Roy took two rings out of his pocket and placed them on the bar.
The ring is small but exquisitely crafted, with a golden sheen on its surface. Under the light, tiny characters can be seen engraved on the inner wall of the ring.
Rayleigh picked up a ring and looked at it.
" Pure Gold?"
"Right."
Roy's voice returned to calm.
"A ring made of Pure Gold can slow down aging and maintain your current physical condition."
It won't make you younger, but it won't make you older either.
"Just be yourself as you are now, and you'll always be the same."
Rayleigh held the ring in his hand, remaining silent for a long time.
Shakky peeked out from behind the bar, picked up another ring, and examined it from all angles.
"Does this thing really work?"
"Whether it works or not, you'll know once you wear it."
Shakky looked at Roy's still youthful face, hesitated for a moment, and then put the ring on her ring finger.
The moment the ring touched her skin, she felt something gently tug at a corner of her body.
I can't quite describe the feeling, but there has definitely been a change.
The fatigue has lessened, the joint pain has disappeared, and even my skin feels firmer.
"It really works."
Shakky looked at her hands, a hint of surprise in her voice.
Rayleigh also put on the ring.
He closed his eyes and sensed for a few seconds, then opened them and looked at Roy.
Why did you give us this?
"Consider it a small token of my appreciation."
Roy stood up and straightened his collar.
"Your existence is more useful to the world."
"Especially you, Mr. Rayleigh."
"If Luffy ever needs someone to teach him Haki, you can be of help."
Rayleigh paused for a moment, then smiled.
"You little rascal, you've even planned out what I'll be doing in the future?"
"No."
Roy walked to the door, pushed it open, and the wind chimes tinkled a few times.
"I just feel like you're just idling around anyway, so you might as well do something meaningful."
Rayleigh shook his head and said nothing more.
Roy walked out of the tavern, with Kuma following behind him.
The two walked out along the alley of the Grove 13, with bubbles floating down from above, shimmering with iridescent colors in the moonlight.
As Roy reached the alley entrance, he glanced back at the wooden door with the crooked sign hanging on it.
"Mr. Rayleigh."
He silently said to himself,
You owe me a favor.
"It's okay, I'll pay you back later."
Then he turned his head, pushed off with his feet, and his body soared into the air.
Kuma followed him and flew up. The two of them turned into two streaks of light and disappeared into the night sky of the Sabaody Archipelago.
Inside the tavern, Rayleigh stroked the Pure Gold ring on his finger, gazing out the window in the direction Roy had disappeared, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
Shakky, with a cigarette dangling from her lips, collected the glasses from the bar and put them in the sink.
"Why didn't you ask him just now? Why didn't you let Kuma send Luffy to Hachinosu too?"
Rayleigh was silent for a moment, then said:
"Because Luffy isn't the kind of captain who needs someone to protect him."
"What he needs is pressure, failure, and pain."
"Only through these experiences can he truly grow."
Shakky snorted, "You seem to know him quite well."
Rayleigh laughed, " Shanks told me a lot, how could I not know?"
Shakky didn't say anything more, picked up a rag and started wiping the bar counter.
Rayleigh leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and unconsciously twirled the ring on his finger.
The tavern was dimly lit and warm, while outside, the night wind of the Sabaody Archipelago whistled through the aerial roots of the mangroves.
Everything was quiet.
It's as if nothing happened.
Several shooting stars streaked across the sea off the Sabaody Archipelago.
Each meteor left a bright trail as it flew off in a different direction.
Some face north, some face south, some face east, and some face west.
None of them are facing the same direction.
Like chess pieces deliberately scattered, placed in different positions on the chessboard.
Each chess piece has its own battlefield.
The Straw Hat Pirates, at the moment they were swatted away by Kuma, were all thinking the same thing—
" Luffy..."
But none of them cried.
Because they knew their captain wouldn't just fall like that.
What they need is not tears, but to become stronger.
Strong enough to protect his companions, strong enough to realize his dreams, strong enough to gain a foothold in the New World.
At this moment, among those who were sent flying, only one person knew that it was all pre-arranged.
Robin was enveloped in bubbles, flying at high speed through the sky.
The wind blew her long hair back, but her expression remained calm.
She was calculating the time—at this speed, she would land near the " Bridge Kingdom " in a few hours.
That was the place Roy had arranged for her to practice.
The territory of the Revolutionary Army.
Roy had said that there was someone there who could teach her more about the secrets of the World Government.
Robin closed her eyes, and the image of Luffy, still smiling flashed through her mind.
Luffy.
She silently said to herself,
"Next time we meet, I will tell you the whole truth about this world."
"Until then—live on."
When Luffy woke up from his coma, the first thing he saw was a woman.
That woman is beautiful.
It's so beautiful it doesn't seem real.
Her long black hair cascaded down to her waist, snake-shaped earrings swayed by her ears, and her red cheongsam accentuated her perfect figure.
She was looking down, wiping the sweat from Luffy's forehead with a damp towel.
Luffy blinked, his mind blank.
Where is he?
Who is this?
Where are you guys?
"You're awake?"
Hancock's voice was very gentle—completely different from how she usually spoke to others.
Luffy tried to sit up, but his body felt like it was falling apart and he couldn't muster any strength.
"Don't move."
Hancock gently pressed his shoulder.
"You've suffered a serious injury and need to rest."
Where are my friends?
Luffy's first words weren't "Where am I?" or "Who are you?", but rather, "Where are my crewmates?"
Hancock looked at him, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.
She had met countless men, but none of them, upon waking up, made asking her about her past.
They're all alright.
Hancock put the towel in the basin of water.
"They were blown to different places, but they all survived."
Luffy closed his eyes and let out a long breath.
"That's good."
He reopened his eyes and looked at Hancock:
"Who are you?"
"I am Boa Hancock."
Hancock's tone returned to its queenly manner.
"The Emperor of the Amazon Lily Kingdom, one of the Shichibukai."
Luffy tilted his head and blinked.
"Oh."
Just one "oh".
There was no surprise, no fear, no questioning like, "How did you become Shichibukai?"
It's just an "oh".
It seems that the title " Shichibukai " is about the same level as "the uncle next door who sells takoyaki".
Hancock looked at him and suddenly smiled.
She understood why Roy was so interested in this kid.
Because this kid is different from everyone else.
There was no greed or desire in her eyes, only pure curiosity.
Like a child observing something new and interesting.
"Do you know that Ace is going to be publicly executed?"