One Piece: The Silver Sovereign

Since that's the case, let's head out right away!"

Hearing that Shirakawa agreed to escort her back to her kingdom, Kather·Lynn said excitedly and with great enthusiasm.

"There's no rush. It's only our first day on the island, and we haven't even had a proper rest yet. Let's relax a bit first. We'll head out tomorrow."

"Huh?"

Kather·Lynn stared wide-eyed. She hadn't expected she'd have to spend a night in enemy territory.

"We'll get you a room. Just stay inside and behave. Taking you out would only cause trouble."

"…Fine."

Kather·Lynn pouted in reluctant acceptance. She understood how sensitive her identity was.

Thankfully, this entertainment venue had rooms available. Although they were pricey, the accommodations were excellent, fully equipped with everything.

"You stay put in here. We're heading out."

Shirakawa said as he dropped her off at the door.

"Hurry back, okay?"

Kather·Lynn said anxiously. Being left alone here made her a little nervous.

"Yeah, yeah."

Shirakawa closed the door behind him, and just as he turned away, he heard the door being locked from the inside.

"Where to next?"

After regrouping with Buggy and Shanks on the first floor, Shirakawa asked the two of them.

"No idea."

"Me neither."

Both shook their heads. Maybe they'd spent too long on the ship and had lost touch with normal life.

"How about a hot spring? This club happens to have one,"

Rayleigh suggested, appearing from who knows where.

"Great idea!"

Shirakawa's eyes lit up. A hot soak sounded perfect.

"No objections here,"

Buggy and Shanks chimed in.

The hot spring was on the second floor. Technically, it was more of a heated pool. Built in a stepped design, where the higher up you went, the hotter the water became.

After adjusting to the temperature, they all headed straight to the highest level. Though hot, it was still within Shirakawa's tolerance.

As the four of them entered, the others in the bath quickly gave them space. It wasn't just the group that was intimidating; it was mostly Rayleigh.

Rayleigh's body was covered in scars of all shapes and sizes. Some even overlapped, indicating multiple hits to the same spot. Even Shanks had four or five scars, and Buggy had two. Only Shirakawa's body was completely unblemished.

"Man… it's nice, having such clean skin."

Rayleigh said enviously as he looked at Shirakawa.

"Back before I set sail, my body was spotless too… and in the blink of an eye, all these years have passed."

"But you went from a nobody to the legendary Dark King Rayleigh, with a bounty over a billion Berries."

"Hahaha."

Rayleigh laughed freely. "If I hadn't met Roger, I probably would've died already."

"But you're still alive, even with all those serious injuries. That just means you're incredibly tough. Even if you hadn't become a pirate, I doubt you'd have died easily."

"Hahaha, true. If I hadn't met Roger, maybe I'd have formed my crew by now."

"Then why did you follow the Captain? You're strong, and you've got Conqueror's Haki too."

"Who knows? Maybe it's just that Roger had a kind of charisma, the kind that even other kings would bow to."

"I didn't feel that…"

"Then maybe I'm just being sentimental,"

Rayleigh said, though he didn't regret a word.

If Roger didn't have that kind of charisma, why would someone like Bullet have followed him?

"Let's talk about you. Why is your Conqueror's Haki so strong?"

"Who knows? Maybe I was born a king, the Silver King."

Shirakawa muttered the last part under his breath.

"Tch. What a bragger. Calling yourself a king…"

"If you don't believe me, that's fine,"

Shirakawa said with a shrug.

He wasn't wrong. Maybe he wasn't a king in his past life, but in this world, his very arrival had already proven he was the Silver King.

"So what's your plan? I can tell you're not planning to stay on our ship forever."

"How come?"

Shirakawa was a little surprised. How could Rayleigh know that he'd eventually leave?

"I can see it. You've got ambition. And it's not just me, Roger knows too."

"What does the Captain think?"

Shirakawa hadn't realized his intentions were so obvious. Or maybe the Captain and Vice-Captain had just observed him more closely than he thought.

"What's there to think? Just let it happen naturally. You're not the only one. We know what Shanks is thinking, too."

Shanks gave an awkward chuckle, having been exposed just like that.

"So, when do you plan to leave?"

"Probably once we return to the Grand Line. With my current strength, heading from the New World back to the Grand Line or the Four Seas would be a suicide mission."

"Oh? Then you're almost there."

"What do you mean?"

Shirakawa asked, confused. Almost dead? Or almost back?

"Roger's already thinking about returning to the Grand Line."

"Why?"

"Who knows? Maybe he has unfinished business. Something he wants to complete so he doesn't die with regrets."

That last sentence hit Shirakawa hard. It was clear now that Roger already knew about his terminal illness, and he was likely planning to return to fulfill some final wish.

After a long, relaxing soak, Shirakawa felt much lighter, both in body and mind. His talk with Rayleigh had revealed a lot of useful information.

The Captain would be heading back to the Grand Line soon, and Shirakawa would likely be leaving the crew. At first, he had thought about staying with Roger until they reached Laugh Tale, to see what treasure might be left behind.

But that idea faded after a few days. Treasure was more fun when discovered on his terms.

After the bath, with nothing else to do, Shirakawa returned to the room. He figured he'd nap the afternoon away to prepare for whatever nightlife awaited.

Knock knock knock, he rapped on Kather·Lynn's door.

"Who is it?"

Her slightly panicked voice came quickly.

"It's me."

"Who?"

Shirakawa twitched. She didn't even recognize his voice?

"Shirakawa."

"Oh."

Kather·Lynn opened the door, holding a stick as if ready to swing it at someone.

"AHH!"

She gasped when she saw him.

"Why are you dressed like that? Are you trying to be a pervert!?"

"What pervert? I just finished a bath. What else am I supposed to wear besides a robe?"

Shirakawa brushed past her and casually walked into the room.

"What are you doing?"

Kather·Lynn stepped in front of him.

"What do you think? Sleeping."

With that, Shirakawa walked around her and flopped down on the bed.

"This is my room!"

"There are only two rooms. I'm not about to cram in with those two brats. Just make do on the sofa for one night."

"Why don't you take the sofa?"

"Because I'm a guy."

Shirakawa said with utter seriousness.

"So what if you're a guy?!"

Kather·Lynn was fuming.

Smack!

Tired of the noise, Shirakawa knocked her out cold.

"Finally, some peace. I can get a good night's sleep now. Ahh, soft beds are the best."

He smiled as he drifted off to sleep, completely ignoring the unconscious Kather·Lynn lying on the floor.