The newcomer was none other than Cavendish.
Covered in blood and grime, Cavendish had arrived at the scene guided by a crewmate's Vivre Card.
Having completed his mission, he eagerly came to report his success to Ray.
Cavendish was extremely excited, believing he had finally passed Boss Ray's test!
Initially, when fighting Sasaki, he had indeed been at a disadvantage.
That guy turned out to be a Devil Fruit user of the Zoan type: Triceratops.
His defense was insanely high, and his attack methods were bizarre.
Since when could a triceratops' neck frill rotate like a spinning blade? Is that what dinosaurs were actually like back in the day?
Although Cavendish wasn't exactly a scholar, he still understood basic common sense.
That wasn't natural!
So, at first, he suffered greatly under Sasaki's strange attacks.
The nasty wound on his chest was cut by that spinning neck frill earlier.
Just as he was about to be defeated, he recalled a scene from two days ago.
Cavendish had forgotten to have his subordinates chain him up while sleeping, resulting in the release of his second personality: the merciless, indiscriminate killer "Hakuba."
Naturally, the outcome was Ray slapping him out of his dark mode and back to reality.
That night, Ray told him one thing:
To control his second personality, he needed to adapt to its habits.
For example: practicing feigned sleep.
Since the second personality emerged when he was asleep, entering a half-awake state might allow him to communicate with his other self.
Thus, at the brink of life and death against Sasaki, his potential erupted.
He truly achieved the "feigned slumber" mode, successfully joining forces with Hakuba to defeat the armored dinosaur.
…
Seeing Ray again, Cavendish was utterly overwhelmed with emotion!
The Boss had merely given him a suggestion, yet the lifelong curse that had troubled him for over a decade was easily resolved.
Overwhelmed with excitement, he rushed toward Ray with open arms, ready to embrace him.
WHACK!
Naturally, Ray responded with another slap.
In an instant, Cavendish was sent spinning like a top into the seawater by Ray.
Frieda and the members of the Beautiful Pirates exchanged silent, awkward glances.
Tama received gentleness and a tail-hug, while Cavendish received a harsh slap into the ocean.
Both were people, both were expressing gratitude toward Ray—how could the difference be so vast?
...
Half an hour later.
A visibly aggrieved Cavendish had reorganized his crew.
The group, accompanied by Tama, set off toward the village.
Tama had asked everyone to help find her grandfather, and Ray hadn't refused.
Since they had just arrived in Wano Country and had no immediate leads on Kaido, he might as well accompany the little girl for a while.
At one point, Ray even wondered if he was becoming soft.
If a mature beauty asked for his help, he would likely refuse without a second thought.
But whenever an innocent young girl sought his aid, he found it hard to say no.
Perhaps it wasn't that he couldn't refuse all little girls.
Was it just because she resembled... Rin?
...
On the way to "Amigasa Village."
Every time Ray's gaze fell on Tama, Rin's figure surfaced in his mind.
He couldn't understand it, yet the image lingered, leaving him with a fury burning in his chest.
A protective instinct he couldn't shake.
Just as Ray and the others were about to reach the mountain pass of the village, hundreds of figures suddenly appeared.
A group of pirates dressed in distinct "Viking-style" attire, led by two captains, stood blocking the path.
One of them was the Spinosaurus Ray had sent flying earlier, now in his human form—his name was Page One.
The other was Page One's sister.
She sported twin horns, a short skirt, high heels, long legs, and a floral mask over her mouth.
Her name was Ulti, and she was also a user of the Ancient Zoan-type, the Dragon-Dragon Fruit: Pachycephalosaurus Model.
Page One, standing beside Ulti, looked deeply frustrated.
He had spent the entire journey trying to persuade his sister not to provoke this man.
He had felt Ray's power firsthand—one punch from him nearly took his head off.
This was someone they couldn't afford to offend!
But Ulti was an obsessive brother-con.
When she saw her precious "Pay-Pay" with a fractured skull and a bloodied face, rage had clouded her judgment.
In the original story, she had even dared to talk back to Kaido for her brother's sake!
