"Ptooey! Ptooey! What the hell is this fruit?! Why does it taste so awful! Guh!"
Hearing the noise from the infirmary, Raleigh burst into laughter.
Soon, the voice changed.
"WHAT THE FUCK? How did I become a Devil Fruit user?! Cook, get over here!"
The explosive shout was heard by everyone on the warship.
The head chef in the kitchen shuddered and hurried to the dining hall, positioning himself behind Raleigh.
"Captain Raleigh, I did exactly as you instructed! When Commander Momonga gets angry, you'll have to cover for me!"
Looking at the chef trembling like a quail, Raleigh offered a few comforting words.
Meanwhile, Miles watched the two with curiosity, unable to understand what secret they were sharing.
Soon, Momonga, completely wrapped in bandages, stormed into the dining hall.
His face was full of killing intent as he glared at the chef.
He seemed to have figured it out.
Suppressing his anger, Momonga sat down between Raleigh and Miles.
"Care to explain, Raleigh?!"
Raleigh looked at Momonga's serious expression and laughed.
"You've gotten an incredible advantage, yet you're acting like you've been cheated. What's with that attitude?"
Ignoring him, Momonga maintained his cold expression.
"You know me. I've always looked down on Devil Fruit users. True strong warriors don't rely on Devil Fruits!"
Raleigh stopped laughing and called out to a secretary officer eavesdropping nearby.
"Bondy, note this down. 'Commander Momonga believes that Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Vice Admiral Sakazuki, and my brother, Vice Admiral Borsalino—all Devil Fruit users—are not true strong warriors.'"
Momonga's expression immediately turned panicked, though he still stubbornly insisted.
"You know that's not what I meant! Their strength isn't just from their Devil Fruits, and besides, theirs are among the highest-ranked ones!"
Raleigh gave Momonga a heavy slap on the shoulder that made him grimace.
"Buddy, would I ever harm you? This is a Logia-type Devil Fruit! On the black market, it could sell for at least 500 million Berries. What's more, this one is quite powerful."
"If you develop it properly, you might even become an Admiral someday."
Raleigh knew the Mist-Mist Fruit fell a bit short, but he had to sell it.
"It may lack a bit in raw offensive power, but its utility is crucial. Think about it—dividing the battlefield, concealing your presence..."
"If you envelop the battlefield in mist and block the enemy's perception, what an incredible assassination technique that would be. The enemy wouldn't even know how to fight you."
Momonga remained expressionless, but he had clearly relaxed.
"Do you think I'm stupid? I've attended lectures. Observation Haki can see through all that."
Hearing the opening, Raleigh pressed his advantage.
"If they have it, why can't you? Imagine creating multiple mist clones, each imbued with your aura and coated in Haki. As long as the enemy's Observation Haki isn't superior to yours, they'll never find your true body."
Momonga let out a helpless laugh but still countered, "But what if we encounter Aokiji? His Ice-Ice Fruit counters the Mist-Mist Fruit, right?"
Raleigh's expression turned serious. "You can't beat Aokiji; the Mist-Mist Fruit is countered by the Ice-Ice Fruit. But Momonga, have you forgotten our motto?"
Momonga's lips twitched.
He shamefully admitted, "Never fight alone when you can gang them up."
Raleigh slapped his thigh emphatically.
"Exactly! Why go solo when you can call for backup? If Aokiji ever confronts you, just rally the troops. The moment your mist is countered, we'll have hundreds of brothers swarm him. If we don't smash his head open, I'll eat my words."
Momonga reluctantly accepted this reality and flipped Raleigh the bird.
"I get the logic, but next time, slap your own thigh, alright?"
Raleigh just laughed, completely missing the sarcasm.
While eating breakfast, he silently outlined the day's training schedule.
The operation had been a perfect success.
Not only had Momonga gained a Logia Devil Fruit, but Raleigh had also taken on a disciple with a temperament similar to Sakazuki's.
Raleigh knew Momonga had the potential to become an elite Vice Admiral based on his swordsmanship and Six Styles alone.
With this assassination-oriented Logia Fruit, becoming an Admiral candidate should be no issue.
After two years of training under his guidance, honing Haki and swordsmanship, he might even reach Admiral level.
After all, Zephyr had become an Admiral without a Devil Fruit, and Garp possessed that level of strength without one too.
With Raleigh as his cheat-like mentor, it would be an embarrassment if Momonga failed to surpass his potential.
In the first half of the Grand Line, a Logia user paired with masterful swordsmanship and Haki...
As long as they didn't run into a Yonko-level opponent, they could essentially swagger through unchallenged.
...
After breakfast, Momonga continued his recovery.
His natural constitution was excellent, and with the boost from his new abilities, he'd be back to normal in a few days.
Miles was assigned to train alongside the other marines, while Raleigh prepared a fishing rod.
[Fishing during patrol. Slacking Value +100]
[Fishing during patrol. Slacking Value +100]
[Fishing during patrol. Slacking Value +100]
Warm sunlight shone on the sea.
Raleigh sat on the warship's railing, fishing.
His luck was good; he'd already caught several rare species.
Behind him, soldiers were training diligently.
The most eye-catching among them was a frail figure.
Miles, recruited just this morning, gritted his teeth as he followed the other marines.
The veterans were accustomed to this intensity, but it was incredible that Miles, on his first day, could keep up.
Even if his movements were unrefined, he stubbornly matched their pace through sheer willpower.
"Impressive, Miles."
"I wasn't nearly as capable at your age. Well done, kid."
"It seems our Miles has the potential to become a strong fighter."
Aside from combat, the atmosphere among the marines was relaxed.
This was mainly because their commanding officer didn't care much about strict military discipline.
In Raleigh's eyes, being a marine and capturing pirates was just a job; there was no need to be overly strict.
Of course, this clashed with Sakazuki's style, so they were destined not to see eye to eye.
Fortunately, with his big brother watching out for him and his own lack of dedication, he probably wouldn't be promoted to the Grand Line anyway.
However, his intentions had long been seen through by Marine Headquarters.
The Marine Chief of Staff Tsuru possessed wisdom far beyond others.
It was because of her recommendation that Gion and Tokikake were now on their way to the East Blue.
But the slacking Raleigh had yet to realize that he had already caught the attention of the big shots.
Soon, his leisurely days would come to an end.
[Fishing during patrol. Slacking Value +100]