The atmosphere aboard the Ark Maxim was rather strange.
Rayleigh was barely clinging to life, his body covered in injuries. His battle with River had shattered nearly every bone in his body and left him with devastating internal injuries.
Even managing to speak took all the strength he could muster. Now, he silently watched the others aboard the ship.
With his keen senses, he could naturally tell that both the man shrouded in a black robe with a pigeon on his shoulder and the man with long earlobes possessed extraordinary strength.
These people had suddenly appeared and snatched him away from a Marine Admiral.
Their purpose remained unclear, but someone had clearly ordered them to do this.
And why had this young swordsman from the Straw Hat Pirates been brought here as well?
Doubt stirred in Rayleigh's heart.
Who could have assembled such a powerful group?
"Dragon?"
In terms of strength and influence, the Revolutionary Army did have plenty of formidable fighters. They could conceivably have done something like this.
Just then, Rob Lucci dialed a Den Den Mushi.
"Buru buru buru!"
After a while, the call connected.
"The mission is complete."
Rob Lucci spoke into the Den Den Mushi in a low voice.
"Wait at the designated location. I'll be there shortly."
The deep voice made both Rayleigh and Zoro widen their eyes.
"That voice is...?!"
Zoro cried out in stunned disbelief.
Rayleigh's pupils contracted as well, but a smile soon appeared on his face.
"You really can never figure that fellow out!"
There was no mistaking it. The voice coming from the Den Den Mushi belonged to River, whom they both knew.
Under Enel's control, the Ark Maxim headed toward the designated location.
Collecting Dark King Rayleigh's body had been River's decision.
Meanwhile, at the Sabaody Archipelago.
"Sir,