Even though Zoan Devil Fruit users possessed strong vitality, a pierced heart was still fatal.
After dealing with his opponent, Cabaji returned to Yuuki and bowed slightly.
"Captain."
"Forty-three seconds."
Yuuki nodded faintly, his gaze sweeping across the street that had suddenly fallen silent.
"Let's go."
Cabaji had eliminated a top-tier bounty hunter in such a short time.
The strength he displayed was enough to make many people—or forces—who had been considering taking action quietly abandon the idea.
However—
just then—
"Uncle Mille!"
A childish, furious voice rang out from behind.
The tense silence on the street broke.
A boy wearing worn suspenders, no more than ten years old, rushed out from the crowd and ran to the body of Simone Mille.
"You damn pirates! Scum of the sea!"
Hatred filled the boy's eyes.
He picked up the pistol that had fallen beside Simone Mille and immediately pulled the trigger at Yuuki and the others.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Gunshots rang out repeatedly.
But every bullet was effortlessly blocked by Cabaji.
Yuuki met the boy's hate-filled gaze and smiled faintly.
"Wasn't it your uncle who attacked us first?"
"I already know pirates aren't exactly welcome, but being cursed like that…"
Yuuki sighed.
"I can't just pretend I didn't hear it."
The moment his words ended—
Cabaji raised his hand toward the boy coldly.
"Brat, if you're so eager to die, I'll send you to meet your uncle."
"Wind Blade!"
An invisible blade of wind formed instantly, slicing through the air toward the boy.
Yuuki did not stop Cabaji.
Instead, his eyes showed a hint of amusement, as if expecting something interesting to happen.
Whoosh!
Just as the wind blade was about to strike the boy—
a figure suddenly appeared out of nowhere and stood in front of him.
With a casual wave of his hand, the wind blade shattered.
"Tsk. Attacking a child… that's pretty cruel."
A lazy, composed voice sounded.
Standing before the boy was an elderly man with short white hair and beard, wearing glasses, with a vertical scar over his right eye.
Though clearly aged, his body looked powerful and well-built.
Mohji, Cabaji, and Marianne's expressions changed.
None of them had seen how he appeared.
They immediately became alert.
Buggy, however, stared at the old man in shock, his mouth hanging open beneath the bright red lipstick painted around it.
"Cruel?"
Yuuki chuckled softly.
"We're pirates."
"Isn't 'cruel' practically a synonym for pirates?"
Yuuki showed no surprise at the man's arrival.
Not long after they entered Sabaody, he had already noticed someone following them.
Rayleigh didn't respond.
Instead, he turned his back to Yuuki's group and gently patted the stubborn boy's head.
"It's alright now."
Rayleigh smiled warmly.
The boy nodded stiffly, still shaken.
"You old man!"
Mohji shouted angrily.
"You think you can act so arrogant in front of us?"
"I'll deal with him!"
Before Cabaji could move, Mohji had already rushed forward.
Boom!
Like a wild beast charging prey, Mohji appeared behind Rayleigh in an instant.
"Lion Heavy Strike — Explosion Fist!"
His left arm swelled with muscle as explosive power gathered in his fist.
The punch tore through the air with a violent roar.
Yet—
even though Rayleigh was facing away—
it was as if he had eyes on the back of his head.
Just before Mohji's fist struck his back, Rayleigh suddenly twisted his body and struck first with a hand chop to Mohji's chest.
Bang!
A dull explosion sounded from Mohji's chest.
Mohji's eyes bulged.
His body bent like a cooked shrimp in midair.
Then—
he was blasted backward like a meteor, flying even faster than he had charged in.
The powerful shockwave stirred the surrounding air violently.
Seeing Mohji sent flying—
Cabaji and Marianne rushed forward simultaneously.
Together they caught him.
Mohji's face turned red as blood spilled from his mouth.
Without their support, he probably wouldn't even be able to stand.
"Damn it…"
"That old man's strong."
Cabaji and Marianne released Mohji and prepared to fight.
"Enough."
Yuuki's calm voice stopped them.
Across from them, Rayleigh stood up and shook the arm he had used to strike.
"Attacking someone from behind isn't a good habit for youngsters."
"And getting blown away so easily by an old man like me…"
Rayleigh sighed, sounding disappointed.
But behind the lenses of his glasses, his eyes were carefully observing Yuuki.
He had grown curious about the pirate crew that had suddenly appeared and defeated Crocodile.
Especially after learning they had exposed the truth behind the Alabasta incident.
Originally, Rayleigh had intended only to observe quietly.
But when he saw them attacking an ordinary child—
he felt disappointed.
Still—
the young man called Yuuki was hard to read.
From beginning to end, Yuuki had shown no emotional change.
No anger.
No arrogance.
No viciousness typical of pirates.
If anything—
he didn't feel like a pirate at all.
Then Rayleigh noticed someone standing beside Yuuki.
Buggy.
Rayleigh pushed up the glasses on his nose.
A faint smile appeared.
Buggy felt Rayleigh's gaze and instinctively shrank his neck.
"By your own definition," Yuuki said calmly, smiling,
"Pirates aren't exactly known for being law-abiding."
"Since you've already retired, shouldn't you just enjoy your old age instead of stepping back into trouble?"
Yuuki paused.
"Although…"
"If we're talking about who caused chaos across the seas and forced everyone to suffer…"
"That would be your captain."
"The former vice captain of the Roger Pirates—"
"Dark King Rayleigh."
The previously quiet street erupted instantly.
Shocked murmurs spread everywhere.
Countless eyes turned toward Rayleigh.
Rayleigh's relaxed expression stiffened.
His first instinct was to glance at Buggy—
but he quickly realized that couldn't be the reason.
He had lived in hiding on Sabaody for years.
Buggy wouldn't even necessarily recognize him after so long.
Rayleigh sighed with a headache.
"Well… looks like my peaceful retirement is over."
"Which is why you should've just stayed retired," Yuuki replied with a nod.
"I'm not so old that I can't move anymore."
"And besides—"
Rayleigh's eyes sharpened.
"You wouldn't understand what our captain believed in."
A powerful invisible pressure burst from Rayleigh's body.
The entire street instantly fell silent again.
The air itself seemed to grow heavy.
It wasn't Conqueror's Haki.
Just pure killing intent.
Buggy, Mohji, Cabaji, and Marianne suddenly felt their breathing grow heavier.
So, this was the power of the former vice captain of the Roger Pirates.
Any remaining doubt among the crowd vanished.
Facing the overwhelming pressure—
Yuuki seemed completely unaffected.
"I'm not interested in Roger's beliefs."
"But the Great Age of Pirates he created…"
Yuuki's smile faded slightly.
"…has thrown the people of this world into despair and suffering."
"If we're being honest—"
"You're not qualified to pretend to be a good person."
Rayleigh's expression turned cold.
"At first I only planned to teach you a lesson."
"But now I've changed my mind."
"The journey of the Magic Eye Pirates…"
"Ends here."
Rayleigh clenched his fist.
His figure shot forward like a bolt of black lightning across the street—straight toward Yuuki.