Seeing Ezra's faint, confident smile, Crocodile shivered all over.
Ezra raised an eyebrow.
"What's wrong? Didn't hear me speak?"
"Admiral Residual Fire, it's customary to exchange pleasantries before taking action. Isn't this a bit extreme…?" Crocodile stammered.
Ezra tilted his head.
"So… you still don't agree?"
He slowly extended his right index finger, and spiritual pressure flowed into it. Instantly, Crocodile felt a deadly aura envelop him.
At this point, there was no need to pretend. He hurriedly raised both hands.
"I agree! I absolutely agree! I was just… trying to be courteous with an Admiral!"
Ezra casually dissipated the pressure, then looked Crocodile squarely in the eyes.
"Do you truly agree?"
Crocodile nodded frantically.
"Good. Then we'll part ways here."
Without another word, Ezra turned to leave.
"Wait, Admiral Residual Fire! Hold on a moment!"
Ezra paused and looked back.
"What is it?"
"Well… you've traveled all this way. Would you like a meal before departing?"
Ezra waved him off.
"No need," he said, then instantly used a short teleportation step to leave the rain-soaked lands. He had no time for idle chatter with Crocodile. There was still Jinbe to deal with.
Once Ezra disappeared, Crocodile exhaled deeply. Cold sweat covered his forehead, and he laughed nervously.
"Indeed… you can never beat these monsters through the straight path!"
Crocodile's eyes gleamed with determination.
"I will obtain Pluton! And when the time comes, none of you will escape!"
After one last glance at the spot where Ezra had vanished, he snorted and turned back to focus on his intelligence organization. The work was urgent.
Unbeknownst to Ezra, his intervention had accelerated Crocodile's plans, pushing Alabasta into early chaos.
For Ezra, none of this mattered. He was en route to Fish-Man Island, casually flipping through Jinbe's profile.
"Huh? Bounty of 178 million?"
Ezra remembered that in the original timeline, Jinbe's latest bounty was 478 million. Another glance at the data confirmed it Jinbe had cut ties with that rogue dragon. This showed that he had taken Fisher Tiger's lessons about revenge to heart, gradually shifting toward a path of justice.
"Then this should be straightforward," Ezra muttered. He set the dossier aside, closed his eyes, and let the sunlight warm him.
However, at that very moment, Fish-Man Island was hosting a grand funeral.
Princess Otohime had been assassinated. Hody Jones, the true culprit, framed a human for the murder, plunging the island's fish-men and mermaids into despair against humans.
And Ezra, oblivious to these events, was heading to Fish-Man Island. One could only imagine what awaited him there.
"Admiral Residual Fire, we've arrived at the Sabaody Archipelago!"
Ezra opened his eyes.
"That fast? How long to coat the ship?"
"Report, Admiral three days at the fastest!"
Ezra gave a slight nod.
"Understood. I'll be back on board in three days."
"Yes, Admiral Residual Fire!"
With that, Ezra used a short teleportation step to leave the ship. His destination: Baroque Works' Shakky's bar. He had yet to meet the legendary Silvers Rayleigh in person.
As the wooden door creaked open, Shakky's voice greeted him.
"Welcome… huh?"
Seeing Ezra in his black naval suit, she smiled faintly.
"Admiral of the Navy, Ezra D. Vale. Want a drink?"
Ezra shrugged.
"Of course. Otherwise, why enter a bar?"
Shakky chuckled and quickly poured a drink, placing it in front of him. Ezra took a sip without hesitation.
"Not bad."
Shakky, pleased that an Admiral approved, set her cup down.
"Where's Rayleigh?" Ezra asked.
Shakky raised an eyebrow, secretly thinking, Of course he wants to see Rayleigh. But she kept smiling.
"You must be joking, Admiral. Rayleigh isn't here."
Before she could finish, Ezra waved a hand.
"I'm not here to capture him. Just a chat."
Though puzzled, Shakky still smiled.
"Admiral, you must have him mistaken."
Just as Ezra opened his mouth, the door swung open. A booming voice called out:
"Shakky! I'm here to repay my tab!"
"Huh? Guests?"
Shakky looked at Ezra's faint smile and pressed a hand to her forehead in exasperation.
"Rayleigh, this young man is looking for you."
Rayleigh approached and froze upon seeing the signature naval cloak and Ezra's striking face.
"Ezra D. Vale!"
Ezra smiled and nodded.
"Good to see you, Silvers Rayleigh."
The bar fell silent for a moment. Rayleigh sighed.
"How did you find me?"
Then, without ceremony, he plopped down next to Ezra. Shakky, ever considerate, poured him a drink and stepped outside to smoke for a while.
Ezra chuckled.
"Honestly, if you're looking, it's not that hard."
Rayleigh took a hearty sip.
"Huh… so? Why are you here? Arrest me?"
Ezra shrugged.
"No. Just passing through on my way to Fish-Man Island and thought I'd meet the former Right Hand of the Pirate King."
Rayleigh laughed heartily.
"Right hand, left hand… these days I'm just a coating craftsman."
Ezra smiled silently.
Rayleigh then asked, "It's been nearly ten years since Roger… left, right?"
Ezra nodded.
"Yeah, almost ten years."
Rayleigh sighed.
"Time really flies. More young people are heading to sea now. Can a Navy Admiral like you keep up?"
Ezra smiled.
"Rayleigh, that's not something you need to worry about."
Rayleigh blinked, then laughed heartily.
"True, true… I'm not even a pirate anymore."
Ezra placed his empty cup down.
"Now that we've met, I'll be on my way."
As he rose, Rayleigh called after him:
"Vale, if you're heading to Fish-Man Island, be careful. Relations between humans and fish-men are… strained lately."
Ezra paused.
"Why tell me this?"
Rayleigh chuckled.
"Ha! Don't ask me… maybe I'm just getting old."
Ezra gave a slight bow.
"Thanks, Rayleigh."
With that, he turned and headed back to the ship, leaving Rayleigh gazing after him, lost in memories.
"Pirates and Navy…" Rayleigh murmured.