Rayleigh's eyes widened. He felt that everything he had experienced over the past decade was nothing compared to the sheer absurdity of the news he had just heard today.
The cigarette between Shakky's fingers had already slipped onto the bar counter, leaving a small burn mark on her beloved countertop.
As an intelligence expert, Shakky knew that "Fire Fist" Ace was a rising star among bounty hunters. She also knew that over the past month, he had been making his way toward the Sabaody Archipelago, leaving a trail of defeated foes in his wake.
But who could have guessed that Ace had such deep ties with Wright, Rayleigh, and even Garp?!
"Admiral Wright… So that's how it is. I see now…"
"No wonder, despite your rank as an admiral, you personally carved a path through the Grand Line, all to keep this secret under wraps!"
Rayleigh removed his glasses and took out a handkerchief to wipe them as he mused aloud:
"To think… to think that the Captain actually had a son. Back then, we all thought he was just joking!"
"No wonder when the Captain was executed—such a momentous occasion—his lifelong rival, Vice Admiral Garp, was nowhere to be seen on the execution platform!"
After a moment of silence, Rayleigh put his glasses back on, his gaze turning sharp. The wistfulness at the corner of his lips morphed into a knowing smile.
"So then, Admiral Wright, why would you share such an absolute top-secret piece of information—even within the Marines—with an old man like me?"
"With your relationship with him, if you truly wanted to protect him, wouldn't it be better for as few people as possible to know?"
"You wouldn't share this so casually, would you?"
Wright took a sip of beer and spoke with certainty:
"At most, you wouldn't interfere with his choices or his path, but you would never do anything that would harm him."
"There are two reasons I'm telling you this."
Wright locked eyes with Rayleigh.
"First, Garp, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, and I will do everything in our power to protect Ace. But keeping his identity a secret forever is impossible. After all, there's no such thing as a wall without cracks."
"If the day comes when his identity is exposed, we will do our best to steer public opinion in his favor. But if some fools insist on acting recklessly, disregarding all consequences…"
A golden light flickered in Wright's eyes, making even Rayleigh uneasy. "Then, I'll have to trouble you, Rayleigh-senpai, to step in early and protect him."
"Admiral Wright, you're giving me far too much credit!"
Rayleigh shook his head with a bitter smile. "If things really reach that point, where even you three can't protect Ace, who's already part of the Navy, then what could an old man like me possibly do?"
"I would never underestimate you. Alone, you might not be enough—but together, surely 'you all' could manage something?"
Wright chuckled. "This is merely a safeguard. We're still fairly confident that things won't escalate to that level."
"Hmph, knowing you three, you wouldn't be doing this unless you had confidence. So, what's the second reason?"
Rayleigh didn't believe that securing backup for Ace was Wright's primary objective—there had to be something even more significant.
"The second reason…"
Wright fell silent for a moment before continuing, "You are the only person I can find who has been to Laugh Tale."
"I have a plan—a very grand plan. While I have little personal interest in Laugh Tale, if this plan ever requires information about it in the future, I hope you will lend me a hand."
"I know that Shanks handed the straw hat to someone in the East Blue…"
Rayleigh was about to speak, but hearing Wright's words, his gaze flickered, and he chose to remain silent, listening on.
"That kid is Vice Admiral Garp's grandson—his own flesh and blood."
"!"
Rayleigh's eyes widened once more. "So that means that kid and Ace…"
"Yeah, though not because they both share Garp as their grandfather, they are sworn brothers—closer than blood brothers."
"Because of that, while that kid is also one of my students, if, under the pressure of the Marines and Ace, he fails to reach the summit and make it to Laugh Tale in time, I have already prepared an alternative…"
Wright looked at Rayleigh. "When the time comes, I will have a contingency plan to ensure the 'god' falls."
"…"
"Hah! You young folks are absolutely insane…"
Rayleigh burst into hearty laughter, seemingly more delighted than he had been in decades.
"To think that someone like you exists in the Navy, Admiral Wright!"
"No wonder Ace wanted to join the Marines. No wonder you said you never liked coming to Sabaody Archipelago, hahahaha…"
"The strategic foresight of sharing this information with me… you truly are a Marine Admiral!"
"Do you want me to tell you everything about Laugh Tale right now?"
"No."
Wright shook his head with a smile. "I'm not particularly interested in Laugh Tale. My goal has always been singular, and it is not something that requires knowledge of Laugh Tale to achieve."
"I want to see what I can accomplish in this world with my own strength! Laugh Tale is, after all… merely the legacy of those who came before."
"As I said, it's just insurance. If, in the end, things don't go as I envision and I must rely on such hidden knowledge, I won't be stubborn about it."
"Hahaha! You're quite the confident one, Admiral Wright. A dreamer, yet pragmatic…"
Rayleigh laughed heartily.
"Alright! This old man promises you—I'll remember both matters well!"
"As for Ace, I'll keep an eye on his growth too…"
"The Captain once said that the next person to find Laugh Tale would definitely be his son. Looks like he finally got it wrong, hahahaha!"
"Well, that's not necessarily the case…"
Wright set down his beer glass, walked toward the bar's entrance, and waved farewell to the two old-timers.
"If the Navy takes down the Four Emperors, and Ace is interested, I wouldn't mind letting him take the four Road Poneglyphs and go sightseeing in Laugh Tale~"
"I'm off. Until we meet again!"
Click!
The door to the bar closed, leaving Rayleigh and Shakky exchanging looks.
"Heh! This Admiral Wright knows far more than I expected!"
"Road Poneglyphs… I haven't heard that term in years. If things go as he says…"
Rayleigh's expression turned odd. "Could the Pirate King's son end up becoming the 'Marine King'?"
"There's no such thing as a 'Marine King' for reaching Laugh Tale!"
Shakky sighed, exhaling a puff of smoke.
BOOM—
Before she could finish speaking, an explosion echoed from the southern district. Rayleigh focused his senses and grinned.
"That's the 16th Grove… a hot-headed young man playing with fire—must be Ace, right?"
"Well, it is the lawless zone. If he's clashing with that trash, Wright clearly isn't worried at all."
Shakky exhaled another puff of smoke. "Judging by how relaxed he looked, he's probably hoping Ace takes out a few more."
"Haha, a fiery temperament and the Flame-Flame Fruit… suits him perfectly."
Rayleigh nodded approvingly. "Now I'm truly looking forward to the moment when Ace and his brother—the one who inherited Roger's straw hat—finally clash… what an interesting spectacle that will be!"
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