One Piece: Surrounded at Marineford? Just kidding!

Chapter 45 Chen Ye's Arrogant Challenge!

Chen Ye's sudden interruption made the atmosphere in the bar tense.

Marco was instantly taken aback.

He never expected Chen Ye to interrupt at this moment, and he certainly didn't expect what he said to be so... unorthodox.

What does it mean to say "you are old"?

What does "there are other things" mean?

Is this kid crazy?

Doesn't he know who's sitting in front of him? That's a legendary monster who can chat and laugh with their old man!

Xia Qi, behind the bar, paused slightly as she wiped the wine glass, then looked up with interest at the arrogant young man.

The focus of the entire event, Silbaz Reilly, did not show the slightest change in expression.

He simply turned his head slowly toward Chen Ye, his eyes behind his glasses calm and unwavering, as if he were looking at an insignificant speck of dust.

"Marco."

Rayleigh ignored Chenye and instead turned his questioning gaze to the captain of the First Division.

"Who is this?"

His voice remained gentle, yet carried an invisible pressure that caused Marco's back to break out in a fine layer of cold sweat.

Why is Chen Ye so impulsive!

My plans have been disrupted!

But Marco was, after all, a seasoned royal vice-president. He forcibly suppressed the turmoil in his heart, his brain working at lightning speed, and immediately went downhill with the tide!

Marco then forced a slightly awkward but polite smile and pulled Chenye from behind him to the front.

"Mr. Raleigh, let me introduce you."

"This is our newest brother, Chenye."

As Marco spoke, he subtly squeezed Chen Ye's arm hard, his eyes filled with warning.

He then added, his tone becoming exceptionally sincere.

"This kid... he grew up listening to your legends, you could say he's a fanatical admirer of yours."

"I was a little excited to meet you in person today and spoke without thinking. Please don't take it to heart."

These words were half true and half false, both explaining Chen Ye's rudeness and giving him the identity of a "die-hard fan," attempting to bring this escalating situation back on track.

However, Chenye's next move instantly rendered all of Marco's efforts futile.

Chen Ye completely ignored Marco's hints, stepped forward, stood up straight, and fearlessly faced the legendary man.

The cynical provocation on his face was gone.

Instead, there was an almost pilgrimage-like fervor, and an undisguised, soaring fighting spirit!

That pure fighting spirit, like a drawn sword, instantly pierced Rayleigh's calm and composed aura.

"Mr. Raleigh!"

Chen Ye's voice was loud and clear, every word full of power, echoing in the small bar.

"My lifelong dream has always been to personally experience just how fast and ruthless your sword really is, 'Dark King Rayleigh,' the legendary right-hand man of the Pirate King Roger!"

boom!

Upon hearing this, Marco's mind went blank.

It’s over.

This kid has really gone mad.

He actually... he actually challenged Rayleigh?

"You absolutely must have a match with me!"

Chen Ye's chest heaved violently, his fists clenched, and his eyes burned with an intense intensity.

"Let this arrogant brat experience the strength of the Pirate King's vice-captain!"

He spoke with absolute certainty, leaving no room for negotiation.

This is no longer a challenge, but a declaration of war where everything is at stake.

The bar fell into a deathly silence.

You could hear a pin drop.

Marco could even hear his own heart pounding like a drum.

He had prepared for the worst and was ready to drag Chen Ye to apologize to Rayleigh again at any time.

Even if all else fails, we can still run away with Chenye before Rayleigh comes to life!

Rayleigh remained silent.

He slowly took off his glasses, took out a velvet cloth from his pocket, and meticulously wiped the lenses.

He did not unleash any domineering aura, nor did he show any killing intent.

But it is precisely this extreme tranquility that creates a suffocating sense of tension.

Time passed by, second by second.

Just when Marco was about to give up, Raleigh stopped wiping.

He put his glasses back on, and those eyes, which had witnessed countless vicissitudes, once again fell on Chen Ye.

This time, his eyes changed.

It's no longer the look of someone looking at an impudent junior, but rather like a top-notch swordsmith examining a piece of unpolished, exceptional steel.

He sensed from this young man a vast, abyss-like power that was completely at odds with his age.

What surprised him even more was that pure, extreme fighting spirit.

Not for fame, not for profit, not for hatred.

It's simply to challenge the strong, to witness the view from a higher vantage point.

Just like...

Just like that silly captain with the straw hat from many years ago.

Rayleigh's heart, which had been dormant for more than twenty years, was stirred up by a stone thrown into a lake, creating a barely perceptible ripple!

A spark ignited quietly in the eyes of this legend.

He smiled.

It wasn't the kind of perfunctory, polite smile.

Rather, it was a heartfelt, heartfelt smile, tinged with nostalgia and appreciation.

"Oh……"

A soft laugh broke the stillness in the bar.

"What an interesting kid."

Rayleigh tossed the newspaper he was holding onto the table, then picked up the wine glass in front of him with the hand that had once held the world's top swords and drank it all in one gulp.

thump.

The wine glass was placed heavily on the table.

"it is good."

Rayleigh looked at Chen Ye, his eyes sparkling with a long-lost light.

"I'll accompany you to stretch your muscles a bit."