Translator: PapaSmurf0700
Enies Lobby has an intriguing reputation. Known as one of the three great powers of the World Government, alongside Marineford and Impel Down, its actual defensive capability seems to lack the might its fame suggests. In the original "One Piece" story, it was noted that merely three shipbuilders from Galley-La Company, the Franky family, and two giants managed to break through the island's defenses.
Now, even without the help from Galley-La Company's shipbuilders and the Franky family, the current strength of the Straw Hats is more than sufficient to handle any challenges posed by the island's forces. After Luffy swiftly handled the guards at the main gate, CP9 members, who had arrived earlier, joined Kaku who was escorting the decoy Franky to the courthouse at the island's end.
Between the main part of the island and the distant Tower of Justice lies a vast waterfall abyss. The CP9 agents had to wait for the court staff to activate the suspension bridges at both ends of the court to cross over.
Meanwhile, in a room within the Tower of Justice, tension flared. A man with an iron mask slammed his fist on the table, facing the three people before him. He barked, "This mission was to assassinate only three Revolutionary Army cadres. Why did twenty-three people end up dead? Explain this!"
As he finished his reprimand, one of the figures stood and apologized profusely, "Yes, sorry, sir!" He was a tall, muscular man with spiky black hair and a rough, wolf-like demeanor. His face was covered in stubble, enhancing his rugged, intimidating appearance.
Despite his fearsome look, this man was known for his dramatic flair, much like an actor. "It's all my fault!" he shouted, drawing his long sword. With a theatrical flair, he pressed the blade against his abdomen and thrust it forward, only to activate Rokushiki: Iron Body at the last moment. The sound of the impact echoed as he fell to the ground, pretending to be overwhelmed by guilt, "I can't die, I'm a sinner, woo woo woo~"
Frustrated, he cried out, "You bastard, let me die already!"
A gruff voice cut through the air, its tone stern and commanding: "A man shouldn't bow his head so easily!" He continued, his voice firm, "I'll explain everything to the officer. You all sit down!"
The speaker was a dark-skinned man with distinctive facial hair—a Fu Manchu mustache and a pointed goatee—and long hair tied into a thick braid resembling a scorpion's tail. A noticeable scar slashed diagonally across his left eye, adding to his fierce appearance. He wore an outfit similar to a Tang suit, giving him an imposing presence.
He lounged on the sofa, addressing the man who had initiated the questioning: "Sir, we did begin by following the orders to infiltrate, but on the assassination day..."
"Something went wrong; our plans were somehow leaked!"
Midway through his explanation, another voice chimed in, lighter and almost jovial: "Chapapa, it was I who spilled the beans about our plan in town."
This new speaker was far less imposing—a round, plump man, much larger than Alvida whom Bai Ye had encountered. His appearance was peculiar: a large, round body with a yellow zipper across his mouth, which he unzipped to speak. He was dressed in a black formal suit, his hair green and neatly groomed, with purple dimples on his cheeks and a few strands of hair on his chin.
Upon hearing this, the bearded man exploded in anger: "What!! It was you again? Does that zipper on your mouth even work?"
"When will you stop being so careless?" he roared. "As an intelligence officer, keeping secrets is fundamental!"
The round man sheepishly replied, "Sorry, it just slipped out, Chapapa~"
The white-haired man interjected, trying to defuse the tension, "Oh! Don't be too hard on him. I'll take all the responsibility. Let me offer my apologies!"
Then, as if to punctuate his statement, he dramatically stabbed himself with his sword, only to activate Rokushiki: Iron Body, preventing any harm. "What a pity, I can't die~"
The bearded man snapped back, "You fool, just hurry up and die already!"
At that, the masked man had had enough, barking, "Enough, all of you!"
In the Tower of Justice at Enies Lobby, a meeting room was filled with the members of CP9, showcasing a scene dripping with irony. These individuals, like Rob Lucci, belonged to CP9, the secretive and elite unit of the World Government.
The man behind the mask, commanding the room, was Spandam. Years ago, as the chief of CP5, he manipulated Franky into building a ship, an act that led to the tragic demise of Tom. Now, as the head of CP9, his career had seen a significant and rather fortunate advancement.
Among those present was Kumadori, a white-haired member known more for his antics than his strength. He often performed a mock seppuku as an apology, always activating his Iron Body technique at the last moment, rendering his efforts harmlessly dramatic and proclaiming himself invincible.
Beside him was another CP9 member named Jabra, the one with a Fu Manchu mustache, who possessed the Mutt-Mutt Fruit, Wolf Model. His serious and competitive demeanor was often marked by his rivalry with Lucci, but he had a short temper and an aggressive nature.
Fukurou, another peculiar member with a round, owl-like appearance, was known for his supposed discretion. Ironically, he often spoke out of turn, contradicting his claim of being the man with the strictest mouth in the world.
These individuals represented the highest military presence on Enies Lobby and were among the top combat forces stationed there.
