บท 45: Chapter 43: Words Can Cut Deeper than Swords
"It's Captain and First mate!"
"Why are you here?" Shirakawa asked in surprise. It didn't make sense for them to arrive before Shirakawa's group.
"Why can't we be here?" Roger countered with a playful grin.
"No, I mean... how did you get here faster than us?"
"We're not wanted criminals," Roger explained, still smiling. "We didn't have to take any detours."
"Captain! I missed you so much!" Buggy exclaimed, leaping onto Roger. "You have no idea how scary it was! We almost didn't make it back!"
"Oh? What happened? Did you almost die?" Roger asked, concerned.
"We encountered the so-called 'strongest man' on this island, Draken. Even Shirakawa was defeated in just a few moves. If it weren't for Bullet, we might really be dead!"
"What happened to Draken?" Roger's tone turned cold. He considered his crew his family, and anyone who threatened them faced his wrath.
"Bullet killed him."
"What?" At this moment, King Mole, standing beside him, said in surprise, "That Draken is truly dead."
"Of course. Don't you believe us, Catherine?" Buggy retorted.
"Is it true, Catherine?" King Mole looked at his daughter, eager to get a positive answer from her.
"Yes, Father. Draken is indeed dead."
"Wonderful! My son can finally rest in peace," King Mole said, tears welling up in his eyes.
"By the way, what are you two doing here?" Shirakawa asked Roger and Rayleigh.
"I intend to unite this island under one rule," Roger declared calmly.
Everyone was stunned.
"Captain, are you serious?" Shirakawa asked, incredulous.
"Of course. I've decided to help the Mole Kingdom unify the island."
"Really, Father?" Catherine asked excitedly.
"It's true," King Mole confirmed, a smile spreading across his face. Although he wasn't particularly ambitious, unifying the island would fulfill his ancestors' long-held dream.
"I knew you couldn't stay idle for long, Captain. So, what's the plan? Force them to submit?" Shirakawa asked.
"Force? That's what barbarians do. We'll reason with them, persuade them with logic, and move them with emotions."
Shirakawa chuckled inwardly. 'Reason? They'll only listen to reason after they've been beaten into submission.'
"When are you going to start?" he asked.
"Already started."
"When?"
"A dozen days ago, Bullet went to the Goa Kingdom's capital, and I asked Gaban and Crocus to go to another kingdom."
"So it is a military operation," Shirakawa said, raising an eyebrow.
"I believe it won't be long before this island is unified."
Roger was confident. Even if the other two kingdoms had brilliant strategists, they were no match for the absolute strength of the Roger Pirates.
Shirakawa couldn't help but feel sorry for the Goa Kingdom's royal family. If negotiations failed, they would likely be wiped out, especially with Bullet involved.
"Alright, let's go to the palace. I've had lunch prepared for you."
"Okay," Shirakawa said, eager to try the palace cuisine. He wondered if it would live up to its reputation.
The sight of the long table laden with food made Shanks and Buggy's eyes widen. It wasn't that they had never seen such a feast, but after a month of hardship with Shirakawa, this abundance was overwhelming.
They didn't need any prompting and immediately dug in, their table manners forgotten.
"Slow down. No one's going to steal your food," Shanks said to Buggy, whose cheeks were bulging.
"Look who's talking," Buggy retorted, Shanks's mouth equally full.
Shirakawa, on the other hand, ate gracefully, though at a surprisingly fast pace.
"Captain Roger, who are they?" King Mole asked, observing the three boys' table manners with a raised eyebrow.
"I apologize for their behavior," Roger said, maintaining his composure despite his crew's antics.
"It's alright. I'll have the kitchen prepare more food."
As night fell, King Mole arranged rooms for them to rest. But Shirakawa wasn't sleepy.
"What are you doing out here, drinking alone?" Rayleigh asked, joining Shirakawa on the balcony, wine bottle in hand.
"Just thinking. I feel so weak."
"Because of Draken?"
"Yes. I was completely helpless against him. Seeing Shanks fall... I felt so powerless. If it weren't for Bullet, we'd all be dead. I'd never forgive myself."
"It's good that you recognize that," Rayleigh said, his tone more stern than comforting.
"You've lost sight of your original goal. Remember why you joined the crew in the first place?"
"To become stronger."
"And what do you want now?"
"To become stronger."
"You're lying. Once you gained some strength, you became complacent. It started when you managed to withstand five of my attacks. Your heart changed then. Follow me."
Rayleigh jumped off the balcony, and Shirakawa followed, curious.
They stopped in an empty courtyard.
Before Shirakawa could ask what Rayleigh was up to, he felt an immense pressure bearing down on him. It wasn't Haki, but it felt like a physical force.
"Do you still think you can withstand five of my attacks now?" Rayleigh asked.
The pressure vanished.
"I see. You were holding back during our training," Shirakawa said with a bitter smile.
Rayleigh was right. Shirakawa had become complacent after lasting five moves against him. He had forgotten that Rayleigh hadn't been using his full strength.
"You still have a long way to go," Rayleigh said, then left Shirakawa alone with his thoughts.
Unbeknownst to Shirakawa, Roger had witnessed the entire scene. Rayleigh might or might not have known, but Roger certainly did.
'Rayleigh has a way of teaching people a lesson,' Roger thought with a smile.
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