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After entering Hoenn Fortress, CP9 had no way out; their only choices were to join or die.
Daichi's eyes were slightly cold. "You can also pretend to agree and then find an opportunity to slip away later," he said.
"No need!" Lucci didn't hesitate. There was only one thing he wanted: legalized killing.
Now, with nowhere to go, his initial thought was to find a way to clear their names and return to the World Government. But Spandam and his father, who had framed them, were both high-ranking government officials, making it difficult to defeat them politically. Now, a new option was available. If the man in front of him could truly satisfy his needs, then he might as well serve him. If he couldn't, it wouldn't be too late to leave.
"We can serve you!" Lucci said.
"Good," Daichi nodded and took out a list. "This assassination list contains political figures from various affiliated countries in the North Blue. I need you to eliminate them within three months! Ships, weapons, money—you can request anything you need, and I will arrange logistical personnel to assist you. CP9, let me see what you're capable of first!"
"No problem!" Lucci took the list, turned, and left, with his companions quickly following.
Outside the office door, logistical personnel had been waiting for a long time and immediately guided the group to their exclusive rooms. Only after all outsiders had left did the tightly strung nerves of the CP9 members relax. When facing Daichi earlier, they were very certain that he could easily kill all of them. That kind of aura couldn't be faked.
"Lucci," everyone said, looking at him, or more accurately, wanting to see the assassination list. If the assassination targets were innocent, they would find it hard to accept. Even when they assassinated Iceberg, the boss of Water 7, it was because he was involved with the Pluton blueprints. As assassins, they represented the dark side of the World Government, advocating for necessary evil, but not unrestrained evil.
"See for yourselves," Lucci said, putting down the list. He walked alone to the window, his calm eyes changing and revealing an uncontrollable desire for slaughter. His inner wildness was being awakened! During the five years he was undercover in Water 7, he had been suppressing his desires, and his body had become incredibly stiff. The boring life was finally over.
"So many people!" Kaku and the others looked at the assassination list, feeling a bit unnerved. The list contained at least a hundred names, all important figures from North Blue's affiliated countries. Furthermore, behind each name were relevant details and their committed crimes. All were people who deserved to die. This made them feel much more at ease.
"Let's go!" Kaku said.
"Oh!" his companions responded. Without a moment's delay, after understanding the detailed situation of the targets, Lucci immediately led his subordinates to embark on the mission. Besides the mission, they also needed to investigate the detailed situation of the Hoenn Government, especially the Hoenn-affiliated countries, to confirm whether it was worth their service.
Daichi stood by the window, watching the CP9 members leave. Faith is an extremely terrifying thing. Even in the assassin profession, faith is required. To make CP9 fight for him, he first needed them to recognize the "justice" of the Hoenn Government.
Otherwise, they would eventually just become a motley crew. In the World Government and the Marine, there were many who were dissatisfied with the evil rule of the Celestial Dragons and had lost their faith, just going through the motions.
"Time to meet an old friend," Daichi picked up a newspaper. "Aokiji Resigns, Leaves the Marine!" The World Government was conducting a large-scale conscription, and he also needed to supplement his forces, especially true powerhouses. Brother Aokiji must be very confused!
Speed came to the office. "Daichi, news from Onigashima: Drake, the Fallen Rear Admiral you're interested in, has joined the Beasts, along with Hawkins the Magician."
"Got it," Daichi said, raising an eyebrow slightly. Drake joining the Beasts wasn't surprising; it had been agreed upon in Sabaody Archipelago. As for Hawkins joining at this time... had he recognized reality? There's also a hierarchy among the Supernovas. Straw Hat, Kid, and Law—their ambition and ability were far superior to the others. The others were ultimately lacking.
Hawkins was quite fatalistic; he probably calculated that he had no hope of challenging the Beasts, so he might as well surrender early. After all, the Beasts could be seen everywhere, and prolonged exposure could affect one's mindset, subtly instilling fear. Then it would be even harder to face the Beasts.
"Aokiji, Drake..." Daichi pondered for a while, his eyes lighting up. After the Summit War, the World Government would not easily go to war with him, and he, with his limited resources, also did not want war. The next period would likely be a Cold War: politics, economy, military buildup.
The Hoenn Government's governing philosophy must be established so that it can lead the World Government ideologically and thus compete for people and resources! Before that, there was one more thing. If the World Government could conduct a large-scale conscription, his Hoenn Government could do the same.
The only problem was the lack of positive influence, making it difficult to attract strong individuals with a sense of justice. If he could introduce some positive figures as a golden signboard, such as Aokiji, and middle-level cadres like Drake, he might be able to poach people from the World Government.
Flames burned in Daichi's eyes. "Speed, have Drake come to see me, and also, immediately investigate Aokiji's whereabouts!"
"Understood!"
Meanwhile, in the Sabaody Archipelago, at a certain bar, two old men were drinking a farewell toast.
Instructor Zephyr sighed. "Kuzan, I never thought you would leave the Marine one day. I heard Sakazuki was furious about it."
"Teacher Zephyr, I left precisely because I didn't want to work under Sakazuki, and I'm also a bit tired and want to rest," Kuzan said, chugging some sherry. His departure would undoubtedly have a significant impact at the Marine's weakest moment, but he had considered this matter for a long time.
Even if Sakazuki hadn't become the Fleet Admiral, he would have made the same choice. After all, the higher one's position, the closer one is to the Holy Land. He was truly tired.
"Enough about me, Teacher Zephyr, are you still hunting pirates?"
"Yes!" Zephyr stroked his mechanical arm. Three years ago, scientists fitted him with a special mechanical arm, and since then, he had formed the "Pirate Guerrilla Unit" to hunt pirates. This was the last value in his life. His ultimate goal was to capture the evil pirate who attacked the training ship and cut off his arm.
"That's great, doing what you want to do," Kuzan's eyes were full of envy. "I also want to live as freely as Teacher, and Master Garp."
"Haha, you're on your own now; you can do anything you want. Live according to your own heart," Zephyr smiled. Among his many students, Kuzan was his favorite. He understood Kuzan's confusion and sincerely hoped he could find his own path.
"According to my own heart, huh," Kuzan scratched his head vigorously. Having drifted aimlessly for twenty years, he had almost forgotten his former self, who was full of passion and upheld "Burning Justice." He had no idea what to do next. He would just go wherever the wind took him!
"Don't be so dejected; it's embarrassing!" Zephyr scolded with a laugh. "Where are you planning to go next?"
"I want to travel around the New World. There are the fewest Marines there, and I don't want to be entangled by the Marine anymore," Kuzan waved his hand and stood up to leave. "Goodbye, Teacher Zephyr!"