Year 1488 of the Sea Circle Calendar.
Somewhere on the Grand Line, a ship was slowly sailing across the waves.
From the outside, it was unmistakably a pirate ship—the skull and crossbones on its flag made that perfectly clear.
Just last night, the crew had finished a wild banquet, and now most of them were still drunk—only a few could even stand straight.
But this ship was no ordinary vessel.
It was the Oro Jackson—yes, that Oro Jackson, the ship of the future Pirate King, Gol D. Roger!
Although Roger had yet to claim the title of Pirate King, his crew was already feared across the seas. The God Valley Incident had ended just a few years prior, and there was no pirate crew in the world that could rival the Roger Pirates. Aside from the fleet led by Marine Hero Garp, most Marine ships would immediately detour the moment they spotted the Jolly Roger of Roger's crew.
Crack!
Suddenly, the calm, sunlit sea was torn apart by something strange. A pillar of light descended from the heavens, striking the ocean not far from the Oro Jackson, thunder rumbling in its wake.
The deafening noise jolted the half-conscious drunks on deck awake.
One of the crewmen staggered to the bow, trying to see what was going on—and there it was, that fading pillar of white light.
"What's going on, Rayleigh? What the hell is that thing?"
Captain Roger stumbled over as well, equally stunned by the sight.
"I don't know," Rayleigh muttered. "Could it be… an attack?"
"Everyone, sober up! Be ready for anything!"
Rayleigh barked the order, grabbed a telescope, and peered in the direction of the light.
Bzzzz…
The pillar began to hum with a strange sound, then slowly started to thin out.
A minute later, it vanished completely, leaving the sea calm once more.
"What in the world was that?" Rayleigh murmured, puzzled. He'd never seen anything like it before.
"Rayleigh, look—over there!" Roger clapped him on the shoulder and pointed.
Rayleigh raised his telescope again, focusing in the direction Roger indicated.
Through the lens, he finally saw it clearly—a small basin floating on the water… and inside it, something was moving.
"It's… a child!"
Realizing what it was, Rayleigh shouted, shoved the telescope into Roger's hands, tore off his shirt, and dove into the sea with a loud splash!
As the right-hand man of the future Pirate King, vice-captain of the crew, and a non–Devil Fruit user, Rayleigh was in his element in the water.
Within moments, he reached the floating basin. Inside was a baby boy, only a few months old at most.
Rayleigh quickly scooped the child into his arms and turned back toward the ship.
"Hey, Rayleigh—behind you!"
Roger's sudden shout made Rayleigh spin around.
Out of nowhere, a massive fish with sharp fangs lunged from beneath the waves, maw wide open!
And never underestimate these sea beasts—remember, even Shanks lost an arm to one in the East Blue someday.
With a loud swish, the creature swallowed Rayleigh and the baby whole!
"Rayleigh! Damn it—spit him out!"
Roger dove in after them, determined to drag Rayleigh back.
But before he could get close, two slashes of light burst from the monster's belly—an X-shaped wound split open its abdomen!
"I'm fine! Head back!"
Rayleigh's voice came from within the spray. Knife between his teeth, baby held high in both arms, he swam back toward the ship.
Soon, the two of them were safely back aboard. Everyone crowded around, their gazes locked on the baby in Rayleigh's arms.
The child didn't cry or fuss. He simply stared at Rayleigh with calm, curious eyes.
"Where'd this kid come from? He's just a baby!"
"Yeah! What kind of parents throw their child into the ocean like that? Or maybe… the ship he was on sank, and he's the only survivor?"
The crew whispered among themselves, confused and curious.
Among them, two little boys—around seven or eight years old—pushed their way through to the front.
They were Shanks and Buggy, the apprentice pirates aboard the Oro Jackson.
Shanks had been taken in by the Roger Pirates after the God Valley battle, while Buggy… well, no one really knew his backstory.
"Rayleigh, looks like the kid really likes you," Roger said with a grin, gently touching the baby's cheek. "What are you going to do with him?"
"Maybe… we should find an island with people and leave him there?" Rayleigh suggested. The light pillar and the baby's sudden appearance weighed on his mind—they had to be connected somehow.
He hesitated, torn between leaving the baby behind or taking him in.
"How about this?" Roger said suddenly.
He pulled out two objects—one in each hand. In his left, a gold coin; in his right, a log pose.
"Let the kid choose. If he picks the coin, we'll leave him somewhere safe. But if he picks the log pose… he comes with us."
He grinned and looked toward Shanks and Buggy. "That's how we decided to keep these two, remember?"
Rayleigh nodded and placed both items before the child.
Before anyone could blink, the baby reached out—grabbing the log pose without hesitation.
The entire crew froze for a moment.
"Well," Roger laughed, "that was decisive!"
"Alright then! Since you've made your choice, let's get ready to raise another kid aboard this ship!"
It wasn't like they hadn't done it before. After all, that's how Shanks ended up here. One more child was no big deal.
Roger suddenly clapped Rayleigh on the shoulder.
"Rayleigh, you're not getting any younger—and you've got no kid of your own. How about you take this one in as your son?"
"What?!"
Rayleigh glanced at him incredulously.
You're older than me!
But after a brief pause, he nodded.
"…Alright. From now on, you're my son."
He lifted the baby high into the air and smiled.
"Never thought I'd beat you to fatherhood," Roger teased.
"Alright, enough jokes," another crewman laughed. "You're his father now, Rayleigh—give him a name!"
Rayleigh looked down at the baby in his arms, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"Mislanda. Silvers Mislanda. That'll be your name from now on."