The clash of Conqueror's Haki in Zone 13 caused quite a stir, though few knew exactly what had happened.
At the center of it all sat Don and Rayleigh, facing each other across a small table. Behind Don were Mihawk and Robin, seated quietly, while behind Rayleigh, Shakky stood with a cigarette between her lips.
"Are you really going through with this?"
Rayleigh's tone was serious as his hand rested on the sword before him.
"That's exactly why I came here."
Don's hand was also on the hilt of the blade laid across the table.
"This isn't something you can learn from just one fight—even if you've already brushed up against that kind of technique."
Rayleigh looked at Don with a mix of weariness and reluctant admiration.
"I'm already a retired old man. Can't you just let me be?"
At that, everyone else in the quiet bar nearly rolled their eyes—well, Mihawk didn't need to, since he rarely reacted anyway.
"That's precisely why I came to find you. If you weren't an old man, I wouldn't dare."
Don leaned back slightly, stroking his chin, eyes fixed on Rayleigh across the table.
"After all, if I fought you in your prime, I'd be the one getting beaten to a pulp."
He was very self-aware of his current strength.
When he didn't rely on the ability of "Indomitable Will," Don's full-power combat could briefly reach admiral-level strength—and among the admirals, he probably wasn't weak either.
But Rayleigh in his prime? Likely even stronger than an admiral.
Maybe not quite on Roger's level—but definitely not far off.
And the technique of Conqueror's Haki infusion was not something that could be ignored.
"So you're saying you're bullying me because I've gotten old?"
Rayleigh was momentarily speechless.
This kid was way too blunt.
But... just getting beaten up once? Was it really that simple?
"Young man, being a pirate isn't some kind of child's game."
"I'm not a pirate," Don replied smoothly. "So whether it's a game or not has nothing to do with me. Anyway, I'm not leaving until I master Conqueror's Haki infusion. I still have a few things to take care of here in the Sabaody Archipelago, so this works out perfectly."
He said it with a friendly smile—but Rayleigh could hear the stubbornness beneath the calm tone.
Was he being pestered into this?
If it were years ago, Rayleigh might've just drawn his sword right then and there.
But looking at Don, Mihawk, and Fujitora standing behind him...
Yeah, no chance.
Rayleigh sighed deeply and nodded.
"All right, if that's what you want, we'll do it your way. But I'll warn you—I won't be holding back."
He figured the kid could use a lesson anyway.
Let him see just how vast the sea truly was.
Even though Mihawk had admitted defeat to Don, Rayleigh still had faith in his own ability.
At least for now.
As for the future—well, that was a problem for another day.
Shakky, listening to the exchange, blinked a few times, then went behind the counter and brought over a few bottles of liquor.
"I'll have juice, thanks," Don said with a smile, waving his hand politely as she placed the bottles on the table.
"Juice? Come on now," Rayleigh said instantly, uncorking a bottle and taking a long swig. "A man of the sea doesn't turn down a drink!"
He seemed determined to show Don what it meant to be a man of the sea.
"I'm underage," Don replied lightly, expression unchanged. "And besides—if I get strong enough, even drinking juice will become the next big trend on the seas."
"...Underage?"
Rayleigh fell silent.
What had he been doing at that age?
Had he already set sail?
Rayleigh tried to recall. The memories were distant—his hometown had been destroyed by pirates, and he'd been drifting alone across the sea. He hadn't even met Roger yet.
"What do you plan to do from here?"
After a long pause, Rayleigh looked at Don, who was sipping his juice.
"Hmm?" Don tilted his head.
"Are you planning to turn the world upside down too?"
That was what Roger had said back when Rayleigh first met him—and the reason he'd joined his crew.
"Not interested."
Rayleigh studied his face closely, as if trying to see if he was serious.
"Even if the world does get turned upside down, it'll just be a side effect. All I want is to bring a new kind of order to this sea."
Rayleigh raised an eyebrow. "A new order? You mean that Hunter's Guild you mentioned?"
"Yeah," Don said with a grin. "Interested? If you join, I'll make you a branch leader."
Rayleigh chuckled. "It's not even established yet, is it? And you're sure you can pull it off?"
Giving the sea a new order—even Roger hadn't claimed he could do that.
Though, to be fair, the Great Pirate Era had begun because of him.
"What does it matter? Someone's gotta start somewhere. These days, more and more people set sail every year, chasing empty dreams of treasure and glory. I just want to give them a new goal."
Rayleigh went quiet for a long time before answering.
"Then I hope you manage it."
Don's words stirred something deep within him.
"Pick a place," Don said. "You've been here long enough—you must know the area well."
"There are plenty of islands nearby," Rayleigh replied, "but pirates don't usually care where they fight."
"I already said I'm not a pirate. And if our battle spreads too far, it might hurt innocent people."
Don's tone was serious.
"I see." Rayleigh nodded. "In that case, I'll show you a place tomorrow. But tonight—I need a proper rest."
"Got it."
Don stood, downed the rest of his juice, and glanced at Robin.
Robin placed a stack of Berries on the table, then rose to her feet.
Mihawk and Fujitora followed suit.
"I'll find you tomorrow," Don said, then turned toward the door. The others followed behind him.
As the four of them left, Shakky leaned on the counter, watching Rayleigh.
"You think he can really do it?"
Rayleigh shook his head slowly.
"Until he proves it, no one can say. It's too difficult—giving the world a new order. The Navy, the World Government, even the pirates—they'd never just stand by."
"To pull that off, he'll have to be unimaginably strong."
Because in the end, this world only respects strength.
"But I'd like to see it," Rayleigh said with a faint smile. "I want to see just how far he can go."
END OF CHAPTER
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