T/N(Note : Takes place pre Elbaph flahsback)
Morning sunlight filtered across the deck of the Oro Jackson as Reith sat at the table, chewing lazily while skimming the newspaper
His eyes stopped.
"…Huh?"
The headline stared back at him in bold ink:
"Newgate—Did You Really Think You'd Find Your Calling at Sea?"
Reith's brows shot up.
"Captain! Look at this!" he shouted. "Rocks has accepted Newgate, Shiki, Wang Zhi—all of them—into his crew!"
The article continued in dramatic fashion:
SHOCK!
THE 'KING OF THE WORLD,' ROCKS D. XEBEC, RECRUITS MONSTERS!
The Rocks Pirates have officially absorbed infamous pirates such as Edward Newgate and Golden Lion Shiki, and have destroyed the Sixteenth Marine Branch! Are they aiming to rule the seas themselves? Full details in the next issue!
(Photo of Rocks, Shiki, and Newgate included.)
Roger burst into laughter the moment he heard it.
"Ku-ha-ha-ha-ha! So the little lion cub got tamed after all!"
Reith's eyes sparkled.
"Well, if nobody's spreading rumors, then I'll do it myself! Why do you think Shiki noticed Rocks first out of the three? Ha-ha! Roger, you're something else—this is what you call 'chemistry'! I ship it!"
Roger stared at him.
"…You've been hit too hard one too many times, haven't you?"
The crew soon docked at a bustling trading island to resupply.
Everyone scattered—some toward shops, others toward taverns.
Rayleigh sat at an open-air café, legs crossed, sipping coffee calmly. With his glasses on and posture relaxed, he looked unusually refined—almost scholarly.
"Yo, mister."
A tall woman stopped beside his table. Her black hair curled slightly at her temples beneath a wide-brimmed hat, and a faint smile danced on her lips.
"Drinking coffee alone is boring, don't you think?"
Before Rayleigh could respond, she pulled out the chair and sat across from him.
He looked up, surprise flickering behind his glasses—then quickly masked it.
"Mademoiselle… have we met?"
"Now we have." She rested her cheek in her palm. "Name's Shaki. Information broker."
Rayleigh raised a brow.
"An information broker, huh? Then are you here to sell information… or buy it?"
Shakky blinked innocently.
"Exchange," she said lightly, tapping the table. "For example, I'm very interested in the man known as the Dark King—Silvers Rayleigh."
Rayleigh took a careful sip of his coffee.
"Oh? And what exactly could interest you about me?"
Above them, on the rooftop.
A patch of roof tiles looked slightly off—distorted, hazy.
That was because a dense layer of fog blanketed it.
Crouched within the mist were Reith and Gaban.
Reith elbowed Gaban excitedly.
"See?! I told you something was brewing!"
Gaban nodded vigorously.
"We've tailed him across sixteen islands already! Sixteen! This time we finally caught him!"
Reith clapped a hand over Gaban's mouth.
"Shh! Are you trying to get us killed?!"
Below, Rayleigh coughed lightly, hiding his discomfort.
"…And what sort of information are you looking for?"
"Oh, lots." Shaki leaned closer, lowering her voice. "For example—since you're a pirate, why do you wear glasses all the time? To look intelligent?"
Rayleigh nearly choked.
"…It's a personal habit."
"Ooooh~" Shaki's eyes gleamed. "And what about your captain? Is it true that Roger laughs loudly exactly three times before every serious fight?"
Rayleigh rubbed his forehead.
"…Did you come here for information, or gossip?"
"Both."
She pulled out a small notebook and scribbled enthusiastically.
'Rayleigh appears depressed when discussing Roger. Possible internal conflict. Hypothesis: considering a coup.'
Rayleigh stared.
"…That's slander."
On the roof—
"Brother Gaban," Reith whispered, trembling, "Uncle Rayleigh just blushed. Did you see that?!"
Gaban bit his fist, shaking with laughter.
"This is legendary! Who is this woman?!"
Shakky suddenly glanced upward.
Then—winked.
Both of them instantly froze.
Reith slammed Gaban's head back into the fog.
"Stay inside the mist! Are you trying to expose us?!"
Shakky closed her notebook and stood.
"Well, that's enough for today." She smiled down at Rayleigh. "Next time, I hope you'll treat me to wine instead of coffee."
She turned and left, leaving only a faint trail of perfume behind.
Rayleigh sighed.
"…You two can come out now. How long were you planning to spy?"
Reith and Gaban dropped down in front of him instantly.
"Uncle Rayleigh!"
"Who was that?!"
Rayleigh adjusted his glasses.
"A troublesome woman."
Reith grinned wickedly.
"She's totally into you~"
"…Don't you have training to do?"
"I'm quiet! I'm quiet!"
A few days later, the crew prepared to set sail.
Reith was counting supplies when Gaban suddenly grabbed his arm.
"Hey—look!"
At the tavern entrance, Rayleigh was pressed against the wall.
By Shakky.
Reith nearly screamed.
"WHY DON'T I HAVE A CAMERA?! THIS IS A HISTORIC MOMENT!"
Shaki leaned in, holding a small note.
"Mr. Rayleigh," she purred. "I've got some top-secret information. Interested?"
Rayleigh adjusted his glasses.
"…What information?"
"They say," Shaki smiled sweetly, "you've got a kid on your ship named Reith… who loves spreading gossip."
Rayleigh: "…"
Reith, hiding behind crates: "???"
Gaban was shaking with laughter.
"You've been sold!"
Reith clenched his fists.
"How does she even KNOW that?!"
Shakky raised her voice deliberately.
"Especially gossip about… certain people's love lives."
Rayleigh's temple twitched.
"…What are you really trying to say?"
She leaned in and whispered into his ear.
Rayleigh's ear turned red instantly.
Reith and Gaban gasped.
"Oooooooooh!!!"
Shakky stepped back, waving the note.
"If you want the full story—don't forget to buy me wine next time~"
She left gracefully.
Rayleigh stood frozen for a long moment…
then sighed deeply.
"…What does this woman even want…"
Reith and Gaban crept closer.
"Uncle Rayleigh!"
"What did she tell you?!"
Rayleigh turned, expression unreadable.
"Today's training is doubled."
"??"
"—WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH US?!"
In the distance, Shaki leaned against an alley wall, listening to the chaos behind her.
She chuckled softly.