'Roger Pirates!?'
Sengoku's expression suddenly turned solemn.
"No, Garp, don't forget where we are!"
Garp just wanted to say 'It's not like we'll fight here' when a thought flashed through his mind.
"You're right, Sengoku!"
Sengoku tilted his head: "?"
'Why does it feel like Garp had become smarter since eating that Devil Fruit?'
"We should sneakily follow them, then catch them off guard with a Conqueror's Haki-infused attack!!"
Clashing his fists, Garp's face grew increasingly excited.
"Plus, with the Goro Goro no Mi, my speed now definitely surpasses their ship's speed!"
"Let's see where that bastard Roger can run to this time, this time we must catch them and throw them into Impel Down!!"
"Let's go, Sengoku! Any later and we won't even catch the warm leftovers!"
Watching the electric light of Garp's hurriedly departing back, Sengoku shook his head helplessly.
He could only apologize and bid farewell to Neri.
"Then I shall take my leave. I didn't expect to run into the Roger Pirates here. You must be careful. If there's any danger, remember to contact me."
"I'll have Garp come to support you immediately."
Neri nodded, showing no intention of polite refusal. Her faint finger gesture expressed her intent to see him out.
Sengoku understood the woman's personality in front of him. He wasn't angry or annoyed, and got up to chase after Garp.
Several hours after the two left the Sorbet Kingdom, the church welcomed another special guest.
"A new face... Are you here to pray?"
Kuma quietly blocked the way in front of Neri and Ginny, his tall frame blocking the man's gaze.
"No, I just followed the clues I found to this island."
The newcomer had short golden hair and wore a pair of rimless glasses.
He twisted his clothes with his hands, dripping droplets of seawater.
"There was once a young prince named Bazel on this island. I'm curious, where is he now?"
Behind Kuma, Ginny shook her head at Neri, indicating that she should not speak.
"I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Silvers Rayleigh, the vice-captain of the Roger Pirates."
Putting his damp shirt back on, Rayleigh took off his glasses and wiped away the water droplets stuck to them with his fingers.
"Don't worry, I'm not here for revenge against Bazel. On the contrary, I quite like that man."
'Like Bazel!?'
Hearing this, Neri immediately jumped out.
"Men absolutely cannot like men, don't you talk nonsense!"
"You are…"
"Neri!!"
Kuma and Ginny tried to stop Neri, but the white-haired woman just smiled and shook her head.
"I believe a man who has awakened Conqueror's Haki is definitely not a petty person. I am Neri, Bazel's mother."
"Mother…"
Rayleigh found a place to sit, stretching his arms along the back of the long bench, leaning his head back, his gaze on the old but very clean ceiling.
"If that's the case, the Bazel from here is the Bazel from the Grand Line, right?"
Before Neri could speak, Rayleigh had already gotten his answer from the nervous expressions of Kuma and Ginny, a victorious smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
"A while ago, I had a fight with Bazel. I won. Well, not exactly a clean win, more like winning by a somewhat unfair advantage."
"But I admire that man. Plus, based on some things Roger discovered, we secretly came to the South Blue. Using the World Economic News Paper's information channels, we inquired all the way."
"Just to confirm one thing…"
Kuma stopped the old man who was about to enter the church, apologized with a face full of regret, and closed the church doors.
Then he took off his gloves. His glasses reflected a cold light, and his eyes gradually revealed a mix of killing intent and resolve.
Although he wasn't clear about Bazel's current situation exactly, the fact that Neri and Bazel were mother and son absolutely must not be known by the enemy!
Neri had great kindness towards him and Ginny, so even if he died, he absolutely could not let Neri get hurt!
"Oh~ Quite impressive killing intent. But could you trouble yourself to let me finish speaking?"
Kuma didn't answer, his gaze turning to Neri.
"Let him speak, no need to be nervous, Kuma."
Rayleigh took a deep look at the woman before continuing, "Over twenty years ago, the captain of the Rocks Pirates, Rocks D. Xebec, disappeared for a period of time."
