"Young man, you’re the first person I’ve ever seen earn such high praise from my old man."
After surveying the ruined battlefield, Shakky exhaled a stream of cigarette smoke before continuing,
"I’ve heard quite a few stories about you lately. For someone with such an unconventional way of doing things... I just can’t bring myself to dislike you."
"As for CP9, all I knew was that they had probably made it to the Sabaody Archipelago. I didn’t know exactly where they were hiding."
"But I just received word."
"They’re likely hiding in the Human Auctioning House in Grove 3 , one of the lawless districts."
"It won’t be an easy place to deal with..."
"Though I doubt it’ll be much trouble for someone like you."
As she spoke, Shakky pulled out a business card and handed it over.
After accepting it, Lucas casually took out a bottle of his homemade strong liquor and tossed it to Rayleigh.
"I brewed this myself. Consider it a thank-you gift."
"But if we meet again under official circumstances—with a bounty or military merits on the line—I won’t go easy on you."
"Oh?"
Rayleigh glanced at the bottle before bursting into laughter.
"You really know how to win people over."
"You’re much better than Garp, who only ever comes to eat, drink, and freeload."
"But next time we meet..."
"This old man will be the first one running away."
"Is that so?"
Lucas smiled faintly, tucked away the business card, and turned to leave.
Isuka and Ain exchanged surprised glances.
They had expected the battle to continue.
Instead, it had ended just like that.
Casting one last look at the two terrifying "retired old folks," they hurried after Lucas.
Watching the three Marines disappear into the distance, Shakky took another drag on her cigarette.
"Rayleigh..."
"Doesn’t this young Lucas seem even more capable of shaking the old era than the Straw Hat boy Shanks chose?"
"They met in Water Seven three days ago."
"And from what I heard, the outcome was completely one-sided."
"This kid is absurdly strong."
The brief clash hadn’t been a spur-of-the-moment decision.
When Shakky noticed Marines waiting nearby, she guessed the newly appointed Admiral would eventually come looking for them.
She had specifically called Rayleigh back to meet him.
Partly to avoid damaging her bar.
But more importantly...
She wanted to see for herself the infamous fighting style of Admiral Glutton Lucas.
And to verify something Roger had once said.
That short exchange had awakened many memories they had long buried.
Rayleigh turned the liquor bottle over in his hand, a sharp gleam flashing across his aged eyes.
"According to Shanks..."
"Luffy possesses an extraordinary background."
"And he carries the legendary Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika."
"He’s supposedly the only one capable of turning the gears of this era."
"Shanks... and that missing fool Buggy..."
"Those two always have too many tricks up their sleeves."
"Trying to figure out what they’re really planning is no easy task."
"But when Captain Roger disbanded the crew..."
"He once said something else."
"The one who changes this era might be a Revolutionary."
"It might be a pirate."
"Or... it might even be a Marine."
"After all..."
"The one who defeated Rocks alongside Roger back then... was a Marine."
Shakky chuckled.
"So you’ve got quite a high opinion of that kid."
Rayleigh laughed softly.
"I’m simply watching as an outsider."
He uncorked the bottle Lucas had given him and took a careful sniff.
A look of pleasant surprise appeared on his face.
"I never expected someone as rough around the edges as him to know good liquor."
"But what truly interests me..."
"...is just how close his mastery of Conqueror’s Haki is to Rocks’."
"I want to know whether anyone on these seas can once again reach Rocks’ level..."
"And challenge the throne of the Celestial Dragons."
"Or whether Shanks is right..."
"That only the person he chose can accomplish such a feat."
"...Or whether Roger’s prediction will prove true."
Looking at Rayleigh, whose graying hair contrasted with the rare brilliance shining in his old eyes, Shakky couldn’t help feeling surprised.
Ever since Roger’s execution, her old partner had lived as nothing more than a shabby coating mechanic who enjoyed drinking and gambling.
It had been a long time since she’d seen him so enthusiastic about anything.
For a brief moment...
She was reminded of the man who had captivated her all those years ago.
But she was no longer the young woman she had once been.
Taking another drag from her cigarette, she smiled.
"Then keep watching."
"I remember that Rocks had refined his Conqueror’s Haki to the point where he could compress and release it at will."
"That wasn’t merely talent."
"It was absolute mastery."
"I hope that kid catches up soon."
"I’d like to see just how far he can go."
"And I also hope these old bones of yours haven’t fallen apart by then."
With that, Shakky turned and began walking away.
After only a few steps, she suddenly stopped and looked back.
"Oh, right."
"Have you thought about Shanks’ proposal?"
"Shanks?"
Rayleigh took another drink of Lucas’s liquor, savoring the fiery burn in his throat before smiling with satisfaction.
"He’s right."
"If things really reach that point..."
"And Captain Roger’s legacy becomes involved..."
"As one of his old crewmates, I can’t simply stand by."
"I also heard Lucas boarded Whitebeard’s Moby Dick because of Ace."
"That certainly surprised me."
"Since he’s finally come to the Sabaody Archipelago..."
"I’d like to see for myself just how extraordinary he really is."
"Well then..."
"I’m off."
Rayleigh’s figure blurred and vanished from sight.
Watching the devastated landscape, Shakky simply smiled and shook her head.
"Men..."
Meanwhile, Lucas leisurely drank from his bottle as he headed toward Grove 3 , following the intelligence Shakky had provided.
Along the way, many pirates sneered the moment they noticed the Marine coat draped over his shoulders.
They were already thinking about teaching this clueless Marine a lesson for wandering into a lawless district.
Then...
They saw his face.
The youthful face of the newly appointed Admiral.
In an instant, countless pirates felt a chill run down their spines.
Without another word, they turned and fled.
Those who reacted too slowly found their legs going weak the moment Lucas’s calm gaze fell upon them.
Had their companions not dragged them away by force, they would have frozen where they stood like fish waiting on a chopping block.
After all...
This was a Marine Admiral.
On the Sabaody Archipelago, a pirate might not recognize one of the Four Emperors.
But no one could afford not to recognize a Marine Admiral from nearby Marine Headquarters.
If an Admiral truly lost his temper...
The pirates of Sabaody would likely face a complete purge.
Watching the streets empty in moments, Ain and Isuka, who hurried along behind Lucas, were left speechless.
Only after a long silence did Isuka finally blurt out,
"Admiral Lucas!"
"Was that really the Dark King, Silvers Rayleigh?"
"We need to report this to Marine Headquarters immediately!"
"Capturing—or even locating—him would be an enormous achievement!"
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