"Kid, you're the first youngster I've seen who could earn that old man's praise," Shakky said, exhaling a puff of smoke as she glanced around the ruined battlefield.
"I've heard plenty about you lately. You've got a way of doing things that's… unconventional. But I can't bring myself to dislike it."
"Until just now, I only knew CP9 might've landed on Sabaody. I didn't know where they were hiding."
"But fresh intel just came in—they might be holed up in the human auction house in Area 3."
"It'll be tricky. But for someone like you, I doubt it'll be a problem."
As she spoke, Shakky handed over a business card.
Luoyu took it, then casually tossed a bottle of homemade liquor to Rayleigh.
"Brewed it myself. Consider it a gift. But next time we meet—if there's a bounty—I won't hold back."
"Oh?" Rayleigh eyed the bottle and laughed.
"You've got manners, kid. Better than that freeloader Garp."
"But if we meet again, this old man's making a run for it!"
"Is that so?" Luoyu smiled faintly, pocketed the card, and turned to leave.
Isuka and Ain blinked.
They'd expected the fight to continue.
They hadn't expected it to end so… casually.
They glanced back at the two terrifying retirees, then hurried after Luoyu.
Watching the trio disappear, Shakky took a long drag from her cigarette.
"Rayleigh… that Luoyu kid might have more potential to shake the old era than the one Shanks picked."
"Three days ago, they clashed in Water 7. It wasn't even close."
"That kid's strength is… freakish."
The fight hadn't been spontaneous.
Shakky had noticed the Navy lurking nearby and guessed the new Admiral would come.
She'd asked Rayleigh to return and wait—partly to avoid damage to her bar, but mostly to see the infamous "stand-and-swing" Admiral in action.
And to test something Roger once said.
Rayleigh twirled the liquor bottle in his hand, a sharp glint in his eyes.
"According to Shanks, Luffy has an extraordinary lineage and the legendary Nika Fruit. He might be the one to turn the gears of fate."
"But Shanks and Buggy… those two are too crafty. Hard to guess what they're really thinking."
"Still, back when Roger disbanded the crew, he said something I've never forgotten."
'The one who shakes this era might be a revolutionary… or a pirate… or even a Marine.'
"After all, the one who helped Roger defeat Rocks… was a Marine."
"So you really think highly of that kid," Shakky teased.
"I'm just a bystander," Rayleigh chuckled, uncorking the bottle and sniffing it.
His eyes lit up.
"Didn't expect this rough-around-the-edges kid to know his liquor."
"But what I really want to know is—how far can he take that Conqueror's Haki?"
"Can anyone reach Rocks' level again? Can someone challenge the Celestial Dragons' throne?"
"Is Shanks right—that only his chosen one can do it?"
"Or was Roger right all along?"
Shakky was surprised.
She hadn't seen Rayleigh this animated in years.
Not since Roger's death.
She remembered the man who once captivated the seas.
But she was no longer that wide-eyed girl.
She exhaled smoke and smiled.
"Then keep watching. I remember Rocks could compress and release his Conqueror's Haki like a blade. That's not talent—it's mastery."
"Let's see if this kid can reach that level."
"And let's hope your old bones are still useful when the time comes."
She turned to leave, but paused after a few steps.
"By the way… have you thought about Shanks' proposal?"
"Shanks, huh?" Rayleigh took a swig, savoring the burn.
"He's not wrong. If this really ties back to the Captain… I can't just sit it out."
"I heard Luoyu boarded the Moby Dick for Ace. That surprised me."
"Since he's here on Sabaody, I might as well see what makes him so special."
"Let's go."
Rayleigh vanished in a blur.
Shakky watched the ruined coastline, cigarette between her lips.
She shook her head with a smile.
"Men."
Meanwhile, Luoyu sipped his liquor as he made his way toward Area 3.
Pirates along the way spotted the Navy cloak and grinned.
A lone Marine in the lawless zone?
Time for some fun.
Then they saw his face.
Young. Too young.
And terrifying.
Spines went cold.
They turned and ran.
Those who couldn't escape in time?
Their legs buckled under Luoyu's calm gaze.
If not for their crewmates dragging them away, they might've collapsed on the spot.
This was a Navy Admiral.
On Sabaody, you might not know the Four Emperors.
But you had to know the Admirals.
Piss one off?
And the whole island might get wiped clean.
As the streets emptied, Ain and Isuka caught up, stunned.
It took a while before Isuka could even speak.
"Admiral Luoyu… was that really the Dark King Rayleigh?"
"We should report this. That's a massive achievement!"