With Rayleigh the handsome, troublemaker out of the picture, no one else dared to challenge Cudius for the Demon Bde Shindō. Why, you ask? Well, it was simple: no one in their right mind would dare.

  The fact that Cudius mao win a renowned sword ranked among the Twenty-One Great Grade Swords at a minor au like this was already a pleasant surprise. After all, the swords in this category were coveted treasures, ons that could only be wielded by true masters of the bde.

  The only reason Shindō was even up for au was because it was a cursed bde an item most people avoided. Otherwise, it wouldn't have ended up in such a ckluster pce. As soon as it resurfaced, swordsmen of great renown would have goo great lengths to cim it.

  That was also why Shindō had never risen to the level of the Twelve Supreme Grade Bdes, despite its quality. Its sinister nature held it back. If it had been fed without its malevolent aura, it might have climbed even higher perhaps even being something akin to the First Geion Kitetsu, whose terrifyiation overshadowed its status as a cursed bde.

  Rayleigh, as a veteran swordsman, could see through to Shindō's true potential. But even he, despite his keen eye, k wasn't wettiangled with the Celestial Dragons over it. He uood that Shindō's reputation didn't match its capabilities. That was why he had risked drawing attention to himself by bidding against Celestial Dragons.

  Now, though, Shindō had ended up in the hands of another Celestial Dragon. Rayleigh felt a pang ret. He doubted aial Dragon would ever put the bde to proper use. More likely, it would be treated as a mere tri, left to gather dust.

  He couldn't imagine aial Dragon wielding a cursed bde in battle. More than likely, it would bee a status symbol a sign of wealth and power rather than skill and strength.

  After the au cluded, Cudius had Stussy arrange for the transport of his newly acquired items, including the Logia-type S-S Fruit and the Demon Bde Shindō. He then tinued expl Sabaody Archipego at a leisurely pace.

  He didn't worry in the slightest that someone might try to rob him of his purchases. This was Sabaody Archipego, after all an isnd practically uhe trol of the Celestial Dragons. If anyone dared to act against him, an Admiral would desd upon them faster than they could even blink.

  Stussy, having spent more time with Cudius retly, had bee familiar with his personality and quirks. She was no longer as reserved as when they first met. Smiling, she ented, "I thought you might end up buying a few sves, Yhness, but instead, you went for a Devil Fruit and a cursed bde."

  The Devil Fruit articurly surprising. Celestial Dragons generally viewed Devil Fruits as mere pythings, not worth their time. Buying o an au wasn't something she'd seen before.

  Cudius ughed. "What I say? I'm a man of refiastes. Sometimes, you just have to buy what catches your eye."

  "Spending over a billion Berries on a whim? It's good to be rid willful, I guess…" Stussy thought silently, but she didn't voice her thoughts. Instead, she tio chat with Cudius as they strolled through the area.

  "Yhness, if we go any further, we'll reach the illegal port. It's ly the safest pce. Maybe we should head back?" Stussy suggested gently.

  She was right the port in the illegal zone was one of the most dangerous spots oire isnd. It was like a backdoor exit. If things got too heated on Sabaody, people oftehrough this port to make a quick escape.

  Cudius houghtfully. "Hmm, maybe you're right. Let's turn back."

  He had been somewhat tempted to take a look at the famed Oro Ja, the ship that would one day carry Roger and his crew across the Grand Line. But thehought better of it. If Roger and his crew were this brazen, parking their ship out in the open, it would only be a matter of time befarp showed up to exge "old friends' greetings" with Roger.

  o get involved in such matters now. There'd be plenty of time to visit Sabaody again iure. He might even choose this isnd as his first base of operations. It was vely located a crucial hub with easy access to New World, and more importantly, it was close to Mariejois, allowing him to maneuver effitly.

  Just as Cudius turo leave, he heard an all-too-familiar arrogant voice eg from a small hill in the distance.

  Cudius frowned. "What's that idiot up to now?"

  The arrogant voice beloo her than Saint Rothschild, the fool Cudius had spped earlier at the au. Curious, Cudius gestured for his group to follow him up the hill to get a better view.

  What he saw left him incredulous.

