"…This number…"
Sea Kings surrounded the ship in an instant, and more kept surfacing from the depths.
Mira, who had initially dismissed the threat, finally grew serious.
She hadn't cared about one or two Sea Kings. Those she could swat aside with ease.
But this? An endless swarm rising from the abyss no one could say they could handle such numbers alone, not even her.
"How about it, Mira? Now you see why you can't underestimate the Sea Kings," Rain said, his tone teasing as he watched her expression harden.
"Hmph, fine. But retreating? That much I can manage." Mira crossed her arms with confidence.
After all, she could fly. Unless these stupid sea beasts sprouted wings, what could they possibly do if she took to the sky?
"I'll give you that," Rain admitted with a small nod.
"GROOOAAARR!!!"
While the two bantered, the surrounding Sea Kings caught the scent of blood. They devoured the fallen one instantly, then turned their feral gazes toward the small boat. With earth-shaking roars, they charged.
"They're coming."
Rain's eyes narrowed sharply. In the next instant, his Conqueror's Haki exploded outward.
"BOOM!!!"
Centered on Rain, the invisible wave of willpower swept across the Calm Belt like a storm, shaking the heavens and pressing down on the sea.
The Sea Kings froze mid-charge.
The suffocating aura of death gripped their very instincts. Even their bloodlust-fogged minds cleared beneath the overwhelming dominance of a king.
"S-So strong…"
Even standing behind him, Mira's pupils contracted.
If Rain hadn't deliberately excluded her, the sheer weight of his Conqueror's Haki would have crushed her breath away.
"So this… this is Conqueror's Haki?"
Her eyes burned with hunger for power. She didn't bother to hide it.
Do I… have the qualifications of a king too?
The thought whispered in her heart, refusing to be silenced.
"Get lost!!!"
Rain's glare swept across the beasts, his voice cracking like thunder.
Almost instantly, the Sea Kings recoiled in terror, thrashing as they dove back beneath the waves.
In the blink of an eye, the endless horde had vanished retreating to the depths where they belonged.
"Let's move. We shouldn't linger here."
Rain gripped the rudder again, steering them forward at full speed.
After all, even Conqueror's Haki wasn't absolute. If Sea Kings were enraged beyond reason, no amount of pressure could stop them from charging to the death.
From then on, Rain relied on another gift: his ability to hear the Voice of All Things.
With the whispers of the sea creatures guiding him, combined with bursts of Conqueror's Haki to clear the path, the two safely crossed the Calm Belt.
At last
They reached the South Blue.
South Blue — Badelila Island.
After nightfall, Rain guided the small boat to the shore. Once it was securely docked, he and Mira quietly set foot on the island.
"Why did we only land after dark?"
Mira tilted her head in confusion, her voice carrying a hint of doubt.
"To avoid exposure," Rain explained calmly.
"The agents of the World Government are strong."
"If we want to avoid unnecessary trouble, it's safest to leave quietly with Miss Rouge under the cover of night. That way, no trail is left behind."
"Is the World Government really that powerful?" Mira asked, blinking. Since she wasn't from this world, the shadow of Cipher Pol was still alien to her.
"According to Roger's memories, CP agents are stationed on almost every island."
Rain deliberately shifted the explanation onto Roger. After all, who could question the knowledge of the Pirate King himself? It was only natural that he'd know such internal details.
"That's… insane," Mira muttered, her eyes widening as she grasped the scale. She knew well enough how many islands existed across the seas. For CP to extend that far, its reach was terrifying.
Following the guidance from Roger's soul, Rain led Mira through the quiet streets until they stopped before a modest house. Rain rapped lightly on the door.
"Who is it?"
Inside, Portgas D. Rouge stirred from her rest. She slipped on a coat and approached cautiously, opening the door just enough to see.
Standing outside were two young figures she didn't recognize, Rain and Mira.
"You are…?"
Rouge's eyes narrowed with suspicion. She was certain she had never met these two before.
"Portgas D. Rouge? We were sent by Roger. He asked us to take you away from here," Rain said politely.
"Why?"
The moment the name Roger left his lips, Rouge's eyes sharpened with alarm. Distrust surged, and she braced herself, one hand still pressing against the door as if ready to slam it shut at any second.
"Do you have proof?" she demanded, voice low and careful.
Rain and Mira exchanged glances. To them, Rouge's guardedness was understandable, though ultimately unnecessary. She was just an ordinary woman, what could she do if they truly meant harm?
Fortunately, harming her was the last thing on their minds.
"If it's a boy, the name will be Ace. If it's a girl, the name will be Ann," Rain revealed softly the secret name Roger had chosen for their child.
Rouge froze.
"It really was Roger who sent you…" Her suspicion melted away, replaced by a sudden relief. She quickly pulled the door open wider and ushered them inside.
"Miss Rouge, we should leave immediately under cover of darkness," Mira urged. "This place is no longer safe."
"Not safe? Why?" Rouge asked in confusion. Her brows furrowed.
"Roger stayed here for months. No one recognized him. Isn't this place hidden well enough?"
Rain shook his head gravely. "The World Government's eyes are sharper than you think."
"CP agents will soon turn their focus here. For your safety and your child's, you must leave at once."
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