45-Eyes on the Dark King

As the world's great powers seethed beneath the surface in reaction to the Marine Headquarters' mutiny, a massive warship slowly departed from the port of Marineford, cutting through the waves en route to the Sabaody Archipelago.

On the deck stood Elio, wearing the in the Fleet Admiral's coat, facing forward. The three Admirals stood behind him, each lost in their own thoughts.

Gion kept a single step's distance from Elio. Her hand rested calmly on the hilt of her sword, letting the sea breeze whip her coat. Though her expression remained serene, a quiet storm of tension brewed in her heart.

Naturally, that was to be expected.

Even though the Holy Land had chosen to compromise, and even the elusive Im had agreed to meet with Elio, it didn't mean they would truly act with sincerity. If the Holy Land went back on their word, it would spark a battle the world had never seen before.

"Don't be nervous,"

Elio suddenly broke the silence on the deck, as though he could hear Gion's thoughts. His voice was calm and composed, "Even if the Holy Land betrays us, they won't be able to keep us there. More importantly, the current situation won't allow them to pull such a stunt. Not just us, but every intelligence broker lurking in the shadows has their eyes on their every move."

At his words, Gion silently shook her head with a small smile.

From the day she first met Elio, he had always felt like the boy next door in her eyes. Even though she knew how quickly he had grown over the years, even knowing that his future would be extraordinary, she had never imagined there'd come a day when she would be the one comforted like a little girl by him.

She was nervous, yes, but never afraid.

Still, even though she was older than Elio by many years, those simple words, "don't be nervous", warmed her heart.

Without realizing it, the boy who once trained under her swordsmanship had grown into a towering tree. A pillar of strength, solid and reassuring.

The distance between Marine Headquarters and Sabaody Archipelago wasn't far, and soon, the archipelago came into view.

The warship didn't head for the local Marine base stationed at Sabaody, but directly toward the harbor that led to the Holy Land.

As the warship drew closer, the seemingly calm surface of Sabaody began to stir. Countless hidden operatives from various factions activated, focusing their eyes on this massive vessel that had arrived from Marine Headquarters.

At Sabaody's Area 3, in front of "Shakuyaku's Rip-off Bar," the bar's owner, Shakuyaku, held a slim woman's cigarette in one hand and a telescope in the other, peering through the trees at the warship gliding across the sea. The lens moved with the ship.

When she caught sight of the young figure standing ahead of the three Admirals and Gion, even someone like her, a former Empress of Amazon Lily, couldn't help but sigh.

"So young, yet with such frightening resolve... The coming era, it will belong to him."

She turned her head slightly and glanced at the old man standing nearby.

"So full of spirit, sharp as a blade!"

The old man's eyes narrowed slightly, his powerful vision capturing every face on the warship's deck. He didn't hold back his praise, "More formidable than even the man who once invited me to sea and nearly flipped the world on its head."

Silvers Rayleigh, the former first mate of the Roger Pirates. Known as the Dark King, and hailed as the Pirate King's right hand, he was a titan of the old era.

After the Roger Pirates disbanded, Rayleigh remained at Sabaody under mysterious circumstances, posing as a coating craftsman. To better conceal his identity, he often mingled in gambling dens and sometimes even sold himself to human trafficking rings, only to end up at slave auctions.

"Oh?"

Suddenly, Rayleigh's eyes glinted. His gaze shifted from the young man at the prow to the three old men sitting together on the deck.

"Sengoku, Garp, and Zephyr?"

Shakuyaku exhaled a smoke ring and chuckled, "The Marine's three top powers, plus Sengoku, Garp, and Zephyr, this kind of lineup, even the Holy Land would have to think twice."

Rayleigh's eyes lit up as well. He casually said, "I think I'll go take a look."

As soon as the words left his mouth, he vanished in a flash, disappearing into the forest behind the bar.

When he reappeared, he stood at the harbor leading to the Holy Land.

By this time, the harbor was already swarming with Marine soldiers stationed at Sabaody. Led by Vice Admirals Strawberry and Bastille, over a hundred Marines lined up in two columns, their formation sharp, their gazes blazing.

Due to the arrival of a Marine Headquarters warship, all merchant ships that normally passed through this harbor to supply the Holy Land rerouted, gathering instead in the open waters just beyond the port. Every merchant stood on their deck, eyes fixed on the incoming warship.

As the ship finally docked, Strawberry and Bastille stood tall, awaiting orders.

Gion and the three Admirals were the first to leap from the deck. Gion stood alone to the left, while the three Admirals took positions opposite her, waiting for Elio to disembark.

But the man who had stood on the deck just moments before, Elio, had vanished.

Rayleigh, concealed in an unremarkable corner, didn't even glance at the Admirals or Gion. Instead, he silently released his Observation Haki, covering a wide radius.

Through Observation Haki, every spy nearby fell within his senses. Their hushed whispers flowed directly into his ears, clear as day.

"Three Admirals, plus the former Fleet Admiral Sengoku and the Marine Hero Garp? Elio's about to lay his cards on the table with the Holy Land!"

"Elio's making his move, but it seems the Holy Land has already compromised. Otherwise, he wouldn't show up like this, he'd bring the full force of the Marines and storm the place!"

"Wait, where is he? Elio was just on the deck, how is he gone already?!"

"Who cares where he is! The real question is what will happen when he takes the three Admirals, Sengoku, Garp, and Zephyr into the Holy Land!"

"What else? The Holy Land caves, and Elio wins more rights for the Marines!"

"There's also another possibility. What if the Holy Land is luring him in with a smile, only to wipe them all out in one move?"

"Are you serious? Forget that the entire Marine force is under Elio's command. The Revolutionary Army, having intercepted this intel earlier than us, has already mobilized across five fronts! If the Holy Land dares to betray Elio now, they'll spark a revolution the likes of which history has never seen!"

Listening to these idle whispers, Rayleigh shook his head to himself and withdrew his Haki, glancing back up at the deck.

At the same moment, inside the ship's cabin, Elio emerged from the restroom. Taking a towel from a waiting soldier, he dried his hands and said plainly, "Let's go."

With that, he strode out of the cabin.

Hmm?

As soon as he reached the deck, a flicker of surprise flashed in Elio's eyes. He casually turned his head toward the harbor, toward where Rayleigh stood hidden.

At that exact moment, Rayleigh retracted his Observation Haki and looked back toward the ship.

When his eyes met Elio's, who had just stepped out and turned his gaze directly at him, Rayleigh's heart skipped a beat.

It was clear from Elio's reaction and his look... Rayleigh had been discovered.

If he had been just a normal coating craftsman, being spotted wouldn't matter much.

But here's the thing: he had completely hidden his presence, and the foliage offered full visual cover. Not even the two spies just ten meters to his right had sensed him.

And yet, Elio, upon emerging from the ship, had looked straight at him.

This could only mean one thing, Elio had already noticed him.

And sure enough, just as that realization struck Rayleigh's heart, a voice whispered into his mind.

"You've retired. Don't stir up trouble again. Rest peacefully, Dark King Rayleigh."

-!!

The sudden voice left Rayleigh stunned. His eyes widened in disbelief.

Elio hadn't just detected him... he knew his true identity as well!