  Rothschild was sitting atop a rge Fish-Man sve, gring down at a group of people surrounded by his ente. And those people just so happeo be members of the Roger Pirates.

  Saint Rothschild was his servants around like a wannabe general, boasting that none of the pirates would leave Sabaody alive. He promised to capture every st one of them and haul them baariejois as sves.

  "Is this guy out of his mind?" Cudius thought, genuinely stunned. "Pig a fight with Roger's crew? This is a whole new level of stupidity."

  Uo vent his frustration on Cudius earlier, Rothschild had turned his ire toward the Roger Pirates, whom he bmed for sparking the initial flict. He thought capturing them would restore his dignity as a Celestial Dragon.

  Rothschild sneered down at the pirates, pletely unaware of the impending danger. "On your knees, all of you! Maybe if I'm in a good mood, I'll let you keep your lives," he said, voice dripping with arrogance.

  Roger and his crew stood silently, not making a move. To Cudius, it was clear they were pting whether to wipe the floor with this fool or just leave.

  But to Rothschild, their silence was a sign of fear and submission. His smug smile widened.

  "See? They're scared stiff. They know they 't afford to anger me."

  Oher side, Rayleigh g Roger. "What's the pn, Captain?"

  "Just kill them," grunted Dougs Bullet, the hulking newer of the Roger Pirates.

  Dougs Bullet was a fierce addition to the crew. Though he was one of the junior members, his strength was undeniable. He was a former soldier who had gue after beirayed by his anding officer. After decimating the forces that had wronged him, he had been marked as a highly dangerous criminal by the Wover. Eventually, he ended up joining Roger's crew.

  His style was brutal and direct. For someone like Bullet, killing a Celestial Dragon was just another day at the office. After all, with the bounties on their heads, they were already ned men. What difference did one more crime make?

  However, Roger shook his head. "There's o kill him. But we 't just walk away, either. Let's rough him up a bit enough to make him wish he was dead. The Wover heal him up ter. As long as he's not dead, it'll blow over."

  Rayleigh chuckled at Roger's fident toypical Roger brimming with bravado even when discussing breaking a Celestial Dragon. But Roger was right. As long as they didn't kill Rothschild, they wouldn't stir up as much trouble. They could still carry on with their journey.

  "Let me hahis one," Rayleigh offered, stepping forward. He didn't even bother drawing his sword. Using his bde on trash like Rothschild would be a disgrace.

  With a siep, Rayleigh closed the distance. He moved with such speed that it seemed almost casual. He didn't o go all out crippling a Celestial Dragon hardly required his full strength.

  But just as Rayleigh was about to deliver his blow, something happened.

  A fsh of steel, faster than the eye could see, shot out from a distant hill.

  "Shoot to kill, Shinsō!" Cudius murmured softly.

  A silver light zipped across the air, targeting Rayleigh with pinpoint accuracy. The sword extended impossibly fast, its bde glinting in the sunlight as it aimed for Rayleigh's chest.

  Rayleigh's eyes widened in surprise. Even with his enhanced vision and Observation Haki, the speed of the bde caught him off guard. It wasn't a ssh it was as if the entire bde had been shot straight at him, the tip hurtling towards him at breakneck speed.

  "Damn!" Rayleigh grunted, eling Armament Haki into his hand. He caught the bde just before it could pierce his skin. The force of the strike pushed him back several steps, his feet digging deep furrows into the ground.

  Cudius, witnessing the se, was momentarily stunned. He had fully expected Rayleigh to dodge, never imagining he would try to catch Shinsō with his bare hands.

  But before Rayleigh could fully prehend the situation, Cudius' thoughts anded Shinsō, and in an instant, the bde retracted back to its inal form, resting peacefully in its scabbard.

  Rayleigh stared at his empty hands, feeling a bit awkward. He had just attempted to catch the strange, flying bde, but before he even realized what was happening, it had already vanished. Did he really fail to catch it?

  If Cudius could hear what Rayleigh was thinking, he might have ughed out loud. Seriously? Did Rayleigh actually think he could just snatch Shinsō out of his hands? This wasn't some ordinary on this was like a piece of bound gear from a game. Did Rayleigh really believe he could simply take it away? He was definitely overestimating himself.