When Brook was first entangled with the slave-hunting party, Udil had no intention of getting involved.
Fortunately, Maud was considerate and gave him plenty of room to choose.
Udil had made what he believed was the right choice without a second thought: decisively distancing himself from this dangerous whirlpool of trouble.
But when he watched Maud's solitary figure disappear into the distance, he inexplicably felt a vague sense of loss, as though he had missed out on something important.
However, considering the lives and livelihoods of the brothers under his command, even if he were given the choice again, he would still withdraw without hesitation.
That said, Udil had not done absolutely nothing.
After seeing Maud off, he had gone straight to Shakky's bar on Tree Island No. 13 and informed Rayleigh, Shakky, Jaya, and the others inside about what had happened.
That was why, when Sentomaru had just intercepted Maud and Lafitte, Jaya had happened to arrive at the scene.
In fact, Rayleigh had come as well.
However, his identity was ultimately somewhat sensitive, so he had not shown himself. Instead, he sat on the roots of an Yoruean Red Tree in the distance, drinking while observing the situation from afar.
From his vantage point, he could naturally tell that Maud had already resolved the trouble.
Otherwise, his old bones would have had to get moving, no matter what.
"Shichibukai, huh..."
Rayleigh set down the empty liquor bottle and reached over to pick up a newspaper that had happened to land beside him.
Although Rayleigh was curious about why Maud insisted on claiming a Shichibukai position, he had never considered asking Maud for an explanation.
After all, this was his junior's own journey.
As an elder, all he needed to do was offer his support from behind.
At the