One Piece: Chronos of the God Valley

Watching Tom eye Rayleigh with a look that suggested he'd love nothing more than to bash the old man's face with his wooden hammer, a powerful spirit of gossip arose in Chronos's heart...

After hearing Rayleigh say the Roger Pirates needed a ship built, Tom held up a single finger.

"Ten million?"

Tom shook his head, still holding up one finger.

"Could it be a 'small goal'?" Chronos asked, a little uncertainly.

"Chrono, how much is a 'small goal'?"

"A hundred million!"

Only upon hearing the answer he wanted did Tom nod in satisfaction. "Oh, and if you want a ship made from a Treasure Tree, you'll need to provide the materials yourself!"

"You damn Tom! Even back then... a hundred million would be enough to buy your entire rickety shipyard, people and all!" Although he felt a bit guilty towards Tom, upon hearing such blatant extortion, even Rayleigh, with his usually good temper, couldn't take it anymore! Rayleigh was, after all, one of the Roger Pirates' three super-giants, a ruthless man who once fought from the East Blue to the West Blue without batting an eye.

"Tom, you brute, do you want to test the sharpness of my sword?" Rayleigh drew his gleaming long sword, threatening him.

"My sword is not without its sharpness either!" Seeing Rayleigh, who clearly had a favor to ask, still acting so arrogantly, Uncle Tom didn't back down. He snatched a random Roger Pirate crew member's saber and pointed it at Rayleigh.

Neither was willing to back down first, and the situation devolved into a standoff.

"Shanks, is a hundred million Berries for shipbuilding really that outrageous?" Chronos, coming from a small mountain village, had little concept of money. After all, he couldn't afford anything anyway, so why bother thinking about it?

"Do you know how much a regular shipwright charges to build a ship? At most, one million Berries. Even if he's the world's best shipwright, ten million is already absurd, let alone a hundred million, and the materials aren't even included. All our current assets put together aren't even a hundred million yet..." Shanks, who had already delved into this area, explained to his good buddy.

"Holy cow, you fat fish-man! Others commit extortion, but you're just straight-up fraud, aren't you? While it was wrong of Vice-Captain Rayleigh to steal your girlfriend back then, taking your revenge like this is just too much!" Chronos, after hearing Shanks's explanation, felt a surge of anger. He let loose a torrent of insults, sparing no words, whether polite or not.

...

The scene instantly fell silent. No, not silent—it was terrifyingly dead quiet!

The Roger Pirates watched the man and the fish-man, who offered no rebuttal, and immediately realized that what Chronos said might be true. The information was overwhelming! Judging by Tom's appearance, it was unlikely any human woman would be interested in him, so his "girlfriend" back then must have been either a fish-woman or a mermaid.

Thinking of that, it was truly horrifying! Vice-Captain Rayleigh, you have quite an appetite!

Rayleigh, the one being talked about, stared at him in fear. This happened decades ago, and he hadn't even told Shakky about it. How did this kid know? Did I accidentally tell him when I was drunk?

Oh no, I hope I didn't tell this guy about me and the Amazon Lily Queen...

"Rayleigh, take this four-eyed brat and get out!!!" Uncle Tom was overcome with shame and fury, finally glaring fiercely at Rayleigh. He had let it go, but this kid just brought it up again, and those painful memories flooded Tom's mind. That stinking Rayleigh, not only did he steal my girl, but he's bragging about it to his juniors as glorious history! This is intolerable!

Roger's Bargain

"Hahaha! I have something to say, everyone, listen up!" Seeing the situation becoming irreconcilable, the future Pirate King, Roger, pushed Chronos aside and slowly stepped forward.

"Master Tom, I apologize to you on behalf of Rayleigh and this kid! You, a great fish, have a magnanimous heart, and a bullhorn fish-man's belly can hold a ship! Please forgive them. You know, we pirates can't lose our pirate ship, just like the World Government can't lose Mariejois..."

"Since Captain Roger, you've put it that way, we'll let this matter go. Mostly, it's that brat from your pirate crew with the foul mouth; he's practically a spitting image of young Rayleigh! Seeing your good attitude, I'll charge you 8 million Berries. But I really can't help with the materials. Treasure Trees are too precious. If you want a ship made from a Treasure Tree, you'll have to go to the Sabaody Archipelago yourselves. There's an auction coming up soon, and they'll have Treasure Tree wood for sale."

Once Roger intervened, Tom's tone softened instantly. Although Tom had been a recluse in Water 7 for years, he was still aware of the situation on the Grand Line. After all, Roger was one of the top four legends. Since he was asking so politely, Tom decided to give in. Otherwise, did they really think Roger wouldn't draw his sword and kill?

Seeing Tom finally relent, everyone's anxious hearts settled. But soon, another problem arose. They... seemed to be... broke!

"Alright, I have connections on the Sabaody Archipelago. You all wait here for me; I'll go figure something out!" Seeing that he was the cause of the trouble, Rayleigh couldn't bear to see everyone so worried and bravely volunteered.

Rayleigh's inner thoughts: Oh no! Tonight's probably going to be seven times...

"I want to go too!"

After Rayleigh spoke, Chronos, who came from a small mountain village and hadn't seen much of the world, immediately declared he wanted to go along.

"Then I'll come too!"

Shanks, also a young punk, quickly followed.

"Me too... Mmph!"

Buggy originally wanted to join the formation of the "Konoha Three Brothers," but Chronos and Shanks clamped their hands over his mouth. Are you kidding?! The World Government and Marine Headquarters are right next to the Sabaody Archipelago. Rayleigh bringing him and Shanks, two "rookie sensations," might still work out, but bringing Buggy, a completely useless "rookie from head to toe," would be a death wish!

PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/XenTronix