PIRATES: I WORK IN NAVY FROM NINE TO FIVE

"Kid, for you to earn such praise from that old man of mine… you're the first of the younger generation," said Shakky, exhaling a puff of smoke as her eyes swept over the ruined battlefield.

"I've heard quite a bit about the recent events around you. A kid like you, who does things in such an unorthodox way… I just can't bring myself to dislike you."

"As for CP9's intel, until now I only knew they might've landed on the Sabaody Archipelago. I wasn't certain where exactly they were hiding…"

"But just now, I suddenly received new information. There's a strong chance they're hiding inside the Human Auction House in Area 3—the lawless zone."

"Of course, this trip may get a little tricky. But for someone like you, it shouldn't be too hard, right?"

As she spoke, Shakky flipped a business card from her sleeve and handed it to him.

Luo Yu took the card and casually pulled out a bottle of his own homemade liquor, tossing it toward Rayleigh.

"This is something I brewed myself. Take it as a token of appreciation. Next time we meet, if there's bonus money involved, I won't go easy on you."

"Oh?" Rayleigh eyed the bottle in his hand and burst out laughing.

"You really know how to play the game. Much better than Garp, who only ever freeloads and mooches."

"But next time, if I run into you again, this old man's slipping away faster than oil on a hot pan!"

"Is that so?" Luo Yu chuckled softly, stowing the card before turning and striding away.

Beside him, Isuka and Ain stood frozen for a moment. They had thought the battle would continue longer—never expecting it to end so easily.

Looking back at the two terrifying retired legends, both young women steeled themselves and hurried after Luo Yu.

As the three figures disappeared from view, Shakky took a slow drag from her cigarette and said lightly, "Rayleigh… this Luo Yu kid… doesn't he seem more likely to shake the old era than that Straw Hat brat Red-Haired bet on?"

"They reportedly clashed in Water 7 three days ago. The bloodshed was one-sided."

"This kid Luo Yu is absurdly strong."

The earlier clash had not been spontaneous.

After noticing Marines loitering nearby, Shakky deduced that the new Admiral would pay them a visit, so she had Rayleigh return in advance—both to avoid wrecking her extortionate bar during a possible fight, and to see firsthand the so-called 'Stand-and-Tank' fighting style of the Admiral nicknamed Taiote.

It was also a chance to test a prophecy Roger once spoke.

That brief skirmish had stirred memories they had long buried.

Rayleigh rolled the wine gourd in his hand, a glint of sharpness flashing deep in his aged eyes as he smiled.

"According to that kid Shanks, Luffy's got an extraordinary background, and he inherited the mythical Nika fruit. He might be the only one capable of turning the gears of the age."

"But whether it's Shanks or Buggy, they've always had their own schemes. It's hard to guess what either is really planning."

"Still, I remember what Captain Roger said the day he disbanded the crew—'The one who shakes the world might be a revolutionary, or a pirate… but it might just be a Marine.'"

"After all… the man who helped Roger defeat Rocks was a Marine."

"Oh?" Shakky smiled. "Rayleigh, you sound like you're seriously impressed by that kid."

Rayleigh chuckled. "Shakky, I'm just a bystander watching the show."

He uncorked the wine gourd and took a sniff. His face lit up in mild surprise.

"Didn't think that rough-edged kid actually knew his liquor."

"But what really interests me is how far he's come with his Conqueror's Haki. I want to know… how close he is to Rocks."

"I wonder if someone in this sea can reach that level again… and if, like Shanks said, only the one he chose can challenge the Celestial Dragons' throne."

"Or maybe… Roger was right."

As she watched the silver-haired man who used to drown in alcohol and apathy now gleam with a rare excitement, Shakky was briefly taken aback.

It had been a long time since she'd seen this side of Rayleigh—the man who once mesmerized the world.

But she was no longer the naïve girl of yesteryear. She took a long drag on her cigarette and smiled faintly.

"Then keep watching. I remember that Rocks pushed Conqueror's Haki to the point of compressed release—that's beyond talent, that's a forged mastery."

"Let's see if that kid can catch up… I'd like to witness it with my own eyes."

"Just make sure those old bones of yours don't give out before then."

With those words, Shakky turned to leave. Yet just a few steps out, she paused and glanced back.

"By the way, what do you think about Shanks' offer?"

"Shanks?" Rayleigh took a swig of the rough liquor, enjoying the burn down his throat as he grinned.

"He's not wrong. If things really come to that… and it involves Captain Roger's legacy, how can I, his old comrade, stand by and do nothing?"

"I heard that Luo Yu kid went aboard the Moby Dick just to find Ace. That surprised even me."

"Now that he's here at Sabaody… I think I'll tag along and see just how different this kid really is."

"Let's go."

With a flash, Rayleigh vanished on the spot.

Shakky, still puffing on her cigarette, glanced over the shattered coastline and smiled wryly.

"Men…"

Elsewhere…

Luo Yu sipped from his wine flask, making his way swiftly toward Area 3's lawless zone, guided by the intel Shakky provided.

Along the way, the pirates lurking in alleyways caught sight of the Marine cloak on his shoulders and sneered at first.

They planned to have some fun with the fool who dared to wander into their turf.

But the moment they saw his face—young, terrifyingly young—their blood froze.

A wave of fear surged through them.

Before they could think twice, they bolted in every direction.

The ones who reacted too late, upon locking eyes with Luo Yu's calm and indifferent gaze, felt their legs buckle.

If not for their companions dragging them away by the arms, they might have collapsed right there, like meat on the butcher's block.

After all, this was a Navy Admiral.

In Sabaody, you might not know which of the Four Emperors ruled the sea…

But you'd better know the Marine Admirals from the neighboring Marineford.

Piss off an Admiral, and the pirates on the Archipelago would face a bloody purge.

Watching the streets clear out in moments, Ain and Isuka, who had caught up behind him, were left slack-jawed.

After a long pause, Isuka finally blurted out in disbelief:

"Admiral Luo Yu… was that really the Dark King Rayleigh just now? Shouldn't we report this immediately? That's a massive achievement!"