One piece :Nox ( Before Dawn)

Everyone settled around the table. Rayleigh poured Sel a glass of wine, and they clinked glasses, draining them to the last drop.

— "..."

Luffy was amazed by the story about Rayleigh. He had just learned that Rayleigh was the first mate of the Pirate King. Rayleigh had caused quite a stir at the auction, and his name had come up in conversations several times.

— "Didn't Hachi tell you before you arrived?" Shakky asked with curiosity.

— "They only needed the coating, so I didn't say anything," Hachi lazily replied, lounging on the couch.

Rayleigh smiled and recounted how he met Hachi

— "That year, I was in a shipwreck, and Hachi rescued me. We have been friends ever since, despite the age difference."

— "Elder Rayleigh, if the Pirate King was captured, then his crew should have been too. How come you're wandering around the Sabaody Archipelago as if nothing happened?" Sanji asked thoughtfully, smoking a cigarette.

Talking about Roger, Shakky and Rayleigh exchanged glances, casting a fleeting look at Sal, and told everyone the truth.

— "Roger wasn't arrested; he surrendered himself. The government claimed they captured Roger just to showcase their achievements."

— "..."

This unexpected news once again shocked the Straw Hat Pirates. They always thought the Pirate King had been arrested. Sal continued drinking, undisturbed by this news. After all, he remembered everything that happened before and after Roger's surrender.

Rayleigh observed Sal's reaction discreetly, then continued:

"Four years before the public execution, Roger was already suffering from an incurable disease. Back then, he endured great pain daily but had to put on a brave face for the crew. Only when we invited Crocus as the ship's doctor did his exceptional medical skills extend Roger's life by three years, allowing him to conquer the Grand Line and become the Pirate King."

While recounting the story of Crocus from the Twin Towers, Rayleigh mentioned that he agreed to set sail solely to find the Pirate Ship "Rumbar." Brook was deeply moved to learn that Crocus had ventured out to sea for them.

"Although Crocus was on the ship for only three years, we had already become true comrades. I very much hope to meet him when I have time. As for Roger, he had no regrets before he surrendered. Now, parted companions continue their separate paths."

"Before surrendering, we drank together, and he told me that his will would live on. Then, during the execution, he said the words that ushered in the Age of Discovery. Never in my life had I been so happy and yet so miserable as that night. You agree, don't you, Sal?"

Sal drank another glass of wine. On ordinary days it was nothing, but when Rayleigh spoke of his memories, he couldn't help but remember his own, as if he had lived through them himself.

"Yes, Roger had no regrets about his actions before he surrendered." He used his limited life to accomplish great things with limitless possibilities. However, in the end, he was mistaken about one thing. He wasn't a good husband or father. Even if he eventually entrusted them to someone he trusted, he was still unworthy of everything Rouge did for him.

— "..."

Hearing this, Rayleigh's eyes suddenly became serious. He still harbored resentment toward Roger's descendants. At that moment, Shakky seemed to remember something. She faltered while pouring wine, and suspicion crept into her eyes.

[An S-level character, Shaki, experiences normal emotions towards the host, feels moderate surprise, gains 2000 experience points]

Sal looked at Shaki with curiosity. What was she thinking about?

The name Rouge was unfamiliar. Besides Robin, none of the Straw Hat Pirates knew who that was. Nami involuntarily asked:

— Who is Rouge?

When Sal heard Rouge's name, a tenderness flickered in his eyes, and he quietly said:

— Rouge is Roger's wife, a very gentle woman. Like you, she's a kind woman capable of giving everything for the sake of her loved ones.

Upon hearing these words, Nami blushed, covered her face, and playfully slapped Zoro on the head, making him fall silent.

After listening to the stories about Roger, the Straw Hat Pirates gained an understanding of the Pirate King. So, Usopp asked:

— Was the current pirate era completely opened by Roger?

— I cannot answer that question. Roger is dead. Only the living can create this era. You will find the answer in your future voyages, — Rayleigh answered vaguely.

After discussing Roger, Rayleigh explained why he wanted to meet Luffy.

— Luffy, your savior and mentor, Red-Haired, along with Buggy, were both apprentices in Roger's Pirate crew. Now, Red-Haired is a ruler of the seas and one of the Four Emperors.

This shocked the Straw Hat Pirates once again. Not to mention that the clown Buggy turned out to be a member of the Pirate King's crew. Even Luffy's own identity was astonishing: the grandson of a Marine Guard hero, with a Four Emperors member as his mentor.

Suddenly, Sal interjected:

— The father of the Straw Hat Luffy is Dragon, Monkey D. Dragon.

Luffy nodded.

— Well, my father's name is Long.

The poor guy was completely stunned by everything happening, utterly bewildered by surprise.

Rayleigh was momentarily taken aback, then laughed:

— The Leader of the Revolutionaries, the most dangerous man in the world... Garp truly raised a worthy son.

— And why don't you plan to have a child, Rayleigh? — Sal suddenly threw in. Rayleigh cast a quick glance at Shakky and shrugged.

Robin seemed hesitant, unsure of how to begin. Before her was a legendary figure. Just one answer from him, and the question that tormented her day and night would be resolved. Finally, she asked:

— You must know about the void of 100 years of history recorded in One Piece, Sensei Rayleigh. I hope you can tell me what's written in it.

Not waiting for Rayleigh's response, Sal interrupted her:

— Robin, Roger's Pirates didn't have historians. They could only rely on his "breath" to interpret historical texts. Everyone has their own opinion. Don't you want to find the answer in historical texts yourself? Luffy, why do you want to become the Pirate King?

Luffy struggled to swallow a piece of meat and answered in a serious tone:

— Because the Pirate King is the freest person in the world.

— Ha-ha…

— Ha-ha...

Sal and Rayleigh exchanged glances and then laughed. The boy's answer very much reminded them of Roger.

Seeing their captain's response, Robin and Usopp decided not to dig deeper or ask about the One Piece. They trusted their captain.

Their time together quickly came to an end. Rayleigh gathered his tools for the ship's coating and prepared to leave. The Straw Hat Pirates decided to find a secluded spot and stay there for three days until the coating was complete. Each of them had a Vivre Card to Rayleigh.

Before parting, Rayleigh suddenly asked Sal:

— What is your goal in this voyage? You must know where the One Piece is, don't you?

Sal looked up at the blue sky, with his palm facing upwards as if trying to catch something, and slowly said:

— Well, although it's in my head, I'll leave it for those who want to find it. My goal is to dethrone that guy. He's been sitting on the celestial throne for 800 years; it's time for him to come down to earth.

Rayleigh instantly understood who he was talking about, and his eyes gleamed with a steely gaze fixed on Sal. The Haki of both opponents subtly clashed. In the end, Rayleigh left, leaving behind the remark:

— I won't help you deal with that guy. My old bones won't take it.

— Don't worry, old friend.

Sal has his own ambitions, but he won't make an old friend fight for them. If he wants something, he must achieve it himself, unless that person wishes to do so.

Sal put on his hat and headed in the opposite direction from the Straw Hat Pirates. If nothing changes, the Straw Hat Pirates will suffer a crushing defeat, so he won't interfere with it.