...
When Tama saw the members of the Beast Pirates appearing before her, her body trembled uncontrollably.
Yet, at the same time, her eyes burned with intense hatred.
She wanted to avenge the people of her village, especially now that she had these powerful people by her side.
'If... if I can persuade them to help me, they could surely defeat the enemies before us.'
'Especially that white-haired big brother—he could definitely do it.'
Tama's eyes grew increasingly furious, and Ray even sensed genuine killing intent emanating from her small body.
But suddenly, her murderous aura faded.
It was replaced once more by the sorrowful, resigned expression from before.
She knew the group in the distance had come to hold her helpers accountable.
And the reason her big brothers and sisters had offended the Beast Pirates was because they had saved her.
"Big Brother, Big Sister... you should run away quickly."
"I... I have a way to stall them."
Before Ray could respond, Frieda and Cavendish immediately refused.
Especially Cavendish, who strode forward and stood in front of Tama like a shield.
"Little brat, since the Boss is willing to take you along, then I'll treat you as one of us."
"Our Beautiful Pirates have never had the concept of abandoning comrades!"
SHING!
After saying this, Cavendish drew his sword Durandal from his waist and pointed it directly at Page One and Ulti.
But immediately after, Tama ran in front of Cavendish, spreading her small arms to stop him.
"No! They're Kaido's people! Tama can't cause trouble for you!"
"Kaido is very strong. It would be dangerous for you brothers and sisters to stand up for me!"
She wiped her eyes, her voice shaking.
"You're all good people. Grandpa said we mustn't harm good people."
"Don't look down on me just because I'm small. I'm a ninja too!"
"Ninjas don't retreat at times like this!"
As she spoke, the corners of Tama's eyes were already moist, seemingly holding resentment, grievance, and even more fear.
But she moved her still short legs, quickly walking towards where Ulti and Page One were.
Even though her entire body was trembling, Tama's pace didn't slow down in the slightest.
"I promised Ace I would become an enchanting kunoichi."
"If I involve innocent people today, what right would I have to see him in the future?"
As she walked, the determination in Tama's eyes grew stronger!
...
Watching Tama who chose to offer herself up to avoid involving their group, Cavendish fell silent.
'So kind, yet so brave.'
'She was just a six-year-old girl.'
'Do i just.... watch such a little girl go straight to her death?'
'Then what right would I have to become the most popular noble gentleman among women on these seas in the future?!'
Thinking this, Cavendish tensed his legs, immediately preparing to dash forward.
But someone was faster than him.
SWISH!
In the blink of an eye, a Light Whip shot out, wrapped around Tama, and dragged her back to Frieda's side.
Ray glanced at Tama and spoke calmly.
"Stay here."
With just one sentence, he shut Tama's mouth completely.
Ray's actions mostly fell within his calculated plans. But for unexpected situations like the one before him, Ray's principle was to follow his heart.
If he wanted to help someone, he would help.
If he didn't want to help someone, even if they knelt and begged, he wouldn't pay any attention to them.
And Tama was someone Ray wanted to help.
Maybe it had something to do with Rin.
Maybe not.
At this moment, Ray didn't plan to sort out his innermost thoughts.
Moreover, Ulti had come specifically to provoke him.
Ray raised a hand to stop Cavendish, who was still preparing to fight.
"Stand down."
This kid's strength was passable, but facing two of the Flying Six at once? He definitely will lose and it would waste a lot of time.
So, Ray decided to personally take action and kill these two annoying ants.
But before that.
"Frieda, take Tama somewhere far away."
But the response to Ray didn't come from Frieda.
It came from Tama.
"Big Brother... Tama has seen a lot of blood. Tama wants to watch."
Hearing these words, Ray paused.
He seemed to suddenly recall something from a distant memory.
Then.... a scene appeared that horrified Cavendish and Frieda!
The persona of the "Cold-Blooded Demon" in their hearts... collapsed.
"Boss/Ray-sama... smiled?"
Yes.
Ray smiled.
Not the barely noticeable smirk from before, but a very obvious, clear, almost gentle smile.