Chapter 46: 《One Piece: Rising》Chapter 46: A Vice Admiral Offers Her Sword, Admirals Bow Their Heads!
Xayuki hadn't detected Rayleigh's presence from the beginning.
When he stepped onto the deck from the cabin, he had simply intended to use his Observation Haki to scan the entire island and assess the situation. Unexpectedly, amidst the sea of thoughts and presences, he discovered Rayleigh—the former right-hand man of the Pirate King.
Of course, Xayuki could have chosen to ignore Rayleigh's presence. After all, the retired pirate posed no immediate threat to him.
His decision to communicate with the legendary Dark King through Observation Haki was partly out of curiosity and partly to gauge the former pirate's reaction.
Everything unfolded as Xayuki anticipated. Rayleigh's expression was a fascinating tableau of emotions—shock, disbelief, and amazement—upon realizing that not only had he been discovered, but his true identity was known as well.
Before Rayleigh could fully process this revelation, Xayuki's voice echoed in his mind once more: "Once this matter is settled, I'll make time to visit Shakky's Rip-off Bar, where the former Empress of Amazon Lily, Shakuyaku, resides. As a well-connected informant, she might prove useful to me."
Again, Rayleigh was stunned that Xayuki knew so much about Shakky's true identity and background. The revelation sent another wave of shock through him.
After a brief moment of astonishment, Rayleigh shook his head and chuckled. "What a terrifying young man. Is this your way of sounding a warning to an old man like me?"
Rayleigh chose not to retreat.
Since Xayuki had already discovered him, there was no point in hiding. He stepped out of the shadows into the sunlight, gazing at the figure standing on the warship's deck. Using his own Observation Haki, he transmitted his thoughts in return:
"I wish you success on your journey, Fleet Admiral Xayuki!"
A subtle smile curved Xayuki's lips. Without responding further, he strode confidently forward.
As soon as Xayuki stepped off the warship, the Marines stationed at the port, led by Vice Admirals Strawberry and Bastille, immediately snapped to attention, saluting and shouting in perfect unison:
"LOYALTY!"
Simultaneously, Vice Admiral Gion stepped forward, removing the famed sword Konpira from her waist. Holding it reverently with both hands, she bowed deeply and addressed him:
"Fleet Admiral."
"Hmm?"
Xayuki blinked in momentary confusion. "Gion, what are you doing?"
Maintaining her respectful bow, Gion replied earnestly, "Without a sword at your side, Fleet Admiral, you might lack a certain air of authority."
As she spoke, she raised Konpira high above her head, offering it to Xayuki.
Seeing this gesture, the three admirals standing opposite Gion all lowered their heads slightly, clearly sharing her sentiment.
Without hesitation, Xayuki accepted the sword and secured it at his waist. Resting one hand on the hilt, he walked forward, passing between Gion and the admirals.
Gion immediately fell into step behind him, with the three admirals following closely.
From the rear, Sengoku, Garp, and Zephyr watched this scene unfold with subtle smiles. Zephyr in particular felt a surge of emotion as he observed Xayuki, flanked by the admirals and Gion, stride toward the elevator leading to the Holy Land. A faint mist seemed to rise in his eyes.
He had never imagined that the bold actions he had always dreamed of but never dared to take would be accomplished so decisively by his student. He believed that under Xayuki's leadership, the Marines would undergo a complete transformation, becoming a force of true justice.
From a distance, Silvers Rayleigh watched as Xayuki accepted the sword from Gion and walked forward with an air of confidence and purpose. Once again, he was struck by the young man's commanding presence.
A vice admiral offering her sword, three admirals bowing their heads.
Sengoku, Garp, and Zephyr following in his wake.
A supernova of the Marines, unparalleled in brilliance, was rising.
In that moment, Rayleigh felt as though he were witnessing the dawn of a new era unfolding before his very eyes.
Holy Land, Mariejois.
Upon learning from the elevator operators that Xayuki and his entourage had arrived at the port, Gunshi, a member of the God's Knights, wasted no time. She, along with several other knights, hurried to the entrance to receive them.
When they arrived, however, they found someone already waiting there.
"Shamrock?"
Gunshi was surprised. "What are you doing here?"
The man in question was none other than Shamrock, the eldest son of Figarland Garling, leader of the God's Knights.
Unlike Gunshi and the other knights who wore simple black cloaks, Shamrock's cloak featured a hood that shadowed his face.
If any seasoned warrior from the Grand Line were to see the face beneath that hood, they would be shocked—for Shamrock bore an uncanny resemblance to Shanks, the newly crowned Emperor and captain of the Red Hair Pirates.
Shamrock kept his gaze fixed on the approaching elevator and replied indifferently, "I am also a member of the God's Knights."
"You shouldn't appear at a time like this!"
Gunshi's brow furrowed, her voice low and urgent. "Xayuki isn't just accompanied by Gion. He's brought the three admirals, along with Sengoku, Garp, and Zephyr. If they see your face—"
"How many secrets do you think we still have?"
Before Gunshi could finish, Shamrock interrupted. "Even the existence of Lord Imu is no longer a secret. Do you think my identity still matters to them?"
Gunshi fell silent, turning to stand beside Shamrock as they both gazed toward the elevator.
As the mechanism slowly ascended, Gunshi felt a sudden wave of tension. Her breathing quickened, betraying her unease.
Noticing this, Shamrock frowned slightly. "Are you nervous?"
Gunshi hesitated before nodding, her expression grave. "You know what I fear most."
"They're here!"
A long-haired woman standing nearby suddenly raised her head, her eyes fixed on the elevator as if preparing for battle.
Moments later, the elevator reached the entrance and came to a smooth stop.
Gion and the three admirals were the first to step out, taking up positions on either side of the exit.
Sengoku, Garp, and Zephyr were about to follow when their eyes caught sight of Shamrock standing beside Gunshi. They froze in their tracks.
"Sha... Shanks?"
Garp was the first to recover from his stupor. His fists clenched in anger as he stormed out of the elevator, shouting, "You bastard! Don't think I won't recognize you just because you're wearing a hood! First, you corrupted my grandson, and now you dare to show your face in the Holy Land!"
"Garp!"
As if anticipating Garp's reaction, Sengoku quickly intervened. "Don't act rashly. That's not Shanks!"
"?"
Garp turned to Sengoku, confusion evident on his face.
Sengoku offered no further explanation. Though he had never met Shamrock before, his instincts told him this man was not the captain of the Red Hair Pirates.
Of course, whether this was Shanks or not was ultimately irrelevant.
For Sengoku, the more pressing matter was meeting Imu, the shadowy figure who had been orchestrating the actions of the World Government for years.
The admirals and Gion also noticed Shamrock. While they were surprised by his resemblance to Shanks, they didn't dwell on it. Given the World Government's advanced cloning technology, creating a duplicate of someone wasn't beyond the realm of possibility.
At that moment, Xayuki stepped out of the elevator, a warm smile on his face. He turned to Garp and explained, "Sengoku is right. This man isn't Shanks. He's Shanks' twin brother—Stinks."
"St... Stinks?"
Gunshi, Shamrock, and the long-haired woman all widened their eyes in disbelief.
It was clear that Xayuki, who knew about Imu's existence, was also aware of Shamrock's true identity.
But... Stinks? What kind of ridiculous name was that?!
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