As Sengoku's ship disappeared from view, Rayleigh finally let out the breath he'd been holding.
But a question burned in his chest. He turned toward Ron.
"Tell me straight… Ace — is he really Roger's son?"
It sounded insane. The Pirate King's bloodline, raised by a Marine hero and now sailing as Whitebeard's son?
The entire story was tangled beyond belief.
If Roger were alive to see this mess, he'd probably be halfway through murdering the "old dogs" responsible.
Ron just smiled faintly. "What was Roger's sword called?"
Rayleigh froze. "…Ace."
The name hit him like lightning. Every doubt vanished instantly.
Roger once said — If it's a girl, I'll name her Ann. If it's a boy… Ace.
And Ace… was also the name of his beloved sword.
Then the memory struck deeper. Rayleigh's face darkened.
"If I can connect the dots… then Sengoku must have realized it too."
Sengoku — the strategist, the man who wielded the Mythical Zoan: Human-Human Fruit, Model: Great Buddha.
A power granting divine strength, enlightenment, and terrifying wisdom.
Ron nodded calmly. "That's the plan. Let Sengoku suspect. The Marines will make their move, and Whitebeard will be drawn to Sabaody."
His tone stayed light, as if orchestrating a chess match between titans.
"But there's another player — Blackbeard. He already knows Ace's true identity. That's his bargaining chip — to hand Ace over for a Shichibukai title."
Ron's eyes glinted. "Once he realizes his trump card's exposed, he'll panic. He might run — or worse, spark chaos to save his own neck. You, Rayleigh, only need to protect Ace long enough for Whitebeard to arrive."
He paused. "But if Teach gets desperate, he'll use Ace as leverage. Be ready for that."
Rayleigh felt a chill crawl down his spine. He studied the young man before him.
Even after decades on the Grand Line, after crossing swords with monsters and legends alike — he still couldn't see through Ron.
This man's strength was one thing. But his knowledge — his foresight — was beyond anything Rayleigh had ever seen.
A single "story" had just shifted the tides for the Marines, Whitebeard's crew, and the fate of the Pirate King's son.
"...Terrifying," Rayleigh muttered under his breath. Then, softly: "I owe you one. I'll bring a Supreme Grade Blade tomorrow — consider it thanks."
Nothing good ever comes free, Ron thought — but he still smiled. "Then I'll accept it."
Rayleigh clearly wanted to ensure Ron would lend a hand when the time came — perhaps even save Ace.
Still, for one of the world's twelve Supreme Grade Blades… it was a fair trade.
Once Ace escaped Sabaody, everything would settle.
Rayleigh glanced toward the window. "With a Rear Admiral candidate, two Vice Admirals, and an army that size… no. I can't sit still."
"If Ace's life isn't in danger, don't interfere," Ron warned. "Once you act, they'll send Admirals."
"I know," Rayleigh said, nodding gravely. Then his gaze flicked to the half-full bottle of Tiger Tonic on the counter.
"By the way… about that bottle. I think I'll—"
He cleared his throat. "—redeem a bit of lost pride tonight."
Ron stared flatly.
A seventy-year-old man… what could go wrong?
"Take it," Ron sighed. "But for the love of sanity, don't drink it all at once."
Rayleigh grinned. "Good man. I knew giving you that blade would be worth it."
Hugging the bottle like a treasure, he dropped a handful of Berries and strutted out of the tavern with the spring of a teenager.
Moments later, the System chimed in Ron's mind.
[Ding — Customers: Sengoku, Rayleigh. Confession complete.]
[Linked target: Ace. Will visit the tavern soon.]
[Customer Rayleigh: Armament Haki, Observation Haki, Conqueror's Haki. Choose one.]
[Customer Sengoku: Rokushiki, Mythical Zoan: Human-Human Fruit, Great Buddha Model, Conqueror's Haki.]
Ron thought for a moment. "Rayleigh's Observation Haki… and Sengoku's Buddha Fruit — as a Devil Fruit form."
[Ding — Rewards Settled.]
A wave of light enveloped him. His vision slowed; time itself seemed to crawl.
Outside the window, leaves drifted in slow motion. A passing gnat beat its wings — and Ron counted every flap.
Then a golden glow appeared atop the counter. When it faded, a fruit covered in divine patterns rested there — shining faintly.
Ron raised a brow. "If I eat this Devil Fruit, can I still eat others later?"
[Ding — Once the tavern is upgraded, host will no longer be bound by this world's one-fruit rule.]
"Oh? And how do I upgrade the tavern?"
[When total revenue reaches five hundred million Berries, the tavern will undergo its first upgrade.]
[After upgrading, the system will invite one interdimensional guest per day — with a chance of failure. Continued upgrades guarantee success.]
[Current earnings: 32 million Berries.]
Ron's face darkened. "Should've extorted a bit more from Sengoku…"
He sighed. "Guess I'll save this fruit for later."
Just as he stored it away, a faint, breathy voice called from the laundry room out back.
"Master…"
It was Rem.
"I… I'm stuck… in the washing machine."
Ron froze.
Of course. Art imitates life.
When he entered the yard, the scene nearly made him drop dead.
Rem was kneeling, upper body wedged inside the machine, her maid skirt pulled tight.
Ron: "…"
Too familiar.
And seriously — what exactly are you guarding with your hands? Do I look like that kind of man?
"I can't get out, Master," she said, voice trembling, cheeks flushed crimson.
Ron knelt behind her, feigning seriousness. "Don't move. I need to… investigate exactly where that flail of yours comes from."
A muffled gasp escaped her lips.
No, no — don't misunderstand. Other than a thorough "search and rescue," Ron swore he did nothing!
When she finally wriggled free, Rem straightened her skirt, trying to act composed.
Her face, however, glowed red — part embarrassment, part… something else.
Ron said nothing, but his smirk said plenty.
And right before anything could escalate further, a panicked voice came from the doorway.
"Uh… I swear I just asked Rem to grab something for me. You believe me, right?"
Both Ron and Rem turned in unison. Their eyes glinted murderously.
Ram: "...So scary! They're totally going to kill me, aren't they?!"
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