At Marine Headquarters, the moment Sengoku accepted the mission, he boarded his personal warship. Following behind him was Borsalino, who was still a Marine Headquarters Rear Admiral at the time, flipping through the intel with a faintly amused expression.
"How terrifying," Borsalino drawled. "To think someone actually dared attack a Celestial Dragon. But with only two blurry silhouettes… how are we supposed to find them?"
"Once we reach Sabaody, there will be leads," Sengoku said coldly. "Set sail immediately!"
Meanwhile, Roy was leading Tesoro and Stella toward Shakky's Rip-off Bar.
"Boss… how are we going to leave Sabaody next?" Tesoro asked anxiously.
"We'll find a way," Roy said. "The Marines won't locate us that fast. Once the deal is done, we'll just snatch a pirate ship and go."
Roy pushed open the door to Shakky's bar.
And froze.
A man was sitting at the counter, calmly drinking. The sight made Roy's scalp prickle.
Rayleigh?
Why was Rayleigh here?
At this point, shouldn't he still be sailing with Roger, searching for the road that led to Laugh Tale?
"Oh?" Rayleigh lifted his gaze. "Kid, that look in your eyes… you know me?"
"Then why don't you tell me your name first?"
"Of course," Roy replied smoothly. "The right hand of the Roger Pirates, the Dark King, Silvers Rayleigh."
"My name is Ronamir Roy. These are my companions, Tesoro and Stella."
Roy spoke his identity without hesitation.
Rayleigh's eyes narrowed for an instant… then he chuckled, waving it off like it didn't matter.
"Just like Shakky said. You're an interesting kid."
"Alright. Enough small talk. Let's trade."
Roy set a box on the counter and slid it to Shakky.
"Two hundred million Beli. Give me what I asked for."
Shakky checked the money, then casually reached under the bar and pulled out a stack of booklets along with two Log Poses marked for specific islands.
Roy pocketed the Log Poses, flipped through the manuals, and confirmed everything looked right. Then he turned to signal Tesoro and Stella to leave.
Before walking out, Roy glanced at Rayleigh and, out of rare courtesy, added, "Mr. Rayleigh, if you don't have business here, you should leave Sabaody soon. An Admiral will be arriving before long."
Rayleigh paused.
Then he released his own Observation Haki, sensing outward with practiced ease.
Sabaody was already in chaos.
Because a Celestial Dragon had been attacked, the Marines on the island had mobilized. The ports were sealed. Marines and large numbers of CP agents were sweeping the groves, searching everywhere.
Pirates in the lawless areas had gotten the news and were fleeing Sabaody in droves. A few unlucky idiots were already being caught.
Roy saw Rayleigh's expression shift and immediately expanded his own Observation Haki as well.
The situation was worse than he'd expected.
He sensed Marine soldiers moving this way, carrying Stella's photo as they searched.
"…Damn it," Roy muttered, annoyed at himself. "That was careless."
He and Tesoro hadn't been exposed, sure.
But rescuing Stella meant the World Government could use her as a thread to pull.
With their reach, how hard would it be to trace her back to him?
Rayleigh's eyes flicked toward Roy, sharper now.
"A special kind of Observation Haki?"
Then Rayleigh's gaze hardened slightly.
"Kid. The mess on this island… that's your doing, isn't it?"
"Yeah," Roy admitted brightly. "Had to scrape up the information fee for Shakky."
He grinned.
"So what do you say, Uncle Rayleigh? With your abilities, you already know what's happening out there. Want to leave together?"
"Why would I leave with you?" Rayleigh answered with an easy smile. "I'm safer alone."
"…Huh."
Roy froze for half a beat.
He was right.
Even when he was old, Rayleigh could swim across the Calm Belt like it was nothing.
Why would a monster like that drag three extra burdens with him?
Roy was confident he could escape with Tesoro and Stella even without help.
Worst case, he'd use his Nen Nen power to lift them and fly out.
But the moment he saw Rayleigh, Roy still wanted to latch onto that safety net.
A Yonko-tier powerhouse at your side meant your odds skyrocketed.
Seeing Roy go blank, Rayleigh's mouth curved.
"Taking you along is possible," he said lightly. "But what do I get out of it?"
Roy laughed.
He'd watched One Piece.
In this world, information was leverage.
And Roy carried secrets no one else should know.
"How about this," Roy said. "The method to reach the final island. Is that a good enough price?"
Rayleigh's expression snapped serious, instantly.
"…Kid."
"You've given me a truly unexpected surprise."
Then he relaxed again, almost amused.
"But if I reached it by listening to someone else… what would be the meaning of setting sail at all?"
He finished his drink in one go, said his farewell to Shakky, and headed for the back door.
"See you, Shakky."
"Bye, Rayleigh," Shakky replied casually.
Rayleigh glanced back over his shoulder.
"If you brats aren't afraid of dying, then follow."
"A mysterious little kid like you dying here would be a waste."
So the Roger Pirates really were idealists.
Roy could only smile bitterly.
Even handed a shortcut to Laugh Tale, Rayleigh didn't move.
Roy shook his head, then followed anyway.
Tesoro and Stella trailed behind, the three of them sticking close to Rayleigh's shadow.
Tesoro leaned toward Roy's ear and whispered, curiosity bubbling.
"Boss… why are we following him? Is that old guy really strong?"
"He's strong," Roy said. "Strong enough to stand at the very top of this world."
Tesoro's eyes widened.
"Whoa. Then we can leave easily!"
Stella also smiled, relief finally softening the tension in her face. Since being rescued, she'd stayed quiet, almost afraid to believe she was safe. Hearing they could escape, she looked genuinely happy.
Roy didn't interrupt their moment.
Let them be happy a little longer.
Because in Roy's senses, a large Marine force was already closing in on them.
Rayleigh seemed to notice too. His steps quickened.
"Kid," he said without turning around. "The Marines have found us. Pick up the pace."
"If you fall behind, no one's coming back for you."
A few minutes earlier.
On Sengoku's warship, the Admiral received a report confirming the suspects had been located. He immediately ordered the Marines on Sabaody to encircle them.
Then he issued a second command.
Send the fastest man ahead.
"Borsalino, move first," Sengoku ordered. "Don't let them escape by sea."
Now, Roy lifted Tesoro and Stella with his power, keeping them hovering beside him while he sprinted hard behind Rayleigh.
Rayleigh glanced back once, noticing the two floating.
"Kid… that's your ability? You're a Devil Fruit user?"
"Yeah," Roy said cheerfully. "And it's a good one."
He grinned wider.
"I stole it from a Celestial Dragon."
"Tch. What a bratty little punk," Rayleigh muttered.
The four of them were racing toward the place where Rayleigh had left his ship.
Then, in a flash, someone appeared in front of them.
A man in a Marine uniform.
A pair of sunglasses.
A lazy posture and a strangely creepy smile.
And a voice that dragged out every word like it was too much effort.
"Oooh… how scary."
It was Borsalino.
He had arrived first, exactly as Sengoku ordered.