"There were witnesses who claimed he appeared in the South Blue, but he didn't stay for long."
"I want to know…"
Rayleigh's gaze suddenly turned sharp.
"Is Bazel actually the son of Rocks?"
Neri didn't show a trace of fear, her gaze frank as she met Rayleigh's eyes.
"Is that answer very important? Or will the Roger Pirates choose whether or not to destroy this country based on the different answers?"
"Destroy a country? Don't joke around, we're the Roger Pirates."
Rayleigh seemed to have already gotten his answer, slowly rising to his feet, a smile on his face.
"We never do things like pillaging and plundering, that's what low-level pirates do. We are high-level pirates."
"High-level pirates embrace high-level freedom. If you let the negative emotions in your soul run wild, high-level pirates become low-level pirates, you know."
With both hands on the church door handles, Rayleigh turned his face sideways, his gaze falling on Neri.
"In other words, Bazel is a member of the D Clan, right?"
Neri still didn't answer directly, her expression remaining calm.
"He is just Bazel. Now, before, and in the future, he will always be just Bazel."
"…A mother's protection?"
"One last question, does Bazel know his true identity?"
Neri was silent for a long time before replying softly, "No."
Rayleigh sighed, pulled the door open forcefully, his words carrying implied meaning.
"I won't speak carelessly about this matter. Besides me and Roger, no third person will know."
"Attacking women and civilians isn't our style. Also, a word of advice."
"Don't underestimate pirates too much."
"If you don't want Bazel to completely turn into a madman, Ms. Neri..."
"Then live well. If you die because of anyone, for this sea, the apocalypse will arrive..."
Recalling Bazel's various peculiarities and imagining the man's madness if Neri died, Rayleigh's smile held a touch of helplessness.
"Although he can't beat me now, if he wanted to run, I couldn't stop him."
"If it really comes to that, Bazel will undoubtedly become a veritable natural disaster. If he survives, one day, he will possess power surpassing Roger's."
"You being alive is a good thing, both for this ocean and for us, the Roger Pirates."
"Because you are the shackles that restrain Bazel. Once you die, this sea…"
Stepping out of the church, Rayleigh's final murmur reached the ears of the three.
"… will usher in a second, even more insane Rocks era!"
Only after sensing Rayleigh's presence had completely vanished from the island did Neri relax.
"Neri-nee, isn't this too dangerous!"
"Not good, Kumachi, you take Neri-nee to find Bazel, quick! He's so strong, he can definitely protect his own mother!"
Ginny said anxiously, grabbing Neri's hand to pull her outside.
"No, I cannot leave."
Breaking free from Ginny's grasp, Neri said with firm resolve, "Me appearing by Bazel's side would be the real disaster for him. The New World is a place where all sorts of people mix."
"World Government's agents, underworld informants... all kinds of characters you can't imagine operate in those waters."
"If my identity is exposed, Bazel will have no time to focus on anything else. As his mother, I cannot hold him back."
"Besides, with Kuma here, the South Blue is the safest place."
"At worst, we can rely on his Nikyu Nikyu no Mi's ability to escape."
Kuma nodded and said, "She's right, Ginny. I can't guarantee I can defeat the strong ones from the Grand Line, but as long as they don't come to the South Blue."
"Dealing with some small-time South Blue's pirates isn't a problem."
"This..." Ginny deflated like a balloon, slumping onto the bench, "Alright, alright, you both make sense."
"For safety's sake, Neri-nee…" Kuma looked at Neri, "Starting today, you move in with us."
"If there's any danger, I will send you and Ginny away immediately. After that, Ginny will protect you."
"Once I have driven all the enemies away, I will bring you back!"
Neri blinked, "There's no need for such trouble, I'll be fine in the palace too."
"No way~!!"
Ginny crossed her arms in front of her chest:
"Now is not the time to be willful, Neri-nee."
"That guy just said it, right? If something happens to you, Bazel will definitely go crazy. This is for the sake of the sea!"
"You need to have a spirit of sacrifice~"
"Right, Kumachi~?"
Kuma nodded vigorously, "That's right!"
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