At Shakky's Rip-Off Bar, Shakky stood behind the counter, quietly mixing drinks for the two men. Rayleigh looked much older than before, as though he had aged overnight.
Before turning himself in, Roger had told him, "I won't die!"
But now, it seemed Roger had been wrong.
Rayleigh didn't know why Loa had come to see him, but he had plenty of questions he wanted answered.
After a moment's thought, Rayleigh spoke first. "If Whitebeard hadn't opened Red River Valley, would you have left the Red Stone intact?"
During that battle, Rayleigh had felt grateful for Whitebeard's final act even in the depths of despair. Red River Valley had given him a glimmer of hope. Yet so little time had passed before Loa destroyed one of the Red Stones, forever removing one of the markers that led to Laugh Tale.
Yes, the New World was no longer mysterious. Even merchant caravans could travel between its two sides through Red River Valley. But what did that mean to pirates?
They would never find the fourth coordinate! Laugh Tale would remain a mystery forever!
Unless someone else could hear the Voice of All Things, just like their captain. But would such a miracle ever happen?
Loa shook his head without hesitation. "Destroying the Red Stone was part of my plan from the start. It was a last resort I hoped I wouldn't need, but it had nothing to do with Whitebeard."
"Why would you do that?!" Rayleigh flared with anger. "You won't leave even the slightest chance?!"
"Why should I?!"
Loa didn't answer. He sneered and shot back, "Are you a saint? Are all pirates saints?"
"Pirates are no different from the Dragon People! To me, you're all maggots! Irredeemable trash! You wave the banners of freedom and dreams while bringing pain