MTLNOVEL Chapter 152: Strange Fruit
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Meanwhile, Coby walked out of the auction house, observing the scene. His arms crossed, he scanned the area, focusing on the abilities of each of the captains.
[Skill Scan initiated on 'Ope Ope no Mi (Law's Devil Fruit)'. Analysis in progress… The Ope Ope no Mi is one of the most powerful and versatile Devil Fruits, granting the user the ability to create a spherical space, or "Room," within which they can manipulate the positions, anatomy, and even the objects inside. The fruit allows for spatial manipulation, surgical precision in battle, and various unique abilities within the boundaries of the Room. Its potential extends to the "Ultimate Surgery," granting immortality at the cost of the user's life, making it one of the most coveted powers in the world. Estimated cost for full Ope Ope no Mi acquisition: 1,000,000 SP. Please confirm if you wish to proceed with the Skill Scan and acquisition. Warning: Acquiring will include Immortality Surgery to used once without killing user.]
[Skill Scan initiated on 'Room (Ope Ope no Mi)'. Analysis in progress… The Room is the fundamental ability of the Ope Ope no Mi, creating a spherical area where the user can manipulate everything inside with spatial control. This is the starting point for all other techniques derived from the fruit, including teleportation, object manipulation, and bodily control. The size and precision of the Room grow with the user's mastery, allowing for increasingly complex techniques to be performed within. Estimated cost for acquisition: 750,000 SP. Please confirm if you wish to proceed with the Skill Scan and acquisition.
Once Room is acquired, the following abilities can be unlocked:
Shambles (Object/Person Transposition): 20,000 SP
Takt (Telekinetic Lifting): 15,000 SP
Scan (Locating Objects/People in Room): 10,000 SP
Mes (Heart Extraction): 40,000 SP
Counter Shock (Electrical Discharge): 45,000 SP
Injection Shot (Piercing Strike): 50,000 SP
Amputate (Cutting Without Harm): 30,000 SP
Radio Knife (Energy-Enhanced Slash): 75,000 SP
Gamma Knife (Targeted Internal Destruction): 100,000 SP
Immortality Surgery (Ultimate Surgery): 50,000,000 SP(Per use)]
Looking at the list, Coby whistled, impressed. "This is new." He wasn't used to the System offering so many options at once, but the price of the Immortality Surgery? That was absurd. 50 million per use? "Too fucking expensive," he muttered under his breath. Even Conqueror's Haki hadn't been that high, but he got it—Ope Ope no Mi was labeled as the ultimate devil fruit for a reason.
Still, no point in wasting time over it. He dismissed the option, not interested in blowing that much SP on immortality right now, not that he had that much SP anyway, or... Too depressing. He doubted if he could amass that much any time soon, maybe in a life time to buy himself some immortality. Instead, he focused on scanning the battlefield, watching as Luffy, Law, and Kid tore through the Marines.
The trio of captains were holding their own, with Luffy punching his way through the front lines while Kid sent metallic debris flying everywhere. Law's precision was terrifying, each cut and movement controlled, swapping Marines and objects around like toys. Their teamwork—if you could even call it that—was chaotic, but it worked. The Marines were being ripped apart.
Suddenly, a Marine Captain charged toward Coby, swinging a sword down at him with a roar. Coby sidestepped easily, watching the blade slice through empty air. "Are you serious right now?" he muttered, drawing Shusui in a single, smooth motion. He slashed through the Marine's torso without any effort, blood spraying across the ground as the Captain collapsed.
"I'm just here to watch," Coby said, shaking his head as he flicked the blood off Shusui. "Stop fucking attacking me."
While the captains wreaked havoc on the battlefield, Coby stood back, observing the chaos. He wasn't interested in joining their competition—Luffy, Kid, and Law were handling it just fine. His attention shifted as another Marine Lieutenant lunged at him, but he dodged with ease, his blade flashing out in a quick arc that sent the man tumbling to the ground, bleeding.
[Skill Scan initiated on 'Jiki Jiki no Mi (Eustass Kid's Devil Fruit)'. Analysis in progress… The Jiki Jiki no Mi (Magnet-Magnet Fruit) grants the user the ability to generate and control magnetic forces, allowing them to manipulate metallic objects with precision and power. This power can be used to create weapons from surrounding metal, attract or repel objects, and even fashion gigantic constructs by gathering massive amounts of metal. The fruit offers both offensive and defensive versatility, enabling the user to unleash devastating attacks or form shields and armor from metal. Mastery of the fruit enhances control over magnetic fields, increasing the scale and complexity of the techniques. Estimated cost for full Jiki Jiki no Mi acquisition: 475,000 SP. Please confirm if you wish to proceed with the Skill Scan and acquisition. Note: Just because Kid uses it badly, doesn't mean the fruit is weak. Under user's control, this ability could cause devastating consequences, thus the price.]
