"I, I uhh…"
"Hmm?" Shakky let out a dangerous hum from her nose, leaning forward slightly, full of pressure. "Are you going to tell me or not?"
Rayleigh was cornered and had nowhere to escape. Finally, like a deflated ball, his shoulders slumped, and his voice was almost inaudible:
"Actually… I didn't think that much at the time. I just felt, I just felt Gloriosa was quite pitiful, falling for Roger, this insensitive guy."
"Heh!" Shakky let out a short scoff. "Then do you like her?"
Rayleigh quickly waved his hand in denial: "No, absolutely not. I really didn't have those thoughts back then."
Gloriosa → Roger → Shakky → Rayleigh.
This wasn't even a love triangle anymore; it was a love square. Wayne was truly enjoying this gossip.
The only pity was that it didn't form a closed loop.
"Hmph!" Shakky slammed the rag in her hand onto the bar counter, not even sparing Rayleigh another glance, and stormed into the back kitchen.
Wayne cast a sympathetic glance at Rayleigh, who stood rooted to the spot, looking like a frozen eggplant. "You're in for a rough time now."
"Shakky!" Rayleigh called out to the closed kitchen door, his voice carrying a subtle hint of flattery. "Remember to get this young man a map and an Eternal Pose!"
There was no response, only the clanging sound of metal, as if expressing the hostess's displeasure.
Rayleigh sighed deeply. When his gaze fell on Wayne, his eyes were filled with killing intent. "You brat, you truly are a menace!"
But in the end, Rayleigh took a deep breath, sat back on the sofa, and looked with complex emotions at "Ace," which Wayne had placed on the bar counter: "Did Roger personally give you this sword?"
Wayne swirled his wine glass and chuckled: "No, Portgas D. Rouge, Roger's wife, personally gave me this sword."
"Wh-what?!" Rayleigh shot up from the sofa as if struck by lightning, his eyes wide.
"That guy, he, he got married?!"
"More than that."
"Rouge is already three months pregnant. In another seven months, Roger's child will be born."
"How about it? Surprised? Unexpected?"
"Really?!" Rayleigh stared intently into Wayne's eyes, as if trying to confirm the truth of the news from them. "Roger really has a descendant?!"
"Why would I lie to you?" Wayne shrugged, looking innocent. "What good would that do me?"
"Hahahahaha!" Rayleigh suddenly burst into a hearty laugh, tears even welling up in the corners of his eyes.
"Good, too good!"
This was the best news he had heard all year.
After calming his turbulent emotions, Rayleigh wiped away the tears from his eyes and looked at Wayne: "Young man! I still don't know your name?"
"Wayne."
"Wayne! I have a question. Why did Roger choose to entrust Rouge to you?"
"He should know that if it were me, I would be very willing to protect his wife even at the cost of my old life."
Wayne put down his wine glass and teased: "Perhaps it's because you have a record…"
"Huh?" Rayleigh quickly reacted, his face instantly darkening: "Young man, I'm serious."
"This is my agreement with Roger. His time was running out."
"There wasn't enough time to notify all of you, so he could only entrust me to protect Rouge's safety until his child is safely born into this world."
Rayleigh frowned, "You mean someone wants to harm Rouge?!"
"The World Government, they want to completely sever Roger's bloodline."
"When I arrived at Baterilla Island and found Rouge, the Marine had just arrived…"
Rayleigh clenched his fists. The World Government! It's them again! They won't even spare innocent children.
He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the churning anger. When he looked at Wayne again, his eyes were filled with unprecedented gratitude.
Rayleigh stood up and bowed deeply to Wayne: "Wayne, I, Silvers Rayleigh, on behalf of all members of the Roger Pirates, thank you!"
"This kindness, we will engrave it in our hearts!"
After straightening up, Rayleigh's gaze was burning as he looked at Wayne: "Where is Rouge now? I must go see her myself!"
"I've settled her in Windmill Village in the Goa Kingdom of the East Blue. It's very peaceful there, and she's safe."
"However…"
"However what?!"
Wayne spread his hands, a hint of "helplessness" on his face: "I've been a bit busy lately, so I might not be able to constantly guard Rouge."
"You know, although the East Blue is known as the 'weakest sea,' in this Great Pirate Era, there are too many pirates setting sail!"
"What if some short-sighted person…"
"Leave it to me!!!"
Wayne grinned. He finally outsourced this job! No! He finally found a trustworthy bodyguard for Rouge!
"Thank you so much, Rayleigh-san. I'm entrusting the safety of Rouge and her child to you. Here, this is the East Blue map, this is the location of the Goa Kingdom, this is Windmill Village, this is Rouge's house…"
Seeing Wayne so enthusiastic, Rayleigh scratched his head, feeling that something wasn't quite right.
"Oh, there's one more thing. Rouge hopes her child will choose his own path in life, so please don't talk about pirates or anything like that. I think you understand what I mean."
Rayleigh nodded: "I know. If Rouge doesn't recognize me, I'll just say I'm a bodyguard you sent, right?"
"That probably won't work. Roger likely mentioned you to Rouge. Anyway, just protect Rouge's safety, and don't be a busybody."
"Okay, I understand then."
No sooner had Rayleigh finished speaking than Shakky walked out from the back kitchen, holding a map and an Eternal Pose, which she placed on the bar counter.
"Here's the West Blue map you wanted and the Eternal Pose for Alberby Island. What, are you going to become a pirate?"
Wayne shook his head: "I won't become a pirate. On the contrary, I'm more likely to become one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea."
Rayleigh frowned: "Seven Warlords of the Sea? Why? I can feel that you don't approve of the World Government, so why would you become a dog of the World Government?"
"I have my own considerations. Alright, since I have what I wanted, I won't stay long. Mr. Rayleigh, after I finish being busy these next few days, I'll see you in Windmill Village."
After Wayne left, Rayleigh shook his head: "Seven Warlords of the Sea, tsk tsk, that kid definitely has ulterior motives."
Shakky chuckled softly: "I think so too. I see him as someone who fears nothing. With his personality, how could he genuinely work for the World Government?"
"You know, once he becomes a Shichibukai, the Marines won't be able to do anything to him."