Chapter 50

Jack's gaze was steady. "Haven't you always had your doubts? And hasn't someone already gone up there to confirm it?" He paused, then continued with conviction. "I believe that one day, the lights of Shandora will shine again, and the world will finally restore the honor that the great explorer Mont Blanc Noland deserves."

With that, Jack stood up, casting a brief glance toward the back of Cricket's house before leaving with a quiet smile.

As soon as he was gone, an ape and a gorilla emerged from the shadows where Jack had glanced. Tears streamed down their faces, but they had remained hidden the entire time, unwilling to show themselves while he was still there.

"Sir, is what you just said true? Was that boastful explorer, Mont Blanc Noland, really as great as you claim?" Lena asked, skepticism evident in her tone.

Jack chuckled. "Whether he was truly great, I can't say. But the City of Gold of Shandora? That's no myth—it exists. Many have already uncovered the secret hidden within the golden right eye."

The island of Gaya, when viewed on a map, resembled a skull—but it was missing its right eye. That missing piece, Jack knew, was none other than Sandora, the ancient city that had been launched into the White Sea.

Turning his gaze toward the horizon, Jack's expression darkened. "Round up all the pirates in town. We need to move. We've chased Blackbeard this far—if we lose him now, it'll only cause more trouble later."

Yet, despite their efforts, Blackbeard remained elusive. Days passed as Jack scoured every nearby island, but eventually, he had to accept the inevitable—he wasn't going to find him.

Meanwhile, unsettling news spread through the marines: signs indicated that Whitebeard and Red-Haired Shanks were on the verge of meeting in the New World. The entire navy was on edge.

Jack finally made his decision. "We're heading to the New World. We'll find Whitebeard."

Lena blinked, convinced she had misheard. "Sir… did you just say we're going to find Whitebeard? The Strongest of the Four Emperors? Our single warship won't even be able to get near his Moby Dick!"

Jack smiled, unfazed. "Don't worry. Just follow my orders."

The warship adjusted its course, heading straight for the Sabaody Archipelago—the only gateway between the Grand Line and the New World. It was the fastest route, making it their inevitable stop.

"Go ahead and find the coating specialists to coat the warship. We'll need it ready for our journey to Fishman Island," Jack instructed his crew. "I have something to take care of first. I'll meet up with you later."

Lena, trailing behind him, asked curiously, "Sir, where exactly are we going?"

Jack smiled knowingly. "To meet a legend."

Lena blinked in surprise, but Jack offered no further explanation. Her curiosity only grew. Not long ago, she had been stunned by the truth about the so-called "Liar" Mont Blanc Noland. Now, she couldn't help but wonder who else from history her commodore was about to introduce her to.

For Jack, however, there was only one reason to visit Sabaody—meeting the legendary Silvers Rayleigh. Otherwise, he would have avoided this place altogether. If he encountered those damned Celestial Dragons, he wasn't sure if he could resist the urge to kill them.

Before long, they arrived at their destination—Shakky's rip-off Bar.

Standing outside, Lena couldn't hold back her curiosity any longer. "Sir, who exactly are we meeting here?"

Jack didn't answer. Instead, he simply smiled, stepped forward, and knocked on the door.

"Come in," a woman's voice called from inside. Without hesitation, Jack pushed open the door, leading Lena inside.

A slender, middle-aged woman greeted them with a pleasant smile. "What can I get you to drink, young man?"

Jack chuckled. "Just plain water. Shakky, your drinks are a bit too pricey for me!"

Lena, still puzzled by the encounter, took a seat on the sofa at Jack's suggestion, quietly observing the interaction.

"Oh? You're an unfamiliar face, young man." Shakky smiled as she set down two glasses of water in front of them.

Jack wasted no time. "I'm here to meet Mr. Rayleigh. I hope to learn some Haki techniques from him."

Shakky raised an eyebrow, staring at him as if he had just said something ridiculous. After confirming that he wasn't joking, she lit a cigarette and exhaled slowly. "Do you have any idea what you're asking?"

"Of course." Jack nodded confidently. "This place is known for its information trade, isn't it? You and Mr. 'Silvers' Rayleigh have chosen to live in seclusion here, and despite being in the Navy, I've made no effort to disturb you."

Lena, who had been quietly listening, suddenly gasped. "Silvers Rayleigh?!"

If it was truly that Rayleigh—the legendary right-hand man of the Pirate King—then Jack's request wasn't just bold. It was almost unthinkable.

"Oh? So, are you here on behalf of the Navy, young man?" Shakky exhaled a puff of smoke, a playful smile tugging at her lips.

Jack shook his head. "No, I speak only for myself."

Shakky chuckled softly, studying him with a keen gaze, already trying to piece together his true intentions.

"Forget it. Lena is my confidant, so I won't play games with you, Shakky." Jack took a sip of his water before continuing. "My reasons for coming here are simple. First, I want to see if I can earn the recognition of 'Silvers' Rayleigh. If I manage to learn a few tricks from him, that would be a fortunate bonus. Second, I need to find a way to contact the Revolutionary Army. And finally, I want to know Whitebeard's current whereabouts."

Shakky raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Setting aside the rest, the first point alone is interesting. My husband is a pirate. Even if he were willing to teach you, would you dare to learn? Besides, your own teacher, Garp, is no weaker than him." She chuckled, taking another drag from her cigarette.

Jack placed his cup down and spoke seriously. "I don't see you as pirates. In my eyes, the term 'explorers' suits you better. As for the Great Pirate Era that Roger ushered in... well, history is still unfolding. I won't say whether his decision was right or wrong—at least, not yet."

Shakky was momentarily stunned. She hadn't expected such an answer. But as she mulled over his words, something clicked in her mind.