Coby scanned the battlefield again, watching as Kid's powers pulled together metal debris, forming a massive, jagged weapon. "Not bad, but still clumsy," Coby muttered to himself, dismissing the scan for now.
After that, no one bothered Coby again. He leaned back into the shadows, watching as Luffy, Kid, and Law tore through the Marines. The chaos was intense, but the trio handled it with ease, leaving a mess of broken bodies and scattered weapons in their wake.
As the Marines retreated, Coby quietly rejoined the crew, who had just exited the auction house. Franky carried Camie over his shoulder, and Rayleigh hefted Hatchan without effort. They moved swiftly, cutting through the remnants of the Marine formation. No one tried to stop them, most of the Marines were either unconscious or in no shape to fight.
"Oi, let's hurry!" Luffy shouted, already jogging ahead.
"Slow down, Luffy," Nami grumbled, keeping pace as the crew followed Rayleigh toward Shakky's Rip-Off Bar for some downtime.
When they reached Shakky's bar, Rayleigh pushed open the door, leading the way. "In here, quick."
Once inside, the crew spread out, taking a much-needed breather. Rayleigh laid Hatchan gently onto a nearby couch, while Franky set Camie down on another. Chopper rushed over immediately, checking Hatchan's injuries, his small hands working fast. Nami sat down at the bar, while Luffy and Usopp leaned against the wall, both still buzzing with adrenaline.
Entering, they were greeted by Shakky, lounging casually behind the bar, cigarette in hand, observing the chaotic crew.
Coby grinned and took a step forward, arms crossed. "Luffy, you asked earlier who Rayleigh was, right?" He glanced at Rayleigh, who had taken a seat by Hatchan. "Well, the man himself is here, so let me introduce him properly. Dark King Silvers Rayleigh, Right Hand of the Pirate King, and Vice-Captain of the Roger Pirates."
The crew froze. Luffy's jaw dropped, his eyes wide as he stumbled over his words, "E-EHHHH? Pirate King's…?" He blinked rapidly, unable to process the revelation. "Vice-Captain?"
Usopp jumped up from his seat, eyes practically bulging out of his head. "You've got to be kidding me! Rayleigh?! As in that Rayleigh?!"
Nami's brow furrowed, her fingers gripping the edge of the bar tightly. "Wait a minute… he's the guy who sailed with Gol D. Roger?"
Franky, who had been busy grabbing a drink, dropped his bottle, eyes narrowing in disbelief. "Super… this guy's a legend."
Before anyone could process the shock further, Coby turned back to Shakky, his grin widening. "And over here," he continued smoothly, pointing towards Shakky, "we have the Former Empress of the Kuja Kingdom and Former Captain of the Kuja Pirates, Shakuyaku."
Shakky rolled her eyes and leaned back, taking a slow drag from her cigarette. "I stopped using those titles a long time ago," she said casually, blowing smoke to the side. "Nowadays, I'm just Shakky, the owner of this Rip-Off Bar." Her tone was nonchalant, brushing off her impressive past with a wave of her hand.
Robin, intrigued, gave Shakky a curious glance. "The Kuja Pirates? So, you're from Amazon Lily?"
Shakky nodded, a smirk tugging at her lips. "That's right. But don't expect me to go back to that island any time soon. The Pirate Empress thing wasn't really my style."
Brook, who was eating beans at the side, muttered to himself, "Roger, Roger... I remember a rookie by that name… or maybe not."
Zoro raised an eyebrow, leaning forward. "How does an octopus like Hatchan know a legend like him?"
Rayleigh chuckled, glancing at Hatchan, who was still being patched up by Chopper. "Hatchan saved me once, about 20 years ago. He was just a kid at the time."
Shakky nodded, her cigarette dangling from her lips. "Yeah, he was a small fry back then. Just starting out, really."
Rayleigh chuckled. "He's been a good friend ever since, until he joined the Sun Pirates."
