Chapter 328 - 101-113

Zoro, who was eating paille, suddenly thought he saw something on the sea: "Huh? What's that?...Pfft! Hey Luffy! A...frog is freestyle swimming!"

"Huh?" Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper exclaimed in surprise, immediately running over to see.

Usopp, still calm, said, "Hey, hey~ Does anyone really believe that? How could a frog freestyle...Ah! It's true!"

At that moment, a strange feeling filled everyone's hearts, and Luffy immediately gave the order.

"Quick, chase after them, brothers!"

"Okay!"

"Forget the sails, get the oars out!"

"Okay!"

"Full speed towards two o'clock!"

"Yes!"

...

Zoro's hands didn't stop moving, but he still voiced his doubts: "I don't know why, but I have a feeling I have to chase them!"

However, they were having too much fun, changing course on their own. If Nami hadn't been trapped in her room, they would all have gotten a beating.

Lake came out to check on Nami. Looking at the excited group, Lake asked with a puzzled expression, "What's going on?"

Luffy excitedly shouted to Lake, "There's a frog swimming freestyle! I have to catch it and taste it!"

Hearing Luffy's words, Zoro and Usopp immediately collapsed to the ground. It turned out Luffy was simply after food. Chasing the frog, Lake soon spotted a lighthouse.

"Stop! We can't go any further! Something's blocking the way!"

Lake's shout brought Zoro and the others back to normal, but Luffy was still excitedly shouting, "Lake! The frog's coming down! Now's the best chance to catch it!"

Without a word, Lake delivered a "Sobering Punch," then pointed to something floating on the sea and said, "See that? That's blocking the way. The Going Merry can't pass."

Only then did everyone's attention turn to the obstacle. Upon closer inspection, it looked like railway tracks. But why would railway tracks be on the sea?

This brings us to the greatest invention in the One Piece world: the Sea Train. Even Luffy understood Lack's simple explanation.

Just then, a Sea Train passed by, showcasing this iron behemoth that travels on the sea to everyone. Luffy's face lit up with excitement.

After the Sea Train passed, two people emerged from the top tower, one older and one younger. The old woman was named Kokoro, and the little girl was named Zimoni.

From Kokoro, the group learned about nearby cities: the Spring Queen's City, Saint Poplar; the Gourmet City, Bouzier; and the Carnival Town, Saint Falter.

Of course, these are all places that require traveling by Sea Train. Lack and his crew's goal remains to follow the Log Pose, based on Kokoro's information.

Their next stop is Water Seven, a city with a highly developed shipbuilding industry, renowned for possessing the world's best shipbuilding technology. The Sea Train had come from there.

What they need most right now is a shipwright, and given the current situation of the Merry... they'll probably need to build a new ship.

With their target confirmed, the group continued their journey to Water 7. Grandma Kokoro even wrote them a letter of recommendation, instructing them to find a person named Iceberg, and provided a hand-drawn map of Water 7.

After saying goodbye, the group set off again, filled with excitement. The crew gathered together on the ship, enthusiastically discussing the companions they were searching for.

Sanji: "Luffy, leave the shipwright job to me. I'll definitely find a super beautiful woman."

Luffy: "No way! It's a shipwright job, of course we need a guy who's as big as a mountain, at least five meters tall!"

Usopp: "But if he's too big, the Going Merry might not be able to fit him!"

Zoro: "As long as he's skilled, it doesn't matter who he is. The important thing is whether anyone wants to join this pirate ship."

Chopper: "I'm so excited! Will we have a new crewmate?"

Going Merry: "Really? Is the new crewmate a great shipwright?"

Lake: "Big guy, beautiful woman, none of that sounds reliable. A robot shipwright seems pretty good." (I'm a prophet, I saw myself in the mirror last night.)

Then Luffy showed off his superb drawing skills, drawing a rather abstract figure and saying, "I mean, we need to find someone like this!"

Usopp and Sanji looked like they'd seen a ghost when they saw it.

Usopp: "If that's the case, I'd better run away first."

Sanji: "Me too, if there's a boat, we should escape to sea... but this guy looks like he has octopus blood, he might chase us out to sea."

Zoro, standing nearby, asked疑惑地问道: "What are you guys talking about?"

Lake was completely dumbfounded by Luffy's drawing skills. What kind of crap is this?! If such a guy really existed, Lake would definitely run away too.

As they got closer to their target, Nami called everyone over to collect their allowance, but of course, Lake wasn't included, especially since they were in a big city.

Lake also had to go with Nami to exchange some of the gold and jewels for Berries, which meant Lake's savings were going to shrink again!

But there was nothing they could do about it. Soon, they arrived at their destination, Water 7. Lake only regretted his lack of cultural knowledge; seeing such a beautiful sight, all he could do was open his mouth and shout.

"Holy crap! It's all water!"

Because the ship was so huge, the group was still figuring out how to get in when a passing resident rowed a small boat and told them it wasn't safe for pirates to enter through the main gate, and to go around to the back street.

It was clear the residents here were completely unfazed by the pirates' arrival, showing no fear whatsoever. After thanking the resident,

the Going Merry followed the direction the person had pointed to and arrived at the back street. From here, they could still see Water Seven, but the surrounding environment indicated it was a very remote place.

However, a small accident occurred when they stopped the ship. Zoro broke the mast while furling the sails! Actually, he was just using normal force.

But the Going Merry was clearly beyond repair. The group hurriedly reattached the mast, and then everyone fell silent. Lake had mentioned the ship's problems more than once.

He knew the Merry's condition wasn't enough to reach their destination, even with their protection; the ship's limits were reached.

Merry seemed a little downcast. Seeing this, Lake picked her up and placed her on his shoulder, then spoke to his dejected companions:

"Let's have the professionals examine the ship before making a decision. But you should know the outcome, and besides, Merry is our partner now, isn't she?"

Chapter 102 The Water City in Trouble"Oh? Welcome! Would you like to rent Blue? How many of you are there?"

Lake and Nami led Luffy and Usopp to a place marked 'Entrance to Water 7.' The shopkeeper immediately asked upon hearing that they had arrived.

Not even knowing what Blue was, Luffy excitedly rushed over and said, "Four people!"

The shopkeeper continued, "What kind of Blue do you need? We have swordfish, sharks, kingfish… but for four people, two swordfish should be enough."

Luffy immediately replied, "Okay, and make sure they're nice and crispy!"

*Bang!*

Lake silenced the guy with a punch, then paid and picked out two less ugly Blues. He and Nami rode in one boat, while Luffy and Usopp rode in the other.

The residents of Water Seven raise creatures called "Blues" because Water Seven is a floating city, and Blues serve as a means of transportation.

Besides their use for water transport, Blues have great carrying capacity and can also be used to assist with moving. A small Blue with a double seat costs 1000 Berries to rent.

The man renting the Blues showed them the largest exchange in Water Seven, located in the center of the shipyard, which they were going to later anyway.

And so they experienced the local customs and culture of Water Seven. Luffy bought a bunch of Water Meat, and the others bought some souvenirs.

The money exchange went smoothly. Nami, with a gentle demeanor, subtly threatened the shopkeeper while pulling Lake along, resulting in Nami receiving significantly more Berries than originally planned.

Lake pocketed all the exchanged money, leaving no chance for others to covet it. After exchanging the money, the four headed to the shipyard, arriving just in time to witness a commotion.

A group of pirates, unwilling to pay, attempted to cause trouble, but were easily subdued by the shipwrights. It was clear the shipwrights were physically strong, especially a few individuals.

