"You must be the famous Navy Headquarters Captain—'Smoker.'"
Spandam, his face restrained by a leather brace, forced a smile and extended his hand.
Smoker merely cast him an icy glance, brushed past without acknowledging the gesture, and walked straight toward Kuzan, who lounged on the sofa.
Spandam's face instantly flushed red, then purple.
These bastards! Every single one of them—none of them take me seriously!
I went to all the trouble of coming with them from Enies Lobby to Water 7, and yet they treat me as if I don't exist!
If he dared, he would have drawn his "Elephant Sword" and slashed Smoker across the back.
But he didn't dare. He knew he wasn't Smoker's match. The Marine colonel would never give face to a "CP9" commander like him.
"Admiral Aokiji."
Smoker's tone was cold, yet carried a faint undercurrent of familiarity—Kuzan had once been his superior.
"Oh, you're here already?" Kuzan tugged the eye mask from his face, sat up on the sofa, and rubbed his drowsy eyes. "How are Tashigi and Hina?"
"Unconscious," Smoker answered tersely.
"…I see." Kuzan hunched forward, elbows resting on his knees, his large hands dangling loosely. "They've done well. This operation will count their contribution."
"I don't have many men left who can participate."
"No. This isn't meant to be another 'Reverse Mountain Sea Battle' or a 'Buster Call.'"
Kuzan rose to his full height, towering like a straight, immovable spire, his hands buried in his pockets.
He gestured toward the assembled CP9 agents. "This time, it's a precision strike. A beheading operation."
All of CP9 were clad in black suits.
Lucci, Kaku, Blueno, and Kalifa needed no introduction—but alongside them stood five unfamiliar faces:
Jabra, with long twin mustaches, dressed like a traditional martial artist.
Kumadori, towering and broad, his long, fluffy cherry-colored hair like a lion's mane.
Fukurou, round and rotund, with a long zipper stretched across his mouth.
Nero, eyes perpetually narrowed, wearing two massive golden earrings.
And apart from them, one other figure sat on the ground—hands bound behind her back with unmistakable seastone shackles.
Her long black hair hung in disarray, but her indifferent eyes gave her identity away.
Smoker only needed a glance to confirm: Nico Robin, the "Demon Child." Captured already, and so easily.
Kuzan regarded her from a distance. When his eyes met Robin's, neither spoke of Ohara.
They both understood: such an event would not repeat. This time, Kuzan would not allow her to live.
Robin herself had already accepted her fate. The moment she surrendered to Lucci in exchange for the Straw Hat crew's lives, her ending was sealed.
Back on the Going Merry, Luffy had still been unconscious. Zoro's left arm withered and crippled, unrecovered. Against Lucci and the others, they were hopelessly outmatched.
If nothing was done, more of them would be wounded—or killed.
Robin made the optimal choice. With cold decisiveness, she gave her final farewell to the crew.
"Ha!"
Spandam sneered and lashed a kick into Robin's side.
She slumped like a discarded doll, making no move to resist.
"Heh… Your homeland was destroyed by my father, and now the sole surviving 'Devil's Child' falls into my hands. Such perfect destiny!"
He reveled in his triumph, already imagining the promotions this would bring.
It was an unspoken understanding with Lucci: Spandam would take the credit, while Lucci and the others acted without interference.
Robin clenched her teeth. Though years had passed, his words still stirred painful memories.
"With Nico Robin in custody, the first task is complete." Kuzan spoke without looking at her again. "Now, what remains are the blueprints of 'Pluton'—and the Davy Jones pirates."
Spandam nodded, then glanced awkwardly at Lucci. "What progress on your side?"
Lucci leaned against the wall, high hat casting a shadow over his sharp eyes. His pigeon fluttered restlessly on his shoulder as he raised his head—not to answer Spandam, but as if reporting to Aokiji himself.
"We've confirmed the blueprints once belonged to Tom, the famed shipwright. One of his greatest works was the Pirate King Roger's ship. After Tom's death, the blueprints most likely passed to his two apprentices."
He, Kaku, and Kalifa had infiltrated under one apprentice; Blueno posed here as a tavern owner to support them.
"I see…" Kuzan arched a brow. "Since you already have leads, I won't interfere. We'll focus our strength on Davy Jones' crew."
In truth, Kuzan had no authority to command CP9. But both Spandam and the agents were willing to give face to a Marine admiral.
Thus this joint operation was born.
"Tonight brings the 'Aqua Laguna.'" Kalifa adjusted her glasses. "Shall we postpone until tomorrow?"
"No. Tonight." Kuzan dismissed the threat with a shake of his head. "A swift, decisive strike. They've already clashed with Hina and Tashigi—chances are, they're planning to flee Water 7."
Kalifa voiced no objection, simply falling silent.
Spandam seethed as he watched them obey Kuzan so readily.
Why do they behave so obediently under him, when they always pick apart my every plan? Why does everything go smoothly only when he speaks?
Damn it… I have to do something!
"I'll go with you!"
The words burst out before he could stop himself. Regret hit immediately.
But the disdainful looks from the others left him no escape. His pride demanded he double down.
"I'll be there to command personally!"
Command? You?
In reality, it was the best excuse he could find. With "commanding" as his role, he could stay in the rear, safe while still claiming credit.
And with an admiral present—what danger could there be?
Yes. Why give up glory that requires only standing nearby?
A grin crept across his face.
Kuzan glanced at him once and instantly saw through him. But he chose not to expose him, merely nodding in silent assent.
The waves battered the harbor. The Going Merry pitched and rolled, as though already at sea despite being docked.
Chopper had treated everyone as best he could, binding wounds and patching injuries, before collapsing in exhaustion.
Luffy had awoken not long before. At once, he learned two crushing truths.
First—Robin had been taken away by strangers, and had rejected Zoro and Sanji's attempt to help, with icy finality.
Second—the Aqua Laguna was about to strike. With the Merry so heavily damaged, it was nearly impossible to reach a nearby shipyard in time.
They faced a cruel truth: the Merry would have to be abandoned.
"No!" Usopp, hammer and planks in hand, declared with iron resolve. "We can't abandon her! I'll repair her before the tsunami hits! Trust me!"
The others looked on in sorrow.
Since arriving in Water 7, misfortune had stalked them—each blow heavier than the last, like the raging storm outside.
But reason prevailed.
Luffy, as captain, rose to his feet, his expression grim with determination. "We have to leave the Merry. Then—we go after Robin."
Even Luffy, usually so carefree and bright, was deadly serious. That alone showed how dire things were.
"I won't! I'll never leave this ship!" Usopp's eyes burned red as he defied him.
Sanji, head bandaged, stepped forward. Without a word, he seized Usopp and dragged him toward the exit.
"Let me go, Sanji! What are you doing? Let go of me!"
Sanji didn't answer. He simply pulled him outside.
The others sighed in relief and began gathering their things—only the bare essentials—before assembling on deck.
Rain fell now, pattering heavily on the timbers under the blackened sky.
Sanji released his hold on Usopp.
Usopp did not flee.
Both stood frozen, staring into the distance.
"What's wrong with you two?" Nami asked, puzzled, following their gaze.
And then she saw it.
At the storm-wracked harbor, the Terror Ghost, ship of the Davy Jones pirates, loomed.
It raised its prow slightly, then brought it down—crushing a nearby vessel to splinters.
In the rain and darkness, it looked like a monstrous sea beast, feasting upon the ships that had not escaped in time.
And now, it was turning toward the Going Merry.
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