Sanji, flicking the ash off his cigarette, looked over at Rayleigh. "So, Roger was executed 22 years ago… How did the Marines never come after you, being his Vice-Captain and all? They caught Roger after all."
Rayleigh took a slow sip of his drink before answering. "The Marines didn't catch him. Roger turned himself in. The government made it look like they captured him as a show of power, but it was all his decision."
The crew was visibly stunned. Nami, her brows furrowed, asked, "Why would he do that? Why turn himself in?"
Rayleigh took a deep sip from his drink, pausing for a moment before answering. "Because he saw the end of our journey. About four years before his execution, Roger came down with a terminal illness—one that no doctor could cure. The only person who could ease his suffering was Crocus, the lighthouse keeper at Twin Peaks. We asked him to join us on our last voyage. That was three years before the end of Roger's pirate life."
Coby, standing nearby, chimed in, "We met Crocus-san at Twin Peaks. He mentioned he joined a crew once to look for another one. Turns out, the crew he was searching for was the Rumbar Pirates. And Brook here was the vice-captain of that very crew." Coby gave Rayleigh a meaningful look, knowing the connection would click for him.
Rayleigh's eyes widened slightly before he smiled warmly at Brook. "So, you're a member of the Rumbar Pirates Crocus was searching for, huh? Fate's got a funny way of crossing paths."
Brook, standing tall with his violin in hand, tipped his hat and gave a bow. "Yohohoho, indeed it does!"
Rayleigh nodded, taking another sip, allowing the crew to process everything. "So, you met Crocus. Good to hear he's still well. He was only with us for three years, but he was our nakama. At my age, I would still like to see him again."
Sanji, flicked his cigarette, curious. "And after that? Did you conquer the sea?"
Rayleigh chuckled, remembering. "That's when the world started calling Roger the King of the Pirates. But you know, it wasn't like he was always the Pirate King. Titles don't mean much to a man who's dying. But Roger... he was happy." He smiled to himself, thinking of those wild days. "Roger loved a good party. Always did things in a flashy way, enjoyed himself like no one else. But before long, he gave the order for the crew to disband. Told us to go our separate ways, quietly. That was Roger for you—always ahead of everyone."
He paused, his gaze distant. "I put my life on the line for each of them, but I don't know where they are or what they're up to now."
The crew listened in silence, hanging onto his every word. Rayleigh dipped his drink, taking a long sip before continuing. "About a year after we disbanded, Roger turned himself in. The Marines didn't catch him. He gave himself up, and in his hometown, Loguetown, they executed him publicly."
The room was heavy with the weight of his words. Luffy's expression was serious, his usual grin replaced by something more reflective as Rayleigh went on. "On that day, in that square, a lot of people who would soon become famous showed their faces. The whole world watched as the Pirate King was executed. I didn't go."
Rayleigh smirked faintly, swirling the drink in his glass. "His last words to me were, 'I won't die, partner.' And sure enough, with his final words, he set the world on fire. The Marines thought they would crush the pirate spirit by executing him. Instead, he ignited the Great Pirate Era. I never laughed more, never cried more, and never drank more than on that day. Roger lived a magnificent life."
The crew sat in quiet respect, the gravity of Rayleigh's story sinking in. It wasn't just a tale of a man who became the Pirate King—it was a story of a crew, of dreams fulfilled, and the legacy left behind.
Robin, who had been listening attentively, finally spoke. "Roger's last words... they really did change the world."
Usopp asked, "Do you think he planned it all ahead?"
Rayleigh smiled, setting aside his glass and grabbing the bottle instead. "Roger's dead. Only the living can create an era. So, I can't say for sure. But I'm certain some people in that plaza took something from Roger that day." He glanced at Luffy, who was busy munching on some fruit. "You know one of them pretty well—Shanks."
Luffy, with his mouth full, asked, "You know Shanks, old man?"
Rayleigh chuckled. "If you're from the East Blue, you must've heard of another pirate named Buggy, too, right?"
Both Zoro and Nami grimaced at the mention of Buggy's name. Luffy tilted his head, curious.
"Shanks and Buggy were cabin boys on our ship," Rayleigh continued, his grin widening.
Luffy choked, spraying the fruit he was eating across the room. "Shanks was on the Pirate King's ship?!"
Rayleigh was a bit surprised. "You didn't know? About ten years ago, I saw Shanks again, but he was missing his trademark hat and his left arm. When I asked him about it, he seemed pretty happy and told me about you." Rayleigh paused before adding, "Well, I can't share things he didn't tell you himself, but from what I can see, he's waiting for you in the New World."