Meanwhile, on the Going Merry, Robin set off with Chopper and Merry. Perhaps due to Robin's inherent mature and sophisticated aura, coupled with being one of the few 'normal' people on the ship,

Chopper and Merry spent most of their time with Robin. Through her time on the ship, Merry had learned some things.

Most importantly, although she wanted to be with Lake, Lake belonged to Nami—something Usopp had told her.

Now only Sanji and Zoro remained on the ship. Sanji didn't stay long, as he needed to buy supplies, leaving Zoro to watch the ship.

Normally, no one was needed to watch the ship, but since they were there to repair it, using Merry's abilities directly would be too conspicuous. Since Zoro would likely not return alone, it was better to have him stay and watch the ship.

Zorro wasn't planning on going out anyway, so he lay down on the ship, closing his eyes to rest and sleep. A group of strangely dressed individuals were quietly approaching from a distance.

Robin strolled along the street with the two children, arriving at the library. Chopper's deer form went unnoticed, while Merry rode on Chopper's back.

As the youngest member of the Straw Hat crew, Merry received the best treatment, and Chopper was happy to take care of his little sister.

Upon seeing the library, Chopper excitedly rushed towards it with Merry, stunning Robin. Just as Robin was about to follow, a masked man passed by.

"I'm CP9..."

Not knowing what had happened, Chopper realized Robin wasn't following and went outside to look for her, but she was gone. Although Chopper was extremely anxious, he still had to take care of Merry.

In a panic, Chopper could only transform into his burly form, carrying Merry as he searched everywhere for Robin. The streets were filled with masked figures, and he couldn't find any trace of her.

At this moment, the troublemakers from the Going Merry arrived. A group of bespectacled, strangely dressed men stealthily boarded the Going Merry and attacked the sleeping Zoro.

*Crack!*

Zorro's sword broke unexpectedly. Despite his surprise, the attackers remained confident, perhaps emboldened by their numbers.

"I thought I could take you down while you were asleep, hehehe~"

Zoro finally opened his eyes with a cold expression. An invisible breeze constantly protected him; the broken sword earlier was due to this.

After getting up, Zoro drew his Third Generation Demon Blade and pointed it at them, saying, "State your names, or you won't have a chance."

The other party laughed smugly upon hearing Zoro's words, "Hahaha! You want us to state our names? Pirate Hunter Zoro! We are bounty hunters, the Franky family who can shut up even crying little kids!

A 230 million bounty head! We'll gladly accept it. After we've dealt with you, we'll ambush you on the ship and then wipe you all out! Hahaha! How lucky! Take him down!"

"Lucky? More like bad luck... One-Sword Style: Thirty-Six Troublesome Winds!"

Sizzle!

"Ah!"

After just one attack, people filled the air, then gracefully landed on the sea. Zoro leaned against the ship's side and muttered to himself.

"Boring. I waited so long, wondering what kind of guy he was."

Back at Lake, they had arrived at the shipyard and immediately encountered Usopp—no, wait, Kaku.

Luffy glanced at Usopp. The square-nosed Usopp, and the twenty-three-year-old Kaku, who always spoke with an old-fashioned air, looked like an old man.

After a brief exchange, Kaku said he could check on the ship for them, then stretched and ran away, eliciting gasps from Luffy and Usopp, but Nami thought it was nothing special.

Lake was already chatting with the suddenly appearing Iceberg, emphasizing efficiency. Sanji, who was shopping, felt like he was possessed.

Sanji got lost while shopping in real life, then saw Robin following a tall, masked man. He was about to chase after him when the man vanished.

Then he saw Usopp hopping and flying in the sky. Sanji was starting to question his existence and quickly lit a cigarette to calm himself down.

Meanwhile, on the Going Merry, Kaku had arrived and, ignoring Zoro sleeping on the ship, began checking everything. Zoro squinted and looked around.

"Oh, it's Usopp... Usopp... Usopp... Wait! Who are you?!"

The face he had just seen and the image of Usopp in his mind merged several times before he finally confirmed it. He immediately sprang to his feet, drew his sword, and shouted.

Kaku politely apologized and explained why he was there. Zoro then lowered his guard and followed him. However, when the final examination results came out, Zoro was momentarily unable to accept it.

He looked at the toppled mast and said, "Looks like we'll have to change ships. Luckily, the Merry can still come with us. Go in peace, Merry."

Chapter 103 Robin's Nightmare, Temporarily Leaving the Team"I see. I understand now. We'll know the situation with the ship when Kaku returns. The shipwrights at Galleyra are free agents; I have no objection if anyone wants to go with you."

After understanding the situation, Iceberg let Lake and the others visit Shipyard Number One. Finding a shipwright was up to them; Iceberg wouldn't interfere.

So Luffy started causing trouble. He immediately approached any large, muscular man he saw and asked if they wanted to be his crewmates. Those asked were all confused, but politely declined.

Suddenly, Lake frowned and said to Nami, "You guys stay here for now. I have something to take care of."

Nami was used to this and didn't ask any further questions, only telling Lake to be careful. Lake's mind network covered the entire Water Seven; he knew everything that happened there, including that Robin had been taken away.

In a deserted alley, Robin followed behind a tall, masked man. There was clearly no path in front of them, but the tall, masked man opened a door out of thin air.

Just as the two were about to go inside, a mocking voice rang out: "Hey, hey~ where are you planning to take my Robin?"

Looking towards the voice, Lake sat on the rooftop, smiling at them. The masked man was clearly taken aback when he saw Lake, and before he could react, Robin spoke first.

"Sorry, this is my fate. Don't follow me anymore, I'm no longer your partner..."

Her voice trembled with emotion at the end. Lake sighed, shook his head, and then suddenly appeared beside Robin, placing his hands on her shoulders.

"That won't do. As the first mate, I don't agree, and I'm sure our captain wouldn't agree either, so you'd better stay here."

At this moment, the masked man spoke up: "Nicole Robin, don't waste time."

"Can you please not interrupt when we're talking amongst ourselves, you human trafficker?" Lake suddenly looked at him and said coldly.

The murderous aura emanating from him caused the masked man to instinctively take two steps back. Robin's expression was extremely grim; she gritted her teeth and suddenly chanted,

"Six-Handed Flower - Binding!"

This attack was aimed at Lake. Six arms sprouted from Lake's body, gripping him tightly. Robin, with a look of grim determination, cried out to Lake,

"Let me go..."

Lake hadn't expected things to turn out this way. He had even defeated a Marine Admiral before, and he thought Robin was no longer afraid or worried.

But now it seemed Lake had miscalculated. Robin's past was a nightmare she had lived through since childhood. Even if Lake possessed the strength to fight a Marine Admiral,

Robin didn't dare gamble on whether the Straw Hat crew could face the World Government's pressure. Robin knew what she was facing; she didn't want anything to happen to her companions who brought her joy because of her.

Now that things had come to this, Lake couldn't force Robin to stay. He had to shatter Robin's nightmare head-on. Right now, Lake definitely couldn't lay a hand on Robin.

But he felt really annoyed, so a certain human trafficker was going to be in trouble. A red six-pointed star appeared in Lake's eyes as he looked at the masked man and said.

"Good! Very good! If Robin gets even a little injured later..."

Suddenly, a door appeared beneath the masked man's feet, and before he could react, he fell through it into a molten lava hell.

Robin cried out in panic, "No, Lake!"

Robin's condition for leaving with them was that he couldn't harm any of the Straw Hat crew members and that they all leave the island safely.

However, if Lake provoked them and the problem couldn't be resolved, they would all be targeted by the World Government, which was the last thing Robin wanted.

Just as the masked man was about to fall into the molten lava hell, another door appeared below him, and in an instant, he was back in his original spot.

