One Piece: Saving Hancock with the Batto Batto no Mi

Sabaody Archipelago, Grove 13, on the street.

Uh-huh!

A thin, crimson line appeared in the air, and a spatial ripple folded rapidly sideways. Sephiroth walked out from the world within the door, materializing suddenly in the middle of the crowd.

Not far off, Boa Hancock was about to reach out and put on her fox mask when she paused, stunned for a moment, upon seeing the silver-haired youth appear so abruptly.

"Sephiroth~!" Immediately reacting, a joyful smile blossomed on the long, black-haired girl's face, and she cheered, taking almost several steps, then threw herself into Sephiroth's embrace.

"Big Sister is so cunning!" Boa Sandersonia exclaimed, her eyes sparkling.

"I want a hug too!" Boa Marigold added, equally enthusiastic.

Seeing this, Boa Sandersonia and Boa Marigold, her two younger sisters, also followed, flying towards him and hanging onto Sephiroth's body, creating a scene that drew all eyes.

Shakky watched the adorable sight of the three beautiful girls acting coquettishly beside the silver-haired youth, and she couldn't help but tease, "Tsk tsk tsk! Brother, your luck in love is truly enviable!"

"Cough! ...Long time no see, Miss Shakky!" Sephiroth coughed slightly, looking a bit embarrassed, raising his left hand and scratching his head. Since Hancock was holding his right arm, he could very clearly feel that the passersby around him, old and young, were casting all sorts of jealous, envious, and hateful glances at him.

After quickly adjusting his emotions, Sephiroth posed a question that had been on his mind, "By the way, why did you come to the Sabaody Archipelago?"

Before Shakky could speak, Boa Hancock blinked her large eyes and said first, "Captain Shakky said she wanted to bring her concubine to meet someone and ask him to teach her how to use Conqueror's Haki."

"Have you also awakened Conqueror's Haki?" Hearing this, Sephiroth nodded immediately, and he instantly knew who Shakky was bringing Boa Hancock to see: the "Dark King" Silvers Rayleigh!

Sephiroth knew that Rayleigh had been living in seclusion on the Sabaody Archipelago, and there was even faint news of his whereabouts in the underworld. However, he had never intended to meet this person. Because it was too dangerous! Moreover, from Sephiroth's point of view, it would be difficult to connect with Rayleigh without causing trouble. Should he go as a Marine, or as a pirate hunter? Or perhaps, he approached Rayleigh as an ordinary passerby. What if the other party was wary? No matter which identity he used, he was highly likely to be slaughtered on the spot by Rayleigh. The title "Dark King" wasn't boasted by Rayleigh himself, but truly earned by his reputation! Anyone who dared to challenge him would only receive a one-way ticket to Hades. Both among pirates and in the Marines, Rayleigh had a terrifying reputation!

Counting the time, Rayleigh, that old man, was only in his sixties, and his strength might still be at its peak. Referring to the fact that when the opponent was in his seventies, he could still fight back and forth with Kizaru at his peak, Sephiroth estimated that Rayleigh should still possess combat power equivalent to a Quasi-Yonko now. If he fought with the opponent, besides fleeing, he would only be able to fight back and forth—and even then, with great difficulty.

As if he had thought of something, a shy smile suddenly appeared on the silver-haired youth's face. He asked hesitantly, "Miss Shakky, could you let that person also teach me how to use Conqueror's Haki?..."

"Well~! I'll give it a try! But let's be clear first, brother, you are a Marine... He is a retired pirate. I can't guarantee whether he'll be willing to teach you!" Shakky replied, slightly surprised but still teasing him.

Sephiroth laughed and said, "Heh-heh-heh! Then thank you, Miss Shakky!" Although Rayleigh was joked about as a mediocre teacher who misled people's children, and not as good as famous teachers like Kaido, Katakuri, and Hyogoro, he was still a teacher who could teach after all! Sephiroth himself had fumbled for so long, but he still couldn't freely release Conqueror's Haki. Now that the opportunity had come, how could he not seize it?

On the way to Rayleigh's residence, after some light conversation, the five of them—Sephiroth among them—inferred that Shakky and Rayleigh were already intimately involved, meaning they had an established close relationship. Although Shakky now also served as the Captain of the Kuja Pirates, she needed to lead the Pirates out to sea to plunder. However, when it came time for a good harvest season on Amazon Lily Island, when the country had no shortage of food supplies, she would come to the Sabaody Archipelago "on leave" for one or two months before she could lead the Kuja Pirates out to sea again. By the way, the four girls also knew about Sephiroth's assignment to the Marine base in Sabaody.

