you one of Roger's crew, too? Why do I feel like... you're kinda weird? And what's with that slipper-print on your face?"

"Slipper... print...?" Dragon's face twitched. He composed himself and looked his son in the eye. "My name is Monkey D. Dragon. I'm a Revolutionary."

"A revolutionary? What's that?" Luffy asked, mouth full.

Dragon knew, in that moment, that his father had never told his son about him.

Luffy, oblivious, didn't notice his crew's shocked expressions.

"Monkey D. Dragon... the Revolutionary?!"

"No way! That's the guy who saved us?!"

Shakky, leaning on the rail, blew out a cloud of smoke. "By the way, Dragon. What were you doing on Sabaody?"

Dragon looked at the crew. "I... went to Marine Headquarters to secretly check on my old man. On my way back, I heard the Marines had cornered the Supernovas. The rest, you know."

"..."

"The Commander-in-Chief of the Revolutionary Army... snuck into Marineford... to visit Garp?" Shakky raised an eyebrow. "You've got guts."

"Wait... Garp?!" The Straw Hats were stunned. "The Revolutionary leader... is Marine Hero Garp's... SON?!"

They all looked at Rayleigh, who just smiled and nodded.

"It's really true?!" Nami felt like the world was tilting. "The Marine Hero's son... is the most wanted criminal in the world! This is too ridiculous!"

"Garp?" Luffy said, mouth full. "That's my grandpa's name. He's a Marine, too. But... I never heard him say he had a son."

Everyone stared, their gazes flickering between Luffy and Dragon.

Dragon looked at his son and nodded calmly. "That's right. Luffy is my son."

"..."

"WHAAAAAAAAAAT?!"

The entire crew screamed, nearly capsizing the ship.

"Luffy... is Dragon's son... and Garp's grandson?!" Nami clutched her head, her world-view shattering.

"Eh?" Luffy pointed at himself, then at Dragon. "You're... my dad?"

"Mm. Yes," Dragon said. "Don't mention it to others. The old man has... a lot of enemies in the New World."

"Oh. Okay!" Luffy replied, surprisingly calm. He studied his father for a moment, then went back to eating.

Dragon looked at him. "In Loguetown... when you defeated Smoker and were surrounded... I was there. I saw you off."

"You were? Was that... was that the weird wind?"

"Yes."

After a long pause, Dragon looked at the crew. "You're strong, but you're not ready for the New World. At your current level, you have only two choices: be crushed, or bow to one of the Four Emperors."

"If you're willing... I can ask a friend of mine to take you somewhere... to train."

At that same moment, a massive, island-sized shadow emerged from the sea. A giant, pink dragon (Momonosuke) coiled through the clouds, flying straight for the colossal tree that touched the sky.

Towing it on a platform of Flame Clouds... was an entire island (Zou).

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