CHAPTER 162 — What the Sea Gives
The bar stayed quiet after Rayleigh finished speaking.
Gaius stood where he was, massive frame unmoving near the door. His helm hid his expression, but he was listening. Fully. Every word Rayleigh had spoken about Haki had landed somewhere deep. He didn't need to respond to show that he understood.
Tony leaned back slightly on his stool, one hand resting on the counter, eyes unfocused as his mind worked. He wasn't thinking emotionally. He was organizing information. Systems. Rules. Costs.
Haki wasn't energy. It wasn't technology. It wasn't even something you could measure easily. But it followed logic. That mattered.
Naruto sat forward, elbows on the counter, chin resting in his hands. He looked thoughtful in a way that was rare for him. Not confused. Just… taking it in.
Saeko held her glass loosely, calm as ever, eyes sharp. Mindy was quieter, already replaying everything Rayleigh had said, picking apart each sentence.
Tony exhaled through his nose, then glanced up.
"There's something else," he said casually.
Rayleigh lifted his eyes.
Tony gestured lightly with his fingers as he spoke, as if pointing at images only he could see.
"Those three Admirals," he said. "The ones at Marineford. Each of them controls an element."
Rayleigh didn't interrupt.
"They weren't just throwing attacks," Tony continued. "They turned into it. Light. Ice. Magma. Their bodies weren't solid anymore."
Naruto nodded quickly. "Yeah. That guy turned into light and just… disappeared."
Tony tilted his head slightly.
"And Sengoku," he added. "He was different. Bigger. His whole body turned gold."
The words hung in the air.
Rayleigh didn't answer right away.
Instead, he raised his gaze and really looked at them.
Not just at Tony. At all of them.
Tony, with his relaxed posture that didn't match how alert he truly was. Naruto, overflowing with energy but grounded in sincerity.
Saeko and Mindy, composed, observant, clearly dangerous in ways that weren't loud. And Gaius… standing there like a monument, his presence filling space without effort.
Rayleigh's eyes lingered there a second longer.
These weren't people who misunderstood strength.
They were people learning a new system.
A faint crease appeared on Rayleigh's brow. A quiet realization.
Still, he spoke.
"Those powers," he said evenly, "come from Devil Fruits."
Tony's attention snapped fully back.
"They're treasures of the sea," Rayleigh continued. "Scattered all across the world. Each one grants a supernatural ability to whoever eats it."
Naruto blinked. "You eat them?"
Rayleigh nodded.
"Once eaten, the power becomes part of you. Permanently."
Saeko raised an eyebrow slightly. "All powers come from these fruits?"
"No," Rayleigh said. "But many of the strongest do."
He lifted his bottle and took a slow drink before continuing.
"There are three categories."
Tony leaned forward just a little.
"The first," Rayleigh said, "is Logia. The rarest. The most powerful."
He looked toward the screen on the wall, where Marineford still burned in silence.
"They allow the user to become a natural element. Fire. Ice. Light. Magma. Wind. Smoke. More."
Naruto's eyes widened. "So they're basically untouchable?"
"Against most people," Rayleigh said. "Yes."
Mindy spoke for the first time. "Unless there's a counter."
Rayleigh's mouth curved slightly. "Unless there's a counter."
He went on.
"The second type is Paramecia. The most common. They grant a wide range of abilities. No single rule. Some affect the body. Some affect the world. Some defy explanation."
Tony's mind raced. Too many variables. Dangerous, but flexible.
"And the third," Rayleigh said, "is Zoan."
He paused briefly.
"They allow the user to transform into animals. Or hybrids."
Saeko nodded slowly. "And Sengoku?"
Rayleigh glanced back at Tony.
"He has a Mythical Zoan," he said. "The Buddha fruit."
Naruto sucked in a breath. "Mythical?"
"Extremely rare," Rayleigh replied.
The group absorbed that.
Tony didn't miss the way Rayleigh's eyes stayed sharp, watching their reactions. Not confusion. Not disbelief. Calculation. Interest.
Rayleigh set his bottle down.
"Are you all," he asked calmly, "not from this world?"
The question landed cleanly.
For a split second, Tony, Naruto, Saeko, and Mindy all froze.
Just a fraction of surprise. Nothing dramatic. Nothing panicked.
Tony blinked once.
Then he smiled faintly and nodded.
"Is it that obvious?" he asked.
Rayleigh laughed.
Not loud. Not mocking. Just genuine amusement.
"If you were weak," he said, "I'd assume you were just ignorant. Maybe a little foolish."
He took another drink.
"But you're strong," he continued. "And you don't know the basics."
His eyes met Tony's.
"That's far more suspicious."
Saeko tilted her head. "You're not surprised?"
Rayleigh leaned back in his chair, relaxed.
"I sailed the world with my captain," he said. "We traveled to many islands, met all kinds of people, and in the end, we reached it, the One Piece."
"You went to the end of the world?" Naruto asked, eyes sparkling.
Rayleigh chuckled. "Something like that."
"That means you've had tons of adventures!" Naruto said.
Rayleigh's gaze softened. Nostalgia flickered there.
"We did," he said quietly.
He stood then, movements smooth despite his age.
"One more thing," he added.
Everyone listened.
"Devil Fruits are cursed by the sea," Rayleigh said. "Once you eat one, you can't swim. The sea drains your strength."
Tony's smile faded slightly.
"And you can only eat one," Rayleigh continued. "Any more than that, and your body can't handle it."
Naruto swallowed.
Rayleigh nodded to them all.
"I think you've learned what you came for."
He turned and walked out.
The door closed behind him, the bell ringing softly.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then Tony exhaled slowly.
"This world," he said, "has a lot to offer."
Saeko nodded. "Too much to leave right away."
Mindy added quietly, her voice measured, "And we may not get another chance."
Gaius finally spoke. His posture hadn't changed, but there was a new seriousness in his tone.
"Haki alone was worth coming," he said. "But Devil Fruits…"
He paused.
"They change the balance."
Tony's lips curved into a grin.
"With Marineford in chaos," he said, "why don't we take advantage?"
Naruto tilted his head. "You mean…"
"Take control of this island," Tony finished.
Gaius nodded. "We won't stay long."
"But we'll take what matters," Tony said.
They stood up to leave.
Shakky watched them from behind the counter, cigarette between her fingers.
"Good luck," she said.
Naruto grinned and gave a thumbs-up.
Saeko and Mindy nodded politely.
Tony waved without turning.
Gaius didn't look back at all.
The door closed.
~~~
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