Despite the night having fallen, the town was a cacophony of sounds. In the corner of a dimly lit bar, a blonde man sat with a nearly empty tankard in his hand. Staring at it, he finally sighed and downed the last of the rum and looked towards the doors, glasses reflecting dully.

Outside, footsteps clattered against the pavement. Dancers, drunkards, people running or walking along, even the sharp tapping of marine boots. None came near the empty bar, but it was enough to keep the man on edge.

"Another round, Rayleigh?" the bartender called over.

Rayleigh shook his head. "I shouldn't. I need to leave before the marines bust through the door." But he made no move. He didn't want to walk out there and hear people celebrating the death of the man he followed for so long. Roger's last words kept him from being upset, but that didn't mean he wanted to hear people cheering.

"They wouldn't dare!" The bartender laughed and cleaned some glasses. "What will you do now?"

Looking at him, Rayleigh shrugged. "Not sure. Don't feel like being a pirate is the right move anymore, but I can't just go somewhere and expect to find a quiet life." There was no longer any drive. He'd reached the end of the Grand Line, seen his crew split up, heard the man he followed killed.

Nodding, the bartender set down the rag and leaned on the counter. "It'll be hard, but maybe somewhere in the New World? I know you've been there."

Rayleigh couldn't help but laugh. "And how would I get there? I don't have a ship anymore, Gerald!" The Oro Jackson, Roger's ship, was tucked away where no one would ever find it. And Rayleigh didn't want to sail on it any longer. There were too many memories, and he had no crew; they had split up a year ago, even the apprentices left. He knew they were in Loguetown, but they would find their own ships and crews.

"You could see if a ship in the port is leaving tomorrow," he suggested. "They could at least get you to the Grand Line. And you know they'll appreciate your help getting over Reverse Mountain."

Leaning back, Rayleigh thought about this. It wasn't a bad idea, but did he want to travel the entire Grand Line again? And without his crew? His captain?

"You could try Sabaody," a voice croaked. Rayleigh looked up to see a man in the far corner, hidden in the shadows. Wearing a dark cloak with a hood, he blended into the shadows to the point of invisibility.

"Sabaody? Why there?" Rayleigh asked cautiously.

The man shrugged. "Pirates occasionally pass through, heading for the New World. Sometimes they stay, sometimes they don't, for weeks or more at a time. If you stay in the lawless sector, you'd just be another pirate that'll probably leave before long. By the time anyone realizes who you are, and that's if they do, you could disappear for a few days."

Sabaody, not a true island but a mangrove forest, was much bigger than people expected. Rayleigh remembered staying there for a few days, waiting for their ship to get coated, but that was many years ago. The two apprentices, troublesome brats with no patience, had driven the crew crazy trying to see each grove before they left.

But the lawless sector wouldn't be a bad idea. He could hide his haki signature with ease there, blend in with incoming pirates. Turning to the man, he asked, "But how do you suggest I get there? It'll take time traveling over Reverse Mountain and I'd like to avoid being caught." Not that the marines could catch him, but still.

There was a pause, then the man said, "There's a ship headed across the Calm Belt, straight for Sabaody, on the far end of the harbor. You could find a way aboard with them, and they could take you."

"Even heading across the Calm Belt, that might take up to a year. I wouldn't exactly be able to hide myself aboard, not for that long," Rayleigh pointed out.

"Not if you disguise yourself and ask to go as a crewmate," Gerald called over. When Rayleigh looked at him, he shrugged. "Just a thought. I know some people would recognize you, but just dye your hair, wear different clothes, and disguise your actions. I know you can do it. You've done similar stuff before."

Arching an eyebrow, Rayleigh contemplated this.

Suppressing his haki was child's play by this point, so that would be no issue. But could he do it long enough to get to the Grand Line at least? And what if they recognized him? And disguising himself was an option, but only if he did it thoroughly at this point. He was too recognizable now, and he knew the marines would be on his tail if they even thought they'd catch the "Dark King".

He knew if he stayed in Loguetown, he would be spotted sooner or later and had no desire to fight off the Navy. He considered joining the pirate crews, knowing they would appreciate his abilities, but he didn't want to go back to that life.

Shaking his head, he looked at the man in the corner and stretched out his haki. Nothing. He felt no malice, nothing to suggest he was lying or trying to get rid of him, but it was still odd. "Why help me?"

Another shrug. "Pirates look out for one another, even when they're retired." Without another word, the stranger stood. He lifted his head a tad and flashed Rayleigh a grin.

Rayleigh grinned back and shook his head. "Alright, then I'll leave with them."

The man nodded, his goggles glinting even under his hood, and he left.

Sighing, Rayleigh turned to Gerald. "Know where I can get some different clothes then?" He trusted Taro, and knew his former crewmate wouldn't have suggested this unless he was sure it would be safe, even if he wouldn't reveal himself.

Gerald nodded. "Come with me." Motioning with his hand, he led Rayleigh through a doorway to the back.

