Chapter 1606 The Worries of the Old Father Rayleigh

Amazon Lily, the Kingdom of Women

"Achoo, achoo!"

Without warning, Rayleigh sneezed twice. He rubbed his nose and frowned, as if a strange, deeply malicious chill crept up from behind him.

Rayleigh put down his fishing rod and muttered, "Which bastard is talking bad about me behind my back?"

He quickly put this minor discomfort behind him. Rayleigh had always been a smart man who could see the situation clearly. At the very beginning of the storm at Marineford that was destined to sweep the world, he decisively took Shakky back to her hometown.

They called it a vacation, but in reality, they perfectly avoided the limelight. In hindsight, that decision was absolutely brilliant.

As for how an old man who is retired in the Land of Women could be so knowledgeable and accurate about information?

That's because he has a good wife!

Shakky's partner, now an information broker, even while hiding in this secluded paradise, her intelligence network spanning the Grand Line has never truly ceased operation.

There are always secret channels that continuously transmit chaotic information from the outside world to her, and Rayleigh can simply sit back and reap the benefits.

Rayleigh was on another day of flying. He neatly put away his gun, stood up, dusted himself off, and strolled towards the magnificent palace complex deep within Daughter Island.

Along the way, the Amazon Lily warriors who passed by, whether they were elite patrols or young girls in training, would mostly nod slightly in greeting when they saw Rayleigh.

After all, in this country where men are almost nonexistent, seeing a handsome older man is a rare sight.

Looking at those young women dressed in light clothing, full of energy and healthy beauty, Leilina's slightly depressed mood because of the Air Force immediately improved a lot.

His destination was a large hall deep within the palace, where Shaki and Granny New usually sorted out and analyzed the constant stream of outside intelligence.

A few minutes later, she pushed open the door and found Xia Qi sitting opposite Granny New, with several sheets of paper covered in coded messages spread out in front of her, and a Den Den Mushi that remained eerily silent.

Both of them had a somewhat solemn expression.

"You're back. What did you catch today?" Shakky asked without looking up, her voice flat, but Rayleigh, who knew her well, could detect a hint of mockery in it.

Rayleigh answered without changing his expression, walked over to them, pulled up a chair and sat down, "What bad news is it now?"

He knew very well that there was probably no real good news on the high seas now.

"Blackbeard has landed in Marineford," Shakky pushed a piece of intelligence in front of Rayleigh.

"He brought a dragon and a group of unfamiliar officers, and claimed to be the son of Rocks. He also made a deal with Whitebeard."

Rayleigh glanced at it, not particularly surprised. "That kid Teach has been holding back for so long, he's bound to make a big splash eventually."

Shakky pointed to another intelligence report, her brows furrowing even more. "Jabbar and Shanks seem to have come out of the Land of Giants. They seem to be chasing someone, and their movements are a bit strange."

This time, Rayleigh seemed to take notice. He looked at Shakky and asked, "Do you think Shanks is going to interfere in Marineford?"

Faced with the assumption about his woman, Rayleigh shook his head, a slightly bitter smile on his face.

His voice was firm: "Shanks is a smart man. He won't risk his life, at least not personally get involved in the mess at Marineford."

There was no one at Marine Headquarters that Shanks would risk his life to rescue. He might have some lingering affection for Ace, but it was far from enough to make Shanks risk everything, let alone Whitebeard.

It's possible they're after Luffy, since according to scattered information, Luffy seems to have been kicked into the Sabaody Archipelago by Kizaru? That place isn't peaceful right now either.

"Although I haven't quite figured out what that kid is planning all these years, Shanks is much smarter than Roger, that simple-minded bastard captain, when it comes to scheming and patience." Shanks is one of the few people Rayleigh can't see through.

To endure humiliation and even return to the Holy Land of Mary Geoise to infiltrate and deceive one's own father and brother—such cunning and courage are beyond the reach of most people.

Rayleigh's eyes softened slightly at the mention of Jabba; it had been quite a few years since he'd seen that guy.

He couldn’t even quite remember the last time he met Jabba. “I heard he’s doing well in Elbaf and has a son.”

As Rayleigh said this, a hint of envy unconsciously crept into his voice.

His gaze involuntarily drifted to Xia Qi beside him, his expression complex and unreadable. How wonderful it would be to have a child. He didn't seek inheritance, only the continuation of his bloodline, a small comfort in his later years.

But some things cannot be forced. Even powerful figures like them, who stand at the pinnacle of their era, can only leave the matter of offspring to fate.

He shook off these slightly sentimental thoughts and turned his attention back to the present, back to the matriarchal society that sheltered them.

"How has Hancock been feeling lately?"

This was one of the few things he was truly concerned about: Empress Boa Hancock. The exposure of her secret was undoubtedly devastating for her.

She had been secluded deep within the palace for a long time, seemingly indifferent to everything outside. The vast Kingdom of Women could only be left to Granny New and her trusted sisters to manage.

Hearing this, Xia Qi sighed softly, her face showing a heartache of shared suffering, after all, she herself had also experienced the unbearable past of being kidnapped by Celestial Dragons and trapped in danger.

"It seems to be a little better recently. At least my appetite has improved, and the food that is sent in is no longer served untouched."

"Her friends have visited her, and their advice seems to have had some effect. She's made new friends, and hopefully they can open up Hancock's closed-off heart."

Rayleigh sat down next to Shakky and nodded silently, "Well, that's good..."

His only worry right now is probably Hancock; he doesn't want to see this proud yet fragile girl give up.

But some things can't be solved by hiding; some things you can't avoid.

Hancock is known as the most beautiful woman in the world. Even if she does nothing and just hides in the Calm Belt, people will still have their eyes on her. Beauty itself is a kind of original sin.

Shakky was treated as a trophy, and Hancock might experience the same thing again—this is the worst-case scenario, but not impossible.

Who will save her then?

Relying on Hancock herself? Her heart is still fractured, her strength has stagnated, and she possesses Conqueror's Haki but cannot entwine it.

Relying on the Kingdom of Women?

Facing a truly formidable enemy, he might not be up to the task. Rayleigh, a retired old man, might be able to hold them off for a while, but can he hold them off forever?

Rayleigh leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and his face was filled with worry about his inability to control the fate of his juniors.

The storm at sea seems far off, but how long can the tranquility of the Women's Kingdom last?