However, he looked rather pathetic now; his face beneath the mask was ashen, and he sat on the ground looking like he had just escaped death. Lake glanced at him disdainfully, then spoke seriously to Robin.

"Don't get hurt. If anyone bullies you, use a curse to make them infertile! Don't worry, my friends and I will come to get you soon."

Robin didn't hear a word she said, shaking her head repeatedly, "No! Don't come looking for me! I'm no longer yours…"

However, Lake didn't intend to let her finish this time. He vanished from the spot, leaving only a stunned Robin and the masked man sitting on the ground.

The masked man's true identity was a CP9 agent, CIPHER POL No. 9, a secret intelligence agency directly under the World Government, abbreviated as CP9.

CP9 is an intelligence organization trained by the World Government, engaged in various covert activities. Its main targets are the Revolutionary Army, a global criminal organization, and entities detrimental to the government.

Bruno, a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit user with the Door-Door Fruit, is a CP9 member and, in disguise, the owner of a bar in Water 7. He and several other agents were infiltrating the city to gather information about the design plans for the Ancient Weapon Pluton.

Because Nico Robin appeared, Bruno was ordered to take her back, which is why he intervened. Unexpectedly, he ran into a tough opponent.

The feeling Lake gave Bruno reminded him of unpleasant memories, so after Lake left, Bruno didn't mention revenge.

He quickly fled with Robin, even hesitant to step through the door he opened with his Devil Fruit ability, letting Robin go first.

Back at Dock One, Lake only saw Luffy and Nami. He went up to ask where Usopp was, and Nami said Dock One was too big.

They split up to find suitable crew members, agreeing to meet back. Clearly, Usopp hadn't returned, ruling out being lost as it wasn't Zoro.

Lake immediately sensed carefully and quickly found Usopp. The guy had been kidnapped—yes, kidnapped in a bag?

At this moment, Lake was utterly confused. Had his Observation Haki awakened to white? Did he not know how to use Finger Pistol? How could he have been kidnapped by those scumbags?

Although he didn't understand, Lake quickly followed. He was in a fit of anger when Usopp was captured, venting his frustration on Bruno, so he hadn't noticed.

Lake wasn't in a hurry to help Usopp; he was now eager to know how Usopp had been captured, and followed him all the way to their hideout.

The Franky family's house, in a rather uniquely designed building, was so small that even if Lake were dancing inside, these guys wouldn't notice.

It wasn't until Usopp was released from the bag that Lake saw that the guy was unconscious. He then explained to Usopp's henchmen:

"Boss, we brought him back. This kid is really weird. All the brothers who tried to ambush him were discovered, but luckily I was clever. I pretended to flatter him and then, while he was smug, I took him down with a tranquilizer gun."

Chapter 104 The Deal with Franky, The Going Merry's FateHearing the underling's words, Lake finally understood what had happened. Only inexperienced newbies like them would make such a basic mistake.

Those older generation monsters had their Observation Haki constantly active, so being ambushed because of overconfidence was simply impossible.

Now that the problem was solved, Lake should prepare to make his grand entrance, lest Usopp get taken care of.

*Whoosh*

A terrifying pressure suddenly erupted over Franky's family. Everyone except Franky himself collapsed, even Franky himself stood there looking quite strained.

Franky, still defiant, glared at the man who had suddenly appeared before him and demanded, "You bastard! Who are you?! What have you done to my dear crew?!"

Lake, smiling, stepped forward and gestured, saying, "They're just asleep, they'll wake up soon. As for who I am? You captured my crew, I'm here to demand an explanation, is that alright?"

Franky was inwardly cursing. His crew had initially reported that a group of extremely wealthy pirates had arrived on the island and were planning to attack them.

This information came from the owner of the money exchange. Sure enough, Nami's threat had instilled some retaliatory thoughts in them, and the money exchange owner, unwilling to provoke Franky's family, had revealed Lake's situation.

This led to the current situation. Franky's crew was incredibly dim-witted; they had no idea of ​​their own capabilities. Looking at the bounty, they should have known they were not to be trifled with. These stubborn fools were truly fearless.

Franky knew he was in the wrong, and he could also see that Lake's strength was terrifying. To remain hostile at this point would be tantamount to suicide.

So Franky extended his hand to shake Lake's, saying, "I apologize on behalf of my men. I may have realized you're not the kind of pirates who indiscriminately kill innocents, so I hope you can let them go. I'll take full responsibility!"

Lake smiled and said, "Not bad. In that case, how about I give you a task? How about you build me a ship?"

"Huh?" Franky was completely dumbfounded; he thought he had misheard.

"I'm in the ship dismantling business. You've got the wrong person for shipbuilding."

"No, no, no, I think you can do it. I'm usually good at judging people. Use the best materials; I think the Adam Tree is a good choice. Don't worry, I'm not short of money."

"The Adam Tree…is this a coincidence…?"

"How's it going?"

"If I really have the money to buy that…I'm confident I can build the most perfect ship!"

"Okay, the deal's done. Here's the two hundred million Berries. If it's not enough, just ask me."

With that, Lake tossed two briefcases to Franky, then left with the unconscious Usopp, leaving a bewildered Franky standing there.

Opening the briefcases on the ground, Franky exclaimed in surprise, "Wow! It's actually real! Isn't this guy afraid I'll run off with the money?"

Just as Franky had this thought, a bolt of lightning suddenly struck, scorching the entire Franky House black. The culprit was, of course, Lake.

With the entire Water 7 under his control, Lake naturally wouldn't go too far. After all, they were going to be on his crew later; he just taught them a lesson.

Consider it the price they paid for attacking Usopp. Of course, there was one more person he couldn't let off easily.

*Zzzzt!*

"Ah!"

The goldsmith was basking in the gold and jewels before him, completely absorbed in the display, when suddenly a bolt of lightning struck him, sending him sputtering and foaming at the mouth.

After dealing with everything, Lake took Usopp back to Dock One. Luffy, Nami, and the dock foreman were gathered together, talking about something.

Upon seeing Lake return, Nami quickly rushed forward to hug him, asking about Usopp's condition. Once she confirmed he was alright, Lake joined their conversation.

Barry: "You're this shameless woman's man, aren't you! Tell her to go back and put her pants back on, what kind of behavior is this in broad daylight!"

Lulu: "Barry! This is a big shot, don't talk nonsense."

Lucci (the pigeon on his shoulder): "Coo-coo~ A 700 million Berry bounty criminal, are you going to take down Barry?"

Kaku: "Huh? So that's the terrifying ship I was looking at earlier? No wonder it's so badly damaged."

Barry was clearly flustered when he heard that Lake was a 700 million Berry bounty criminal, and for a moment he didn't know what to say. Nami, holding Lake's arm triumphantly, made a face at Barry.

After glancing around, Lake stopped joking and directly asked Kaku, "How's the Going Merry?"

Kaku immediately dropped his smile and said seriously, "The external damage to your ship is mostly repairable, but the keel is no longer sufficient to support your continued voyage. This ship has long exceeded its limits, and the keel could break at any moment if you continue sailing."

"So, the Going Merry can't sail anymore..." Usopp, who had been unconscious, suddenly woke up and asked.

Kaku nodded and continued, "The best course of action for this ship right now is to leave it here. If you want to continue sailing, I suggest you get a new ship. This one is quite old and won't be able to handle the more dangerous seas ahead."

Everyone fell silent. Lake gently patted Nami's shoulder and said, "We understand about the ship. We'll handle it ourselves. We'll come back to you if needed."

After saying that, Lake and the other three left Shipyard One, preparing to return to the Going Merry to discuss things. Of course, Lake also needed a plan for Robin's situation.

