The Death of Three Celestial Dragons

"Suit yourself."

After a moment's silence, Ryan spoke calmly.

Once Luffy made up his mind, nothing would change it.

Rather than waste time arguing with him, Ryan would stop whoever needed stopping when the fighting began.

Kuma was one of the Seven Warlords. When the time came, he would teach Luffy a lesson: sometimes, even the strongest will meant nothing. Weakness itself was a sin.

Ryan turned toward a spot that looked empty to anyone else. "Alva, retrieve the device. Return to Nazarick and tell all the Guardians to be ready to provide support."

About seven seconds later, Alva's voice came from the concealed Explorer One. "As you command."

"Huh? Is someone there? Are they invisible?"

Luffy's eyes widened. He ran toward the voice and felt around with his hands.

Ryan snapped his fingers, dispelling the magic on Explorer One. "It's not a person. It's a machine disguised as a human. But that's not important right now."

With a wave of his hand, Ryan put Explorer One away. He ignored Luffy's startled cries at its sudden disappearance and turned to Rayleigh, who was hiding among the slaves. "I have to say, I'm surprised. Slave traders these days must be something else if they can capture and sell the King of the Pirates' first mate, the famous Rayleigh. That's quite a slap in the Navy's face."

"Rayleigh...?"

"That scruffy old man!?"

"Now there's someone famous..."

"What? The King of the Pirates' first mate? Where?"

As soon as Ryan revealed Rayleigh's identity, all three pirate crews turned to look at him. Disbelief and astonished cries rippled through the room.

His identity exposed, Rayleigh dropped the act. He let a hint of his strength show and strode out with an imposing air. "Ha! I was short on gambling money, so I thought I'd