"Hahahahaha! As expected of my disciple!"
At Marine Headquarters' training grounds—
Garp laughed heartily while slapping Koby's shoulder with great force.
The impact made Koby grimace in pain, but he didn't dare cry out.
"Koby, you truly are the Navy's future hope!"
Garp's voice was full of praise.
"With progress like this, I was right about you!"
Koby wore a shy yet proud expression.
Deep down, he agreed.
He even felt grateful that Senior Brother Leno had left the Navy…
Before, Garp's attention had been split between him and Leno.
Now, all of it was focused on him alone.
Of course his improvement would accelerate.
To maintain his image as kind and righteous, Koby hesitated before speaking:
"Master… about that incident… it was actually my fault. I hesitated."
"We can't let Senior Brother Leno keep taking the blame for me… Can't you find a way to bring him out of Impel Down?"
Hearing this, Garp felt even more satisfied.
Look at this!
Koby still cares about his senior brother!
And what about you, Leno?
You wouldn't even shoulder blame for the Navy's future hope—for the greater good!
"I don't have such a selfish disciple!"
Garp's expression darkened as he snorted.
"Don't mention that traitor again! From today onward, he is no longer my disciple!"
Before Koby could continue—
Garp spoke with anger and disappointment.
"It was the correct decision to have him take the blame!"
"That bastard… was probably colluding with pirates long ago."
"He's already escaped from Impel Down and fully betrayed the Navy! He's no longer a righteous Vice Admiral!"
"Nani?!"
Koby's face filled with shock.
He truly hadn't expected Leno to go so far as to betray the Navy.
Yet beneath that shock—
A faint, uncontrollable sense of delight stirred in his heart.
Leno not only took the fall for him—
He also defected?
That meant Garp's attention would focus even more on him now.
Under these circumstances—
Koby couldn't help but silently thank Leno.
"Senior Brother… you're such a good person."
That was his inner thought.
Outwardly, he continued acting.
A seasoned performer.
"How could this happen? There must be some misunderstanding!"
"Senior Brother Leno… he doesn't seem like that kind of person…"
"You can't judge a book by its cover!" Garp waved his hand.
"All these years of my sincerity were wasted!"
"To think I raised such an ungrateful wolf!"
"I've already ordered Borsalino to capture him! Even if he runs, he won't get far!"
Garp placed a heavy hand on Koby's shoulder.
"Koby! You are the Navy's true future."
"Leno cannot compare to you. Surpass him as soon as possible and show everyone who truly represents the Navy's future!"
Koby nodded seriously.
Leno? Just a traitor.
Not worth his concern.
With two hundred times the effort, surpassing him was only a matter of time.
In Koby's mind, his only real rival was Luffy.
As for the terrifying strength described in Magellan's report—
Garp refused to believe it.
He also refused to admit he might have misjudged Leno.
Since Leno chose betrayal, then everything about him had to be denied.
After all—
He wouldn't even make a small sacrifice for the Navy.
Koby was the future!
Leno was simply too immature!
Garp, Hero of the Marines, had done everything for justice.
—
—
Meanwhile, outside Enies Lobby—
The Sea Train reached its final stop.
Straw Hat Luffy charged ahead, knocking down Marines as he stormed forward to rescue Robin.
Behind him, the Franky Family and shipwrights fought the giant guards at the gate.
Usopp—also known as Sogeking—recognized the giants as comrades of Dorry and Brogy.
He exposed the World Government's deception and successfully turned them to their side.
—
Inside the Enies Lobby courthouse tower—
Spandam and the CP9 members, except for Kalifa and Blueno, were gathered at the top floor.
Franky lay on the ground, bloodied and battered.
"Tch!"
Spandam spat to the side, though inside he was panicking.
He was terrified Franky might reveal that Robin had already been taken by Leno.
So he struck first—
Beating Franky half to death to silence him.
"Throw him into Impel Down!" Spandam ordered, feigning composure.
"…As for the Devil Child, Nico Robin, I will escort her through the Gates of Justice to Marine Headquarters!"
The other CP9 members had no objections.
What they didn't know was that Spandam's heart was trembling nonstop.
Escort her to Marine Headquarters?
Robin was long gone!
Who knew which corner Leno had already taken her to?
Fortunately no one pressed the issue, and the only person who knew the truth—Franky—had been beaten until he couldn't even speak.
However…
Leno's prediction was completely accurate.
The Straw Hats really had come!
Blueno had already gone out to intercept them.
In Spandam and CP9's eyes, the Straw Hat crew was nothing special—Blueno alone should easily deal with them.
They had no idea that at this moment Blueno had confidently used Iron Body (Tekkai)…
…and was immediately knocked flat by Luffy, who activated Gear Second.
Honestly, he might've lasted longer if he hadn't used Tekkai.
Tekkai… truly misleading people to their doom.
Just then—
Luffy's penetrating roar echoed across all of Enies Lobby.
"ROBIN!!! I'VE COME TO SAVE YOU!!!"
Lying on the ground, Franky forced a smile.
"So you really came… but you're late. Robin's already been taken by Leno."
—
—
Meanwhile, inside Kalifa's room—
Leno, Domino, Robin, and the now-cleaned-up Kalifa all clearly heard Luffy's shout.
Robin covered her mouth, deeply moved.
She had expected it… but hearing it with her own ears felt entirely different.
She was touched.
Beside her, Leno couldn't help but laugh.
"Interesting. Does he think shouting like that will make you appear out of thin air?"
Fortunately, at this point in time Robin hadn't yet been traumatized by Franky's bizarre Coup de Vent antics.
Leno stood up from the bed and stretched lazily.
His bones cracked sharply one after another.
"Looks like it's my turn to make an appearance."
"Leno!" Robin immediately grew nervous. "You promised me—you wouldn't kill the Straw Hats!"
Leno glanced at her indifferently.
"I promised not to kill them," he said calmly.
"But I never said… I wouldn't beat them up."
He walked up to her and slightly bent down, lifting her chin with a finger.
"For your sake, I'll spare their lives."
"So… don't entertain any thoughts you shouldn't."
"Because you won't get a second chance."
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