On the way, Lake encountered Sanji, Chopper, and the Going Merry on Chopper's back, who were searching for Robin. Lake told them not to worry and to return to the ship first.

Soon after, the entire Straw Hat crew gathered on the Going Merry. Lake briefly explained the situation regarding the Going Merry, and everyone on board fell silent.

But this time, before Lake could speak, Luffy suddenly said, "Friends! I've decided, we're getting a new ship. The Going Merry is a very important member of our crew; we can't let her get hurt anymore. Just like that long-nosed guy said, staying here is the best option for her."

After Luffy finished speaking, everyone looked at Usopp, who had been keeping his head down. At that moment, Merry quietly came to Usopp's side and gently tugged at his hand.

Usopp looked into Merry's eyes, wiped away his tears, and looked up, saying, "I agree. Even though the Going Merry is here, Merry is still with us, isn't she? She's always been our comrade!"

Usopp's acceptance put his crew at ease. As for the future of the new ship and the Going Merry, Lake had already taken care of everything. The crew had no objections; this was standard practice on the ship. You could trust Lake to handle things.

Chapter 105 Preparing for Enies Lobby, Rocket Man Departs"Now that the ship issue is resolved, it's time for another big matter: Robin..."

Lake then spent some time explaining Robin's situation, making everyone understand why she left and why they couldn't just bring her back.

Even Luffy understood, showing how seriously everyone took their crew's affairs. After everything was explained, Luffy shouted angrily.

"That Robin doesn't trust us! I'm going to give her a piece of my mind when we get her back!"

Luffy probably understood, but not completely. For a simple-minded person like him, that was the best he could comprehend.

While Lake and his crew were discussing things on the Going Merry, something big happened in Water 7. The CP9 agents revealed they had attacked Mayor Iceberg.

Through intelligence, they had learned the location of the Pluton blueprints, so they also captured Franky. Now, things were quite lively outside the Going Merry.

Franky's family henchmen, the shipwrights from the Galleyra Company, and Iceberg, bandaged up, were all guarding them outside.

The group had barely stepped outside when a commotion erupted.

"Straw Hat crew! Please, save our leader!"

"Please! He was entrusted with building a ship for you, please help our leader!"

"Straw Hat crew, I'm here to talk to you about your crewmate, Nico Robin. There are some things I think you need to know."

...

Although the Franky family had some past conflicts with Lake and his crew, they had sincerely apologized, and Lake had already punished them.

What Iceberg wanted to talk about was the treaty Robin had reached with the government. A woman who had been on the run for 20 years had chosen not to continue running this time.

Instead, she was willing to sacrifice herself to ensure the Straw Hat crew's safe departure from the island. Iceberg was shocked when he heard Robin's words.

He hadn't expected Nico Robin to compromise for this, even allowing the World Government to obtain the blueprints for the Ancient Weapon Pluton, even if the Ancient Weapon was awakened.

Regardless of the consequences or the safety of the world, Nico Robin chose to protect her companions, leaving Iceberg helpless.

So he decided to tell Lake and the others about it. Lake had already told them about Robin, and with Iceberg's words, the situation became clear.

Now, everyone had only one thought in mind: to bring Robin back, even if it meant going against the world.

With everything cleared up, while the companions were still figuring out how to get Robin back, Lake led them to a certain place.

Kokkoro and Zimony were already waiting there, unaware even of Iceberg's presence. This was all pre-arranged by Lake, prioritizing efficiency.

The sea train "Rocket Man" set off, but this time they didn't take anyone with them. Enies Lobby would serve as their springboard to make a good impression.

Rocket Man, as the first prototype sea train, was unable to be used due to its inability to brake, considering the unpredictable dangers that Enies Lobby might present.

Lake didn't even bring Kokoro and Chimney along; only the entire Straw Hat crew was on the train. A driver was unnecessary.

Once the train started, it would just keep moving along the tracks, and since Rocket Man didn't have brakes, a driver was completely unnecessary.

Clang, clang, clang…

The crew gathered together on the train, with Lake explaining their mission.

"Primary objective: Rescue Robin! Completion conditions: 1. Fight your way to the interior of Enies Lobby. 2. Declare war on the World Government in front of Robin. 3. Last but most important... Buster Call! Crush that damn Buster Call! Any confidence?!"

"Okay!"

"Besides the main mission, everyone be mindful of your safety. CP9 guys aren't that strong, but this is their territory after all. There might be hidden enemies, so stay vigilant!"

"Okay!"

"Once the mission is complete, everyone assemble and retreat using the Proverb to prevent a delay where a Marine Admiral might arrive to provide support."

"Okay!"

"Damn it! Listen to me, Luffy!"

...

Lake's plan this time was to show the world the Straw Hat crew's strength. Supernovas? Don't be ridiculous. If you're going to do it, do it the best.

Aside from some bumps along the way, everything went smoothly, and they made their way to Enies Lobby without any problems.

However, since they had no brakes, they had to find another way. Lake stood on the hood, his companions peering at him with puzzled expressions. Lightning crackled beneath Lake's feet, gradually engulfing Rocket Man in its electric glow.

"Hold on tight, about to accelerate!"

Whoosh!

"Ahhhhhh!"

Accelerated by Lake, Rocket Man flew off the bent railing and plunged headfirst into the interior of Enies Lobby.

The island houses a court directly under the World Government. Although called a court, it operates solely on the World Government's will. Anyone brought to Enies Lobby is presumed a criminal.

In its 800-year history, no innocent person has ever been acquitted. Criminals are simply escorted through empty courthouses, eventually reaching a cold, massive steel gate.

This is the Gate of Justice. Those who pass through this gate rarely return, symbolizing the World Government's absolute justice.

The island can be divided into four parts: the front island, the main island, the Tower of Justice, and the Bridge of Hesitation. There is also the Gate of Justice located at the back of the island.

Rocket Man immediately plunged onto the front island. Robin and Franky were taken inside the Tower of Justice, to a luxurious office.

Those present, besides the previously defected spies Rob Lucci, Kaku, Kalifa, and Bruno, were Jabra, Kujira, and Owl, who had been with CP9 all along.

Their superior was Spandam, a pure-blooded flyer. He became a superior solely because of his father, the former head of CP9 and the mastermind behind the Ohara incident.

Because Lucci and his team completed their mission successfully, Spandam requested a reward: Devil Fruits. Kaku and Kalifa each ate a Devil Fruit.

In Lake's eyes, they had all become fusion materials. The battle for Enies Lobby was about to begin. With the Straw Hat crew's intrusion, Enies Lobby immediately went on high alert.

The piercing sirens echoed throughout Enies Lobby. Spandam, in his office, received the news of the intrusion immediately. Hearing that there were only seven people, he disdainfully hung up the phone. At that moment, he had no idea that his life was about to end.

Chapter 106: Formal Declaration of War Against the World Government"Leave the grunts to me. Don't waste time here, you guys keep going." As he finished speaking, a terrifying aura suddenly erupted from Lake. 

War& Conflict

*Whoosh*

A powerful pressure instantly enveloped the entire front island. A large number of guards collapsed, their eyes rolling back in their heads. Only a few with stronger willpower managed to hold on.

Lake, seeing this, wasn't entirely satisfied. He muttered to himself, "As expected, even basic Conqueror's Haki isn't enough."

With that, Lake raised his hand, releasing a bolt of lightning into the sky. The next second...

*Sizzle!*

Bolts of lightning rained down from the sky, and the guards who had barely held on finally collapsed under the baptism of the lightning. The companions then charged towards the second Gate of Justice.

The guards at the gate were two giants, but even giants posed no threat to them now, as they were merely enemies blocking their path.

