Mr. 3's body lay sprawled in a pool of blood.
Miss Goldenweek's pupils shrank. For the first time, her expression visibly shifted.
Her brush froze mid-stroke in the air.
The No. 3 killer of Baroque Works... was taken down in a single move?
He couldn't even land a hit?!
"Rayno-nii, you're amazing!!" Vivi clapped with bright, sparkling eyes.
In her mind, there seemed to be no enemy Rayno couldn't defeat.
Rayno accepted the praise with a smile and walked up to Miss Goldenweek. Glancing at the half-finished sketch on her canvas, he chuckled.
"Should I pose for you?"
Miss Goldenweek bit her lip and looked away bitterly.
What's the point of finishing a sketch… if I'm going to die anyway?
Her voice trembled, "What… do you want from me?"
She was prepared for death. She had made peace with it the day she became a killer.
But she didn't expect it to come so suddenly—or at the hands of a man who made it look so effortless.
Rayno's calm gaze lingered on her face, then—unexpectedly—he smiled.
"Relax. I'm not going to kill you. Just pour me a cup of tea."
Goldenweek blinked.
But, still clinging to hope, she obediently prepared a pot of Earl Grey and set it before him.
If there's a chance to live… why not take it?
Rayno sipped slowly, raising an eyebrow in pleasant surprise. "Not bad."
Miss Goldenweek awkwardly looked away.
Just a moment ago, she and Mr. 3 were sipping this very tea while planning how to kill him.
And now... here they were.
"You're no longer a Baroque Works agent," Rayno said casually, sipping again. "From now on, you're part of the Rayno Pirates."
Her breath caught. "Join your crew?!"
She turned instinctively to look at Vivi and Valentine.
Is that how they joined too...?
Valentine nodded with a half-smile. "Don't hesitate. The captain's strength far surpasses the Boss's. Oh—and by the way... that boss you've never seen?"
She leaned in and whispered: "It's Crocodile. One of the Seven Warlords."
Goldenweek's eyes widened. "It was him... all along?"
She hesitated for only a moment—then nodded. "Fine. I'll join."
For a man she'd never seen, whose identity was still shrouded in secrecy? No thanks.
Better to live under a real captain than die for a faceless tyrant.
Besides… Vivi and Valentine looked healthier, happier. She could see it in their faces.
Rayno finished his cup and gave her a satisfied look. "You've got a talent for tea, too. Handy."
"Do you have a Log Pose that points to Alabasta?" he asked casually.
Goldenweek nodded, pulling one from a basket nearby. "Here."
It was the one she and Mr. 3 used on assignment—vital for returning to Alabasta. Without it, even finding the island again would be an ordeal.
Brrrring. Brrrring.
A sharp trill from the basket interrupted them.
The Den Den Mushi's voice echoed ominously.
"Rayno-nii…" Vivi instinctively clung to his arm, her nerves on edge.
Even Valentine and Goldenweek looked uneasy.
Agents don't call each other unless it's urgent.
And if someone was calling directly… it could only be one of two people: the Vice President—or the Boss himself.
Rayno calmly reached for the receiver. "I'll take it."
He gave the girls a reassuring smile and flipped the line open.
The Den Den Mushi's face morphed into a scarred visage, complete with a clenched cigar.
Crocodile.
Vivi, Valentine, and Goldenweek stiffened.
It was their first time seeing his face.
"I've waited long enough, Mr. 3. I'm beginning to question your competence."
The Warlord's gravelly voice rumbled through the line, radiating irritation.
Rayno chuckled. Well, isn't this convenient?
He'd been planning to contact Crocodile anyway—now the man had called him first.
"Hey there, Crocodile."
A silence fell.
Then a low growl:
"You're Rayno?"
Rayno smirked. "Congrats. Maybe your brain isn't entirely made of sand."
Crocodile's expression darkened. "If you're answering… that means Mr. 3 and Goldenweek are dead."
"Hmph. Worthless trash. Incompetents—every last one of them."
His words were venomous, but the Den Den Mushi's sneer made the insult hit even harder.
Goldenweek's hands balled into fists.
That bastard…
They risked their lives—did his dirty work—and not only did they get no thanks, now she was watching her former superior spit on Mr. 3's corpse.
"Shut up, Crocodile!!"
Her voice rang out sharp and defiant.
Vivi and Valentine's jaws dropped.
Even Rayno was slightly taken aback.
A beat of silence passed.
"…Goldenweek? You're still alive?"
There was genuine disbelief in Crocodile's tone.
Goldenweek stomped up to the receiver, fists planted on her hips.
"That's right! Sorry to disappoint you! Not only am I alive—I've joined the Rayno Pirates!"
"And guess what, Crocodile? The captain's coming for you! So sit tight, you cigar-chomping lizard! You're getting skinned!"
Rayno: …
Crocodile: …
After her rant, Goldenweek stood panting, cheeks flushed.
Vivi and Valentine stared at her with stunned admiration.
Then slowly, they raised their thumbs in silent applause.
Goldenweek—absolute legend.