The silent office

Coming back to his senses, Rayleigh looked at Su Yu with conflicting emotions.

This was a god. A god-what a word to make a man feel powerless.

In truth, when Rayleigh first heard the word "god," he had felt worried and anxious. Because of the Celestial Dragons, he instinctively associated the word with something negative. He feared that this god who had suddenly appeared was cut from the same cloth as them, considering himself above everyone else and doing whatever he pleased. Most frightening of all, he possessed overwhelming strength that left others powerless to resist. If he truly wanted to do something, no one could stop him.

But that thought lingered in Rayleigh's mind for only an instant before he discarded it. Worrying about it was pointless. The facts would not change because he worried, nor would worrying suddenly grant him the power to rival Su Yu. If Su Yu really was that sort of god, he might as well lie down and wait to die.

Besides, judging by their interactions over the past few days and Su Yu's everyday tone and manner, this god was no different from a human. He also seemed rational, rather than some madman who knew only mindless destruction.

Once he adjusted his outlook, Rayleigh felt as though even the sunlight outside had grown brighter, and the wine seemed to taste better too. He could not help ordering another glass. Hmm, there goes today's budget. I'm doomed!

Fortunately, Su Yu noticed Rayleigh's embarrassment and waived his tab for the day, sparing him the disgrace of being unable to pay in his old age. Though the old fellow had long since lost his dignity anyway-what man with any shame would make money by selling himself...

Afterward, Rayleigh said goodbye to Su Yu and left the bar. He had taken in far too much information today and needed to go back and clear his head.

He did not intend to tell anyone about this. More importantly, even if he did, no one would believe him. People only believed what they saw with their own eyes, and only wanted to believe what they wished to believe.

At Shakky's Rip-off Bar, Shakky was smoking as usual when she saw Rayleigh return. Her keen eyes immediately caught that something seemed off about his mood.

"Rayleigh, did something happen?"

"Ah, no. I just found out today that I'm nothing more than a frog at the bottom of a well."

"What happened, really? That doesn't sound like you."

Beneath Shakky's casual, slightly teasing tone lay a barely perceptible hint of concern.

Rayleigh felt he needed someone to share today's experience with, and Shakky was clearly a good choice. So he told her everything that had happened from beginning to end.

After listening, Shakky remained stunned for a long time. Who could have imagined it? A god was living right on her doorstep?! It was utterly surreal.

But once she learned that Su Yu was a god, her first thought was to see whether she could go to him and wish for eternal youth...

That evening, Miland finally returned to the bar after taking his revenge.

At his speed, he should have arrived yesterday. But after exacting his revenge, Miland had suddenly felt an exhaustion that seemed to come from his very soul flood every part of his body, followed by irresistible drowsiness. In his eagerness for vengeance, he had unconsciously pushed both his body and mind beyond their limits. Now that his revenge was complete, his mind relaxed all at once, and the price came due.

So Miland forced himself to find a deserted spot. The moment he lay down, he fell asleep, and slept for an entire day.

Miland pushed open the bar's door. There were no customers left inside, only Su Yu, who was nestled comfortably on the sofa with a book. Soft, warm light filled the space around him, casting his shadow across the pages. Then Su Yu noticed Miland's return, looked up, and said casually, "You're back."

Those simple words filled Miland's heart with warmth, like a pebble dropped into a still lake, sending ripples spreading outward. He nearly cried.

He did not know why, but this small bar, its warm lighting, and the owner lounging lazily on the sofa with a book somehow made him feel at home.

His voice trembled slightly as he answered, "Yes, I'm back, boss!"

"Mm, looks like everything went smoothly. I've prepared a room for you. The one at the far end of the second floor is yours from now on. Work starts tomorrow, all right? Serving drinks, waiting on customers, and cleaning-I'm leaving all of that to you!"

"Okay!"

Miland fought hard to hold back the tears threatening to spill, then went upstairs.

How wonderful. It seems I have a home again...

In the Fleet Admiral's Office at Marine Headquarters, Sengoku was reading documents while Garp provided an accompaniment beside him, crunching away on senbei.

Just then, the office door opened, and a tall, thin man walked in carrying a bronze chest. It was Kizaru, back from the Sabaody Archipelago.

Seeing Kizaru return, Sengoku set down the documents in his hands, his gaze drawn to the strange bronze chest.

Kizaru placed the bronze chest on the floor and stood there in silence. Some of his usual lazy, flippant air seemed to have faded.

Garp noticed that something was wrong with Kizaru and asked bluntly, "What's wrong, kid? Why do you look as wilted as a fish that's been salted too long?"

Kizaru opened his mouth, but nothing came out. The main problem was that it was embarrassing. He had tried to show off, only to have it blow up in his face. He had thoroughly humiliated himself...

And this experience had genuinely shaken him. He had always considered himself quite strong. With the Logia-type Glint-Glint Fruit, he was unmatched in speed. He believed that even if he could not beat Whitebeard, it would hardly be easy for Whitebeard to keep him from escaping. In a certain sense, he had seemed invincible.

Yet everything that had happened today shattered Kizaru's long-held confidence and pride. Someone in this world could actually use sheer presence alone to crush his ability to resist, leaving him afraid to move so much as a muscle. He had even been injured. Though the injuries were not serious, that was only thanks to his Logia Devil Fruit.

Before today, if anyone had told him all this, he would never have believed it...

It was simply too surreal.

By now, Sengoku had also noticed Kizaru's unusual behavior and turned a questioning gaze on him.

Under the pressure of these two heavyweights, Kizaru could no longer hold out. After a moment's hesitation, he had no choice but to recount everything to Garp and Sengoku from beginning to end.

The two remained stunned for a long time after hearing him out. Even with Sengoku's composure, he was somewhat dazed, and even Garp's expression had turned serious.

This was truly staggering. Who was Kizaru? One of the Marines' universally acknowledged strongest fighters! Even Sengoku and Garp could not claim they were certain to beat him. And Kizaru's speed was the biggest headache of all-he was as slippery as a fish.

And what had he just said? That bar owner had stripped him of the ability to resist through sheer presence alone? And had even injured him?!

Was this some new joke? Had the two of them fallen behind the times?

But they both knew that although Kizaru usually seemed flippant, he would not joke about something important. Besides, he genuinely looked as though he had suffered a crushing blow.

So it had to be true. Still, the truth was rather too outrageous.

For a while, the office fell utterly silent, with only the sound of their breathing remaining...