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It was almost noon.
After the three of them returned home, Klee didn't wait for lunch.
She'd only slept an hour or two the previous night. Sleepiness overwhelmed her the moment she stepped through the door.
She yawned widely, turned around, and trudged upstairs to rest. She likely wouldn't wake until evening.
Drake hadn't returned either.
He was apparently still searching for his pirate ship.
Kyoma guessed the vessel had probably been stolen by other pirates after sitting docked in the lawless zone of the Sabaody Archipelago for several days.
Not long after Kyoma and Kagura finished lunch, he settled onto the sofa while reading the newspaper.
She sat near him.
Like Klee, neither he nor Kagura had formally learned this world's language, yet they could somehow understand the spoken words and written text perfectly.
Kyoma was familiar with the headline's featured character.
He'd never met the man in person, but the figure was familiar to every transmigrator because the most iconic battle in One Piece would be triggered by him.
"Whitebeard Pirates' second division commander 'Fire Fist' Ace will be executed at Marineford in three days..."
In three days, the War of the Best would commence.
Luffy had probably already entered Impel Down with Hancock's assistance, and the Whitebeard Pirates were likely heading toward Marineford at this very moment.
A war between pirates and Marines powerful enough to reshape the world was about to begin.
And he, a transmigrator who didn't belong to this world, the only person who could fully foresee the outcome of this war, was simply curled up on the sofa, acting as a spectator.
Of course, Kyoma didn't think there was anything wrong with that approach.
He'd only been in this world for a few days. Even if he wanted to alter the original plot, he lacked sufficient strength and influence.
"Kyo-chan, do you know this pirate who's going to be executed?"
"No, I've only heard of him."
"Then why are you sighing?"
"Maybe I'm sighing because he's not only Luffy's brother, but also the son of the late Pirate King Roger..."
Kyoma didn't finish his words.
His expression shifted strangely as he felt an overwhelming presence approaching from outside the yard.
Turning his head, as expected, a gray-haired old man appeared in the yard beyond the house.
It was Rayleigh-san, who'd come to conduct his Haki lesson.
"The only what?"
The reading glasses reflected sunlight as Rayleigh's lips moved.
His voice came out flat, as if he were suppressing powerful emotions.
"Old man?" Kagura sounded surprised.
She'd noticed Rayleigh's arrival earlier than Kyoma, but knowing the relationship between Rayleigh and Kyoma, she hadn't reminded him while he answered her question.
She hadn't expected his emotions to fluctuate so dramatically after hearing Kyoma's words.
She could also sense Rayleigh's aura.
Her eyes gradually grew alert. She reached out to pull Kyoma behind her, grabbing her umbrella with her other hand.
"It's okay." Kyoma pressed her shoulders.
Under her reluctant gaze, he guided her back to the sofa, then walked out of the cabin to face Rayleigh directly.
"I'm sorry, Kyoma. I accidentally overheard the troubling news and couldn't control my Haki." Rayleigh spoke apologetically.
"It's okay, I understand, Rayleigh-san." Kyoma waved his hand and walked straight to him.
"Then, before starting today's Haki lesson, can you help clarify that thing for me, Kyoma?" Rayleigh stared at him with flickering eyes.
His tone remained as gentle as usual, but Kyoma could clearly sense his underlying anxiety.
"Well, actually, I should have told you this long ago, Rayleigh-san, but I couldn't explain how I knew this secret, so I didn't feel comfortable saying it aloud. Today presents a different kind of opportunity."
Kyoma nodded.
Without hesitation, he revealed Ace's true identity.
****
"Sure enough, it's actually true... No wonder his name is Portgas D. Ace."
Rayleigh muttered to himself, his expression complex, as if suddenly understanding many things at once.
Kyoma didn't disturb him, knowing how profound the shock must be after learning that his captain had left behind a son who was about to be executed by the Marines.
Even if Rayleigh turned around and stormed Impel Down without another word, it wouldn't be surprising.
After a long moment, seeing that Rayleigh had calmed somewhat, Kyoma asked tentatively.
"Rayleigh-san, what will you do after learning this news?"
It wasn't just curiosity.
He didn't particularly care whether Ace was rescued.
He simply worried that Rayleigh might risk his life attempting a solo rescue.
Rayleigh was the first person to help him in this world, and he didn't want any harm to come to him.
"Don't worry, I won't do anything foolish as Golden Lion did. Besides, I'm too old. I'm afraid I don't have the strength to swim to Marineford."
Sensing Kyoma's concern, Rayleigh smiled and pointed at his gray hair.
But when Kyoma heard those words, his face displayed a strange expression.
Swimming the distance spanning several islands while guarding against sea kings in the deep ocean along the way would be impossible in this world. Not to mention a man over seventy, even those in their prime couldn't accomplish such a feat.
But he didn't believe the old man couldn't do it if he wanted to.
"Okay, let's start today's practice."
Under Kyoma's reluctant gaze, Rayleigh pulled a wooden staff from his waist.
After Kyoma consciously covered his eyes with a black cloth and sat on the ground, another day of [Observation Haki] training began.
Kyoma was constantly struck by the wooden staff and let out miserable cries.
Kagura watched through the window from inside the house.
At first, she felt somewhat distressed, but after observing for a while, she discovered that the embarrassing scene of Kyoma being knocked away was particularly entertaining.
She moved a chair to the window and watched the spectacle while drinking a beverage.
Kyoma noticed this scene when the black cloth over his eyes slipped after being knocked away.
He immediately grew unhappy, so he dragged the girl who'd been watching the show outside, placed a blindfold over her eyes, and made her practice [Observation Haki] alongside him.
Kagura was naturally displeased.
She hugged a pillar and refused to come out, claiming she hated the sun during the day. But in the end, Kyoma threatened her with withholding dinner, and she had to accept practicing with him in the shadows where no sunlight reached.
Rayleigh was delighted by this development.
He'd been curious about Kagura's physical capabilities. Although there was no trace of Haki on her body, she could still produce a faint sense of threat to him.
Then he completely understood what true physical strength meant.
Completely different from Kyoma, who was beaten and sent flying, Kagura also failed to react to the staff's attack at first and was struck accurately.
However, it wasn't she who flew away, but the shattered pieces of the club.
"It hurts..."
Kagura rubbed her cheek where the staff had struck moments ago.
There was no wound there, just slight redness and swelling, which was recovering at a speed visible to the naked eye.
If the same blow had landed on Kyoma's face, not only would he have suffered a nosebleed, but he would have been thrown backward as well.