Water 7, Central Street Bar.
All members of CP9 were gathered, but no one spoke. Their eyes were fixed on Lucci's face.
None of them understood why their captain had suddenly withdrawn, abandoning their current mission.
"Our most important mission is the blueprint for Pluton."
Lucci had a clear judgment on which was more crucial: the blueprint for Pluton or the Bloodline Factor technology.
Although the opposing side had demonstrated Bloodline Factor technology comparable to Vegapunk's, Vegapunk was still under the World Government's control.
In other words, the World Government had Vegapunk as a fallback. Apart from capturing the target alive, they could also execute them.
But the blueprint for Pluton was different.
Each of the three Ancient Weapons could easily destroy an island and overturn the world.
Currently, there was no trace of Poseidon, Uranus was controlled by the Celestial Dragons, and only the blueprint for Pluton had fallen into the hands of Tom, the world's greatest shipwright.
Tom had already been executed by the World Government, leaving only his disciples with knowledge of the blueprint's whereabouts.
Rather than going all out to seize the Bloodline Factor technology, it was better to withdraw and leave it to the Marines. After all, the technology would ultimately end up in the World Government's hands.
Meanwhile, CP9 would continue their original plan, lurking around Iceburg to probe for information on the blueprint.
This was Lucci's decision.
After hearing Lucci's explanation, Kaku and the others no longer had doubts.
"Then it's settled. From now on..."
Just as Lucci was speaking, the bar's door exploded violently, sending fragments flying and covering everyone inside.
"Iron Body!"
Including Lucci, everyone instantly reacted with their best defense.
The fragments shot out but were deflected.
The newly renovated bar instantly turned into a disaster zone.
Outside the shattered door stood a tall, dark figure, almost blocking the entire entrance.
The difference in lighting inside and outside prevented Lucci and the others from immediately seeing the attacker's appearance.
Soon, their eyes adjusted, and when they saw the attacker's form, their expressions changed.
The attacker was a monster.
Lucci's heart sank. There was a traitor.
Otherwise, how would the enemy know this bar was their hideout?
But the next second, he dismissed the thought.
The clone gave Lucci and the others only a brief moment to react before crashing through the already ruined door and charging into the bar.
"Capture it alive!"
Lucci vanished from his spot, and the next moment, the monster was sent flying back at an even faster speed.
Boom!
The shop across the street collapsed.
A second later!
The clone burst out of the rubble.
By then, Lucci and the others had already moved into the street, securing a more open battlefield than the bar.
"Mon... monster!"
A scream made Lucci frown slightly.
They had been seen.
Lucci turned and saw a few thugs scrambling away in terror. His mind raced, trying to figure out how to turn the situation to their advantage.
Exposing their strength would be a fatal threat to their undercover mission.
"Kaku stays. The rest of you, kill them, then retreat." After a brief consideration, Lucci quickly made a decision.
The witnesses had to die.
Moreover, this monster had to be subdued quickly... Lucci hesitated slightly.
This wasn't the best plan.
"Captain!"
Kaku blocked the monster's claw with his leg and called out urgently when he noticed Lucci lost in thought.
Just then, screams echoed from the distance. Kalifa and the others had already killed the witnesses.
"Keep it occupied!"
Lucci made his final call.
A mere monster created through Bloodline Factor technology wasn't particularly valuable, but it could provide an opportunity for him to infiltrate Iceburg's circle.
"Understood!"
Kaku quickly grasped Lucci's plan and perked up.
The monster's strength wasn't overwhelming. The two of them deliberately held back, making the fight evenly matched.
But the entire street suffered.
This was also part of Lucci's plan.
To protect the bar as their meeting point, the street had to be destroyed.
The two of them and the monster fought fiercely.
Central Street looked as if it had been ravaged by a Category 12 hurricane, with shops reduced to ruins.
The clone was sent flying by Lucci, demolishing another shop.
The next moment.
The clone charged out again.
Lucci smirked and threw a punch.
"Captain, watch out..."
Kaku's terrified warning made Lucci's expression change abruptly.
The clone suddenly leaped into the air, revealing a lean figure in Lucci's line of sight.
Also throwing a punch!
Thud!
Lucci was sent flying instantly, spitting blood mid-air and nearly losing consciousness.
"Captain!"
Kaku was horrified and immediately launched a flying slash to intercept the attacker.
But the attacker didn't even glance at it, casually deflecting the slash without slowing down as he pursued Lucci.
Boom!
Lucci crashed through a shop and was embedded in the wall.
The next moment!
A barrage of punches followed.
Lucci's eyes rolled back, his consciousness teetering on the edge of darkness.
"Damn it!"
Kaku rushed to the shop's entrance just in time to see the man pulling a syringe from Lucci's body.
The captain... lost?
Kaku was torn, his face filled with disbelief.
The mighty captain, known as CP9's most ruthless killing machine in history, had been defeated in an instant.
If even the captain couldn't win, Kaku didn't believe he could stop the attacker.
The lean man stood up and turned to look at Kaku.
Kaku tensed up immediately.
But the next second, the man suddenly vanished into thin air.
"What?!"
Cold sweat broke out on Kaku's forehead.
He realized the man was an unknown Devil Fruit user.
"Cough..."
Lucci's coughing snapped Kaku out of his shock.
"Captain!"
Kaku turned to see Lucci struggling to his feet, looking battered. He was both shocked and relieved.
"We were protecting Water 7, defeating that monster."
Lucci wiped the blood from his lips and leaned against the wall as he staggered outside.
Kaku understood instantly.
"Are you alright?"
The commotion on Central Street had drawn attention. Iceburg arrived with his men just as Kaku helped Lucci out.
"Sorry, I couldn't stop the monster."
Lucci glanced at Iceburg and forced himself to stand straight, apologizing. "But I won't leave a threat to Water 7. I hope you don't mind."
"Monster?"
Iceburg immediately recalled the monster that had appeared in Water 7 not long ago and reassessed Lucci and Kaku.
He was impressed by the strength of these two tourists and began considering an idea.
While uniting shipwrights could give them some leverage through shipbuilding technology, Water 7 still lacked one critical element.
High-tier combat power!
Thinking this, Iceburg warmly invited them, "Thank you for your contribution to Water 7. Come with me. Before we discuss how to deal with that monster, you need to recover from your injuries."
...
High in the sky.
Reddy sat cross-legged on a flying carpet, crafting a new clone while shaking his head and muttering, "CP9... consider yourselves lucky."
Obtaining Lucci's genetic sample was part of his plan.
CP9 couldn't be eliminated yet. The people he had lured to the uninhabited island were the real targets.
As the island grew closer, Reddy stood up and murmured, "Time for my grand entrance."
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