Ash spent about a week enjoying himself on the Boin Archipelago before returning to the Dawn Ship.
It was not that he had grown tired of vegetarian food again, but because he had received a message from Saff. A powerful individual was causing trouble in Wano Country.
The news caught Ash off guard. A powerful individual causing trouble at this time?
The Four Emperors would not visit each other without reason. The fact that the Seven Warlords of the Sea were heading toward Wano was no secret, and the remaining ones were clearly waiting to see how things unfolded. They would not interfere with Kaido.
That left only a few possibilities, the Navy Admirals, the God's Knights, or even the Gorosei.
Who would walk into Wano at a time like this?
Curious, Ash wasted no time.
When he returned to the Dawn Ship, he saw Kirk and Pini working together against an old man wearing sunglasses, his hair tied back in a ponytail, wielding two massive battle axes.
Ash narrowed his eyes.
"What is going on… this appearance… Silvers Rayleigh?"
He was genuinely surprised. Before his transmigration, the Pirate King's right hand had rarely appeared in the main story, mostly limited to flashbacks.
"So he shows up now… after everything?"
This unexpected variable made Ash uneasy. Maintaining the illusion that he knew everything was becoming increasingly dangerous.
Seeing Saff and the others approaching, Ash spoke first.
"Did he say his name?"
"No," Saff replied. "Pini came down to rest earlier. Sali was bringing him food when this man suddenly arrived on a small boat. Without saying anything, he attacked the bow of the ship and demanded that we release Rayleigh."
"Pini rushed up to fight him, but he was no match. Then Sali joined in."
She paused before asking, "Ash, who is he?"
Ash exhaled slowly.
"He is not some unknown figure. That man is the Pirate King's right hand, Scopper Gaban."
Understanding dawned on their faces.
"No wonder he came looking for Rayleigh," Saff said.
"So what do we do?" she asked.
Ash rubbed his chin.
"We kept Rayleigh alive because he knows Conqueror's Haki coating. He is useful as a sparring partner. Even though they are fighting Kaido now, there is no guarantee everyone will break through."
He paused, then smirked.
"Since the right hand is already here, we might as well take him too."
"Later, those two can keep each other company and train the others. Once their usefulness ends, we will deal with them."
Nami raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by deal with them?"
Ash smiled faintly.
"The meaning is obvious. No pirate leaves the Dawn Ship alive."
"What about Brook and Perona?" Nami asked, barely holding back a laugh.
Ash's expression darkened.
"Those two are exceptions. One is connected to Laboon, and the other… forget it."
Saff rolled her eyes but said nothing.
Ash turned his attention back to the battle.
The fight was evenly matched, but not because their opponent was weak.
Pini had improved rapidly over the past week. His experience against Kaido had sharpened his instincts, and his Observation Haki had reached the level of glimpsing the future.
Kirk, on the other hand, was even more troublesome.
His spatial ability was overwhelming. Both offense and defense were top-tier. Barriers, spatial cuts, and instant movement forced their opponent to constantly expend energy.
Even someone like Scopper Gaban was being dragged into a prolonged battle.
Ash observed quietly.
"Kirk can stall anyone at the top level, but winning purely through his ability is difficult."
"Pini, Sali, and Youki have strong recovery and decent defense, but their offense is still lacking."
"The problem is not effort. It is time. Their growth is too fast, and their bodies have not fully adapted."
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"They are still not like Monkey D. Luffy. That kind of growth is abnormal."
At that moment, Ash noticed a figure rushing toward the ship.
White clothing. Familiar energy.
He frowned.
"Yamato again…"
Before she could arrive, Ash stepped forward and vanished, reappearing beside Scopper Gaban.
The old man grinned.
"So you are the captain? Think you can win with numbers?"
Kirk and Pini immediately pulled back. They understood that once Ash stepped in, the fight was no longer theirs.
Unlike Kaido's blunt weapon, Gaban's axes carried lethal intent. One mistake could be fatal.
Gaban did not hesitate. He threw one axe toward Ash, then gripped the other with both hands. Armament Haki surged, followed by the pressure of Conqueror's Haki.
"Axe Song!"
Ash remained composed.
Against true experts, technique mattered less than overwhelming strength.
Gaban suddenly saw a vision.
In it, Ash closed the distance instantly and struck him down with a single kick.
His Observation Haki screamed in warning.
Too late.
Ash tilted his head slightly, avoiding the incoming axe. In the same motion, he stepped forward, caught the descending weapon mid-swing, and stopped it cold.
Then he kicked.
The impact landed squarely against Gaban's waist.
The Pirate King's right hand was sent flying, his body crashing across the deck, unconscious.
Defeated in a single move.
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