Confrontation Before the Storm

The clouds over Dawn Island grew heavier and heavier, as if an invisible pressure were descending from the sky. Silvers Rayleigh stood before a window in the Spectrum Temple, gazing out at the gradually darkening sea. Ace had already left, carrying that heavy burden of duty and hope, while those who remained were about to face an unavoidable storm.

"Rayleigh, you can't do this!" Comps's voice was full of anxiety. "Akainu's fleet is still at least six hours away. We can use this time to evacuate everyone."

Rayleigh turned around, his gaze calm yet resolute. "And then? Let Akainu know we received advance warning and arouse his suspicions? Ace has only just left. He needs more time and room."

"But Steel Bone Kong's envoy..." Comps hesitated. "We know nothing about him. What if it's a trap?"

"Steel Bone Kong would not casually send someone to see me," Rayleigh said, taking off his glasses and wiping them gently. "Especially at such a sensitive time. Whoever has come, they are at least worth hearing out."

The moment he finished speaking, the monitoring system sounded an alert. A small unmarked vessel was approaching Dawn Island, and its route showed that it was attempting to avoid the usual patrol paths.

"Only one ship, small in size, unarmed," Comps confirmed. "It seems they are also trying not to draw attention."

"Prepare to receive our guest," Rayleigh said, straightening up and putting his glasses back on. "At the same time, begin preparing to destroy all critical data. No matter how this meeting turns out, we cannot risk letting these materials fall into Akainu's hands."

At a hidden dock near the shoreline, Rayleigh stood alone, waiting for the approaching visitor. Waves crashed against the reefs, while distant thunder rumbled low, like an ominous warning.

The small vessel