One Piece: I am the Fleet Admiral?

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Rayleigh stood on the high platform, briefly glancing at the square before pulling back.

He then looked to his side.

Next to him was Akira, expressionless, with his hands behind his back.

Three pools of bright red blood lay beneath his feet.

Clearly, it belonged to the three individuals who had been shot earlier.

Also present was a pale, beautiful woman, her expression betraying that this was her first time witnessing such a bloody scene.

'That must be Stella, the one who ate the Truth-Truth Fruit,' Rayleigh thought to himself.

He shifted his gaze again to the other side.

There, a large transparent glass tank, big enough for two people, was filled with seawater.

"This seawater was taken on-site in front of people from all over the world."

"Mr. Rayleigh, would you prefer to enter yourself, or should the Marines assist you?"

Hearing Akira's words, Rayleigh immediately understood his intention.

It was well-known that Akira's Dog-Dog Fruit Model: Monster Racoon ability could copy strong individuals, along with their memories.

This tank of seawater had clearly been prepared to prove that Rayleigh wasn't some cloned puppet.

"You've thought this through too thoroughly, Fleet Admiral Akira," Rayleigh said with a complex expression.

However, when he saw two soldiers approaching, he quickly made up his mind.

"No need, I'll enter on my own."

Despite being a prisoner, given the option, he still wanted to maintain his dignity as the Dark King.

After all, this was being broadcast worldwide.

Entering on his own was far better than being thrown in by the soldiers.

With the last of his strength, Rayleigh leaped into the water tank without a word.

Accompanied by a splash.

Under the eyes of the world, Rayleigh was completely submerged in the seawater.

Akira picked up the microphone and addressed the world:

"Everyone, please observe. It is indeed the right hand of the Pirate King, the Dark King Rayleigh, whom we have captured."

"And not a copy created by my ability, blindly following my orders."

In fact, he didn't need to say anything. The proof was clear to all.

"It's truly the Dark King Rayleigh himself. If he were a clone, he would've already reverted to leaves by now."

"The Marines are really terrifying, arresting the Dark King without making a sound."

"So, he should be able to tell us the location of One Piece soon."

"I'm all set. Once he gives the exact location of One Piece, I'm heading out right away."

"Well, not necessarily. My captain always said he trusts me the most, but I still don't know where our treasure is hidden."

"Is it possible that, even though he's the right-hand man of the Pirate King, Roger might not have told him?"

"Hmm…"

Once people and pirates around the world confirmed it was truly Rayleigh, excitement filled the air.

One Piece, the treasure that had caused chaos and inspired pirates worldwide for a year, was finally about to reveal its mystery.

It was impossible not to be curious.

Even the Marines stationed at Marineford were filled with a thirst for knowledge at this moment.

Akira didn't keep the crowd waiting for long.

"Come out, Rayleigh," Akira ordered.

Rayleigh didn't respond immediately.

He remained submerged in the seawater, his expression shifting slightly, eyes flickering with thought.

But after scanning the combat power surrounding him, he let out a soft sigh.

There were Marines present who wouldn't be knocked out by Conqueror's Haki.

And around him stood Fleet Admiral Akira, Sengoku, Zephyr, the three Admirals, and numerous officers. There was no way to escape.

Additionally, Rayleigh's Observation Haki showed him that even though Akira appeared to be standing still, all the muscles in his body were poised, ready to prevent any attempt at suicide.

Rayleigh had already experienced Akira's inhuman speed during their clash at Sabaody Archipelago. If he made any sudden moves, he would be stopped in an instant.

"If you have any questions, ask them now. Let's get this over with so I can go back to sleep."

Rayleigh climbed out of the tank, sat cross-legged on the platform, and sighed in defeat.

The Marines had been prepared for everything from the start. He had been unaware of their plans until now, and he had been tricked and exhausted the night before.

In this situation, resisting was futile.

Two Marines stepped forward, securing Rayleigh's arms and legs to the platform, ensuring he couldn't move except for his head.

"Stella, go ahead," Akira ordered.

Stella quickly nodded, ran over to Rayleigh, raised her right palm, and gently placed it on his shoulder.

Rayleigh felt a surge of energy invade his body from his shoulder, rushing rapidly towards his brain.

Instinctively, he tried to use his Armament Haki to resist.

But his body felt completely drained.

In an instant, Stella's Truth-Truth Fruit ability reached his mind, taking control of his ability to lie.

It was over.

Rayleigh groaned internally.

"What's your name?" Akira asked.

"Silvers Rayleigh," Rayleigh responded, even though he didn't want to. His mouth seemed no longer his own, and the words spilled out involuntarily.

At that moment, Rayleigh realized the full extent of the Truth-Truth Fruit's power—it didn't just prevent lying, it forced people to answer truthfully.

