The natural system started off strong, but the navy finally reached its peak!

The pirates became agitated, and some even instinctively gripped the weapons at their waists.

The hefty fines temporarily spurred them to overcome their fear of the top experts, and they began to argue and even become aggressive.

Xia Qi just smiled at them, with an expression that said, "I'm just blackmailing you, what can you do about it?"

Just as the two sides were locked in a dispute and the atmosphere became tense again...

"Tsk." Gern clicked his tongue lightly and stood up from the high stool.

He gave Xia Qi an extremely "kind" smile and said, "Oh dear, it seems my 'sister-in-law' has run into a little trouble."

Since we're all family, as her brother-in-law in the navy, it's only right and proper for me to help out, right?

His tone was sarcastic, clearly retaliating against Xia Qi for teasing him earlier by referring to him as her "sister-in-law."

Upon hearing this tone, Xia Qi's heart skipped a beat, and she knew something was wrong.

Although she had never met Gern, she knew his personality through intelligence and knew that his so-called "help" was definitely not for anything good!

Thinking of this, Shakky immediately spoke up to stop her: "Wait, Gern, you..."

But it was too late!

Gern didn't even make any obvious movement; he simply snapped his fingers lightly.

"Buzz!" An invisible yet terrifying vibration particle instantly caused the air to tremble, and cracks spread throughout the entire bar!

"Crack! Boom!!!"

The next second, the entire "cheating bar" seemed to explode violently!

........

Chapter 295 It seems you're having a pretty exciting retirement.

Just as the "Extortionist BAR" was violently exploded, filling the air with smoke and dust.

Outside the bar, on a lush, green lawn, a figure was swaying as it walked in.

A man with blond and white hair styled in a slicked-back, dragon-whisker style, a scruffy beard, but a tall and upright figure.

A man with a wine flask and a long sword hanging at his waist, and a slightly tipsy and languid look on his face, sauntered over.

It was Rayleigh, the "King of the Underworld," who had just returned from a slave auction house after "earning" some money for drinks.

However, when he saw that the familiar bar was now shaking its doors and windows, with smoke and dust pouring out from the cracks, the laziness on his face vanished instantly, and his pupils suddenly contracted!

"Shakky!" Rayleigh was startled.

Although he knew that with Xia Qi's strength, she was more than capable of dealing with some ignorant little characters.

However, as the Great Pirate Era has progressed, countless powerful but arrogant newcomers have emerged.

No one can guarantee that some tough nut won't come knocking on their door.

Not afraid of ten thousand, just in case!

Without any hesitation, the drunkenness in Rayleigh's eyes vanished instantly.

With a swift backhand motion, he drew his longsword from his waist and shot forward, heading straight for the bar's entrance!

A powerful burst of Observation Haki spread out instantly like a tidal wave, piercing through the billowing smoke and dust.

They precisely located the most powerful and threatening aura within the bar.

"Hey! You new-age brat!!" Rayleigh hissed, flicking his wrist.

The longsword transformed into a swift and cold light, tearing through the air and piercing straight into the blurry yet powerful figure in the dust!

"This isn't the place for you to cause trouble!!" Just as his sword tip was about to pierce the dust, he...

"Whoosh!" A dark figure burst out of the dust with a speed no less than his!

Immediately afterwards, an even deeper and darker blade of light arrived first, accurately blocking his sword!

"Clang!!!" The swords clashed violently, producing a deafening explosion!

An invisible wave of air suddenly spread out from the two of them, instantly clearing away the surrounding smoke and dust!

A tremendous force struck, and Rayleigh felt a slight numbness in his arm. He used the momentum to leap back half a step and stared intently at the person who had approached.

When you see that familiar black top hat, those sharp, eagle-like yellow eyes, and that iconic massive black sword...

Rayleigh was stunned, and blurted out instinctively, "Hawkeye? Jorah Mihawk?!"

He never expected that the one who caused such a commotion in Shaki's Bar would be the world's number one swordsman who always goes it alone!

As the smoke and dust dissipated, Mihawk's figure came into view.

He stood with his sword in hand, his posture still composed. Faced with Rayleigh's exclamation, he merely smiled slightly, revealing the excitement of having encountered a worthy opponent, without replying.

The next moment, their eyes met, and they moved almost simultaneously!

"Shh! Shh! Shh!"

The flashes of swords and the clash of blades instantly intertwined!

Their movements were so fast that they were difficult to follow with the naked eye; all that could be heard was the rapid, explosive sound of swords clashing in the air, like raindrops hitting banana leaves!

Sparks flew everywhere!

In the blink of an eye, the two top swordsmen had already clashed five times with lightning speed and without any fancy moves!

"Bang!" After another fierce collision, the two seemed to be in perfect sync, using the force to glide backward and land steadily.

Rayleigh's sword arm went slightly numb, his brows furrowed, and he stared intently at Hawkeye across from him.

The opponent's swordsmanship has improved even more since their sparring match years ago!

Meanwhile, just as Hawkeye regained his footing, a relatively intact high-backed chair flew out of the smoke behind him.

Hawkeye didn't even glance at it, as if he had expected it all along. With a flick of his wrist, he plunged the Black Blade Night into the ground beside him with a "snap," then sat back down with perfect ease.

She landed comfortably on the chair that had flown in, and then even elegantly crossed her legs and placed her hands on her knees.

When it comes to being a master of showing off, no one can beat him!

Meanwhile, the smoke and dust inside the bar finally began to dissipate.

A chuckled voice came from behind Hawkeye: "Tsk tsk tsk, drawing swords the moment we meet, what a warm welcome ceremony."

The dark figure slowly emerged from the thinning smoke and stood beside Hawkeye, who was sitting in a chair.

