"You promised to follow me, but now you're making things very difficult for me!"
Yun Lie's fingertip playfully hooked Nico Robin's chin, forcing her to lift her gaze. Robin tensed all over, instinctively turning her head away.
"I… I had no choice," her voice was squeezed from deep in her throat, with a tremor she didn't even detect herself.
Having fled under the shadow of the World Government for so many years, she knew better than anyone that so-called "choices" were always the privilege of the strong.
A tearing sound ripped through the stagnant air, and a golden figure, enveloped in water, rushed forward.
Soaked Kalifa leaped into the air, her water-drenched uniform clinging to her graceful body, and her fair, long legs cut a cold arc through the air: "Rude fellow, release the target!"
Yun Lie didn't even lift an eyelid, casually raising his hand to grab.
With a crisp snap, Kalifa's ankle landed steadily in his palm.
The wet sensation was astonishingly slick. He rubbed it twice, then suddenly chuckled, "Oh? So moist?"
"Let go!" Kalifa's cheeks flushed, and sparkling bubbles instantly swelled on her beautiful leg.
The Paramecia, Bubble-Bubble Fruit's ability activated, and her skin surface shimmered with a glass-like luster.
Yun Lie raised an eyebrow and let go, watching her stumble back three steps before regaining her balance.
"Rankyaku!" Kalifa shouted, and countless light blades suddenly shot out from the swirling foam.
These attacks, which could easily cut steel, seemed to fall into a quagmire when they approached within half a meter of Yun Lie, dissipating completely into nothingness.
Before she could react in shock, Yun Lie had already appeared behind her like a ghost.
"Soru!" Kalifa's pupils contracted sharply, and she turned to kick Yun Lie behind her.
This time, Yun Lie didn't dodge, letting the opponent's high heel brush past his cheek, and reached out to grasp her ankle again.
As he lowered his head, purple lace trim was faintly visible.
"Your taste is quite good, beautiful!"
A low whisper, laced with amusement, brushed past her ear. Kalifa then realized she had been forced into an embarrassing split.
And the Armament Haki wrapped around his palm completely suppressed the lubricating effect of the Bubble-Bubble Fruit.
"Bang!" Yun Lie suddenly flung Kalifa against the wall. Amidst the flying stone chips, he unhurriedly adjusted his cuff: "Give me your superior's phone. I have something to discuss with him."
Kalifa coughed up blood and struggled to get up, glaring hatefully at the man in front of her.
She tremblingly pulled out a Den Den Mushi, turned her back, and whispered a few words, then tossed the Den Den Mushi over: "Here, our superior has something to say to you."
"Is that Shichibukai, Mr. Yun Lie?" A fawning voice came from the Den Den Mushi.
Yun Lie sneered, "Since you know it's me, and you still dare to seize my companion, may I consider this a provocation against me?"
Yun Lie sneered and said.
Spandam, the current CP Commander, is a contemptible, hypocritical, greedy, and selfish scoundrel who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals.
He himself is a weakling, with a Doriki value of only 9, weaker than even an ordinary Marine soldier.
"Misunderstanding! This is all a misunderstanding!" Spandam's voice instantly rose, "This was entirely that idiot Kalifa's own decision, it has nothing to do with me!"
Spandam's ability to hold the position of CP Commander never relied on force—after all, his meager 9 Doriki points were inferior to even a common Marine.
Aside from the protection of his father, Spandine, what he was best at was reading people and flattering others.
If any other Marine or pirate dared to come asking for trouble, he would have long since brought out the banner of the World Government and tormented them to death.
But facing a Shichibukai, he had no choice but to retract his fangs—how could a bureaucrat who rose through nepotism dare to easily provoke those who could make even the World Government wary?
"Really, Commander Spandam?" Yun Lie's voice carried an icy mockery, each word like a heavy hammer striking Spandam's heart.
In the Enies Lobby office, Spandam's hand holding the Den Den Mushi instantly broke out in a cold sweat.
How could the other party know his identity? As the head of a secret agency of the World Government, he rarely appeared in public, and few people knew his true identity besides high-ranking Marines and core members.
Kalifa had undergone rigorous training and would never easily leak information… Had Yun Lie's informants been planted around him already? This thought instantly sent a chill down his spine.
"Of course it's true! It's all that wretched Kalifa…" Spandam forced down the vulgarity, his tone sickeningly fawning, "Don't worry, I'll have someone take down Nico Robin's bounty immediately! Let's just be friends, and if you ever need my help in the future, just say the word!"
He was now in a high position of power, but he knew better than anyone how fragile his life was—a slight mistake could lead to him being crushed like an ant.
A surprised smile tugged at Yun Lie's lips. He had originally thought it would take some effort, and was even prepared for a direct confrontation with the World Government, but he didn't expect Spandam to be so sensible.
"Then I'll leave it to you, Mr. Spandam."
"It's my pleasure! It's an honor to befriend a great figure like Mr. Yun Lie! Hahaha!"
Spandam's exaggerated laughter came from the Den Den Mushi, but it couldn't conceal the tremor in his voice.
Kalifa and Nico Robin, standing nearby, were dumbfounded. The tense situation, which had just been on the verge of breaking out, had completely reversed in just a few words.
Nico Robin stared at Yun Lie's composed profile, and for the first time, she felt that the suffocating oppression of the World Government might not be unbreakable after all.
"Oh, by the way, Mr. Yun Lie…" Spandam suddenly lowered his voice, his tone becoming grim, "There's something the Marine probably hasn't told you yet."
Yun Lie's eyes narrowed slightly: "Oh? Tell me."
"In half a month at most, the Four Emperors Red-Haired Shanks's fleet will arrive at Seven Water City." Spandam deliberately paused, and his heavy breathing could be heard through the receiver, "My father told me personally—their target is probably you."
"Red-Haired Shanks… I understand."
After saying that, he hung up the phone.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku couldn't possibly be unaware of the news that Red-Haired Shanks was coming to Seven Water City.
After all, the Shichibukai were meant to balance the Four Emperors, and by rule, the Marine was obligated to inform them of the Four Emperors' movements.
But Sengoku hadn't mentioned a word, clearly because Sengoku had suffered a loss at his hands during their last phone confrontation, and this time he deliberately withheld the information to trip him up.
(The factional struggles within the Marine have always been intense. Sengoku, who ascended to the position of Fleet Admiral through numerous conflicts, would never be a soft-hearted, benevolent person.)
Sengoku intended to use Shanks's hand to teach him a lesson, or even to kill him.
"Get lost, there's nothing for you here." Yun Lie turned to look at Kalifa, who was still standing dumbfounded, his voice cold.
Hearing this, Kalifa opened her mouth, but ultimately left without a word.