Seeing Sengoku abruptly hang up, Setsuna smiled and shook his head. "And this is the Fleet Admiral? His psychological resilience is too poor."
Leaving the room, Setsuna found Ace, who had returned at some point, sitting dejectedly in a corner, radiating an aura of gloom.
"What's wrong with you?" Setsuna was startled by his state.
Ace looked up, his eyes full of indignation. "Captain! Why did your trip get to experience such exciting things? I wanted to fight Akainu too!"
Setsuna's expression turned somewhat subtle. "Challenging Akainu is still too early for you. As for Cavendish's words, you shouldn't take them to heart. He's just sulking about not being able to go to Fish-Man Island."
Ace immediately perked up, gloating. "He's not happy about commanding such a huge fleet?"
Setsuna shook his head slightly, changing the subject. "Is the Ark's coating finished?"
Ace replied seriously, "All done. Rayleigh's craftsmanship is truly top-notch."
"Let's go have a look."
The two went to the shipyard. The Ark Maxim was now enveloped in a dreamlike bubble film, refracting rainbow colors under the sun.
"Old Ray, excellent workmanship," Setsuna walked to Rayleigh, patting his shoulder.
Rayleigh smugly took a sip of wine. "Hehe, I make a living with this skill…"
Before he finished, a fragrant breeze swept over.
Hancock landed lightly before Setsuna like a butterfly, holding a delicate porcelain plate. "Setsuna-sama, this is a pudding I just developed~"
Setsuna was amused and exasperated, 'Didn't you just leave not long ago? Such efficiency is astonishing.'
Rayleigh stared wide-eyed. "H-Hancock?"
Hearing Rayleigh's voice, Hancock cast a cool glance at him. "Oh, it's you, Rayleigh."
"Is that any way to treat your savior?" Rayleigh smiled wryly, shaking his head, then asked curiously, "What are you doing here?"
Hancock cupped her face, stars twinkling in her eyes. "Because I am now Setsuna-sama's personal chef~"
"And your position as a Warlord? And as Empress of Amazon Lily?"
"I've resigned…" Seeing Rayleigh about to ask more, Hancock yelled, "Aren't you annoying?! Shut up!"
The corner of Rayleigh's mouth twitched as he looked at Setsuna, his eyes full of accusation: 'I asked you to 'show restraint', not to 'leave affection everywhere'! How did you even win over Hancock?'
Setsuna picked up a silver spoon, tasted the pudding. Under Hancock's expectant gaze, he commented, "Good flavor. Just a bit too sweet."
"I'll adjust the recipe immediately!" Hancock's fighting spirit ignited instantly.
Seeing two pieces of pudding left on the plate, Rayleigh smiled and reached out. "Haha, perfect timing. I haven't eaten…"
Hancock swiftly shielded the plate against her chest, eyeing him warily. "What do you think you're doing?"
Rayleigh looked baffled. "There are still two pieces left. I'll help you…"
"Even if Setsuna-sama doesn't eat them, they're not for you," Hancock tossed her hair proudly and danced away happily.
Rayleigh stood there dumbfounded, on the verge of tears. The preferential treatment is just too outrageous!
After a moment of silence, Rayleigh sighed. "Please be considerate of Hancock in the future. That child is actually very simple-hearted."
Setsuna narrowed his eyes, suddenly asking, "Are you Hancock's father?"
"Y-y-yes… No! Right?!" Rayleigh's expressions and gestures suddenly became animated. He gesticulated, eyes darting. "Look at my face. Do I look like I could father the world's most beautiful woman?"
Setsuna smiled meaningfully. "Why not? Wasn't Shakky the world's most beautiful woman of the previous generation?"
Rayleigh waved his hands repeatedly. "Don't joke about that. It would trouble Hancock."
Setsuna rubbed his chin. "As far as I know, you, Shakky, and Nyon coincidentally sheltered the Hancock sisters who were fleeing from Celestial Dragon pursuit."
Rayleigh forced calmness. "What's the problem with that?"
"A big problem," Setsuna's gaze was sharp.
This old man Rayleigh drank wine watching Ace's execution in the future yet saved Hancock twice in peril.
Especially the first time… he, Shakky, and Nyon appeared simultaneously, coincidentally saving the Hancock sisters. It seemed far from coincidental.
"Although I deeply respect the Fish-Man liberator, Fisher Tiger, his strength wasn't particularly outstanding, only comparable to Rear Admiral Strawberry back then. That someone with such strength could climb Mary Geoise and free slaves is truly perplexing."
Setsuna looked directly into Rayleigh's eyes. "But if another powerhouse caused chaos in Mary Geoise at the time, diverting most strong individuals' attention, then Fisher Tiger's success in freeing slaves makes sense."
Rayleigh wore an expression as if he'd seen a ghost. "You could deduce that?"
Ace beside him was also dumbfounded. "You did something that big?"
Setsuna nodded slightly. No wonder Fisher Tiger's 'crimes' only earned a 230 million Belly bounty. The World Government initially thought Tiger was just an accomplice.
Rayleigh took a sip of wine, sighing. "I am an unqualified father. Soon after Hancock and her sisters were born, I continued sailing."
Setsuna nodded calmly, 'Standard deadbeat father. As expected of the Pirate King's Right-Hand Man.'
Rayleigh continued. "After Roger died, everyone connected to him on Baterilla Island was investigated. With him as a precedent, I naturally didn't dare stay on Amazon Lily. If I wanted to see Hancock and her sisters, I'd swim across the Calm Belt."
Setsuna nodded again, 'No wonder crossing the Calm Belt was so routine for him.'
Rayleigh sighed. "I never imagined they'd be captured from the Kuja Pirate ship. By the time I got news again, they were already in Mary Geoise."
"Shakky, Nyon, and I discussed countermeasures. I infiltrated Mary Geoise to free the slaves. They provided support below. I never expected someone else had the same idea."
"So, upon discovering Fisher Tiger's actions, I caused a huge commotion in Mary Geoise, drawing fire for him. The rest… you know."
Setsuna raised an eyebrow. "Do you think the suffering Hancock and her sisters endured is because you failed your fatherly duties, so you don't dare acknowledge them?"
Rayleigh's tone was full of melancholy. "Yes. That's why this father can't even taste a pudding made by his own daughter."
Setsuna pondered, 'So Rayleigh didn't save Ace in the future because he was afraid appearing in the same place as Hancock would reveal their relationship?'
Though this reason was also quite abstract, it was better than his previous guess that Rayleigh and Roger had a falling out over Shakky.
Too bad Rayleigh was a pauper. He couldn't get Hancock to squeeze money out of him.