Ever since his sister was saved by Yemu and chose to entrust her life to him, joining the Sky Pirates as a swordsman, Erik had been constantly thinking about how to push himself further and become a great swordsman.
After all, the enemies the Sky Pirates would face on their journey were destined to grow more and more terrifying. Especially once they reached the New World. As the captain liked to say, powerhouses on Chinjao's level would be everywhere.
Against strength like that, the level of an ordinary swordsman was no longer enough. Erik did not want to become a burden to the others.
Yet despite the fame of his Shinto Sword Style, a name known even to the Dark King Rayleigh himself, Erik understood the truth better than anyone. Shinto Sword Style was not some extraordinary school. The strongest swordsmen it had ever produced had only reached the level of a swordsman. Neither Erik nor his master had any idea how to step onto the path of a true great swordsman.
But now, a single sentence from Rayleigh was like a lamp in the darkness, completely illuminating Erik's future path.
"Th-thank you so much, Rayleigh-san!"
Overcome with excitement, Erik bowed deeply to Rayleigh.
"Hahaha, no need to be so polite. I was just speaking casually. After all, I once received kindness from your master as well."
In an instant, the group that had felt unfamiliar just moments ago grew noticeably closer.
"So… so amazing…"
Flare, sitting on a barstool, stared wide-eyed at the blond man in front of her.
"So this is the Dark King Rayleigh. What a charming man!"
Hearing that, Shakky beside her smiled as well, clearly pleased.
At that moment, Rayleigh turned his gaze toward Flare.
"Eh?!"
Flare jumped in surprise.
A sharp glint flashed across Rayleigh's glasses.
"You're Flare, right? The daughter of Chōshokushin, the Super God of Cuisine from the Gourmet Kingdom."
"Eh?!"
This time, Flare was genuinely stunned.
"He even knows my Oyaji? As expected of the Dark King Rayleigh!!!"
Rayleigh suddenly burst out laughing, and Shakky beside him laughed along as well.
Flare was left completely confused.
"Huh? Did I say something wrong?"
"No."
Rayleigh shook his head with a smile.
"I was just borrowing someone else's reputation. The truly impressive one here is Shakky."
Only then did everyone's attention shift to Shakky. Rayleigh's presence had been so dazzling that they had completely overlooked the woman who had been by his side all along.
"All the information about you came from Shakky. When it comes to intelligence gathering, she's among the very best."
The group reacted with visible shock.
"W-wait… really? Shakky is amazing too!!!"
Shakky simply smiled faintly.
Then Rayleigh chuckled and looked toward Yemu.
"Speaking of which, I should be the one thanking you, Young Master Yemu. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have met Shakky in the first place."
That left Yemu momentarily stunned.
"What does that have to do with me?"
Rayleigh gave a small smile, his expression growing a bit more serious.
"Young Master Yemu, do you remember mentioning those three things that could bring the dead back to life and cure incurable diseases?"
Yemu immediately recalled it.
Rayleigh continued,
"After returning to the Grand Line, I kept searching for information on those three things. While looking for one of them, I happened to meet Shakky."
"Huh?! Which one was it?!"
Rayleigh didn't try to hide it.
"Ope Ope no Mi. While we were searching for clues about its whereabouts, we met Shakky and, by chance, uncovered some intelligence that completely shocked us."
As Rayleigh spoke, he suddenly lifted his head and looked straight at Yemu.
"Young Yemu, the information you gave us was correct. The Ope Ope no Mi really was in the hands of the World Government. But that was fourteen years ago. That same year, a world-shaking incident occurred, and the Ope Ope no Mi was released back into the world. Speaking of that… Young Yemu, have you ever heard the name Rocks D. Xebec?"
"Rocks!"
Yemu hadn't expected to hear such a legendary name come out of Rayleigh's mouth.
Although he didn't understand why Rayleigh suddenly asked, Yemu still nodded.
"Yes, I know. I've heard that Whitebeard and Shiki were once crew members on Rocks' ship. Are you saying that the major incident fourteen years ago was Rocks attacking God Valley? Did Rocks want the Ope Ope no Mi as well?"
Rayleigh looked slightly surprised, clearly taken aback by how much Yemu knew. He didn't press further, only shaking his head.
"I don't know."
"!?"
"We don't know whether it was a coincidence or something deliberate. But after the battle of God Valley, the World Government began secretly searching for that Devil Fruit."
This truly left Yemu at a loss.
When he had crossed over, One Piece hadn't ended yet. Oda had left far too many unanswered questions, so Yemu himself had no idea what had really happened behind the scenes.
But at this moment, hearing Rayleigh speak so openly about the world's hidden secrets, he couldn't help but take it seriously.
Perhaps there really was an incredible secret buried within all of this.
"I understand, Rayleigh-san. But does that mean you ultimately didn't find those three things?"
Rayleigh shook his head, his expression filled with distant memories.
"No. Although we never found the exact whereabouts of the Ope Ope no Mi or Pure Gold, we did find the user of the Chiyu Chiyu no Mi."
That truly shocked Yemu.
"Then why did Captain Roger…? Was even the Chiyu Chiyu no Mi powerless?"
Rayleigh shook his head again, a trace of helplessness on his face.
"No. The Chiyu Chiyu no Mi could cure Roger's terminal illness. But Roger himself refused."
"!!!"
At that point, Rayleigh suddenly smiled, his eyes glistening with faint tears.
"The Chiyu Chiyu no Mi could indeed cure his illness, but it would shorten the user's lifespan in exchange. After learning the truth, Roger refused to let that child treat him. He couldn't bear the thought of that child sacrificing their own life for his sake. He believed he had no right to selfishly steal away that child's most precious years just to extend his own life…"
Rayleigh didn't continue, but Yemu already understood. His heart was shaken to its core.
What an overwhelming sense of grandeur.
So this was the Pirate King, Roger.
Even Yemu himself couldn't do something like that. If it were him, he would never give up a chance to cure a terminal illness for such a reason.
At the same time, everyone else around them was completely confused.
At first, Tiger could barely follow parts of Yemu and Rayleigh's conversation, but as it went on, he was utterly lost.
Even so, the few key words that slipped out were enough to shake him deeply.
Ope Ope no Mi. God Valley. Rocks. World Government. Terminal illness. Chiyu Chiyu no Mi.
Could there be some hidden truth behind Roger's public execution?
Questions flooded Tiger's mind, questions he desperately wanted to ask his captain. But the atmosphere now was clearly not suitable.
Just then, Rayleigh seemed to notice how heavy the mood had become and smoothly changed the subject.
"Speaking of which, Young Yemu, you didn't come to see me just for a visit, did you?"
"Yes."
Yemu steadied himself and turned to business.
"Aside from paying you a visit, Rayleigh-san, there are two matters I'd like to trouble you with. First, the coating work for our pirate ship. Second, I'd like to ask for your guidance on some techniques related to Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki."