He had always known Cyrus was a monster.
But for the young monster to grasp, replicate, and master the pinnacle of advanced Haki in such a short amount of time... Rayleigh still found it incomprehensible.
"Do you want to go one more round? Just so I can get a little more familiar with the flow?" Cyrus asked with a grin, raising his left hand.
The air around his fist warped as he wrapped it in Conqueror's Emission.
"According to the terms of our original agreement, once you mirrored the technique, our daily sparring sessions were terminated," Rayleigh stated, his grip tightening on his hilt.
'Don't push me you cruel, brat!'
"True. As a future ruler of the seas, I must keep my word." Cyrus thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement, dropping his Haki.
"Still, I feel a bit bad for bothering an old man like you for so long."
'If you know you're being a nightmare, then don't bother me!' Rayleigh screamed internally, holding the words back.
Right now, he just wanted to send this young, walking natural disaster on his way to the New World.
If the Marines forced him off Sabaody because of this kid, he was going to be annoyed.
Cyrus glanced back toward his galleon anchored safely in the distance.
He ignored Rayleigh's internal crisis, pushed off the floating rock, and leaped into the air, descending toward his ship.
Rayleigh surveyed the devastation around him.
His gaze lingered on the shattered island and the massive, permanent sword scars etched deep into the indestructible cliffs of the Red Line.
'It's over.'
With a heavy, contented sigh, Rayleigh sheathed his sword and followed Cyrus back to the ship.
Landing on the deck, Cyrus was greeted by his crew.
"Did you master it?" Robin asked, handing him a towel.
"Yes, I did!" Cyrus nodded, wiping the sweat from his face with a satisfied grin.
"Does that mean we should be leaving the archipelago?" Robin asked, glancing past him at Rayleigh, who had just landed on the railing.
"You should be leaving right now," Rayleigh answered before Cyrus could open his mouth. He hopped down from the rail, looking serious.
"You are all aware of the deteriorating political situation on Sabaody. To avoid an unnecessary war, the Navy has deployed a massive amount of high-level forces."
Rayleigh's warning made Cyrus pause.
"The situation surrounding this specific auction is abnormal. Someone in the underworld is pushing this crisis forward. Shakky confirmed it, but her network hasn't been able to pinpoint the puppet master yet," Rayleigh explained, walking over and collapsing into a deck chair.
Judging by his pale complexion and heavy breathing, the Dark King was exhausted.
"Let's head back to the docks first, then we'll finalize our next move," Cyrus decided.
As they sailed back, it became clear that Rayleigh wasn't exaggerating.
The waters surrounding Sabaody were heavily fortified.
However, it seemed the Marine fleet had been given specific, classified orders regarding Cyrus's vessel.
As they navigated through the blockade, the massive Marine warships ignored them, making no attempt to approach or obstruct their path.
"It seems Headquarters is on maximum alert. They don't want to annoyed you. This must be related to securing that auction for the World Nobles," Robin noted, sipping tea as she watched a fifth warship sail past them in the distance.
"Morgans," Cyrus muttered. He pulled a golden Den Den Mushi from his coat and dialed the World Economic Journal.
Ka-cha.
"Cyrus! Is there a scoop?!" Morgans squawked the second he answered the line, his tone vibrating with greed.
"No big news today, Morgan. But I need to ask you about a specific piece of intelligence," Cyrus replied.
"Ask away! Information is my currency!"
"You are aware of the exclusive slave auction approaching on Sabaody, correct?"
"Of course! But that is hardly front-page news. High-end human trafficking is just Tuesday on the archipelago," Morgans replied, a hint of confusion in his voice.
"Then tell me, Morgans... who is the mastermind supplying the merchandise for this specific auction?" Cyrus asked, his voice dropping.
"Ah... well, about that..." Morgans stammered, offering no immediate answer.
"Let me guess," Cyrus gave a cold smile. "Is it tied to Donquixote Doflamingo?"
"Now, why would you assume something like that?" Morgans asked, his tone careful.
"Because this coordinated scale of black-market logistics is inseparable from the deep Underworld. The only two brokers capable of pulling this off are Joker and the Shipping King, Umit. And Umit doesn't deal in flesh."
"I didn't say a word," Morgans replied after a heavy silence.
He had said nothing.
But in the underworld, silence confirmed everything.
Cyrus hung up the Den Den Mushi, a dangerous smile spreading across his face.
"So, it really is Doflamingo pulling the strings?" Robin asked, reading Cyrus's expression.
"According to Crocodile's analysis, while auctions are frequent, an exclusive event of this scale has never happened before. And since Morgans confirmed Joker's involvement... it's impossible for me not to connect the dots," Cyrus chuckled.
He understood Doflamingo's arrogance.
The Warlord would never forgive or forget the humiliation Cyrus had inflicted upon him in the North Blue.
Furthermore, given the strength Cyrus was displaying against the Dark King, Doflamingo lacked the courage to face him in a direct, one-on-one fight.
The Heavenly Demon was a coward who hid behind politics.
That was why he was resorting to these convoluted, proxy-war assassinations.
"Since this is a trap designed by him... how are we going to respond, Captain?" Robin asked, awaiting his order.
"We will make our final decision after we return to the bar," Cyrus shook his head, keeping his cards close to his chest.
However, one thing was certain: eradicating Donquixote Doflamingo had just moved to the top of his to-do list.
The flamingo wasn't a threat, but he was becoming an annoying mosquito!
...
The galleon docked at a deserted pier on Area 13.
Due to the Marine blockade, fewer rookie pirate crews had managed to make landfall on Sabaody, leaving the bustling docks quiet.
Conversely, the pirates who had already been on the island before the lockdown were trapped, terrified to try and break through Kizaru's fleet.
Cyrus stepped off the gangway, his crew following close behind.
But as soon as his boots hit the cobblestones, he stopped dead in his tracks, his Observation Haki flaring.
'Someone was approaching.'
'Fast.'
A blur shot down the street.
A straight, slender leg, coated in Haki, swept toward Cyrus's head.
The sheer speed of the strike generated a sonic boom in its wake!
"Grand Perfume Femur!"
A cold, imperious female voice rang out an instant before the high-heeled shoe connected.
"Hancock, wait!" Rayleigh shouted in panic from the back of the group.
CLANG!
Cyrus raised his left arm, hardening the skin with jet-black Armament Haki, and blocked the devastating kick inches from his face.
The moment the shoe connected, Cyrus felt a strange energy attempt to seep into his arm and turn his flesh to stone.
But his mastery of Ryuo crushed and nullified the petrification effect.
'Boa Hancock.'
Cyrus flicked his arm forward, parrying the kick and knocking the Warlord backward.
He looked at the beautiful woman now standing gracefully on one leg before him.
Why the hell is the Pirate Empress trying to kick my head off?
"Rayleigh!" Hancock gasped, finally noticing the old man standing behind Cyrus.
She lowered her leg, looking between the Dark King and the Pirate Hunter with a flash of confusion in her beautiful eyes.
"Hancock... why are you here?" Rayleigh asked, clearly just as bewildered by her sudden assassination attempt.
"I read the newspaper! I saw the reports that this vicious man was hunting you down every day! I came to save you!" Hancock declared, her chest puffing out slightly.
Rayleigh was stunned.
He turned his head and stared at Cyrus.
Cyrus didn't say a word. His gaze lingered on Hancock's flawless face for two seconds.
Then, ignoring her, he stepped around the Warlord and continued walking down the street.
"You handle this misunderstanding, old man," Cyrus tossed over his shoulder.
Robin, Issho, and Crocodile followed him.
Hancock froze, bewildered that a man had just looked at her and walked away.
She turned to stare at Cyrus's retreating back, her leg still tingling from the immovable density she had felt when she kicked his arm.
Then, her eyes fell on the last man in the group: Dracule Mihawk.
The World's Strongest Swordsman didn't even acknowledge her existence, walking past her without a glance.
"We were... we were just sparring, Hancock," Rayleigh managed to explain, seeing the Empress standing frozen in shock on the street.
"I'm fine."
Rayleigh sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Come on. Let's head back to the bar before the Marines spot you. Your current status makes it inappropriate for you to be seen anywhere near Area 13."
Still dazed by Cyrus's indifference, Hancock followed Rayleigh to the Rip-off Bar.
Upon entering, Shakky looked up from the counter, her eyes widening as she saw the Pirate Empress trailing behind her husband.
"You rushed out of here before I could finish explaining the situation to you, little girl," Shakky sighed, taking a drag from her cigarette.
"Who do you think you are speaking to?!" Hancock snapped out of her daze, tilting her head so far back she was looking at the ceiling, pointing an arrogant finger at Shakky.
"I don't need to hear a single word you have to say!"
Hancock despised Shakky, due to the fact that Shakky was her predecessor as the former Empress of Amazon Lily.
Shakky smiled, unfazed by the tantrum.
"I was going to tell you that something catastrophic is about to happen on this archipelago very soon. And if you value your Warlord title... you had best leave this island immediately."