"S-rank top-secret file."
"Codename: Daytime Tiger, former Marine Admiral!"
"River?!!"
The entire CP9 team was stunned, staring blankly at the figure who had appeared at the bow.
Of course they knew this man. Not long ago, they had gone to assassinate him in a nighttime raid on their superiors' orders.
But that night had become a nightmare that haunted them ever since. His overwhelming strength had left them awestruck and shaken.
They had never expected that, when they ran into danger today, he would be the one to save them.
"Need some help?"
"You don't seem to be doing very well."
River surveyed everyone aboard the small boat, then glanced at Rob Lucci, who lay unconscious with his white bandages soaked in blood, and asked softly.
"Or would you prefer that I take this opportunity to avenge what happened last time?"
At those words, Kaku and the others' expressions changed drastically.
"Admiral Daytime Tiger, the World Government has already expelled us! They call us traitors now!"
Jabra hurriedly explained, his face grim and tense.
"Oh? Is that so?"
"As I said last time, I admire all of you, and I'd like to recruit you to serve under me."
"If you're interested, I can help you right now."
River smiled, his gaze fixed on the group before him.
Kaku and the others grew tense. They exchanged glances, each understanding what the others were thinking.
Admiral Daytime Tiger had suddenly appeared, speaking of recruiting them and admiring them. Yet they had been enemies, after all. If they refused, what awaited them would likely be even more dangerous than what they had just faced.
At that moment, they had very little choice.
Besides, their situation had already been perilous in the extreme.
"Then we're sorry for the trouble, Admiral Daytime Tiger!"
After a