"Really, First Mate?!"
Shanks stared fixedly at Rayleigh, trying to find even a trace of sincerity in those pitch-black eyes.
If—
The Rayleigh before him possessed Rayleigh's memories, Rayleigh's strength, and everything connected to Rayleigh—
Then, in Shanks's eyes, he was still Rayleigh.
But—
From the moment they had met just now, Rayleigh had felt profoundly wrong to him.
Even after more than ten years, Shanks could still tell.
That was not the tone Rayleigh used when speaking from the heart. Instead, it carried a sense of saying things against his will.
"That is indeed the case."
Rayleigh's voice slowly rang out, filled with sighs and helplessness.
"I did think about resisting. I even thought about killing myself. But most of the time, I cannot control my own body."
He paused.
"Including now. I can speak to you, but my body is not under my control. And sometimes, I say things I have no choice but to say."
As he spoke, his weathered face remained utterly expressionless.
The sight was filled with an eerie sense of discord.
As though his consciousness and body were two entirely separate entities.
"This old guy is way too weird!"
Luffy could not help speaking up.
He could not understand the complicated conversation between the two sides—whether he was Rayleigh or not, consciousness and memories, and all that. He had not understood a single word.
But merely looking at this silver-haired old man, he instinctively felt—
Something was off.
Very, very off.
"This is Your Highness's ability."
Gan Fall spoke calmly, his gaze settling on Shanks.
"It is merely a precaution, to prevent him from doing anything undesirable."
He paused and slowly continued.
"Your Highness will control Rayleigh's body. If you can kill him—"
His voice suddenly sank.
"Then you will have passed. You will