"These people belong to CP0!"
Spandain and Iga flashed into the ruins using Soru.
Iha, trailing behind, hesitated. The flicker of defiance in his heart wavered.
Then Luoyu turned.
His gaze landed on Iha.
And Iha's face went pale.
But the arrow was already nocked. He had no choice but to follow.
"Admiral Luoyu, that's CP0!" Ain whispered, arriving with the Den Den Mushi in hand.
As Zephyr's disciple, she knew exactly what CP0 meant.
If CP9 were the strongest intelligence unit under the Marines…
Then CP0 was above even that—directly under the Five Elders, elite among elites.
Even Marine top brass tread carefully around them.
Kalifa and the others turned ghostly white.
They'd expected CP0 to arrive eventually.
But not that they'd been here all along.
They'd thought that even if captured by the Navy, they'd be taken to Marineford—given time to maneuver.
But in CP0's hands?
There would be no maneuvering.
Only death.
As for escape?
They'd considered it.
But one look at the scorched earth—and the mangled remains of Pica—
There was no escape.
They turned to Luoyu, eyes full of desperate hope.
"You want to take them?" Luoyu adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, voice calm.
"Heh. Admiral Luoyu, you heard right," Spandain said with a smile.
"CP9 betrayed Enies Lobby, bringing the greatest shame the World Government has known in 800 years."
"We must bring them to the Five Elders."
"But don't worry. You've done us a great service."
"As thanks, I offer you something far more valuable than any bounty."
He reached into his cloak and pulled out a metal case.
All eyes locked onto it.
When he opened it, gasps rippled through the crowd.
Inside lay a Devil Fruit—its surface etched with mysterious patterns.
One of the sea's greatest treasures.
There's an old saying:
"The only thing separating the weak from the strong… is a Devil Fruit."
Three of the Four Emperors were Devil Fruit users.
Even the most basic Zoan-type could fetch hundreds of millions at auction.
"Admiral Luoyu, I've seen this one in Zephyr-sensei's Devil Fruit index!" Ain exclaimed, flipping through her notebook.
"It's the Ancient Zoan—Cat-Cat Fruit, Saber-Toothed Tiger model. Worth at least a billion Berries on the black market!"
Spandain chuckled.
Good goods fear ignorant buyers.
But Luoyu clearly wasn't one.
He'd originally saved this fruit for his son, hoping it would help Spandam rise again.
But Enies Lobby's fall had ruined everything.
Now, to save the Spandain family, he had to let it go.
"Heh. As expected of Zephyr's student," Spandain said, forcing a smile.
He signaled to Iga and Iha.
"This fruit is worth ten billion Berries at auction. Far more than a few measly bounties."
"Admiral Luoyu, don't be shy. We'll have many chances to work together. I'll take them now."
He closed the case and held it out, trying not to wince.
He'd already decided—once this was over, Spandam was getting a very painful lesson.
Iga stepped forward, pulling out CP0's encrypted Den Den Mushi to request backup.
"Sorry," Luoyu said, sipping his liquor. "Did I say you could take them?"
Everyone froze.
Was the Devil Fruit… not tempting enough?
"Admiral Luoyu… you're joking, right?" Spandain's smile faltered.
His outstretched hands hovered awkwardly.
Should he keep holding it out?
Or pull it back?
Luoyu didn't move.
Didn't blink.
Spandain's face twisted.
"You refuse a gift and insult CP0?" he snapped.
"Others may fear your Admiral title—but we serve the Five Elders directly!"
"You caught CP9, sure. But don't forget—you were assisting us."
"This fruit is worth ten billion Berries. I'm giving you face."
"Keep pushing, and we'll take them by force!"
At the back, Iha flinched.
The unease he'd been suppressing surged like a tidal wave.
Spandain had lost his mind.
"Did you just say… take them by force?" Luoyu raised an eyebrow, smiling faintly.
"Sounds like you're fake CP0 to me."