But before he could process his thoughts, Akira's next question hit him like a punch.

"Where is One Piece?"

The entire world went silent.

Even breaths seemed to slow down, as if everyone feared interrupting the live broadcast.

Whitebeard, Kaido, Big Mom—everyone stared intently at their screens, waiting.

Finally, under the gaze of millions, Rayleigh opened his mouth to answer.

"I don't know."

What?

The whole world was stunned.

What kind of answer was that?

How could *he* not know? This was Dark King Rayleigh, the right hand of the Pirate King, Roger's most trusted brother!

"Could Roger really be that much of a liar? Saying 'I trust you most,' but hiding the treasure from even his own crew?"

"I held my breath for 'that'? Are you serious?"

"The Truth-Truth Fruit proves it can't be a lie, so Rayleigh really doesn't know?"

"Well, things just got interesting. What will Fleet Admiral Akira ask next?"

While others were shocked, Akira had expected this response.

The concept of One Piece was something Roger himself had fabricated. Rayleigh knew this, even if the world didn't.

"Does One Piece exist?" Akira asked.

"I think it does," Rayleigh responded.

"You 'think'?"

"Yes," Rayleigh said, his face showing defiance, but his voice honest and cooperative as ever.

He answered Akira's questions without resistance, one after another.

"Then what if I 'think' One Piece doesn't exist? Is that fine?"

"Sure."

Akira couldn't help but smirk. The sneer was visible to everyone watching around the world.

At that moment, pirates everywhere felt insulted.

"What kind of nonsense is this? One Piece exists and doesn't exist? Is this a joke?"

"Did we risk our lives at sea just to chase a myth?"

"I didn't sail the Grand Line for some imaginary thing!"

Somewhere in the world, in front of a live broadcast, a pirate couldn't take it anymore. He leapt up, cupping his hands around his mouth like a trumpet, shouting:

"Fleet Admiral Akira, why don't you ask him directly—is One Piece a treasure that can't be spent?"

The people around him nodded furiously in agreement. To most, One Piece was thought to be a massive treasure, wealth beyond imagination.

It seemed as if Akira heard them, because his next question hit right at the heart of their doubts.

"Tell me, Rayleigh—did the Roger Pirates possess untold riches from the day you formed until the day you disbanded?"

"No!" Rayleigh answered firmly, though his eyes were already shut in sorrow.

At that moment, he understood the true purpose of this interrogation.

The Marines wanted to use him to destroy Roger's legacy.

And it made Rayleigh deeply uncomfortable.

"So, you're saying Roger didn't actually have mountains of gold and silver?" Akira pressed on.

"Yes."

"Does that mean all those people who went to sea for treasure were actually played by Roger?" Akira asked with a chuckle.

"Yes," Rayleigh admitted, his eyes briefly opening as he glanced at Akira. He tried to add, "If it's for—"

Boom.

A sudden surge of powerful Conqueror's Haki exploded from Akira, hitting Rayleigh like a crushing weight. The force was immense, causing beads of sweat to form on Rayleigh's forehead and cutting off his words.

In his prime, Rayleigh might have shrugged off this pressure, but in his current state—drained both physically and mentally—he couldn't resist.

"My treasure? If you want it, I'll grant it! Search on! All the world had to offer, I left in that place!"

"These were Roger's last words before his execution, and they're the reason so many took to the seas, becoming pirates."

Akira's voice grew louder, more commanding as he addressed Rayleigh once again.

"So, let me ask you one final question: did Roger leave behind countless treasures on the seas for people to find?"

He leaned forward, his voice booming through the microphone, carrying across the world.

"I'm asking about 'treasur—a massive fortune of gold, a mountain of berries that can never be spent!"

His voice rang out like a bell, reverberating across Marineford and echoing into every corner of the world. It was as though time had frozen. The world seemed to hold its breath, waiting for Rayleigh's answer, hoping against hope for something different this time.

But, unfortunately for them, Rayleigh's response shattered their hopes.

"No!" Rayleigh said, his voice tinged with finality. In that moment, he gave up completely, his spirit broken. His expression aged, and his weariness became even more apparent.

Ding!

A voice rang in Akira's mind.

[Congratulations, Host. Task Three is complete: Lead all officers and soldiers of Marine Headquarters to bring an end to the Great Pirate Era.]

"The rewards have been issued and can be claimed at any time."

Akira, at first, chuckled softly. But soon, his quiet amusement turned into uncontrollable laughter. He laughed loudly, nearly out of breath, his laughter echoing throughout Marineford.

It wasn't just heard there—it resonated in the hearts of people all over the world.

"Poor fools who went to sea, chasing the dream of treasure. You've all been deceived."

"The One Piece, the treasure most people pursue, does not exist at all."