Chapter Sixty-Four: Another One!

Time always slips away unnoticed. After the Straw Hat crew boarded their new ship and set off on a fresh journey, Kamio contacted the Grizzly Pirates, carefully outlining the route Luffy had taken. It seemed the Straw Hats were once again destined for hardship. Kamio only instructed them to treat the ladies and gentlemen differently; as for those indestructible little tough guys, as long as they weren’t killed, they could be played with however the Grizzly crew pleased—a thorough “training” session awaited them.

Kamio’s main intention was to prevent the Straw Hat crew from encountering that bat-man. By swapping Moria and Grizzly, the final outcome was that the Straw Hats suffered even more than in the original story, escaping in utter disgrace—a tremendous humiliation. Yet Luffy, true to his reputation as an unkillable cockroach, recovered fully after only a brief rest, sitting alone at the bow, lost in thought.

Meanwhile, Kamio went alone to Rayleigh’s home on Bubble Island.

As expected, Rayleigh was not at home, off somewhere unknown. After Shakky explained Rayleigh’s recent activities, Kamio departed.

It looked like that old rascal was out making money to buy wine again. Kamio was helpless to intervene; Rayleigh was still strong, now retired and carefree on Bubble Island, and Kamio had no desire to drag him into this affair. Rayleigh was old now and deserved to enjoy his twilight years.

Unfolding his divine senses, Kamio quickly located Rayleigh, who was wandering through the busiest town. Whenever he spotted someone disagreeable, he’d sidle up and, with a slight touch, send their wallet vanishing—though the victims were never injured.

Kamio smiled wryly and instantly teleported near Rayleigh.

“Hey, Uncle Rayleigh,” Kamio walked up behind him, gently tapping his shoulder.

Rayleigh shuddered; someone had approached him without detection, and his vigilance was heightened. He immediately channeled Haki into his left fist, but upon hearing Kamio’s voice, he dispelled it at once. To exchange blows with Kamio would be tantamount to suicide.

“What brings you here?” Rayleigh turned and regarded Kamio with puzzled eyes.

“Why shouldn’t I come? This isn’t your house alone—let’s have some fun!” Kamio laughed. “Come on, let’s go back for a drink. Wandering the streets is pointless.”

Rayleigh’s face fell. “You’re paying for the wine.”

“Hey! Why so stingy? I’ve got wine—no need to buy any.”

The two wound their way back to Rayleigh’s residence, opened a bottle, and began to drink and chat. Rayleigh was curious about Kamio’s absence over the past few years.

Through their conversation, Kamio gained some insight into how Rayleigh had spent the last decade or so—occasionally helping pirate ships in the New World with their coating, or masquerading as a beggar, swindling and deceiving, living quite well without worry for food or drink.

Rayleigh, in turn, grew interested in Kamio’s private life. When Kamio revealed he had three wives, Rayleigh gave a thumbs-up in admiration.

Kamio told Rayleigh about Luffy’s arrival; though both Luffy and Red knew each other, and Rayleigh also knew Red, the connections between them were indeed tangled.

Kamio did not mention Admiral Kizaru’s impending arrival, only advising Rayleigh not to intervene when Luffy and his crew fought on the island—Kamio would handle everything himself.

After half a day of conversation, Kamio departed, found a tall tree, leaped onto a thick branch, and entered a meditative state, awaiting Luffy and his friends.

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A week swiftly passed, and Luffy finally arrived at Bubble Island, though Kamio paid them no heed.

Soon, the Straw Hat crew learned that the young mermaid girl was to be auctioned at the market, and they hurried over. This time, Rayleigh was not hiding inside as an unsellable item, so Kamio also went to the auction house and found himself a seat.

Seated beside Kamio was Trafalgar Law, captain of the Heart Pirates, one of the eleven Supernovas—fifth on the bounty list for Sabaody Archipelago, hailing from the North Sea, with a bounty of two hundred million berries, wielding that formidable long blade.

When Kamio sat, Law glanced at him. Kamio recognized him and offered a slight smile; Law didn’t know who Kamio was, but found him vaguely familiar, as if he’d seen him somewhere before. He smiled back, but when he turned away, something dawned on him. He furtively glanced at Kamio, and upon seeing the blade at Kamio’s side, his body shuddered violently, shocked to the core. My God, one of the Four Emperors, the infamous Elros D. Kamio, was sitting right next to him—what the...!

His crew sensed his trembling and looked over in confusion.

“Mr. Kamio?” Law whispered to Kamio.

Kamio turned to glance at him, nodding slightly. “Yes, it’s me. You’re Trafalgar Law, captain of the Heart Pirates, aren’t you? Keep up the good work!” With that, Kamio paid him no further attention.

Law was stunned. How did he know his name, and about his pirate crew? Was he planning to eliminate any chance they had at greatness? Would they be doomed beneath Kamio’s blade?

His imagination ran wild, but truth be told, Kamio, as one of the Four Emperors and the world’s acknowledged greatest swordsman, would hardly concern himself with a small pirate crew.

Leaving them aside, the auction of the mermaid girl began. It was said that girls from Fishman Island were beautiful, yet Kamio saw nothing extraordinary. On his last visit to Fishman Island, he saw few beauties and plenty of plain faces—perhaps the standards of beauty here were lacking.

The plot unfolded as usual. When Luffy struck the Celestial Dragon, Kamio stepped in and delivered a finishing blow, stunning everyone present.

“What? It’s not like I haven’t killed before. If I recall, last time I took care of one right here,” Kamio said with a wicked smile.

The female Celestial Dragon was dumbfounded. Her elders had instructed her not to be too arrogant in the auction house. Although Kamio had caused trouble here a decade ago and escaped capture, the Celestial Dragons had become somewhat more restrained. Yet now, after ten years, tempers had flared anew—and another had just fallen to Kamio’s hand. What was going on?

Following Rayleigh’s example, Kamio unleashed a burst of Haki to stun the crowd, unlocked the collar on the little girl’s neck, handed her to the octopus man, and stylishly teleported away. Kamio’s appearance had awed the spectators, but the death of a Celestial Dragon quickly spurred the young pirates into action—they knew this was no place to linger. They hurried toward the exit, and outside, before the Marines could surround them, Luffy and his crew, after dispatching several Marines, followed the octopus man’s directions and arrived at Rayleigh’s residence.

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