Spandine and his son were both the type to bully the weak and fear the strong, self-righteous individuals who weren't necessarily very clever. They enjoyed playing schemes, but many times they ended up hurting themselves. This time, Spandam's plot combined with Spandine's self-righteousness directly led to the deaths of Spandine and his son. This is a story for later.
Spandine, who had just felt powerless and terrified, saw that his enemies weren't making a Move, and his thoughts changed. He had a sudden realization.
"Although I can't kill you guys... can you kill me with these pieces of paper?..." Thinking this, his emotions gradually calmed, and he switched back to his mocking mode.
"Hahahahaha ah haha..."
"You really did exceed this lord's expectations... Alright... I admit I can't catch you... But if this lord wants to leave, can you stop me?..."
"This lord tells you... I am the Marine's Advanced official Spandine... You'd best not think about doing anything to harm me... Otherwise, it would be easy for this lord to activate a Buster Call and wipe you out, you know..."
"Ah hahaha..."
Spandine truly was this despicable. When he felt victory was assured, he played cat and mouse. When he felt things were out of control, he resorted to threats and promises, trying to use his background to intimidate his enemies. Reno was just wondering what kind of force these people belonged to and what their intentions were. Spandine's desire to talk was exactly what Reno wanted, as he planned to extract some information.
"So it's an Advanced official of the World Government... I truly had eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai... My apologies, my apologies... It's our fault... Please, officer, do not be angry..."
Reno said, feigning weakness, while quickly flashing to Konan's side, looking up at her and signaling with his eyes. Konan slowly descended from the air and stood beside Reno. Although she didn't know what his gaze meant, she understood that there was something Reno needed to handle, so she remained silent.
Spandine saw his enemies soften, and while surprised, he couldn't help but think with self-satisfaction.
"What kind of damn organization... Weren't they very powerful?... Didn't they just piss themselves and give in when they heard the name of the World Government?..." The more Spandine thought, the more smug he became, and his previously suppressed desires gradually reignited. Spandine had originally planned to abandon the Materials and ensure his own safety first, but now that the other party had given in, why be polite?
"Kid... you're smart... Since you're so sensible, this lord will let you go... But I'm taking the things on your ship..." Spandine said with a proud look.
Reno understood immediately upon hearing this; the other party had been after the Materials on the ship all along. Not many people knew about the Materials on board. Only after the previous attack did the Marine behind the organization learn about Pain and the organization's actions in Alabasta.
Reno understood the other party's origin, but he didn't understand how they had grasped the organization's movements, knowing that the ship was currently vulnerable with its strongest combatants absent. Thinking this, Reno spoke, tentatively asking his question.
"Officer... We don't have anything good on our ship... It's of no use to you, is it?..."
Reno said, feigning ignorance, his goal being to probe the other party's true intentions.
"You brat... Don't think about deceiving this old man... My son investigated everything clearly, you know..."
"Ah hahaha..."
"If you know what's good for you, hurry up and get out of here with your lover... While this lord is in a good mood..."
"Ah hahaha..."
Spandine laughed wildly, taking an inch and wanting a mile, completely forgetting that there was still a very strong presence among his enemies. Perhaps he hadn't forgotten, but in Spandine's view, the other party wouldn't dare to act after he announced his name.
Reno heard additional information, "His son?..." Thinking this, Reno once again tried to trick him into revealing his doubts.
"Yes, yes, yes... Officer is right... But before we leave, could you tell us where your son is employed... Why would nobodies like us receive your son's attention and have our movements tracked by him?..."
Spandine saw how sensible the other party was, willing to concede the items on the ship even when they had the upper hand. He couldn't help but feel secretly pleased that the World Government's name was effective, but also a little annoyed. If he had known these people were so easily intimidated, he would have just announced his name directly, instead of sacrificing so many subordinates and losing face.
"Since you're so sensible... remember this lord's Family!... This lord is Spandine... My son is an Advanced official of the World Government's secret intelligence agency CP0, Spandam... Your organization's actions in Alabasta are all within my son's grasp... My son secretly dispatched a submarine to monitor you long ago, you know?... How could you possibly escape the pursuit of our Spandine Family?..."