As Lucci entered the room, he greeted the chaotic assembly with a calm demeanor, showing no change in expression: "Long time no see, sir."
Spandam, pleased to see his operatives, responded with a grin, "Ah, you've worked hard, Lucci. Welcome back, Kaku, Blueno, and Kalifa."
Kalifa, quick to maintain professional boundaries, retorted, "That's sexual harassment, sir."
Spandam, taken aback, exclaimed, "!! I just called your name!!"
In the midst of Spandam's complaints, Lucci delivered his report with robotic precision: "Cutty Flam, also known as Franky, who previously clashed with World Government officials in Water 7 eight years ago, has been successfully brought here. He's currently outside this room, awaiting further proceedings."
Jabra, ever the rival and eager to assert his dominance over Lucci, seized the moment to taunt him: "Long time no see, Lucci. Seems you're moving up in the world."
Unruffled by Jabra's veiled jab, Lucci retorted with a sharp tongue: "And your intellect appears to be declining at an equal pace, Jabra."
Jabra's temper flared instantly at the insult, his hands balling into fists as he stood up, ready to confront Lucci: "You're asking for it, you know!"
Kaku quickly stepped in, trying to diffuse the tension: "Really, every time you two meet, must it always come to blows?"
Spandam, attempting to maintain some semblance of order, interjected: "No fighting—this is a CP9 reunion, not a battleground!"
Amidst the escalating tension, Fukurou decided to jump into the fray, zipping his mouth shut dramatically before lunging towards Lucci and the others.
Kalifa reacted swiftly, landing a sharp kick on Fukurou, who was unfortunately directed towards Kaku by the force of the blow.
Kaku, ever the skilled fighter, responded with a kick of his own, sending Fukurou spinning through the air as each CP9 member joined in, turning their wayward colleague into a makeshift ball in a rough game of kick.
Each impact between Fukurou and the agents sent shimmering ripples through the air, showcasing their strength and precision.
The final blow was delivered by Lucci, who sent Fukurou tumbling back to the ground with a resounding thud, ending the chaotic spectacle as abruptly as it had started.
Fukurou, having regained his footing, unzipped his mouth with a flourish and announced cheerfully, "Chababa~ If a regular naval soldier with a weapon scores a power of 10, then I've assessed the strength of our own CP9 members. The latest rankings of CP9 power values are in!"
He proceeded to list the scores, relishing each announcement:
"Kalifa — 630 Doriki!"
"Fukurou— 800 Doriki!"
"Kumadori — 810 Doriki!"
"Blueno — 820 Doriki!"
"Jabra — 2180 Doriki!"
"Kaku — 2200 Doriki!"
"Lucci — 4000 Doriki!!"
As the numbers echoed in the room, Jabra's face contorted with indignation. He pointed accusingly at Kaku and bellowed, "It's one thing for Lucci to be stronger than me, but Kaku? How is he rated higher than me!"
Fukurou responded with a nonchalant "Chababa! Kaku has grown stronger, too!"
Jabra, seething with frustration, blurted out, "I don't believe it!"
Just then, Kaku, puzzled, inquired, "What's got Jabra so worked up?"
Fukurou, unable to keep secrets, replied with a grin, "Chababa~ It's because the island guards have been gossiping. They say Jabra got dumped by Catherine in the cafeteria yesterday."
Jabra, already heated from the Doriki scores, turned beet red. "Wait, how does everyone know about that?!"
Fukurou sheepishly admitted, "Chababa~ I might have accidentally mentioned it while around the island."
Jabra, dumbfounded and exasperated, exclaimed, "You gotta be kidding me! DIE!"
Just as the room erupted into yet another round of chaos, Spandam raised his voice to regain control: "Enough!" He waved his hands dismissively at the CP9 members gathered around. "Why bother with such trivial rankings?"
"Remember, after mastering the six styles of the navy, you're no longer ordinary. Anyone with a strength of 500 is a superman!" he declared, trying to boost morale.
Fukurou, never missing a beat, chirped in: "Oh, by the way, Commander Spandam's strength is 9."
Spandam, irked by the comment, retorted sharply, "Cut it out. My power might be 9, but remember, I command CP9 and possess Funkfreed, the elephant sword!"
The room was about to delve back into chaos when the sharp ring of the Den Den Mushi cut through the noise. Spandam, slightly irritated, picked up the receiver. "This is Spandam. What's the situation?"
An anxious voice crackled through from the other end: "Sir, it's the main gate! Urgent report required!"
Calm yet authoritative, Spandam responded, "What's happened? Speak."
"The gate's been breached, sir! An intruder has stormed through to the inner island!"
"Just an intruder? Deal with it—eliminate them," Spandam instructed dismissively.
"It's not just any intruder, sir—it's Straw Hat Luffy, the one with a 150 million bounty. And sir, the rest of the Straw Hats are following him right into the heart of Enies Lobby!"