"So that's why you've let certain pirates go after capturing them in the past?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.

"That's right. As long as they don't steal, kill innocents, or prey on the weak, then even if they sail under the banner of piracy, they're nothing more than explorers." Jack nodded thoughtfully. "I am a Marine, and my duty is to uphold justice—to protect the peace of the seas and safeguard civilians. I am not some lapdog for certain powerful figures."

Shakky chuckled, exhaling a trail of smoke. "Hah! At this rate, you'll end up becoming a pirate yourself!" She smirked before adding, "As for your goals, I can only help with one. If you want to meet Whitebeard, that's easy—just head to one of the islands under his protection in the New World. The locals there can put you in contact with him. But as for the Revolutionary Army? That's out of my hands."

Jack nodded. That much aligned with what he had expected. Finding Whitebeard wouldn't be difficult, but whether the old man would actually agree to meet him was another matter. After all, Jack was still just a Commodore.

As for the Revolutionary Army… if all else failed, there was always another option—Impel Down. Ivankov, imprisoned there, was one of the Revolutionary Army's key figures. If Jack really wanted to make contact with Dragon, that was his best lead.

Shakky stubbed out her cigarette and leaned back. "That old man's been away for days. If you want to speak with him, you'll have to track him down yourself—I can't make any decisions on his behalf."

"What a shame. This island is one of my least favorite places, so I'm not exactly eager to wander around. And missing the chance to meet Rayleigh-san today? That's truly unfortunate." Jack sighed, then turned to Shakky with a polite nod. "If he returns, please put in a good word for me. Hopefully, the next time I visit, I'll have the opportunity to learn a thing or two from him."

Shakky observed him for a moment but didn't press further on why he disliked the Sabaody Archipelago. Instead, she stretched out her hand with a knowing smile. "That'll be one million Berries, young man."

The price was exorbitant, but Jack didn't bat an eye. Without hesitation, he retrieved a million Berries from his system inventory and handed them over.

Shakky blinked in surprise, momentarily caught off guard by the way the money had seemingly appeared out of thin air. Lena, however, remained unfazed—she was well aware of Jack's abilities.

"Just a small trick, nothing worth mentioning. Apologies if I've startled you, Shakky." Jack bowed slightly and turned to leave.

But before he could take a step, a deep, hearty laugh echoed from outside.

"Haha! You came all this way to see me, and now you're leaving before even meeting the man himself?"

The wooden door creaked open, and both Jack and Lena turned toward the entrance. There, standing in the doorway, was a middle-aged man with long, wavy silver hair, a neatly trimmed beard, and glasses. A thin scar ran down his right eye, giving him an air of rugged wisdom.

Silvers Rayleigh had arrived.

"Dark King... Silvers Rayleigh?" Jack murmured under his breath.

"Haha! Weren't you looking for me, young man?" Rayleigh chuckled as he took a seat, raising his drink for a hearty gulp.

Jack straightened up and bowed respectfully. "Yes, my sensei once called you a living legend, and I deeply admire your strength. You're a master of all three types of Haki, and your skill is unparalleled. That's why I dared to come here today—to see if you'd be willing to teach me."

Rayleigh laughed, shaking his head. "That old rascal Garp, singing my praises? Hard to believe. He spent years chasing us down and making our lives miserable!" He took another sip before narrowing his eyes at Jack. "As a marine, aren't you worried that learning from me might put you in a difficult position if word gets out?"

Jack nodded but remained firm. "Of course, I'm aware of the risks. But I have my own ambitions. Reaching the top of the navy would make it easier to enact change, but that's not the only path. If I can defeat all my opponents, I can make them submit to my vision."

Rayleigh let out a sigh, shaking his head. "Kid, don't get too ahead of yourself. Even I wouldn't dare claim invincibility. I'm afraid I can't be your teacher."

Jack's gaze burned with determination. "Then at least grant me the honor of a sparring match, Rayleigh-san!"

Rayleigh chuckled again, this time with a hint of amusement. "If I refuse, you'll leave empty-handed, and then that old dog Garp will probably come knocking next time. Fine, let's do it."

Without another word, the two moved to an open field.

"Rayleigh-san, I'm coming!" Jack announced before vanishing in a blur, reappearing in front of Rayleigh with a swift kick aimed at his head.

Rayleigh sidestepped effortlessly, his eyes twinkling. "Not bad… you've got speed!"

Jack remained silent, fully focused on his assault. Meanwhile, Rayleigh effortlessly evaded each strike, choosing not to counterattack.

"Hah…" Jack exhaled, momentarily pausing after a series of failed attacks. His eyes narrowed, and in that instant, his entire movement shifted. The rhythm of his attacks became unpredictable, and his footwork transformed from a straightforward pursuit of speed into something far more intricate.

Rayleigh, still composed, observed the change with mild amusement. "Interesting," he muttered. Though he continued to dodge with ease, Jack's strikes were no longer so easily avoidable. Occasionally, Rayleigh allowed a hit to land on his body, absorbing the impact without concern, yet his hand never strayed from the sword at his waist.

"Watch closely! I'm about to use my ultimate move!" Jack warned. As Rayleigh deflected his sweeping kick, Jack seized the moment, leaping into the air. His hands shifted into position, and an intense force surged within him.

Rayleigh's eyes narrowed as he gazed up at Jack, his lips curling into a subtle smile. He remained silent, simply watching.

"Iron Dragon Punch!!"

A massive dragon-shaped energy surged forward, hurtling straight toward Rayleigh.

"What an intriguing energy… This doesn't seem like a Devil Fruit ability," Rayleigh mused. With a light flick of his wrist, his sword left its sheath in a blur of motion. The immense dragon head projection was instantly cleaved in half.

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