"Ah hahaha... What foolish people..."
Spandine felt victory was assured and so arrogantly told Reno all this information.
After hearing Spandine's reply, Reno finally understood. It turned out that the organization's actions in Alabasta had long been targeted by the World Government, and by the World Government's secret intelligence agency CP0 at that. No wonder that person last time was so strong, able to injure him with a single Move. Having clarified the cause and effect, Reno, knowing the other party's origin, no longer intended to play along with Spandine and instantly changed his expression.
"Hehehe..."
"What an arrogant and foolish Family... We truly have remembered you... But we've only remembered your foolishness... We will repay your son's special attention... I hope you're not so foolish in your next life..."
After Reno finished speaking, he turned to Konan, signaling that she could act. Konan had been waiting for Reno's signal. She had long found the person in front of her an eyesore and wanted to kill him; she was just waiting for Reno to finish what he wanted to do.
Since she could act, Konan didn't waste any words. She quickly formed hand seals and softly uttered.
"Paper Release. Sealing Breath Jutsu!..."
Spandine felt a bad premonition when he heard Reno's words. His thoughts spun, and he understood the other party's initial deference and later arrogance. He hastily ordered his subordinate, Glenn, to step forward and block them. He himself tried to use "Soru" to quickly run to Reno's ship to escape. Spandine had previously arranged for personnel to seize the ship first, and his surviving subordinates were also on Reno's ship.
Just as Spandine was about to escape using "Soru," countless paper fragments gathered around his body, quickly forming a paper prison that instantly enveloped Spandine. Spandine saw that he was about to be surrounded by paper and couldn't escape in time. He frantically unleashed Rankyaku and Finger Pistol. Streaks of Finger Pistol and crescent-shaped Qi blasts rapidly rushed towards the surrounding paper prison. Spandine used all his strength to avoid being enveloped by the paper prison.
Wherever the Qi blasts passed, the paper fragments shattered, but only the inner layer shattered. Countless paper fragments on the outer layer continued to swarm, eventually wrapping Spandine and his subordinate Glenn into two mummy-like shapes. The two mummies were still struggling wildly, trying to break free from their restraints. As time passed, the mummies' struggles became weaker and weaker. Spandine and his subordinate were thus sealed inside, no longer moving.
Konan's "Sealing Breath Jutsu," as the name suggests, means to seal the enemy's breath. Reno's first attack had been deflected by the enemy using a Move that could harden their body, a memory still fresh in Konan's mind. Konan fully understood that relying solely on paper cutting or piercing could not kill the enemy, so before acting, she had decided to surround the enemy with the dense and endless nature of her paper, to seal the enemy inside, unable to Move or breathe, eventually suffocating to death.
Spandine and his subordinate were directly killed by Konan's Move inside the paper cocoon. Reno saw Konan effortlessly resolve the battle. After greeting Konan, he quickly flashed onto the ship to deal with Spandine's remnants. These small fries, seeing their superior in distress, wanted to quickly set sail and escape, but they were intercepted by Reno, who had been watching the ship. He boarded and carried out a massacre.
Reno found it too easy to deal with these low-level individuals. Flashing behind them and twisting their necks was enough to easily take their lives. After dealing with these small fries, Reno was still not at ease. He ran through all the ships Spandine had brought, searching for any stragglers. Only after returning to Konan's side did Reno have time to introduce himself.
"My name is Rosiel Reno... Just call me Reno... This time, I truly owe it all to you!..."
Reno felt a bit emotional. If it weren't for the strong combat power of the woman beside him, he wouldn't know how he would have gotten away with her.
"Reno, huh?... Just call me Konan... We should probably go now... Take me to see Pain..." Konan knew that the Pain Reno mentioned was Nagato, so she no longer used the name Nagato when speaking with Reno.
Reno looked at the two paper mummies on the ground and asked curiously, "Are they both dead?... What kind of ability is this?..."
"They are already dead... We can discuss any questions later... I just want to see Pain as soon as possible now..."
Konan urged again. Reno thought about it, and she was right; now was not the time to ask questions. Leaving was the urgent matter.
"Ah... I was presumptuous... Then let's get on the ship and depart..."
To be continued...