Luffy's eyes sparkled with excitement. "I wanna see him too?"
Rayleigh gave a firm nod, shifting the tone away from the serious talk. "I'll coat your ship, no problem. You saved Hatchan, after all, and that makes you friends of mine."
Robin, sitting quietly, raised her voice as she got up. "Rayleigh-san, what is the Will of D.?"
The room fell silent as she continued, "Roger's name was carved into the Poneglyph on Skypiea in the ancient language. How did he know about it? And do you know what happened 900 years ago during the Void Century?"
Rayleigh took a slow breath, his gaze shifting to Robin. "Yeah, I know. We learned the whole history during our journey." He leaned back slightly. "But listen, little lady, you can't rush things. Take your time, one step at a time, with your crew. Maybe we, and Ohara, tried to move too fast. Even if I told you everything I knew about history, right now, you wouldn't be able to do anything about it."
Robin absorbed his words quietly. Rayleigh continued, "See the world first. When the time is right, you might find a different answer than what we discovered. But if you ask me, I will tell you the history."
Robin gave a slight nod, understanding that Rayleigh wasn't brushing off her question but guiding her towards a bigger picture. The weight of history couldn't be fully understood in one conversation. She smiled and thanked him, "No, thank you. I'll continue my journey."
Rayleigh smiled back. "Someday, you'll know everything. It's sickening what happened to your hometown, Ohara… But Roger didn't understand those words. We were pirates, not scholars like Professor Clover or the others. Roger just had the gift to hear the Voice of All Things."
Usopp, in panic and excitement on his face, blurted out, "Are you sure, Robin? Isn't this a huge opportunity you're letting go?" Without waiting for her reply, he turned toward Rayleigh. "Hey, old man! I've got a question! The one great treasure… One Piece… Is it really—"
Luffy's voice cut off everything. "USOPPPPPPPP!" He shouted, standing up on top of a corner and glaring down at the startled Usopp. His expression was dead serious. "I don't want to hear where the treasure is. I don't even want to know if it exists or not." Luffy's voice was sharp, his eyes locked on Usopp. "I don't know anything about it, but that's how we all set out on this journey. If the old man tells us anything in here, I'll stop being a pirate."
The crew's eyes widened, everyone falling into silence as Luffy continued. "I AM NOT GOING ON A BORING ADVENTURE!" His words echoed through the room, each syllable carrying the weight of his conviction.
Usopp, now wide-eyed and swallowing hard, shrunk back slightly from the intensity of his captain's declaration. "A-ah, I get it. I don't want to ask anymore. I suddenly feel like if I ask, I'll drop dead. Hey, old man, don't say anything either."
Shakky smiled from behind the bar. Rayleigh looked at Luffy, curiosity sparking in his eyes. "Can you do it?"
Luffy blinked, surprised. "Huh?"
Rayleigh leaned in slightly. "What the Grand Line has in store for you is beyond your imagination. Your enemies will be strong. Can you conquer that sea?"
Luffy's face lit up with a grin, his eyes shining with excitement. "I don't want to conquer anything, old man. I just think the Pirate King is the freest man on the sea."
Rayleigh chuckled softly, a knowing smile tugging at his lips. "Is that so?"
Shakky laughed, clearly entertained. "I'm definitely your fan, Monkey-chan."
Rayleigh stood up from his seat, brushing off his pants. "Your ship is at Grove #41, right? I will go and start coating now. You'd better be careful though. An Admiral should already be on the island."
The crew tensed at that. Rayleigh turned to Shakky. "I'll need a Vivre Card." He glanced at Luffy and the others, adding, "I'm a bit notorious myself. I'll move the ship away from Grove #41."
Shakky reached under the bar and handed Rayleigh the Vivre Card, who split it and gave a piece to the crew. "Three days," Rayleigh said, turning back to the Straw Hats. "I need three days to coat your ship. We'll meet then."
As they left the bar, Luffy stretched his arms above his head, looking excited. "Alright! Three days to go explore!" He laughed, already thinking about what kind of fun he could have on the island.
Zoro cracked his neck, clearly ready for some downtime. "Guess I'll train until then."
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Luffy's declaration to stop being a pirate if Rayleigh says anything is one of my favorite scenes in the show. It's just amazing, packed with his adventurous spirit.
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