Without much exchange, Luffy, who was at the forefront, immediately attacked. He bit his fingertip, blowing air into the gaps in his bones, causing his hand to grow enormous, and leaped into the air, shouting...

"Gear Third, Gum-Gum Giant Dual Pistols!"

Bang!

One punch from one person ended the battle instantly. The two giants, defeated, collapsed to the ground, crying and recounting their story. It turned out they had been deceived by the government into working as guards there.

Oimo and Kashi were originally members of the Giant Warrior Pirates led by Dorry and Brogy, but were betrayed by the World Government.

They lied, claiming their leaders, Dorry and Brogy, were imprisoned by the World Government, promising their release if Oimo and Kashi worked for the government for 100 years.

The two giants believed the World Government's lie and guarded Enies Lobby for 50 years. Upon hearing this, Usopp angrily revealed the truth.

The two giants, realizing they had been deceived, instantly turned against Luffy and his crew, attacking the guards and clearing a path for them to reach the main island.

The main island was mostly filled with various empty, symbolic courthouses, ending at the Inquisition. There was no road connecting the Inquisition to the Tower of Justice.

A massive waterfall separated the two, and the only way to reach the Tower of Justice was by opening drawbridges at the top of the towers on either side of the Inquisition.

The main island also had many guards, but there were none of any worth mentioning. Luffy and his crew didn't even need to lift a finger; the two giants cleared them all out.

Their steps finally halted upon entering the courtroom, where the presiding judge and his team of guard dogs blocked their way.

The tall, three-headed judge was indeed intimidating, but he was actually three people dressed in one garment.

On the left was Bass, on the right was Kabil, and in the middle was a self-proclaimed princess. The three heads were constantly at odds, still just minor figures.

What was truly noteworthy was the appearance of the first CP9 member. Brook used the Door-Door Fruit to take Luffy away, and the two appeared on the roof of the courtroom.

"Robin's in that building over there! Get out of my way, you idiot."

"Looks like you haven't realized this is a world-class crime."

"What are you trying to say?"

"The World Government has the power of over 170 member states worldwide, and your invasion of this island means... you are simultaneously at odds with all 170+ nations. The World Government will maintain its authority, expose your evil deeds, and execute you!"

"Enough with the nonsense! I don't care who I'm at odds with! Give Robin back!"

"Just a few people, such insignificant power."

"Like was right. Talking to you guys is pointless. Might makes right in this world."

"Hmph! We CP9 members are all masters of the Six Powers. Even a fight here is meaningless. You bunch of petty thieves who invaded Enies Lobby have no future!"

Luffy ignored Bruno and simply struck a pose, reciting the command.

"Enter, Gear Second! Gum-Gum..."

"You ungrateful wretch, Iron Body!"

"Gum-Gum Jet Pistol!"

"Pfft!"

With one punch, Bruno was dragged back a considerable distance along with the ground, even spitting out blood. Bruno clutched his stomach in disbelief.

"This...this is impossible! It actually broke my Iron Body..."

Luffy, expressionless, shook his hand and said, "You're pretty tough, buddy. I don't have time to waste here with you, you idiot!"

"Shave!"

Bruno suddenly vanished from his spot, but this speed was no match for Luffy's Observation Haki. Just as Bruno was smugly thinking Luffy hadn't noticed him, Luffy spoke.

"Too slow."

Whoosh!

As soon as he finished speaking, Luffy also vanished instantly. Bruno, his attack missing its mark, stared wide-eyed, saying, "Impossible...this is...Shave! Why is it so fast!"

Unfortunately, only Luffy's fist answered him.

"Gum-Gum Jet!"

Bang!

"Ugh..."

The blow knocked Bruno unconscious instantly. Shocked, he didn't even have time to unleash his signature Iron Body technique. The punch rendered him powerless.

His eyes rolled back as he collapsed to the ground. Luffy silently deactivated Gear Second, exhaled a long breath, looked around, and then leaped to the top of the tower.

His crew arrived shortly after. Lake, leading a lost Zoro, was the last to arrive. Each of them took a pillar and stood beside Luffy, while Robin stood opposite them.

Besides Robin, the remaining CP9 members were also present, along with a smug Spandam and a Franky lying on the ground. At this moment, Robin's emotions finally erupted, and she shouted.

"Why did you come to save me?! I told you I didn't want to live anymore! You promised me, Lake! What about my choice if you do this?!"

After a moment of silence, Luffy picked his nose and said, "Hey Robin, look, we've come all this way. No matter what you say, we'll save you. If you really want to die, then we'll talk about it after we bring you back."

Only Luffy could say something so outrageous, but it clearly worked. You could tell Robin's feelings just by looking at the tears in her eyes.

With the atmosphere reaching this point, Lake felt he should say something. So he coughed twice and spoke in a normal voice, but it carried clearly to everyone's ears.

"Robin, just like Luffy said, whatever you do next, even if you don't want to live anymore, come back first. How can the crew make decisions without the captain's permission?"

Luffy, standing nearby, nodded repeatedly with a bright smile upon hearing Lake's words. Lake continued,

"Also, CP9, that masked idiot, and that rat lurking in the shadows—listen up! The Straw Hat crew hereby declares war on the World Government!"

Chapter 107 Demon Slaughter Order Erupts, Fusion and EnhancementLake's words were clearly heard by everyone on Enies Lobby, thanks to the Rumble-Rumble Fruit's super-wide-range Observation Haki.

Upon hearing Lake's words, the CP9 members on the other side turned ashen-faced, with Spandam looking utterly bewildered. However, the declaration of war couldn't end so hastily.

Luffy's gaze fell upon the flag fluttering above the Tower of Enies, a flag representing an alliance of over 170 nations worldwide.

"Usopp, shoot through that flag!"

"Understood!"

Bang!

The muzzle of the destructive gun seemed to be engulfed in flames; the bullet was instantly covered in a layer of fire, leaving a swirling trail of flame as it pierced through the flag.

Now, the declaration of war was official! Spandam, at this moment, completely lost his composure, thinking to himself.

"Are these pirates insane?! No matter what, my life and promotion are the most important things right now. If these guys run rampant, who will protect me if something happens?!"

Then he burst into maniacal laughter, shouting, "Hahaha! You idiot pirate crew, no matter how much you cause trouble, the outcome won't change! We have the strongest CP9 here, and the Gate of Justice that no human can open. Most importantly, I have the Golden Den Den Mushi! That's the authority to activate the Buster Call!"

Robin's expression changed instantly upon hearing "Buster Call," her fear becoming palpable. However, before he could say anything more,

Lake suddenly spoke up, "Then press it."

Spandam instantly forgot all the arrogant words he had intended to say, staring blankly at Lake, then shouted angrily.

"You think I wouldn't dare! You bastard! Once the Buster Call is activated, no one here will escape. An indiscriminate attack by 10 warships, 5 vice admirals, and the Navy's elite forces..."

Before he could finish, Lake interrupted again, "Then go ahead and press it!"

His tone was mocking and sarcastic. Spandam had never been provoked like this before, and his already short-tempered mind instantly lost its temper.

*Beep*

He abruptly pressed the button on his golden Den Den Mushi, only realizing his mistake afterward and screaming in terror, "I'm doomed! I actually pressed it!"

Robin was also stunned. The CP9 members beside him glared angrily at Spandam, while Lucci coldly stepped forward and grabbed him, saying...

"I'll leave this to you guys. I'll take the commander and leave first. Nico Robin, you stay with him. Don't make me lift a finger."

However, Lake, the mastermind behind all this, showed no sign of panic. Instead, he had a smile on his face, and Usopp excitedly shouted to him.

"Plan succeeded, Lake! What's next? Are you confident?"

