With a barely perceptible twitch in his hand, Rayleigh fought to keep his expression neutral, his jaw clenching. In front of him, a go board sat between him and his opponent. But considering the placement of his white stones and Rayleigh's black ones, there was no way Rayleigh would win this time.
"Give up?" The man cocked his head, his lips curled in a grim smile.
With a sigh, Rayleigh set down his last stone. "No, but I just lost." Damn, and this wasn't for a small sum for once.
"Then pay up, Ray," the man demanded, holding out his hand.
Rayleigh paused, then leaned back with a smile. "I'll have to come back with it in a few days. As you might guess, that amount is not something I would carry around with me."
The man glared. "And how do we know you'll keep your word?"
"Ray always keeps his word; you know that as well as anyone." They both turned as a tall, black-haired man walked up to them. He stopped just behind Rayleigh. "I'll make sure he brings it, and I'll drag him back if he doesn't show up."
Rayleigh suppressed a groan, sensing his friend had a plan.
His opponent nodded once. "Alright James. If you say he's good for his word, then I'll believe you. I'll be back in four days." Standing, he didn't look back as he was followed out by his companions.
Rayleigh didn't let out a breath until the doors closed behind him, then covered his face with a sigh.
"How much?" James asked.
"50 million berri," Rayleigh responded. He had gotten a little too cocky, and he wasn't sure how he was going to pay this off.
An intake of breath. "Damn, Ray. You got that much?"
Rayleigh shook his head as he cleaned up the go board, focusing on the white stones first. "Not even half. At least, not that I can put towards this." He didn't want to dip into his savings; Shakky would kill him. Dating for only a few months now, she had already taken control of things like their money. Not that he minded, but now he was a little glad.
Though he knew he'd catch hell the moment she learned about this.
James sat down across from him, picking up the black stones. "I have an idea, but I'm not sure if you'd like it." The stones clacked softly as they dropped into the little round wooden container.
Rayleigh glanced at him. "Oh?"
James didn't meet his gaze. He hesitated, then dropped the last stone in its box before closing the lid. "There is a slave market, as you know…" An uncomfortable pause, then he continued. "They pay a lot, even for humans."
Letting out a sigh, Rayleigh leaned back. "Do you know how many people get out of that though? And I rather like my life here. I don't want to throw it away." He had never been there, but knew it was well guarded. And they were supposedly set up to handle devil fruit users and even giants.
"But you have haki and could break the chains." James stated, not meeting his eyes still.
Rayleigh arched an eyebrow at him. "Then I'd have to hide out for a while. I wouldn't be able to come back soon enough to bring that guy his money." That would just start up a whole mess he didn't want to deal with. And how long did James expect him to hide?
James shrugged, sticking both boxes of stones atop the board. "They can deliver money to debtors, family, or anyone you want really. Have them send it here."
Rayleigh closed his eyes, his brow furrowed. After a few minutes, he looked at James sharply. "Why suggest that?" No one had recognized him as the "Dark King" since arriving, and he wanted to keep it that way. Letting himself get caught was a risk, one that he wasn't entirely sure he wanted to take.
Another shrug. "Because I know you're strong enough to escape. I know you've got strong haki, I can sense it. Keep that trick hidden from them, then break the chains and escape. If not in the auction house, then with whoever buys you."
Rayleigh just snorted.
"I'm serious. I know you're also smart enough to know how and when to get out," James laughed. "I still can't believe you lost at a game of go, however."
Rayleigh shook his head. "I didn't put much thought into my strategy today. I didn't think he would've been that good." Really, Rayleigh had been winging it, playing erratically for a change. But who would've guessed the other guy would be smart enough to take advantage of that?
They stood and walked to the end of the room, where James led him outside and pointed to a large building that rose above the others. It was massive, almost overshadowing the grove where it sat. The bubbles of Sabaody's mangroves floated lazily up, distorting a portion of the building's corner.
"Go to the side door with the wheel lock. Tell them you're looking to get out of debt," James explained quietly. "They'll put you up for sale within a day, if not tonight, if you go now, and then make your escape when you see the chance."
Rayleigh shot him a look. "You have a lot of confidence in my ability to escape."
James cracked a grin and chuckled darkly. "Kings don't stay down for long," he retorted before stepping back inside.
