"To the Sabaody Archipelago!"
"Bruce…"
"I'll be keeping an eye on you."
"Don't you dare report this to Father."
Saint Roselith Seraphina had already made her decision.
The method she chose was ship coating the same route countless pirates used to enter the New World.
The Red Line stretched across the world like an enormous continent, dividing the seas and completely blocking direct passage between the first and second halves of the Grand Line.
There were only a few legitimate ways to cross it.
The first was to obtain authorization from the World Government, allowing a vessel to pass over Mary Geoise, the Holy Land built atop the Red Line, before descending into the New World.
Only ships granted official permission could use that route.
The second method…
Was the one Seraphina intended to use.
Travel beneath the Red Line.
Nearly 10,000 meters below sea level lay Fish-Man Island, situated inside the enormous submarine cavern beneath the Red Line.
Any ship wishing to reach it had to undergo a specialized coating process, allowing the vessel to withstand the unimaginable pressure of the deep sea.
Only after passing through Fish-Man Island could they safely emerge into the New World.
Bruce forced a helpless smile.
"Yes, Lady Seraphina…"
Should I secretly report this to Fleet Admiral Sengoku…
Or inform Lord Victor…?
He found himself trapped between two impossible choices.
Sabaody Archipelago"Rayleigh!"
"There's work!"
A familiar broker hurried into a small tavern.
He had just received an enormous commission.
The client was offering an astonishing reward in exchange for the finest coating craftsman in the entire archipelago.
The very first person who came to mind…
Was Rayleigh.
At the bar…
The old man leisurely raised his wine glass.
"Oh?"
"So many jobs today?"
His tone remained completely relaxed.
"Rayleigh!"
"This isn't an ordinary request!"
"The client wants an entire Marine warship coated!"
Only then did Rayleigh finally look up.
"A Marine warship?"
His brows rose slightly before relaxing again.
"So that's how it is…"
Behind the counter…
Shakuyaku quietly polished another glass.
She looked somewhat displeased.
She wanted to stop him.
But judging from Rayleigh's expression…
He had already made his decision.
"Very well."
"Take me there."
Sabaody Archipelago Grove 55The broker quickly led Rayleigh to the dock where Seraphina's warship was anchored.
Numerous coating craftsmen had already gathered nearby.
Most had been driven away after failing the Marines' inspections.
The broker enthusiastically introduced his guest.
"Gentlemen!"
"This is Mr. Rayleigh!"
"The finest coating craftsman anywhere in the Sabaody Archipelago!"
Several Marines immediately examined the elderly man.
His weathered appearance…
His experienced demeanor…
Everything suggested he had spent decades mastering his craft.
One officer quickly returned to report.
"Vice Admiral Seraphina."
"I don't believe he's lying."
"He certainly looks like an experienced coating specialist."
"His face alone tells the story of many years at sea."
During the previous several hours…
Dozens of impostors had appeared, hoping to claim the generous reward Seraphina had offered.
After all…
Money tempted many people.
Seraphina remained calm.
"Whether he's genuine or not…"
"I'll know the moment I meet him."
She had encountered far too many swindlers over the years.
Very few could deceive her.
The moment Rayleigh stepped aboard the warship…
Seraphina's pupils narrowed almost imperceptibly.
A tremendous presence quietly spread before her.
Not through deliberate intimidation…
But through instinct alone.
The pressure she sensed…
Was comparable to what she had once experienced from "Red-Haired" Shanks.
An overwhelming aura possessed only by supreme masters.
The elderly man smiled gently.
"I am Rayleigh."
He extended an aged hand.
Seraphina accepted it.
"Saint Roselith Seraphina."
Even through her white gloves…
She immediately noticed the countless calluses covering his palm.
These were not the hands of a simple craftsman.
They were the hands of a swordsman.
A warrior who had crossed blades countless times throughout his life.
Even decades of retirement had failed to erase those marks.
Rayleigh smiled warmly.
"Vice Admiral Seraphina."
"I understand your ship requires coating."
"May I ask a few questions first?"
"Where exactly are you heading?"
His tone remained completely natural.
Coating served only two practical purposes.
Either the destination was Fish-Man Island…
Or the New World.
Seraphina answered honestly.
"The New World."
There was little point hiding something so obvious.
Rayleigh thoughtfully stroked his beard.
"So…"
"You intend to pass through Fish-Man Island."
He did not ask why a Marine officer had avoided requesting passage through Mary Geoise.
The answer was already obvious.
Without authorization from the World Government…
No one could use that route.
Instead…
He asked another question.
"And what business takes a Marine Vice Admiral into the New World?"
Seraphina smiled faintly.
"Something I need to settle."
She deliberately gave no further explanation.
Revealing Marine objectives to an unknown civilian…
Would have been utterly foolish.
Especially when that civilian possessed such extraordinary strength.
Rayleigh merely nodded.
"I understand."
"It must be confidential."
"My apologies."
"Shall we discuss the coating instead?"
He attempted to steer the conversation elsewhere.
From everything he had observed…
He believed the Marines had no idea who he truly was.
Seraphina quietly studied him.
His breathing.
His posture.
His gaze.
Everything about him remained perfectly controlled.
Such emotional restraint…
Such awareness…
Such composure…
Only someone with exceptionally refined Observation Haki could maintain that level of control.
Then she smiled.
"Mr. Rayleigh."
"Has anyone ever told you…"
"You're extraordinarily strong?"
Rayleigh's smile froze for the briefest moment.
"Oh?"
"You're quite impressive yourself."
His Observation Haki immediately spread outward.
He carefully examined Seraphina once again.
Earlier…
His Haki had judged her to be nothing more than an unusually talented Marine Vice Admiral.
So…
How had she perceived his true strength?
What Rayleigh did not know…
Was that Seraphina possessed Moonlit Blossom, an extraordinary ability that naturally concealed a significant portion of her true aura and presence.
To Observation Haki…
She appeared far weaker than she actually was.
Her smile gradually widened.
"Someone possessing strength like yours…"
"Especially a swordsman…"
"Could never remain completely unknown."
"So…"
"Who are you?"
Rayleigh's eyes narrowed.
For the first time…
The atmosphere between them subtly changed.
Seraphina slowly continued.
"You introduced yourself as…"
"Rayleigh."
"That alone greatly limits the possibilities."
She calmly rested one hand upon the hilt of Winter Solstice.
Her silver eyes remained fixed upon the old man before her.
Long white hair.
Round glasses.
A neatly trimmed white beard.
A vertical scar running across his right eye.
Everything fit perfectly.
The answer was obvious.
"You're no ordinary coating craftsman."
"You're the former right-hand man of the Pirate King."
"The legendary Dark King…"
Silvers Rayleigh.
The instant his true identity was spoken
Seraphina's hand moved.
Clang!
Winter Solstice left its scabbard in a flash of silver.
A blade overflowing with icy sword intent swept toward Rayleigh with astonishing speed.
The air itself seemed to freeze beneath the slash.
Rayleigh's expression immediately sharpened.
The relaxed old craftsman vanished.
Standing in his place…
Was the former first mate of the Roger Pirates.
One of the greatest swordsmen of his era.
The legendary Dark King, Silvers Rayleigh.
The duel erupted in an instant.
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