Under Shakky's leadership, the group walked a long way before they reached the door of a wooden cabin built on a tree slope.

Click! Shakky didn't knock at all; she simply took a key from her trousers pocket and directly opened the door.

The group saw a blond-haired middle-aged man sitting on a sofa, with frameless round glasses on his face, his legs crossed, and a newspaper in his hand, flipping through it. Judging from the gray beard on the man's chin, he was no longer young. If he hadn't dyed his hair blond, he would likely have white hair.

"Long time no see... Shakky, why have you brought so many people?" Rayleigh turned with a smile and looked at the five people who had entered through the door.

"In my pirate group, there's a little girl who, some time ago, awakened her Conqueror's Haki... So, I wanted you to help teach her to master this power as quickly as possible. In the future, I also plan to let her replace me so I can retire safely!" As she spoke, Shakky pulled Hancock forward to Rayleigh.

"Since you've already said that, there's no reason why I wouldn't agree..." Rayleigh said, smiling faintly.

"Heh heh! Trouble then, Uncle Rayleigh." Hancock bowed slightly, and laughed. She took off the fox mask she was wearing, no longer covering her beautiful and enchanting face.

"Little girl, you are so beautiful and terrifying!... A Devil Fruit ability?" Instantly, Rayleigh sensed something strange, he quickly shook his head and used Armament Haki to form a transparent armor on his body's surface, which barely suppressed the chaotic thoughts in his heart.

"Hmm! I'm a Mero Mero no Mi user, and it strengthens my charm infinitely," Hancock explained with a laugh, proud of her power.

After chatting with Shakky for a few more words, Rayleigh looked at the silver-haired youth standing behind everyone. "This guy...?" His gaze unconsciously glanced twice more at the Butcher's Blade on the silver-haired youth's waist. What a fierce sword! Through Observation Haki (Kenbunshoku Haki), Rayleigh immediately sensed an unknown aura emanating from the Butcher's Blade. Someone who could wield such a sword couldn't be a simple character!

Sephiroth immediately took a small step forward and introduced himself, "My name is Carl D. Sephiroth. I came here this time to learn from Mr. Rayleigh the skills of using Conqueror's Haki and Armament Haki..."

Hearing this, Rayleigh raised his right hand, gently stroked his chin, and murmured, "Carl D. Sephiroth. I seem to have heard that name somewhere."

"This guy is a Marine of the Sabaody Archipelago. It's normal that you've heard that. He also has an arrogant and domineering personality, and he also has a close relationship with little Hancock. While you're teaching, why not teach him too?" Shakky probed, trying to persuade him.

"He's a Marine. I'm a pirate, and you're asking me to teach him?" Rayleigh had an eccentric expression, and his tone was marked with a hint of reluctance.

Upon seeing Rayleigh's resistance, Sephiroth's eyes immediately lit up and his face was filled with a bright smile. He took a few quick steps, sat beside him, put his arm around the other man's shoulder, and said in a very familiar tone, "Heh, heh! Mr. Rayleigh, I certainly won't let you teach for nothing. I'll pay tuition."

"It's not about money." Rayleigh tried to refuse.

"One hundred million Beli!" Sephiroth instantly countered.

"The skills of Conqueror's Haki and Armament Haki cannot be learned just by wanting to learn them..." Rayleigh insisted.

"One billion Beli!" Sephiroth raised his offer rapidly, showing his seriousness.

"I can only teach you the rough basics..." Rayleigh still tried to maintain his dignity.

"Two billion Beli!" This time, Sephiroth truly silenced Rayleigh.

"This... I'll hand over everything I know, but... Whether you can learn it or not, whether you can use it or not, that only depends on your own talent!" Rayleigh finally gave in, with a faint blush on his cheeks.

"Heh-heh-heh! Okay, I understand!" Sephiroth laughed triumphantly.

Hancock: "..."

Sandersonia: "..."

Marigold: "..."

Shakky: "..."

Sensing the strange gazes from the four women, Rayleigh couldn't help but blush and explain, "Cough!... Am I not retired now? I shouldn't be planning for retirement in the future. It's also reasonable for me to want to enjoy my old age, isn't it?" He said, a little awkwardly, trying to justify his actions.