Rayleigh watched him, then shook his head with a smile. He shouldn't be surprised that James guessed who he was, but it explained his faith in Rayleigh.
Turning towards the auction house, he tried to imagine what this could be like but shrugged off the thoughts. Either way, this kind of thrill could be a nice way to get money occasionally.
If it worked.
Rayleigh cracked one eye open as the heavy clank of chains echoed through the room. It rose over the clamor of the crowd inside the seating area, and even above noise of the enslavement room. The air here stank of sweat, blood, wet fur, and the general unwashed smell that sometimes he remembered when he sailed with Roger. Though it had never gotten this strong.
It sickened him, but unfortunately, this operation was far too big for him to dismantle on his own. And it kept him out of debt. This was already his third time here, and going into his second year on Sabaody, and he had already acquired more than enough berries to cover all the debt he had and then some.
Shakky wasn't entirely pleased with where the money came from, but she wasn't worried after he came back the second time.
He tried to tune out the cacophony of voices as best he could, but before he closed his eye, he spotted the guards leading…
He opened both eyes fully and watched as they took a child to the cage next to his. It was smaller than his, but that wasn't surprising. Because of the strength he had shown off last time, he was sitting with a collar, wrist, and ankle cuffs, all connected to a chain on the floor, in a cage big enough for a small giant or large fishman. Maybe he came back too soon, but unfortunately, he had made another big bet and lost.
He was pretty sure the other person cheated, but he wouldn't be a sore loser about it.
When the child's cage was locked, the sound echoing under the noise in the room, Rayleigh looked over and saw them curled on the rough bench found in most of the cells. Small, covered in a shift and thin pants, their bright blonde hair was a tangled mess he could see even from here.
Rayleigh bit back the wave of haki that threatened to lash out. They knew he had armament haki, but not observation. Or conquerors. He didn't want them catching onto that one specifically.
But it hurt seeing a kid in a place like this. He had seen a few teenagers, but no one under 18 before. But this kid couldn't be over ten. Who would put a kid up for sale like this? Let them have this kind of life? Celestial Dragons would, but he knew they preferred adults, or more "exotic" people like fishmen or giants. Pirates maybe?
He waited until the child sat up, rubbing their eyes, then asked softly, "Are you alright?"
The girl, for now he could see her better, started at his voice. Looking at him with wide eyes, he couldn't miss the tears there. "Where am I?" Her high-pitched voice hitched, and she tried to rub her eyes with her arm.
Keeping his voice low, he answered, "The auction house at Sabaody. Where are you from?" It took a little effort to keep his voice calm; he tried imagining he was talking to the two apprentices Roger had, like after their first fight when they had been terrified.
"The West Blue…" she said quietly. "But then some pirates came and took me." Pirates. Of course. And only the worst kind took children.
Internally cursing, he fought his haki down again. Clenching one fist around the chain between his legs, he asked, "Would you want to go back home?" Of course she would, but he needed to ask. It would be trickier escaping while rescuing a kid, but he wouldn't leave her here. Couldn't leave her here.
She nodded a little. "Yes. But I don't know how."
Thinking quickly, Rayleigh studied the bars between them and in front of him. He eyed the locks, wondering how in the hell he was going to pull this off. The keys were all made of seastone, and he already knew there was only one for the cages, and five for the cuffs.
Breaking the bars of the cages and his own cuffs was easy for him, but the girl's cuffs would require a key. He didn't want to risk hurting her. Not to mention removing the collar was tricky without setting it off; if she jerked before he broke and tossed it, they could end up very hurt.
And he wasn't sure if he could get her back to James, who knew how to disarm them safely, without getting seen. His lounge was too open, with no easy way to get in without being spotted. But then again, he did frequent a shop not far from there.
Glancing at a passing guard, Rayleigh weighed his options.
Break out now by crushing his cuffs and the bars, then beat the guards to get the keys? Risky, with too many things to go wrong and no way to protect the girl from getting hurt if a fight broke out.
Escape now, come back and grab her before she left? Possibly easier, but that would mean leaving her here a bit longer, and he didn't trust the guards not to do anything in the meantime.
Find a way to get the keys first, then come back for her, while keeping her calm and safe? But he had no idea how to accomplish that, and he didn't want to risk drawing suspicion if he got caught.