Lake nodded and said, "I'm counting on you guys to bring Robin back. Everyone, come back safely. I'll handle the Buster Call."

His companions nodded in agreement. Then, with a wave of his hand, a gust of wind suddenly appeared, sweeping everyone except himself into the whirlwind and flying straight towards the Tower of Justice.

Having done all this, Lake turned to look at the distant sea and then opened his control panel, mainly to check the Devil Fruit status.

Devil Fruits: Chop-Chop Fruit (weakened version), Smoke-Smoke Fruit (weakened version), Magma-Magma Fruit (weakened version), Ice-Ice Fruit (weakened version), Door-Door Fruit (weakened version), Cat-Cat Fruit (Leopard Mode, weakened version), Ox-Ox Fruit (Giraffe Mode, weakened version), Bubble-Bubble Fruit (weakened version), Silence-Silence Fruit (enhanced version), Rumble-Rumble Fruit (enhanced version), Wind-Wind Fruit.

Including the Door-Door Fruit and Cat-Cat Fruit copied from Blueo in Water 7, and the Ox-Ox Fruit and Bubble-Bubble Fruit copied by Lake later from Kaku, these materials should now come in handy.

"System, fuse Cat-Cat Fruit and Ox-Ox Fruit, enhance Ice-Ice Fruit, fuse Bubble-Bubble Fruit and Smoke-Smoke Fruit, enhance Magma-Magma Fruit."

"Fusion complete."

Devil Fruits: Chop-Chop Fruit (weakened version), Door-Door Fruit (weakened version), Silence-Silence Fruit (enhanced version), Rumble-Rumble Fruit (enhanced version), Wind-Wind Fruit, Magma-Magma Fruit, Ice-Ice Fruit.

Lake's original plan was to become an all-around warrior, but frankly, he felt the progress was too slow.

The Chop-Chop Fruit, which he initially had high hopes for, was still a weakened version with virtually no chance of improvement. Now, he had gained the extremely useful Door-Door Fruit.

If things continued at the current pace, the Door-Door Fruit would end up rotting in Lake's inventory like the Chop-Chop Fruit. He had many more abilities he frequently used, but he wouldn't be able to utilize them.

Since combat would definitely rely on his strongest abilities, Lake made another decision after weighing the options.

"System, fuse the Magma-Magma Fruit and the Ice-Ice Fruit, and enhance the Wind-Wind Fruit."

"Fusion complete."

Devil Fruits: Chop-Chop Fruit (weakened version), Door-Door Fruit (weakened version), Silence-Silence Fruit (enhanced version), Rumble-Rumble Fruit (enhanced version), Wind-Wind Fruit (enhanced version).

Now it's much more streamlined. Although he lost Akainu and Aokiji's abilities, his most comfortable Wind-Wind Fruit had finally been enhanced to the same level as the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.

Now, Lake essentially possesses two awakened Devil Fruit abilities, significantly increasing his overall strength. As for those two abilities...

It's not like we won't see them again. We can just use Hollow Eyes to create another one when we meet. Lake's confidence has soared with this renewed surge in power.

Even if a General were to arrive today, he would definitely destroy this Buster Call head-on! Thinking this, Lake took off from the spot, an invisible wind carrying him high into the sky.

Before the main event begins, Lake intends to observe his companions' situation. With their current strength, barring any unforeseen circumstances, nothing unexpected should happen.

At least, that's the case when dealing with the CP9 guys. The only possible variable is the aura Lake has been constantly sensing, hidden somewhere.

If it weren't for the fact that the opponent had used some ability to block his senses, allowing Lake to detect their presence but not pinpoint their location,

Lake would have already gone and dragged them out. For now, he'll just observe and see how the altered protagonist group performs against CP9.

A gust of wind from Lake carried them directly to the Tower of Justice. They were initially supposed to land on the roof, but the enemy, lacking any sense of honor, launched an attack.

A barrage of storm kicks rained down on them. Since most of them couldn't use the air for leverage to launch an attack, Sanji finally stepped in, single-handedly deflecting all the attacks, causing them to land at the main entrance.

Chapter 108 Thanks to the owl for the intelligence."Wait a minute~" The group heard a voice as soon as they entered the Tower of Justice.

Looking over, they saw a sphere—oops, a person—and Luffy immediately asked, puzzled.

"What's that?"

The person ignored Luffy and continued, "Chaba baba~ It's been hacked! Even if you go now, Nico Robin isn't there anymore. Lucci is taking her to the Gate of Justice. Oh, and the officer went with her too."

He rattled off a whole bunch of information right off the bat. Anyone who didn't know better would think he was a teammate. Nami, noticing something amiss, seized the opportunity to speak.

"Is that so? Thank you for giving us such important information."

Hearing Nami's words, the person immediately looked distressed and said, "Chaba baba~ I accidentally let it slip!"

Chopper was shocked. They had seen this person earlier, standing with that group, so he was definitely a member of CP9.

The owl had a zipper on his beak because he often "accidentally" let slip important information, but since it was too late, he continued.

"It's no use you knowing. I won't tell you how to get there. To prevent you from succeeding, the commander has ordered CP9 to annihilate you! You can't rescue Nico Robin unless you defeat us."

Luffy, looking annoyed, shouted, "I would have done it even if you hadn't said anything!"

The owl chuckled and said, "Chaba~ That's pretty arrogant, but let me say one more thing."

Sanji, though impatient, still politely replied, "Say what you want to say."

The owl paused for a moment, then pulled a key from his pocket and said, "Ah, thank you. Look at this! This is the key to unlock Nico Robin's seastone handcuffs. Even if you manage to rescue Nico Robin, seastone is as hard as diamond. Without this key, you'll never be able to open those handcuffs, chaba~"

Zoro frowned and said, "As hard as diamond... In that case, even with Armament Haki, you can't cut it."

Usopp pondered for a moment and said, "Like can handle seastone. I remember he cut through a seastone cage back in Alabasta."

Nami chimed in, "That's right. Rek deliberately fell into Crocodile's trap—the seastone cage—when he went to rescue Robin."

Sanji lit a cigarette and said, "Looks like that guy's way ahead of us. But that's good, we don't have to worry about Robin's handcuffs anymore."

Chopper, remembering something, turned and looked behind him, saying, "But Rek probably won't be able to get away with the Buster Call, so the key is still very necessary!"

Merry exclaimed excitedly, "Brother Chopper is right! I want to do my part for Robin too!"

The owl, seeing it was being ignored, shouted, "Chappa! You guys are too arrogant! No one can open seastone with brute force. If you want to rescue Nico Robin, you can only use the key I have. But there are five CP9 members in this tower, including myself, and we're all waiting for you with a key!"

After saying that, the guy ran off. Excited, Luffy immediately rushed after him, but Zoro quickly stopped him, as they needed to make some arrangements.

Sanji looked at everyone and said, "Lucci is the guy who keeps pigeons, right? If he's with Robin, then let Luffy go first."

Then, Sanji said to Luffy, who was still struggling to rush out, "Luffy! You have to defeat that pigeon guy!

Besides Luffy, there are six of us left. We need to snatch the key from these five CP9 members, and then we'll chase after Luffy.

If Robin gets taken to the Gate of Justice, it'll be dangerous. Even Lake might not be able to withstand the government's full-scale attack.

So we have to race against time. Defeat is a waste of time. Everyone has to win, even if it means death!"

After making the arrangements, Luffy was the first to rush out, like a wild horse. The rest of the crew set off at the same time and then split up.

Zoro, considering personal reasons, left with Merry, and the crew began their grand operation to search for CP9 throughout the Tower of Enforcement.

Whether it was luck or bad luck, Usopp randomly opened a door and stumbled upon someone—the very same guy they had met before.

