"It looks like you've thought it through."
When she opened the door to Rayleigh's room, Makima noticed the look on his face. It was the expression of someone who had made up his mind.
The news of the Ait Wall sea battle had reached him. He should know well that if he didn't decide soon, Aatrox's killing would go on without end.
"You succeeded."
Rayleigh leaned back in his chair and said in a deep voice, "But I won't serve you forever."
"Of course, didn't I say? I just need you to deal with the devils, not to make you my subordinate for life." Makima kept her arms crossed behind her back, as if she had expected this answer.
"Five orders..."
She suddenly said, "I'll only ask you to carry out five orders. After that, you're free."
Five...
Rayleigh thought it over and finally nodded. "Fine! I accept your terms. But how will you deal with Aatrox?"
He remembered Makima saying she had a way to handle Aatrox. The only reason she hadn't acted was to let Aatrox wipe out the pirates in the New World.
Now that he had agreed to her request, she should be ready to step in.
"Of course, when Roger faces Aatrox again, I'll make my move." Makima said calmly.
"..." Rayleigh looked at Makima, feeling some doubt inside, but in the end, he chose to trust her words.
"Very well... the deal is sealed." Seeing Rayleigh say nothing more, Makima gave a light smile.
"Rest easy. In the whole World Government, only I know you're working for me."
"It's not about how many people know. Doing this is already like betraying them." Rayleigh took a deep breath. "I've joined The Black Order now. So can I leave?"
"Of course."
Makima said, still standing there with her arms crossed behind her back.
Rayleigh stood up with some suspicion, eyeing her, but Makima didn't try to stop him at all.
Was she really that sure he would keep today's agreement?
Rayleigh didn't get it, but getting out was the best thing possible.
He walked past Makima's back toward the door. Once he left this special cage of a room, nothing could hold him back.
"Please remember, Dark King Rayleigh." Makima said softly. "No one can break a 'contract'."
"Of course I won't break it." Rayleigh said coldly, then stepped through the door. The moment he left the building, he gave it everything he had. Among the books Makima had sent earlier was a map of the island's layout, so he knew right where the exit was.
He left Pandora Island at top speed. He hadn't eaten a Devil Fruit, so swimming out posed no issue.
Along the way, some people who had no idea what was going on tried to stop him, but how could they hold back Rayleigh with his Conqueror's Haki?
!
After stunning the guards, as Rayleigh passed a room, his pupils suddenly shrank.
He couldn't make out exactly what was inside, but even from a quick glance, he saw countless children in there. They all looked blank and lifeless, like they were going through some kind of training.
But right now, he had no time to check it out. Makima had said he could leave, but without any official proof, if he waited too long, experts would track him down.
So he pressed on toward the exit!
Only after Rayleigh was gone did Makima move. She sat in his old spot, waiting quietly.
Vegapunk...
He would be here soon.
In this era, Vegapunk hadn't made his six clones yet to handle work for him, since he was still fairly young and had plenty of energy.
As for how she knew...
Because one of them was right by Vegapunk's side!
Ah Xing!
In the bubble elevator heading down from Mary Geoise, Ah Xing was escorting Vegapunk.
Vegapunk was part of the Marines' science team. Though he worked for the World Government, strictly speaking, he was way down on the chain.
The old saying goes, my servant's servant isn't my servant. So the World Government didn't have much say over Vegapunk, and they often skimped on funding his experiments.
Vegapunk was known for being five hundred years ahead of the world. A mind like that was too risky. The World Government wanted to use him for strong weapons but feared he'd spin out of control, so they held back. They blocked many projects and facilities, giving money only for weapon work.
The Marines ignored all this too, being a army group. They wanted military gear, of course. Civilian stuff and other tech? Not their problem.
Now, they had finally let Vegapunk start researching devils.
"Everything about devils is a curse. Get careless, and they might sway you. Be careful."
Ah Xing said to the man in front of him, who wore a white coat and was nearing middle age.
That was Vegapunk. To keep him safe, the Marines sent out an Admiral like Ah Xing!
That's right. In the last half year plus, Ah Xing had become a Marine Admiral. The World Government was running a big recruitment drive to pick a third Admiral.
Ah Xing ate the Great Buddha Fruit that used to be Sengoku's, and he kept training in Haki and the Tathagata Divine Palm. Saying he was at Admiral level wasn't a stretch.
His quick rise pleased Marine Fleet Admiral Kong, who said Sengoku had secured the Marines' future.
"I'm not easy to sway. Plus, that woman Makima handles devils, right? So no issue."
Excitement sparked in Vegapunk's eyes. Devil research was brand new, and he couldn't wait.
Especially hearing there was more than just devil flesh and cells. That thrilled him.
How did the Pandora Box work? What changes did devil cells make in a body? What became of the devil host Barrett?
These questions pushed him to rush to Pandora Island. Mary Geoise was close by. After the elevator and a short boat trip, they were there.
Ah Xing and Vegapunk talked a bit. Ah Xing didn't know science, but his modern view let him click with Vegapunk.
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