Luffy realized he could speak again and excitedly asked Hera, "I heard them; they said you're to escort Ace. Can't you just let Ace go?"
Hera shook her head. "I can bring you into Impel Down and give you a few days, but I won't take the initiative to release Ace."
Luffy laughed. "That's enough. I'll definitely be able to save Ace."
Rayleigh had no intention of going along. He understood Sengoku's subtext. Furthermore, as one of the Four Emperors dominating Paradise, Whitebeard's death without an heir to his power would only throw the seas into greater chaos.
He planned to help Whitebeard and the others with the coating and then head to Marineford on Whitebeard's ship.
Hera took her companions, Empress Hancock, and Luffy onto the argo, sailing toward Impel Down.
After Hancock gave Nojiko a token, Kuma teleported Nojiko to Amazon Lily first; this operation was not suitable for her to join.
Shortly after Hera left, the Whitebeard Pirates quietly arrived at the Sabaody Archipelago, where Whitebeard found Rayleigh.
Rayleigh looked at Whitebeard, who was covered in IV drips, and said with some emotion, "Long time no see, Edward Newgate. Even the last of the legendary pirates has grown old."
Whitebeard picked up his weapon, Murakumogiri—one of the Twelve Supreme Grade Swords—and said, "Gurararara, you've grown old too, Rayleigh." He swung it horizontally at Rayleigh.
Rayleigh also drew his sword and blocked Whitebeard's strike.
"Alright, alright, I know you're not old yet. Save your strength; Marineford should be prepared by now."
Hearing serious business, Whitebeard's expression became solemn.
Rayleigh asked, "Are there others? There's more than one monster at Marineford. Do you have a plan?"
"Gurararara, what plan do I need to save my family? I'll break their formation and let Marco go save Ace."
Rayleigh sighed; he knew Whitebeard definitely wouldn't have a plan.
Whitebeard looked at Rayleigh with some nostalgia. "I didn't expect that in the end, it would be the two of us joining forces to save Roger's child."
Rayleigh asked, "What about that brat Shanks? Is he not coming?"
Whitebeard said, "Shanks' territory is too far from here, and he has to keep an eye on Kaido. However, he will definitely arrive before the retreat."
Rayleigh looked at Whitebeard and said, "You should know the price of saving Ace."
Whitebeard said dismissively, "I'm not a naive child. Of course, I never thought I could save Ace without paying a price."
Rayleigh said, "Have you made your decision? Even if the price is yourself, will you still go save Ace?"
Whitebeard laughed at those words. "Gurararara, who do you think I am? I am Whitebeard, the strongest man in the world! What would it look like if I let my crew be bullied?"
"I heard Golden Lion Shiki once caused an uproar at Marineford. In terms of destructive power, my Tremor-Tremor Fruit won't lose to his Float-Float Fruit."
Seeing Whitebeard's resolve, Rayleigh said, "Let's agree beforehand: I'll leave after saving Ace. I won't help you beyond that."
Whitebeard smiled and said, "That's enough. It's time to let the Marines feel the wrath of Whitebeard. Boys, are you afraid?"
The division commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates said, "With Father leading us, no one can stop the Whitebeard Pirates."
Marco added, "Don't worry, Father. How could anyone be afraid of saving their own brother?"
Rayleigh looked at the united Whitebeard Pirates and said no more, focusing on coating their ships to prepare for the surprise attack.
In the World Government, several of the Shichibukai were summoned. Doflamingo, Hawkeye, Blackbeard, and Kuma sat in the banquet hall, gathered by the Marines.
Blackbeard ate the meat on the table while observing the others around him.
Doflamingo's focus was on Hawkeye. He thought a man like Hawkeye would ignore the World Government's summons and hadn't expected him to actually come.
Hawkeye became somewhat annoyed by Doflamingo's gaze. His sharp eyes looked toward Doflamingo, and the atmosphere suddenly grew heavy.
Doflamingo said, "Hey, hey, don't look at me like that. I'm just curious how a man like you would respond to the World Government's call."
Hawkeye said coldly, "I'm only curious about the strength of the world's strongest man. That's why I came."
The argo advanced at full speed. With the help of the ship spirit Theseus, they reached the outskirts of Impel Down in less than a day. Hera said to Luffy:
"Alright, get into my shadow. I'll send you in, and then I'll wait a while before escorting Ace. You don't have much time."
Luffy nodded. "As long as you can get me in, I'll work hard for the rest."
The gates of Impel Down slowly opened. Hera walked in with a curious Hancock, while the others waited on the ship.
The Vice Warden of the Great Prison, Hannybal, stood at the prison entrance holding a trident, welcoming Hera and Hancock.
Hannybal said, "Lord Hera, welcome to... my Impel Down."
He then shook hands with Hera. "Oh, I misspoke. Saying 'my prison' exposed my ambition a bit. I am Hannybal, currently serving as the Vice Warden."
Hera said, "Is Vice Admiral Garp still in the prison? Lead me to him."
Hannybal looked at Empress Hancock next to her and said, "And this is my... Empress Hancock. My apologies, I've exposed my ambition again."
"That bastard Warden... I mean, Warden Magellan is in the Warden's office on the fourth floor. I and Vice Head Jailer Domino will be responsible for leading the way to the fourth floor. Time is short, this way please."
"My apologies, before that, the Vice Head Jailer will take you for a security check."
Then, Hannybal led Hera and Hancock into the prison, introducing the facilities.
He pointed to the railing nearby and said, "If they were prisoners, they would be taken to the other side, stripped naked, and sterilized with 100-degree hot water. Only after receiving this baptism can a prisoner enter the prison."
"Of course, the quality of prisoners varies. Recently, Fire Fist Ace, former Shichibukai Sir Crocodile, and current Shichibukai Jinbe didn't even blink when receiving the baptism. It was truly magnificent."
Next, Vice Head Jailer Domino led Hera and Hancock into a private inspection room. "Please rest assured, I am the only one in the inspection room."
Hera looked at the surveillance transponder snail on the door and said, "Do I also need to be checked if I'm bringing someone in?"
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