"Got it! I won't overreach."
Uchiha Genkei gave Rayleigh a firm nod.
"Thanks, Uncle Rayleigh!"
"Haha! What are you thanking me for?" Rayleigh let out a hearty laugh. "I should be the one thanking you! Not only did you save the girls from the Kuja Pirates, you even brought me news of Roger's son."
"Exactly," Shakuyaku added, glancing at both Genkei and Chiri. "That piece of intel alone is worth all the techniques you're asking for."
"To me, it's still not enough to repay you for saving Hancock and the others."
"Why don't you make another request? Otherwise, I'll feel too guilty."
She knew full well how important the Ace revelation was to Rayleigh. If Genkei had asked for ten times more, they'd still owe him.
But the boy shook his head.
"No need. For now, this is more than enough."
"You shouldn't get greedy."
"That said… I might need some intel in the future. When that day comes, I'll be counting on you, Aunt Shaku."
Shakuyaku smiled knowingly.
"Haha! Sure thing. If you ever need info, I've got ears in all the right places."
She didn't believe for a second he'd truly need her network.
Anyone who could dig up Ace's identity clearly had more advanced intel channels than she did.
This was just his polite way of ending the conversation.
After treating them to lunch, Shakuyaku returned with the Kuja team leader and approached Genkei and his mother again, looking slightly embarrassed.
"I hate to say this, but some of our crew are still recovering, and we need a few days to restock supplies."
"We'll be ready to sail in five days—would that be alright?"
"No problem," Genkei replied readily. "Mom and I are still recovering. A few extra days will help us more than hurt us."
Especially since they were being supplied with premium Sea King meat here, which was speeding up their recovery faster than expected.
"Oh, right—Uncle Rayleigh," Genkei added with a grin, "would you mind helping me hunt some extra Sea Kings to stock up?"
"Buying them is way too expensive!"
Rayleigh blinked, then laughed.
"That's an easy one. There's a sea full of those beasts out there—killing a few is no trouble."
"But how do you plan to store them? That meat spoils fast, even with its high vitality."
"No worries. I've got a special method."
Genkei gave him a mysterious smile.
He planned to store everything inside his Space-Time Gate. By freezing time in a partitioned subspace, he could keep food fresh indefinitely.
Even if Rayleigh got suspicious, he'd likely just assume it was some kind of Devil Fruit.
As long as he didn't dig too deep, there'd be no harm.
Besides, Genkei couldn't exactly send his mother out hunting Sea Kings—not in her current state.
Her only viable options would be Susano'o or genjutsu, and neither were practical for this kind of work.
Especially since Susano'o would strain her weakened body.
"Haha! Well, I've got time. Let's go now!"
Rayleigh patted Genkei on the back and headed toward the harbour.
"Yessir!"
Genkei beamed and followed.
"I'm coming too."
Chiri stood up, her voice firm.
"You're still recovering. If something happens, I'll be there to protect you."
Rayleigh might be powerful, but he'd be busy fighting Sea Kings. She wasn't about to risk Genkei's safety.
"My apologies for the trouble, Rayleigh-dono," she said, bowing slightly.
"Haha! No trouble at all."
With that, the three of them boarded one of the Kuja ships and set sail.
About ten kilometres out to sea, they dropped anchor.
Rayleigh dove into the ocean.
Boom! Boom!
Shockwaves rumbled beneath the waves, stirring up froth and turbulence on the surface.
Glug glug... POOF!
Moments later, a hundred-meter-long sea serpent floated belly-up to the surface, unconscious.
Rayleigh popped up beside it and shouted toward the ship.
"Genkei! Will this one do?"
"Perfect!"
Genkei gave a thumbs-up. "Ten more like this would be ideal! Sorry for the trouble!"
He turned to his mother.
Chiri sighed, then grabbed Genkei by the collar and leapt gracefully down to the sea's surface, where her chakra let her walk across the water like solid ground.
Rayleigh raised an eyebrow as he watched them.
"Walking on water? That energy at her feet... Definitely not Haki. Mysterious, indeed."
He didn't ask, though.
Everyone had their secrets.
"I'll get the rest, but don't expect them all to look like this sea snake."
"No problem! As long as they're Sea Kings, they'll do!"
Genkei cupped his hands around his mouth. "I'll treat you to some excellent liquor once we're back!"
He was already thinking of the fine bottles stored in their family's cellar.
He doubted Rayleigh had ever tasted anything like it.
"Now you're talking!" Rayleigh grinned. "It's a deal!"
Genkei reached out and touched the massive sea serpent.
With a flicker of thought, the beast vanished—absorbed directly into his Space-Time Gate.
Inside, he used his admin access to instantly slay the creature, preventing any chance of it waking up and causing trouble.
Then, with another mental command, the carcass was butchered, categorized, and stored neatly in his suspended-time food cache.
On deck, jaws dropped.
Even Rayleigh and Hancock couldn't hide their shock.
"That kid… he's not normal."
Rayleigh narrowed his eyes and let out a chuckle.
"Alright, I'm convinced. Time to go hunt the rest!"
With a splash, he dove back into the sea.
Chiri carried Genkei back aboard the ship to keep him safe while Rayleigh continued his hunt.
"Genkei! What was that just now?"
Hancock jogged over, wide-eyed. "Was that a space-type Devil Fruit?"
"Something like that."
Genkei grinned.
"Wow! You're a Devil Fruit user? That's amazing!"
The young Hancock clapped her hands in delight.
She hadn't eaten the Love-Love Fruit yet and was still far from the arrogant empress she would become.
For now, she was just a curious, cheerful girl.