CP9, Owl, was a master of the "Shave" technique among the CP9 members, and also knew the Six Powers technique "Te-ga."

He could measure the level of physical skills and could fix his body to a corner of the ceiling. Because he wasn't good at keeping secrets, he had a zipper on his mouth.

Round body, round head, short arms and legs, like a ball, giving the impression of being weak. So this time, Usopp didn't back down.

Instead, he bravely faced the owl, taking off his Destruction sword and aiming it at him, saying, "You're locked on! Hand over the key if you don't want to die!"

The owl's tone suddenly turned low upon hearing Usopp's voice, saying, "Chaba, are you sure you're aiming at me?"

"Shave!"

Bang!

"Ah!"

His attempt to show off failed. Even with his Shaved Owl technique, Usopp still managed to hit him with a single shot. A patch of blood appeared on the chubby owl's body, and Usopp looked at him smugly.

The owl, clutching his wound, said in bewilderment, "This is impossible! You could actually see my speed? Cha-ba-ba~"

Usopp wiped his nose and said proudly, "Your speed, which you're so proud of, is useless against the Sniper King. My locked-on enemy can't possibly miss!"

Usopp, with his intermediate Observation Haki and awakened Destruction, found the owl's speed utterly insignificant.

However, he was still too naive. Just as Usopp was feeling smug, the owl suddenly disappeared again, launching a sneak attack. Fortunately, Usopp dodged the owl's attack at the crucial moment using Paper Drawing.

It seems that being kidnapped by Franky's henchmen because of his smugness had taught Usopp a lesson. The owl was utterly shocked by what he had just witnessed.

"That's the Six Powers... paper drawing... how is that possible? Why would a pirate know the Six Powers? Are you also a government spy?"

"Cough cough! What?! Don't talk nonsense! I'm the Straw Hat crew's sniper! The great Sniper King! A World Government spy?! You're kidding me! I mastered those techniques effortlessly."

The owl clearly didn't believe Usopp's words: "Stop bragging. The Six Powers are extremely difficult to master; most people couldn't possibly learn them. Your performance just now was definitely not that of a beginner. Let me see who you really are, chababa!"

Chapter 109 The Liar King's Special Fighting Style"Iron Body - Jade!"

The owl leaped off the ground, then spun rapidly, combining it with "Shave," using "Iron Body" during the high-speed spin.

All the attack power was concentrated at the apex, unleashing a powerful attack with the force generated by the high-speed spin—this was the owl's special extended Iron Body technique.

Faced with such an attack, Usopp panicked and hurriedly retreated, but he was no match for the owl's speed.

Boom! Boom! Boom…

However, Usopp dodged each of the owl's attacks with incredible precision, as if he had eyes in the back of his head. Finally, Usopp hid behind a pillar.

"Huff… Ha… This guy is too fast. I have to find an opportunity, as long as I can…"

Boom!

Before he could finish speaking, Usopp sensed danger with his Observation Haki and rolled to the side. The pillar behind him exploded instantly as he rolled away.

The owl swaggered out of the ruins, hopping and hooting, "Chaba~ Quick reflexes, huh? But once I upgrade, you won't be able to dodge!"

"Super Spin - Iron Body 'Jade'!"

The horizontal impact version of Iron Body 'Jade' more than doubled in power and speed. Usopp couldn't dodge in time and crashed head-on, but managed to use Paper Drawing at the last second to avoid complete damage.

"Ah!"

Blood streamed from Usopp's forehead as he was sent flying. Panting, he got up, his eyes turning fierce, and let out a chilling laugh.

"Heh heh heh~ Hahahaha! You've already lost."

"Huh? Got stunned? Chaba~"

"Ignorant fool, you don't know my true power. I haven't been injured for three hundred years, because I go into a frenzy whenever I bleed!"

"Three hundred years? How is that possible?"

"My greatest weakness is that I only tell the truth, but telling you is useless now. You're finished. No one has ever seen me bleed in three hundred years, because everyone who has seen me is dead!"

"What! You only tell the truth?! That's terrifying! Chaba~ I wanted to run away... but I can't explain it to my superior, so I've decided to stay."

"Hmph~ Aren't you afraid of death, you fool? In that case, let you experience despair!"

"I'm doomed~ Chibaba~"

"Blood Mark! Once touched by my Blood Mark, you'll be endlessly hunted. Only by facing it head-on can you break it! You actually said it outright, but you definitely don't have the courage to face my blood!"

"So that's how you break it? I won't run away, Chibaba!"

"Take this!"

"Huh? This is... Ah! It's spicy! My eyes! This isn't blood at all! You're lying!"

"Hahahaha! This is blood, the blood of the devil's chili pepper from hell, it's over!"

This is what happens when a liar meets an honest person who can't keep their mouth shut and tells the truth. The outcome of the battle was predetermined from the start. At this moment, the owl is painfully covering its eyes, while Usopp opposite it is laughing wildly.

The enraged owl, even though it can't see, decides to attack Usopp directly. Tears streaming down its face, unable to open its eyes, it suddenly shouts:

"Beast's Might Secret Technique: Owl's Rampage!"

Beast's Might is an extension of the owl's special finger gun technique. It's not an attack using the fingers, but rather a transformed finger gun that uses a punching style.

This move is an enhanced version of Beast's Might, first creating multiple clones, then overwhelming the enemy with a barrage of punches. Seeing the terrifying attack before him, Usopp was sweating profusely.

However, he remained calm and composed, adjusting his breathing as he prepared to strike at a crucial moment.

"Ultimate Kill - Annihilation Gun!"

Bang!

Black Haki covered the bullet, wreathed in red flame patterns, and it was launched with a powerful impact, striking the owl's attack the instant it made contact.

"Ah!"

A scream rang out as the owl was sent flying by the impact. Even with all his strength, he couldn't withstand the attack of a single bullet.

Ultimately powerless to resist, he was embedded in the wall, completely unconscious. Usopp's shot wasn't meant to kill; the bullet hole appeared on the owl's head.

The fact that the bullet could be seen through to the sky was a testament to its power. After the attack, Usopp took the key from the owl.

He then collapsed to the ground, panting heavily. Recalling the battle, a proud smile appeared on his face, and he laughed twice, beginning to boast.

The scene shifts to Sanji. He pushes open a door to a room decorated in a woman's style. Seeing no one there, he's about to leave when his Observation Haki suddenly warns him.

Sanji immediately steps forward to dodge, then frowns and turns away. However, upon seeing Kalifa, Sanji instantly falls for her.

His fighting power drops to zero, his eyes turn into hearts, and he fawns over her like a devoted follower. Kalifa hadn't expected this man to be so easy to deal with.

So she prepared to easily subdue Sanji. Just as Sanji was about to be caught off guard and have his Devil Fruit power used, suddenly...

Whoosh!

A gust of wind swept through, blowing Sanji and Kalifa away. Kalifa barely managed to regain her footing and immediately looked towards the window.

Sanji did the same, but upon seeing Nami, he instantly snapped back to reality, letting out a long sigh of relief.

"Nami-san, thanks for the rescue. This place is yours now. I'm going to find the next person."

Nami nodded, and Sanji immediately ran off to find the other person. The battlefield had become Nami and Kalifa.

Originally a member of CP9, Kalifa, proficient in the Six Powers, had no problem dealing with a defenseless navigator like Nami. But times had changed.

"Elemental Power: Water Flow!"

Nami, wielding the Great Elemental Staff, transformed instantly. Her blue outfit looked particularly striking, and with a casual wave of her hand, a torrent of water appeared out of thin air, covering the entire room.

