Sabaody Archipelago, Bar Rip-off.
The air in the Rip-off Bar was familiar, a blend of freshly brewed coffee and a thin veil of cigarette smoke. Sephiroth, wearing a black hooded robe and a white half-mask, pushed the bar's door open. His gaze fell upon Shakky, who stood behind the counter, a cigarette tucked into her mouth, her hands deftly preparing coffee.
"Well, well! It's not often we get a special guest!" Shakky greeted with a friendly smile. "What brings you here, little Sephiroth?"
Sephiroth lowered his hood and took a seat at the bar. "Miss Shakky, I'd like to see Rayleigh."
Their relationship was a unique one. One was the legendary First Mate of the Pirate King, the other a Marine Commodore. Both knew who the other was, yet they were bound by a strange kind of mutual respect. Their meetings were rare, perhaps only two or three times a year.
"Oh, I see! You're in luck. He got hammered last night, so he came home to sleep. He's still passed out now. By the way, what can I get you?"
"Just coffee, thank you," Sephiroth replied.
Shakky quickly made him a cup of coffee, then turned toward the back door to wake Rayleigh.
A short time later, Rayleigh emerged, letting out a wide yawn and rubbing his aching head. The scent of alcohol still hung heavy around him. "Haaah... What business do you have with me, little Sephiroth?" he said, leaning listlessly against the sofa.
"I want you to teach me about Conqueror's Haki," Sephiroth answered, his eyes fixed on the 63-year-old man with white hair. His Observation Haki could sense that Rayleigh's aura was still incredibly strong, though slightly weaker than it had been three years ago.
"Conqueror's Haki Entanglement? I've already taught you. You'll master it naturally once you can control the localized release of Conqueror's Haki and your strength reaches its peak," Rayleigh said casually.
"During a fight, I once had the sensation that I could envelop my sword in Conqueror's Haki. But I held back at the time. After the fight was over, I tried to recapture that feeling, but I couldn't," Sephiroth explained.
Rayleigh was surprised for a moment, then he smiled. "Oh, is that so? It must have been a very fierce fight. To awaken Conqueror's Haki, one must constantly fight against strong opponents and forge their will."
Shakky, who had been listening to their conversation, held her cigarette and said with a smile, "Could the fight you're talking about... be with Akainu?"
Sephiroth nodded. "Yes, Miss Shakky, you're very well-informed. I fought him at Marineford a few days ago."
"Well, it's my job in the intelligence business," Shakky chuckled. "Some say you defeated Akainu, others say your fight was a draw. I don't care about the details."
Sephiroth recalled the fight. He hadn't used all his power because of the large crowd, and Akainu was also limited by the location. "There was no winner in that fight. At the time, because there were too many spectators, I didn't follow my instinct to envelop my sword in Conqueror's Haki. After the fight, that feeling disappeared. So, I want you to fight me, Rayleigh, to help me get that feeling back."
Rayleigh's face instantly paled. He waved his hands dismissively. "No, thank you! I'm just a lazy old man in retirement."
"One billion Belly!" Sephiroth offered succinctly.
"..." Rayleigh just shook his head.
"Two billion Belly!"
Seeing his unwavering refusal, Sephiroth gave up. "Alright, if you don't want to, I won't force you." Rayleigh was already quite rich, money no longer motivated him, Sephiroth thought, understanding the legendary man's situation.
CLICK!
The bar door opened again. Sephiroth turned and saw a red-haired young man with a Straw Hat, holding the hand of a cute little girl. The girl's hair was unique, red on the right and white on the left, with headphones on her head.
"Long time no see! Uncle Rayleigh, Auntie Shakky!" the girl greeted, running to the bar with small steps.
"Long time no see, Uta. You're getting sweeter. What do you want to drink?" Shakky smiled.
"Juice!"
Sephiroth finished his coffee and looked at the girl beside him. "Little sister, have you eaten the Uta-Uta no Mi?" he asked.
Uta, who was drinking her juice, was surprised. "Huh!? Brother, how did you know I ate the Uta-Uta no Mi?"
Should I say I just guessed? Sephiroth thought. He pointed at the girl's throat and pretended to be serious. "Your voice contains magic that can stir emotions and hypnotize people. This specific power comes from the Uta-Uta no Mi."
Uta put down her glass, put a hand on her cheek, and thought. "It seems so! Every time I sing, Shanks' crew often falls asleep without realizing it."
Sephiroth looked at Uta's young face and said very seriously, "I hope you remember my warning well: Never go to the Music Kingdom of Elegia. The Demon King of Song sleeps there. If you have eaten the Uta-Uta no Mi and you approach that island, you will become the key to its awakening. The island will take over your body and bring a terrible disaster to the world. For the sake of the people of that country and yourself, stay away from that place!"
After saying that, he stood up, put on his hood, and walked out of the bar. The recent news about Hancock made him more cautious. But since he had met Uta, he felt he had to deliver the warning about the Demon King. Whether Uta would listen or not was none of his business.