Still smiling, Rayleigh followed without hesitation.

Sabaody hadn't changed. It may have been a while, years even, but it was still a loud, boisterous place. People crossed the docks in every direction. Around them, bubbles floated up haphazardly, or followed people holding strong cords linking them together, or were under strange saddles that let people purposely ride them through the air.

The massive mangrove trunks rose to well above his head and he looked up at the large painted 41; part of the tourist sector, if he recalled.

A voice sounded from behind. "Thanks for the help, Ray."

Rayleigh turned and smiled at the captain of the merchant ship. "Of course. Thanks for bringing me here."

The woman shook her head. "Sure I can't convince you to stay? We could use more hands." Grinning, she jerked her head towards the group of people behind her, hauling crates and barrels.

He shook his head. "No, I'm looking for a life off the sea now." Still within sight though, if he could manage it.

She snorted. "Strange thing for a pirate to say." At Rayleigh's surprised expression, she laughed. "I won't tell anyone I brought you here, Silvers. A friend of yours told me to expect you the night before we left and told me you wouldn't be any trouble."

Rayleigh grinned. "Thanks, I appreciate it. If I wanted to stay at sea, I'd help for a while, but I just want to avoid the Navy now." Wearing a thick green shirt, darker pants, a black cloak, and his hair dyed dark brown, the only thing he knew would give him away was the scar over his eye. But anyone could have a scar, so he knew they wouldn't think much of it.

She gave another laugh, her shoulders shaking. "Good luck with that here!" Turning, she walked off to help her crew.

Still grinning, Rayleigh quickly made his way through the groves. The majority consisted of pirates, marines, and civilians, but as he approached the lawless area, the number of marines and civilians decreased, and eventually the marines disappeared altogether.

Rayleigh watched the shops with interest. Many had been added, a few had left, and some had changed. A few places have signs showing they're looking for someone to work there, but despite knowing he'll need to do something, none of these appeal to him in the slightest.

He might be retired, but he refused to spend most of his time indoors.

Briefly stopping at a blacksmith's shop, he considered there but the man wouldn't take an apprentice with no prior experience. He does point Rayleigh to grove 13, however.

Not having any other ideas, Rayleigh made his way through the groves, keeping his cloak wrapped around his shoulders and ready to flip his hood up when needed. He might be in the lawless sector, where the marines won't go, but he didn't want to take any chances.

There aren't as many buildings here, closer to the edge of the mangroves. He paused as he spots a sign asking for help, outside a small building he almost misses.

"'Coating mechanic'?" He reads aloud, then looks around. Just beyond the roots, the Red Line can be seen stretching across the distance. The sign hung from the low awning, but beyond the building he sees a dry dock. He had a flash of the time they came through here, intended for Fishman Island and the New World.

They had stopped here, though not this exact grove, and their ship had been coated by a specialist. It was the only way they could continue on.

A tapping noise caught his attention. "Looking for a job?" He looked down as a short, older man came through the door. "We're hiring if you are." Leaning on a wooden cane, he peered up at Rayleigh through small glasses, his gaze shrewd.

Rayleigh glanced at the dry docks before answering. "I'm not familiar with how to coat, but I can learn."

The man nodded. "Not everyone can do it, but I can teach you. We need more coating mechanics now. Aren't enough now, not since Roger's execution."

The words stung, but it made sense. It had been less than a year since that day, thanks to mostly traveling in the East Blue before using a shipping lane through the Calm Belt, and he had already seen more pirates than ever before. And there were already six ships floating nearby; probably waiting their turn to be coated. It didn't take too long to coat a ship, maybe a few hours, he recalled. But with that many ships, and more coming, they would need more specialists.

Forcing his thoughts away, Rayleigh inclined his head towards the ships. "Expecting many more?"

The man nodded wearily. "Yes. Do you have a place to stay around here?"

Rayleigh shook his head. "No, I just got here today. I haven't had a chance yet." He'd seen a few places, but had barely a pocketful of berri. Not that he couldn't sleep outside, but he'd feel safer out of sight.

"You could try Shakky's Rip-Off Bar, in grove 13. She always has a room available," the man said.

Rayleigh's face split into a wide grin. He knew of only one person with that name. "I know Shakky, we met some time ago. I didn't know she was here." Once a pirate, he knew she had settled down but never knew where. He would've guessed she would be back at Amazon Lily.

The man sighed and waved his hand; a dismissal. "Then I would suggest getting a room there and be here in the morning. If you're a friend, then she'll be glad to take you in. Her prices are high as shit though…" Grumbling, he turned and disappeared into the building, leaving Rayleigh outside.

Chuckling to himself, Rayleigh glanced at the numbers on the trees and made his way quickly towards the 13 he could spot after crossing a few bridges.

Staying at Shakky's, a job that let him see the sea without risking his life, and even considering having to hide occasionally, he might end up enjoying this.