"Long time no see!!" Gern greeted Rayleigh with a playful smile, raising his hand to acknowledge his astonishment.

"Looks like you're having a pretty exciting retirement, 'Pluto' Silvers Reilly."

Rayleigh watched as Gren emerged leisurely from the smoke and dust, his astonishment flashing only briefly before turning into understanding and a complex sense of emotion.

Then, with a flick of his wrist, accompanied by a crisp sound of it returning to its sheath, the longsword was already back in its scabbard at his waist.

His face regained its slightly lazy smile, and he said softly, "Yes, it's been a long time, Gern. I didn't expect you to suddenly appear here."

Gern raised an eyebrow in surprise at Rayleigh's swift and decisive sheathing of his sword, his tone tinged with a hint of teasing.

"Oh? You've given up so quickly? That's not like the legendary 'Hades' at all."

I thought I could stretch my muscles a bit.

"There's nothing I can do. I'm getting old; my bones can't compare to yours, young people." The half-white-haired Rayleigh shrugged nonchalantly, his tone light and self-deprecating.

But his sharp gaze swept over Hawkeye Mihawk, who sat calmly and arrogantly in his chair.

"Besides, there's another man here whose swordsmanship is probably far superior to mine."

"I'm not going to do a losing proposition like one against two."

His words were both true and a perfect way for him to save face.

The moment Gern appeared, Rayleigh had already made the most correct judgment.

Facing a naval admiral whose strength far surpasses that of his predecessor, plus the world's greatest swordsman

Putting up a stubborn resistance is pointless except for breaking your own old bones.

If I continue fighting, I will undoubtedly be defeated within fifty rounds, and the defeat will be extremely humiliating.

Then, Rayleigh turned his gaze entirely to Hawkeye, his tone carrying a genuine sense of doubt and inquiry: "However, I really didn't expect this..."

A man like you would actually choose to live under someone else's roof.

This doesn't seem like the style of someone who pursues the ultimate in swordsmanship and values ​​freedom.

In his view, Hawkeye Mihawk should be like the Red Earl, a lone eagle soaring in the sky, rather than a man bound by the system.

Faced with Rayleigh's question, Hawkeye's lips moved slightly beneath the brim of his hat, and he spoke in a cold voice, concise and to the point: "Fulfilling the promise. That's all."

Moreover, this is a well-known virtue.

He joined the Navy not out of deference to power or ideology, but simply because he had lost to Gern and was fulfilling a promise he made ten years earlier.

For Hawkeye, who considers "reputation" a basic quality of a strongman, this is perfectly normal.

Chapter 296 Rayleigh: If I can't beat them, I'll die.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Gern, standing to the side, was displeased and yelled at Rayleigh.

"Silbaz Reilly, you old-fashioned bastard, stop trying to sow discord with me!"

"What do you mean by 'living under someone else's roof'? We're calling this a powerful alliance, creating a better future together! Understand?"

Although he was cursing, his tone wasn't serious; it sounded more like old friends teasing each other.

Rayleigh looked at Gern's protective demeanor, then glanced at Hawkeye's completely unaffected, still cold and stern profile.

He couldn't help but burst into laughter, and the doubts and tension in his heart dissipated.

"Hahahaha! Alright, alright, I misspoke." Rayleigh waved his hand with a smile. "A powerful alliance, indeed a powerful alliance."

It seems this sea is about to become even more lively because of you all.

At that moment, Shakky emerged from the chaotic bar, still holding the stack of five million Berries that the pirates had "voluntarily" paid as compensation. She glared at the three men with annoyance.

"Can't you guys find another place to catch up? Look at the mess you've made of my shop! Who's going to pay for the repairs?"

Gern, Rayleigh, and Hawkeye exchanged a glance.

Gern stroked his chin and looked at Rayleigh: "Speaking of which, Rayleigh, you rushed back just now because you were out of money for drinks again and were planning to 'earn' some extra cash?"

Rayleigh's face immediately fell a little: "Ahem... well..."

Gern gave a knowing smile and pointed to the money in Shakky's hand: "That's perfect, Mihawk and I will treat you to these five million Berries."

The rest is a sponsorship fee for your bar's... well, 'renovation'.

......

Gern and Mihawk did not linger at the extortionate bar.

After his rather informal chat with Rayleigh and Shakky, Gern picked up his hat and put it back on, then casually waved to Rayleigh: "Goodbye, old man. Take care of yourself, or you'll be too old to wield a sword next time we meet."

Hawkeye was even more direct. Without a word, he pulled out the Black Sword Night from the ground, turned it around behind his back, didn't even glance at Rayleigh and Shakky, and then followed Gern away from the devastated ruins.

The two figures quickly disappeared at the end of the intricate streets of the Sabaody Archipelago, as if they had never existed.

All that remained was devastation and a group of terrified pirates scrambling to pay compensation.

Inside the dilapidated bar, only the sound of dripping liquor and heavy breathing could be heard.

Rayleigh walked to the only bar that was still intact and found a high stool to sit down.

Xia Qi silently found a surviving wine glass and an unopened bottle of wine from the mess and poured them for him.

Rayleigh picked up his glass, but didn't drink it immediately. Half of his face was hidden in the dim light, and his expression was somewhat solemn, no longer the lazy joker he had been before.

Xia Qi lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and exhaled swirling smoke.

She glanced around the bar, which looked as if it had been swept away by a hurricane, and sneered, her voice carrying a clear-headed understanding: "He's warning you, Old Lei."

Gern seemed to be joking around, and even ended up "losing" money, but he chose to show up here with Mihawk.

It instantly dismantles all possible resistance with an almost crushing force, which in itself is a silent yet powerful deterrent.

Rayleigh chuckled softly upon hearing this, but his laughter carried a complex mix of emotions: "Yes... warning."