He looked back at the girl. "Do you want to escape?"
She nodded again, a little more fervently.
Biting back a sigh, he offered a smile. "Stay calm and stay quiet. I'll get you out of here." His mind raced as he thought about what to do.
She blinked at him. "You can do that?"
"I can. Just trust me, and keep quiet."
The girl nodded slowly, and Rayleigh scanned the guards again. There were too many to avoid fighting, so that was inevitable. However, he could try to minimize the casualties.
When he spotted two guards walking up to his cage, he dropped his head. Time to set his plan in motion.
"Back against the wall!" one of them barked, unlocking the door while the other pulled out a whip. "We don't want no trouble."
"Of course not," Rayleigh replied calmly, raising his hands while he pressed his back against the bars of the far wall. The chain between his ankles slid to one side, creating a tripping hazard for the first guard if he wasn't careful. The air almost vibrated from the tension.
The one with the whip kept it coiled but ready as he stepped closer. "What are you up to?" he demanded.
Rayleigh just arched an eyebrow. "Nothing. How much longer until we're up?" He bit back his impatience. His haki hummed in warning.
"Not your place to ask," the guard snapped. "If you weren't worth so much, we'd beat you for that."
Rayleigh shrugged, his glasses flashing. "Just curious."
The second guard, now inside, locked the door behind him and stepped forward. "Keep your hands up." As he walked towards Rayleigh, he put one foot against the chain; Rayleigh gave the slightest tug with one foot and the guard fell forward. Rayleigh grabbed him before he could recover, then slammed him against the bars of the cage. Rayleigh dropped him before the other guard had a chance to react.
The second guard stumbled back. "What the hell?" He raised the whip, but he hesitated.
"Sorry, but I'm not staying here," Rayleigh said, lunging at him. He grabbed the keys on the guard's belt, then threw him against the bars of the door. He glanced at the girl; she was shaking, but he didn't think she was afraid of him.
The other guards took too long to react, and by then Rayleigh was out, breaking the chains from his cuffs, and tossing them to the side. He found the correct key quickly and unlocked the cage next to his, keeping an eye on the few guards running in. "Come on," he told the girl, then backed out. She hurried out behind him, keeping close as he snapped the cuffs off her, tossing them to one side. He wished he could get the collar off her, but it was too risky, especially right now.
One guard yelled, "Stop them!" as he lunged with a sword.
Rayleigh parried with the broken cuff, then punched him with a haki-covered fist. The guard crashed into the wall and slumped, unconscious. His heart thudded in his chest; he could easily get out on his own, but he had to make sure she wouldn't get hurt.
"Come on," he told the girl again. She stuck close as they ran through the halls. He had already memorized the layout, knowing that from this cage, they had three ways out. He chose the one least likely to be guarded, making it to the door within minutes. It was a struggle to keep his speed in check, but he knew the girl wouldn't be able to keep up if he went too fast.
When they burst out into the cool night air, he kept her close and looked around. He could sense several people nearby and figured the auctioneer had guards everywhere.
"Don't let go," he told the girl as they slipped into the shadows, grabbing her hand.
She nodded, her breaths quick and short. If she was afraid, she didn't show it.
They ran through the alleys, avoiding any guards he sensed. Eventually, they made it to a small shop, and Rayleigh knocked on the door, hoping James was here and not in his lounge.
A few moments later, James opened it and his eyes widened. "Rayleigh, what the hell?"
"No time. She needs help. Can you get her back to the West Blue?" he asked urgently. "I couldn't risk taking off her collar myself." He would get his own off later, when he wasn't running. He knew he was out of range for the remotes, but wanted to be further away from people before he risked it. He glanced behind him warily.
James nodded. "I have a ship leaving in a few hours. She'll be safe." He knelt next to the girl and smiled. "Don't worry, you're safe now."
She looked at Rayleigh with wide eyes. "Thank you," she whispered.
He smiled. "Stay safe." Then he turned and disappeared into the night, knowing he'd have to lie low for a while.
But something nagged at him. If she was there, were there other kids? One's he'd missed? He made a promise to rescue them and make sure they got out safely if he discovered them there.
It might be a fun thrill, but he knows that if there's even a chance of rescuing another kid, it'll be worth it.