"Ye Chen, are we going straight back?" Lisa sat atop Osiris's head, her expression somewhat uneasy as she looked cautiously at Ye Chen.
If it hadn't been for their mistake, Lord Ye Chen wouldn't have had to come in person—and almost got threatened. The thought weighed heavily on her and the others.
"Lord Ye Chen," Lisa called out anxiously when Ye Chen remained silent, worried that he was angry.
Ye Chen turned to her, puzzled. "What is it?"
"I... Lord Ye Chen, it's our fault things went wrong. We're truly sorry."
Only then did Ye Chen realize—they thought he was mad at them.
"Am I really that scary?" Ye Chen rubbed his chin, thinking to himself.
"It's fine. As long as you're all safe, that's what matters," he said with a smile. After a pause, he asked, "By the way, is your pirate ship still around?"
Seeing that Ye Chen wasn't blaming them, Lisa and the others let out a breath of relief.
"It's still docked at the port. Are we heading back now?" Lisa asked.
"I'm sending you somewhere first. Stay there for now," Ye Chen said with a grin.
...
Sabaody Archipelago, somewhere within its zones.
Suddenly, a massive red dragon soared across the sky before coming to a stop near the outskirts of the archipelago.
Osiris hovered down and landed. Ye Chen and Lisa's group dismounted and followed Ye Chen's lead to a bar nearby.
"Where is this, Lord Ye Chen?" Lisa asked.
"This?" Ye Chen smiled. "It's somewhere safe—temporarily."
Truthfully, even Ye Chen wasn't fully confident. He wasn't sure if the person inside would agree to help. But sometimes you just have to try.
If it didn't work out, he could always have Osiris take them elsewhere.
Taking a deep breath, Ye Chen pushed the door open and stepped inside.
"Welcome."
Standing before him was a woman with black hair, dressed in a spider-themed outfit, holding a slim ladies' cigarette.
It was Shakuyaku, known as Aunt Shakky—a former pirate and wife of Rayleigh the Dark King.
"You look familiar, kid. I feel like I've seen you somewhere before," Aunt Shakky narrowed her eyes slightly but kept her composure.
"Hello, Aunt Shakky. I'd like to see Uncle Rayleigh," Ye Chen said with a polite smile, getting straight to the point.
"Who is this person...?"
The Kuja warriors behind Ye Chen were shocked.
In their minds, Ye Chen feared no one—not even the World Government. And yet here he was, in this small bar, politely calling someone "Aunt Shakky."
Just what kind of person was this woman?
"Oh? You know Rayleigh?" Aunt Shakky glanced at Ye Chen, then turned to the back room and called, "Rayleigh, someone's here to see you."
"Who is it? That Red-Haired brat again?"
With that, a plain-dressed, white-haired old man with a white beard walked out from the back.
"You know me?" Rayleigh looked at Ye Chen with mild curiosity.
"Who doesn't know the legendary Rayleigh the Dark King?" Ye Chen chuckled.
...
"Rayleigh the Dark King!!!!!!!"
Lisa and the others were utterly dumbfounded, staring at Rayleigh in disbelief.
They never expected the famous vice-captain of the Pirate King's crew to be here—in such an ordinary little bar.
Rayleigh's eyes narrowed slightly as he gave Ye Chen a long, searching look.
"Alright then. Tell me what you're here for."
Ye Chen took a deep breath. "I'd like to ask you a favor, Uncle Rayleigh."
"What kind of favor?"
"Please protect them," Ye Chen said, motioning to Lisa and the others behind him.
"From Amazon Lily, huh?" Rayleigh asked, eyeing the group.
Ye Chen nodded.
"I'm curious," Rayleigh said. "With your strength, you should be able to protect them. Why entrust them to me—a stranger? Aren't you worried I might harm them?"
"My whereabouts have already been exposed. Marines are on their way, and once the fighting starts, I won't be able to protect them." Ye Chen explained calmly. "As for why you—because I trust you."
"Trusting a stranger? That's... interesting. Very interesting," Rayleigh said, gazing at Ye Chen thoughtfully.
"Well then—"
"I'll do it," Rayleigh nodded. "I'll protect them until you come back and take them yourself."
"Thank you. I owe you one," Ye Chen said solemnly.
"A favor, huh..." Rayleigh murmured to himself.
"You all stay here for now. I'll come get you later," Ye Chen said before turning to leave.
...
"You actually agreed? That's not like you," Aunt Shakky said with a glance at Rayleigh.
"Just lending a hand," Rayleigh replied with a smile.
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。