The Blond Man

Shakky's Hotel.

A dark pink arched sofa by the window, a round wooden table, an arched bar counter opposite the sofa, tall stools, a refrigerator, several wooden doors leading elsewhere... this was everything Reg saw. In an instant, he mapped out several escape routes in his mind.

"Sorry, sorry... I startled you, didn't I?"

Seeing Reg suddenly tense up, Shakky quickly moved aside from where she had been blocking his view... and then the blond man sitting on a tall stool came into sight.

"Welcome, brother."

The blond man who had turned slightly sideways looked vaguely familiar. Holding a glass of liquor, he smiled kindly... there wasn't the slightest hint of hostility.

Reg froze in place and blinked. Two images flashed through his memories: one was from Buggy's flashback, and the other was the man often seen on wanted posters.

"Uncle... y-you, you're..."

Thud... the money pouch slipped from Reg's stunned hand in shock.

"That's right, I'm Silvers Rayleigh... and who might you be?"

Rayleigh smiled as he stated his name. The fact that Reg had recognized him so quickly seemed a little different from what he had expected.

Reg rubbed his head and took a deep breath to calm himself... he had never imagined that he would meet Dark King Rayleigh at this time, in this place.

From the looks of it, he might have been "watched" by the other man from far away. There was no longer any need to hide his identity.

"My name is Reg. I'm from P9... but I've already left." Reg straightforwardly revealed his identity.

"Oh? Then I should treat you to a drink... Shakky, bring some juice for this brother."

Even Rayleigh could not help being surprised, but then he made an inviting gesture... this really was an unexpected turn of events.

Grrr... Reg's stomach growled at the worst possible moment. He smiled awkwardly; he had already tried his best to endure it.

But after a fierce battle, a stretch of swimming, such a long run, and then such a huge "surprise" here, how could he not be hungry?

"Looks like you'll need some food too... Help yourself to whatever's in the refrigerator. Someone's treating, anyway." Shakky winked at Reg and walked toward the bar.

"Thanks... I won't stand on ceremony."

After thanking her, Reg quickly went to the refrigerator... there was cooked meat, canned food, fruit, and more.

"Nom... nom..."

Reg was starving badly enough that he could not care about appearances. He ate with a blissful expression.

Shakky and Rayleigh exchanged a glance, both seeing the amusement in each other's eyes... watching someone eat like that made them hungry too.

"Here, your juice."

"Gulp, gulp... thank you, Sister Shakky."

After clearing out more than half the refrigerator, Reg finally stopped... he could still eat, but finishing someone else's entire stockpile would be rude.

"I'm the one paying, so why am I the uncle?" Rayleigh asked with a wry smile.

"Because of how you look... thanks, Uncle."

Reg came over to the chair, gave a light jump, and sat beside Rayleigh... while eating earlier, he had already sorted out his thoughts.

There was only one possibility for Rayleigh to be here: the Roger Pirates had secretly returned from the New World of the Grand Line to the first half of the Grand Line.

In his memories, Rayleigh had told Luffy and the others that Roger had contracted an incurable illness four years before his public execution... no one could cure that disease, and even Roger could only endure its torment.

For Rayleigh to say that "no one could cure it" was enough to show that they had sought out many doctors.

It was now August of the year 149... right within that time frame. Meeting Rayleigh here was no longer so strange: Roger's illness had already begun to show signs, and they needed information to find a doctor who might be able to cure him.

And Shakky was in the intelligence business. It was only natural that Rayleigh, who had an unclear relationship with her... would come looking for her.

"Because of how I look..."

Rayleigh looked toward Shakky. She still looked so young... if Rayleigh knew what Reg was thinking, he would probably bury him alive right then and there. After all, the kid knew far too much.

"Don't worry... Uncle. The older a man gets, the more charm he has," Reg comforted him.

"Pfft..."

Shakky could not help laughing at the bar... this kid was far too amusing.

"Fine... Brother Reg, if you don't mind, go ahead and tell us." Rayleigh drained the liquor in his glass in one gulp and gently pushed the matter forward again.

Shakky naturally refilled his glass... seeing this, Reg fell into thought. Sure enough, there was something going on between them.

"Mm... My name is Reg. I'm eight years old. Six years ago..."

Reg began telling them about his past... Rayleigh had wine, and he had a story. That was fair.

Neither of them interrupted him. They simply listened quietly to Reg's "story."

After a long while, Reg finished recounting his past... in the story, he was a child who had worked hard at training in order to avenge his parents.

"Golden Lion... his subordinates aren't so easy to kill." Rayleigh picked up his glass. Though some parts had been concealed, Reg's expression, tone, and eyes did not seem fake.

"There was also an old lady..."

Reg did not explain Colin's past... there was no need to.

There was no use in talking about such things. Reg would keep them firmly in his heart and repay the effort Colin had poured into him through his actions in the future.

"I know... but some things can't be avoided." Reg's expression was resolute.

"Keep it up, little brother Reg... the road ahead of you is still long."

Shakky, puffing out clouds of smoke, rubbed Reg's head... his story was all too common in this era, practically the norm.

After all, sometimes... working hard didn't necessarily mean success.

Or perhaps... if you didn't try hard, you wouldn't even understand what true despair felt like.

"People who work hard are never too unlucky."

Rayleigh didn't doubt Reg's words... without effort far beyond that of ordinary people, how could a normal human child use the Six Powers at such a young age, let alone awaken Observation Haki?

"Meeting an uncle famous in every household is naturally good luck." Reg replied with a smile.

"Then I'm truly honored. Cheers."

"Cheers."

Reg raised his blueberry juice and clinked it with Rayleigh's. Sure enough, he wasn't the sort who would be so overwhelmed by his imposing presence that others would beg him to take them as disciples... much less invite him onto Roger's ship as a crewmate.

Even Colin, his teacher, had watched him for three years... before deciding to help him.

For a chance encounter, Rayleigh treating him to a meal... was already quite generous.

"Alright, it's getting late." Rayleigh rose from his chair.

"Wait a moment."

Shakky suddenly stopped Rayleigh, stepping out from behind the bar and entering another room.

Reg glanced at Rayleigh but said nothing... it was too obvious. They were both in love with each other.

Yet Shakky wouldn't say it, and Rayleigh was playing dumb... it really made one want to give them a push.

But Reg held himself back... Rayleigh was Roger's first mate now.

They faced far too many dangers... the ever-changing sea, pirates of their own kind, and the relentlessly pursuing Marines.

No one could guarantee that they would always survive safely... not even someone as powerful as Rayleigh.

Still, Reg knew that the two of them would meet again someday... for now, it was best to watch quietly.

"Brother Reg, I hope we meet again someday... if I run into Bernie at sea, I'll show mercy." Rayleigh was as kind as ever, with none of the domineering presence he displayed when he shook the seas.

On Tower Forest Island, Reg had often heard news of Rayleigh... tales of him splitting the ocean with a single sword strike, kicking a warship over with one kick, fighting Admiral Sengoku alone, and the like.

There were so many legends about him that they could be told for days and nights without end... yet here in this bar, Rayleigh had become an utterly ordinary middle-aged man.

There wasn't a trace of killing intent about him. All there was, was a faint sense of peace.

"Thank you, Uncle."

Reg thanked him sincerely... he couldn't control other pirates, nor did he want to, but he truly wanted to personally slaughter every last member of the Bernie Pirates.

"No need to thank me. It was nothing."

After saying that, Rayleigh looked toward the door Shakky had gone through and waited quietly.