In the Sabaody Archipego, inside Shakky's Rip-Off Bar, Silvers Rayleigh sat reading the test neer with a thoughtful expression on his face. For a moment, his face was tense, but it soon rexed, a out a carefree ugh.

  "What's with that strange look?" Shakky asked, eyeing him curiously.

  "Ah, it's nothing," Rayleigh replied with a smile. "Just thinking that the Wover seems to be getting strohese days. But then I realized… that doesn't really me, does it? Hahaha!"

  "Did something happen?" Shakky asked, raising an eyebrow.

  "Yeah, something big. Two days ago on Bat Isnd in the New World, they mao capture Patrick Redfield," Rayleigh said, nodding.

  "Redfield?" Shakky repeated, startled. "You mean Redfield, the 'Red t'? The 'Lonely Red'?"

  "Yep, that's the one," Rayleigh firmed with a grin.

  "If I remember correctly, he's supposed to be really powerful, isn't he?" Shakky asked, intrigued. "Rumor has it he could stand toe-to-toe with the likes of the Roger Pirates and the Whitebeard Pirates, all on his own. Even Shiki didn't want to mess with him."

  Rayleigh chuckled. "Well, he's strong, no doubt about that. But it's not like he's invincible. He has his strengths, sure, but he's also got his weaknesses. And sometimes, going it alone isn't all it's cracked up to be. After all… look where it got him." He hahe neer over to Shakky.

  Shakky took the paper and sed the article, her eyes widening in surprise. "Looks like the Wover got lucky."

  "Maybe," Rayleigh replied, nodding thoughtfully.

  The story in the neer was, indeed, iing. It mentioned nothing about CP-X or Cudius. Instead, it highlighted a new rising pirate—Dofmingo. Acc to the article, Dofmingo's Donquixote Pirates had been on Bat Isnd when they entered Redfield, leading to a fierce battle betweewo. While the two were locked in bat, Fleet Admiral Kong supposedly arrived, taking advantage of the situation to capture Redfield. In the end, Redfield was captured, while Dofmingo mao escape the isnd, slipping out before Kong could apprehend him.

  The whole story painted a picture of the Marines catg Redfield at the perfeent, making it seem as if they'd simply taken advantage of his csh with Dofmingo. And Dofmingo, nnized as a fierew power in the New World, saw his reputation soar.

  Shakky frowned slightly as she looked over the paper. "Something feels… off about this story. I 't put my finger on it, but it doesn't quite add up."

  Rayleigh nodded, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Yeah, I had the same thought."

  "Guess you 't always rely on the neers, you?" Shakky mused, setting the paper down. "Sabaody Archipego is a melting pot of information and people. It'd make a great pce for the intelligence business. I've thought about it before… and I think I'm finally going to make it happen."

  Rayleigh raised an eyebrow, looking at her with mild surprise. "gratutions."

  "But you," she said, giving him a pointed look. "You're the freeloader here, eating and drinking on my tab all day. Aren't you even a little ashamed? How's that freeloading life treating you, Rayleigh?"

  Ever sihe disbanding of the Roger Pirates, Rayleigh had returo Sabaody, reeg with Shakky, who he'd met during his travels. The two had struck up a retionship, and Rayleigh had settled into life on the archipego with her. At first, he'd had a det stash of treasure from his days with the Roger Pirates, but his love fambling had drained his funds over time. Now, he was entirely depe on Shakky and seemed quite tent with his freeloading lifestyle.

  Shakky had put up with it for a while, but as time passed, she started to realize that Rayleigh was getting too fortable. If he didn't find something productive to do, she feared he'd end up wasting away.

  Rayleigh suddenly put on a serious face. "Actually, I went to see the doctor a couple of days ago."

  Shakky's expression shifted, genuine worry crossing her face. "What? Are you sick? Did you catch Roger's illness or something?"

  "No, no, nothing like that," Rayleigh replied, his serious look dissolving into a mischievous smile. "The doctor just said my mouth isn't suited for eating anything too tough. He reended I stick to softer foods. Guess I'll be stig to 'soft rice' from now on."

  In the sed, a bottle flew across the room, smag Rayleigh squarely on the head and knog him to the floor. Shakky stood over him, fuming. "You old bastard! Are y to make me die from anger? Let me tell you, if you don't find yourself a job within the hree days, I'll skin you alive!"

  And so, it was with that "gentle" encement from Shakky that Rayleigh eventually found his way into the coating business, earning his moniker as the "Coater." Though he'd ter joke that he also had a side gig as a "sve trader"— his services, but only to help others.

  ---

  Meanwhile, in the Holy Land of Mariejois, Five Elders, Cudius, and Fleet Admiral Kong were walking down a grand hallway, making their way to the main office. Both Cudius and Kong were covered in bandages, visible reminders of the fierce battle with Redfield. Bloodstains still peeked through Cudius's bandages, and Kong was no less bruised. They wore the marks of their fight with a strange sort of pride—scars left by the Red t himself.

  "You know, I wouldn't be surprised if the step for you, Fleet Admiral, is a promotion to ander-in-Chief," Cudius joked, grinning at Kong. "And if that happens, you'd better keep a for us over at CP-X."

  Kong chuckled, waving him off. "Oh, Yhness, you're just being polite. I don't think I've done nearly enough to warrant that. Besides, CP-X isn't uhe ander-in-Chief's jurisdi anyway. If anything, I should be asking you to look after me."

  They ughed, exging a few mood-natured jabs as they reached the office doors. Kong knocked, and a voice from inside called for them to ehe two stepped into the room, greeted by the Five Elders.

  The Elders, for once, were all smiles, their expressions a rare sight of approval. The bald elder, his face kling with a grin, spoke up first. "Yes, very good. The two of you performed exceptionally. You've done us proud!"

  Cudius and Kong both ined their heads respectfully, replying in unison, "Just doing our duty."

  ****

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