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Rayleigh's refusal was, without a doubt, an unexpected response.
"Huh?!" Chopper yelped repeatedly, his voice filled with disbelief.
Franky and Hughes couldn't help but interject. "That's your captain's son! He's about to be executed!"
Rayleigh, however, remained composed. "But isn't he Whitebeard's son now?" he replied. "It's Whitebeard who should be the one in a hurry, the one to act."
Though his words carried a hint of detachment, Rayleigh elaborated further. "Of course, I'm relieved and happy to know that Roger has a son and that he's made a name for himself. But when Ace chose to bear Whitebeard's emblem and walk the path as Whitebeard's son and subordinate, he effectively drew a clear line between himself and Roger's legacy."
Rayleigh's gaze grew more somber. "And, judging by what you've said, Ace's childhood must not have been easy. Perhaps he doesn't even like me—one of Roger's old crew. I doubt I have the right to interfere, and it changes nothing."
He leaned back slightly, his tone resolute. "So, I'm not in a position to help Ace. His fate lies in Whitebeard's hands."
The Straw Hat crew listened to Rayleigh's words, their expressions gradually softening in understanding. After all, this was a matter rooted in the complex dynamics between pirate crews. The Roger Pirates and the Whitebeard Pirates had been rivals for decades.
Luffy, however, looked like he wanted to protest further but ultimately stayed quiet.
"Still," Rayleigh continued with a faint smile, "thank you for telling me Roger had a son."
As Luffy sat there, visibly dispirited, Rayleigh stood up from his seat. "While I can't help you rescue Ace directly, my old bones can still offer you some assistance."
"Help? Senior Rayleigh, can you teach us Haki?" Enel, who had been quiet until now, suddenly spoke up.
Rayleigh's eyes glinted at the mention of Haki. "You already know about Haki?"
Sanji nodded, gesturing toward Luffy and Enel. "We met Luffy's grandfather recently, and he told us about it. These two have already started learning Observation Haki."
"If you could guide us in mastering Haki," Sanji continued, "we might stand a better chance of saving Ace at Marineford."
Hearing this, Luffy's eyes lit up with determination, and he immediately looked at Rayleigh with anticipation.
"…How much time do you have?" Rayleigh asked, his voice turning serious.
Sanji hesitated before replying. "If we account for travel, we have… about five days."
Rayleigh frowned, shaking his head inwardly. Five days was barely enough time to scratch the surface of mastering Haki, especially Armament Haki, which required a strong foundation.
"Time's enough, Uncle Rayleigh!" Luffy declared with firm resolve.
Even if they couldn't fully master Haki in such a short time, having someone like Rayleigh to teach them would undoubtedly improve their odds.
Seeing Luffy's unwavering determination, Rayleigh nodded. "Alright, then. I'll do my best to teach you the basics and help you understand as much as possible in the time we have."
Luffy bowed his head in gratitude. "Thank you, Rayleigh!"
"In that case, let me set up a place for you all to train," Shakky offered with a smile, stepping out from behind the counter.
As she approached the door to open it, she paused, sensing someone on the other side.
As expected, the door was swiftly opened from the outside, accompanied by an angry voice.
"Yo, Shakky, long time no see."
Without waiting for an invitation, Yamato strode into the bar with a group in tow.
"Yamato!" Shakky exclaimed, clearly surprised. "What brings you here?!"
Although Shakky didn't have much interaction with Alex in the past, she had collaborated with the rapidly growing Sky Kingdom on a few occasions. During that time, she had met Yamato, who was already a renowned figure.
Before Yamato could respond, the Straw Hat crew, recognizing her immediately, became visibly tense. Usopp, Hughes, and Chopper in particular began trembling, their fear unmistakable.
Ever since learning more detailed information from Luffy's grandfather after the events in the Capital of Seven Waters, they had developed an intense dread of the Sky Kingdom's forces. And Yamato—the imposing powerhouse standing before them—was among the most terrifying.
With a bounty nearing two billion berries, Yamato was considered one of the strongest fighters of Alex. For the trio, this realization had been enough to send chills down their spines, and now seeing Yamato in person only brought that fear rushing back. Their jaws dropped, and it almost seemed as if their souls had floated out of their wide-open mouths.
Sanji, meanwhile, clutched his chest in a futile attempt to suppress his racing heart. Despite the tense atmosphere, his nature made him struggle. Whether it was the memory of Yamato's intimidating reputation or the fact that she and Kuina were the only women present, his usual flamboyance was muted. However, the corners of his mouth twitched, and traces of blood appeared as he gritted his teeth to resist his usual antics.
Luffy, on the other hand, stepped forward with an angry expression. "Damn it! It's you guys!" he shouted, pointing at Yamato. His eyes darted around the room, clearly looking for someone else. "Where's that masked girl? This time, I'll make sure to get revenge for what happened last time!"
Yamato narrowed her eyes at Luffy, her tone dripping with irritation. "Why are you here?"
Before tensions could escalate further, Trafalgar Law muttered under his breath, "ROOM."
With a wave of his palm, an invisible space expanded outward, encompassing the area.
"Hey, hey! This is my bar—no fighting!" Shakky clapped her hands sharply to break the rising tension. Turning to Yamato, she asked, "If you've come here so suddenly, does Alex have some business he's sent you for?"
Before Yamato could respond, Zoro cut in. "That's not it," he said calmly.
Kuina stepped forward, her presence commanding attention. She locked eyes with Rayleigh, her resolve clear. "We're here for another reason," she said firmly. "I've come to ask this legendary swordsman from the old era for guidance—both as a fellow swordsman and in my own name."