Translator: PapaSmurf0700
In the CP9 office at the Tower of Justice, Spandam barked into the Den Den Mushi with disbelief ringing in his voice: "The Straw Hats?!! How is that even possible?!"
From the other end, amidst the noise of ongoing chaos, a soldier confirmed, "Sir, it's true. Boom! The Straw Hats have breached the main island... Boom!"
The intermittent explosions relayed through the Den Den Mushi convinced Spandam of the dire reality. Frustrated and flustered, he shouted orders, "Wake up Oimo and Kashii right now! Also, dispatch the Watchdog Unit and the judicial soldiers. And make sure the naval forces that escorted the sea train haven't left—they must collaborate to halt the Straw Hats immediately!"
After slamming the Den Den Mushi down, Spandam turned to face Lucci and the rest of CP9, who all wore looks of astonishment. With a sneer, he accused them, "Has five years undercover softened you all? How could you let those pirates trail you here?"
Kaku, brow furrowed in confusion, responded defensively, "It's impossible. No one saw me when I captured him; a leak seems unlikely."
The revelation of the Straw Hats' infiltration into Enies Lobby had taken them all aback. Considering the timing, it seemed improbable that the Straw Hats had simply stumbled upon their operation.
The fact that they had mounted a well-coordinated assault suggested meticulous planning and preparation. Kaku began to question whether the Franky they had captured was somehow wrong, hinting at a deeper issue they hadn't anticipated.
Before Kaku could voice his concern, Lucci draped in a stark white coat, cut him off with a stern tone, "Debating these points now is pointless. We need to act."
Kaku couldn't help but turn his head to look, and he was almost taken aback by what he saw. For the first time, he saw such a fierce expression on Lucci's face. Having trained alongside Lucci since childhood, Kaku knew his moods well. Lucci, known as CP9's strongest assassin for the last eight hundred years, had a reputation that preceded him. It was said that he had mastered Rokuogan—the secret seventh form of the Six Navy Styles—considered a high honor.
Over the years, Lucci had lived up to these accolades, consistently demonstrating his prowess. However, recent events, including the failure of the operation to capture Robin and the unexpected resilience of the Straw Hats, had begun to crack his seemingly impervious exterior. Lucci, a staunch believer in "Dark Justice" who usually opted for lethal solutions, had uncharacteristically restrained himself in his plans against the Straw Hats, which amounted to a form of self-torment for him.
Now, with the Straw Hats boldly storming Enies Lobby, and considering the timing, it seemed likely they had followed the same sea train that had carried Lucci and the others. If Bai Ye were here, he'd probably say with a wry smile, "Everyone, this is karma. You reap what you sow."
The severity of Lucci's expression was noticeable to everyone in the room, including Spandam, the chief, who fell silent, not daring to speak first. The only one bold enough to break the silence was the ever-irritable Jabra: "Lucci...you bastard..."
Before Jabra could continue, Lucci issued a command: "Prepare for battle. The justice of Enies Lobby and the dignity of CP9 will be defended with our blood." With that, he tore off his white coat, turned, and strode toward the door. At that moment, the agent known as a genius was left with no other option but to fight.
After Lucci stormed out, Kalifa calmly adjusted her glasses and assessed the situation for the rest of CP9: "Luffy, Bai Ye, Zoro, and Sanji are the main forces of the Straw Hats. We need to contain these key players effectively. The rest, according to our intel, are less formidable. Capturing them should neutralize any further threat they might pose."
Jabra immediately responded, his voice tinged with defiance: "Well, I'm not pairing up with Lucci."
In the midst of this discussion, Kaku decisively stepped outside, re-entered with the unconscious fake Franky in tow, and dumped him unceremoniously at Spandam's feet. Franky lay there, not moving an inch, as if completely knocked out.
Kaku addressed the group sharply, his gaze finally settling on Spandam: "We'll sort out our battle strategies and opponent assignments once we're outside. Sir, your job will be to secure reinforcements and ensure Cutty Flam's safe extraction."
Without giving Spandam a chance to reply, the members of CP9 turned on their heels and marched out, ready to confront whatever awaited them.
-----
Not long after Usopp, Robin, and the others expressed their resolve, they paused, giving the sleeping guards of Enies Lobby a moment of respite. Though the island buzzed with activity, it was still deep in the night, meaning only a fraction of the garrison was awake. Primarily, just the standard troops manned the forward areas of the island.
As the Straw Hats approached the second main gate, they were met by more than just the usual defense squad—two formidable gatekeepers were roused to confront the intruders.
Suddenly, with the force of an earthquake, two massive figures leaped over the gate, landing with a thunderous crash. These towering giants quickly drew the attention of the Straw Hats.
The first giant, a rotund figure with a large belly, casually swung a massive wooden club over his shoulder. He peered down at the pirates with a curious grin. "Ouyi~ You actually smashed through the first gate?" he boomed.
His companion, a leaner giant wielding a colossal ax, rubbed his eyes tiredly. "It's such a pain to wake up for this," he grumbled. "Let's wrap this up quick, Oimo, so we can get back to sleep."
Despite the serious situation, his tone was lax, showing little concern for the group before him.
Usopp couldn't help but blurt out, "GIANTS!! Aren't they supposed to be pirates?" His experiences with Dorry and Brogy on Little Garden had led him to associate giants with pirate life.
Robin, overhearing Usopp's confusion, took a moment to clarify: "Not all giants are pirates, Usopp. Like people, giants have diverse allegiances and professions. Some even serve as captains in the navy. These two are likely of that kind."
As she regarded the two giants before them, Robin felt a twinge of melancholy, reminded of her friend—Vice Admiral Jaguar D. Saul—who had once shown her kindness during darker times.