Thankfully, it wasn't an ocean current, otherwise Kalifa would have surrendered without even fighting. Using Moonwalk, Kalifa hid on the ceiling.

Just as the water was about to spread here, she launched an attack towards Nami.

"Moonwalk - Path of Thorns!"

Kalifa first used "Moonwalk" to move through the air, then unleashed a wide-range attack from above with her thorn whip, but unfortunately, this move had little effect.

"Water Flow - Flowing Water Barrier"

Nami simply waved her hand, and flowing water enveloped her, forming a barrier that, while seemingly just water, completely blocked Kalifa's attack.

Kalifa, seeing her attack fail, was about to retreat when Nami suddenly launched an attack, her Great Elemental Staff flashing with blue light.

"Water Flow - Imprisoning Water Prison!"

A glowing water sphere flew towards Kalifa. Seeing this, Kalifa smiled slightly, knowing that such speed couldn't possibly hit her; she was instantly proven wrong.

Chapter 110 Elemental Power, Nami's Overwhelming Victory"Ah... glug glug glug~"

The confident Kalifa was completely unaware that she was already enveloped in water. By the time she realized it, there was no way to escape, and the blue water sphere behind her struck her directly.

Instantly, Kalifa lost her mobility, as if she had fallen into a water tank. While she struggled, Nami was already preparing to unleash her killing move.

The Great Elementalist's Staff spun in front of Nami, and water that appeared out of thin air began to gather in front of her, the blue light shining even brighter.

Kalifa panicked. She began to struggle and launch attacks incessantly, trying to break free of the water prison.

"Death Finger Gun - Whip! Glug glug..."

Kalifa transformed her fingers into a spring-like shape, making them flexible and easy to stab at the enemy. The attack left a whip-like afterimage, increasing both speed and power.

Pop~

After a crisp sound, Kalifa finally broke free of her restraints. Nami was still gathering her strength. After a moment of contemplation, Kalifa immediately made her decision.

"Bubble Master - Soap Sheep!"

Kalifa chose to take the initiative, activating her Bubble-Bubble Fruit power. She gathered all the nearby bubbles and bubbles around her body, enveloping herself.

Her body transformed into the shape of a sheep, with horns formed by her arched arms at her sides. In this Bubble Sheep form, Kalifa charged towards Nami.

At this moment, Nami surprisingly smiled. Her clothes suddenly changed color, and a strange gust of wind appeared, instantly scattering all the bubbles around Kalifa.

Nami instantly switched elements, unleashing an elemental vortex. Kalifa, completely bewildered, was blown away. In her bubble form, she was utterly powerless against the gust.

To avoid being blown away, Kalifa had no choice but to revert to her original form. Before she could even react, Nami's attack was already upon her.

"Cyclone - Ultimate Flash!"

Accompanied by an invisible gust of wind, the spinning Elemental Staff unleashed a terrifying beam of energy, arriving before Kalifa in the blink of an eye.

"Ah!"

A scream rang out as Kalifa was engulfed in a beam of light. Moments later, Nami returned to her original form, while Kalifa lay sprawled on the ground, eyes rolled back and smoke rising from her body.

Nami's control over elemental power had become increasingly proficient. It remained to be seen whether she could achieve elemental fusion before the final battle.

The Great Elementalist's Staff granted Nami a very high potential; its rarity, in Lex's opinion, was comparable to some of his own exclusive abilities. Nami's impressive track record was hardly surprising.

Now that two CP9 members were down, Lex's current state revealed that Enies Lobby was completely surrounded by warships.

Five Vice Admirals were already in position, standing prominently on the warships, displaying their authority, their surrounding sailors also looking serious.

However, in a second, they would completely lose their composure. Lex had been waiting for this, and seeing their opponents' entrance, he naturally wanted to teach them a lesson as a warning.

"Perfect timing, I'll play Thor for a bit and experience divine punishment."

"Divine punishment descends!"

Boom!

The once calm sky instantly darkened with dense clouds. The five vice admirals stared grimly at the heavens, for the divine punishment was about to descend.

Blue lightning bolts, carrying an aura of destruction, crashed down. Even the supposedly elite naval soldiers on the warship, their legs trembling at the sight.

The five vice admirals each displayed their unique skills, all crashing head-on into the lightning pillars. For a moment, the situation reached a stalemate, and the naval soldiers on the other side rallied in encouragement.

Lake scoffed disdainfully, "This is an enhanced version of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, its power equivalent to a fruit awakening. You're no match for it!"

With that, Lake flicked his finger downwards, amplifying the power of the divine punishment. The five vice admirals, who had fought so hard, were instantly engulfed by the lightning pillars.

A deep crater was blasted into the warship, extending into the sea. Moments later, all the warships sank to the bottom of the ocean. The once-imposing naval forces were now desperately swimming towards Enies Lobby.

With Lake's current top-tier combat power, he wouldn't even consider attacking anyone less than an Admiral. These guys were simply no match for him, and Lake wasn't in a hurry to continue.

He needed to cause an even bigger stir, so he gave them a chance to breathe. There was also the rat lurking in the shadows; Lake could sense a significant fluctuation in its aura when he attacked earlier.

It seemed this guy had been waiting for an opportunity to ambush. Sure enough, a rat is a rat, only daring to hide in the shadows and look for an opening. Lake silently closed his eyes, hovering in the air to rest.

Back with his companions, Chopper was terrified of the large, white-haired figure before him. This guy was also a member of CP9, named Kuchiriki.

Mainly because of his strange appearance, his face was covered in a thick layer of white foundation, and his facial features were outlined with black paint. He also spoke with drawn-out syllables…

In short, he was very strange. Chopper was still afraid of this weirdo, but thinking of Robin, he mentally cheered himself up.

"We can't run away! Robin is waiting for us to save her. For my comrades, I can't back down! Charge, Chopper Mask!"

Chopper Mask was a nickname given to Chopper because of a story Lake had told him, encouraging him to create a powerful title like Usopp's. Chopper Mask was also a hero's title.

Instantly, Chopper felt incredibly brave. He transformed into his original form, his hooves stomping the ground, his feet covered in black Haki, and shouted at his opponent.

"Hand over the key right now, or I'll make my move!"

"Yo yo ee~ You actually chose to attack me directly~ I'm such a failure~ I'm going to commit seppuku~ Testai! What a pity~ I can't die~"

"That's really strange..."

"If I commit seppuku, I can see my mother in that world~ Waaah~"

"So his mother is gone..."

"Yo yo ee~ My mother is still alive~ And she was a professional assassin~"

"What! Was I tricked?!"

Any normal person who overheard their conversation would think it was insane. Chopper is so naive that he believes everything people say, while Kujiri's words sound like those of a madman.

The slightly comical atmosphere continued until, unexpectedly, Kugatori suddenly attacked. As expected, assassins love using sneak attacks.

"Shave!"

Kagatori, who had instantly appeared behind Chopper, was about to launch a sneak attack when he was met with a devastating blow.

"Jump Boost: Cherry Blossom Mark!"

Bang!

"Ah!"

In the blink of an eye, the scene shifted to Kugatori, the attacker, lying prone on the shattered ground with a cherry blossom mark on his head, while Chopper, the one who had been ambushed, remained in the same position, falling through the air.

Chapter 111 Chopper VS. Kuga, almost came back to life in anger."A sneak attack! Luckily I reacted in time. Lake was right, Chopper Mask's power is indeed strong!" Chopper said, looking relieved after landing.

On the other side, Kuchiki lay motionless on the ground. Chopper thought he was dead and was about to approach when suddenly Kuchiki's hair stood on end.

This startled Chopper so much that his hair stood on end, physically. Kuchiki's hair began to rush towards Chopper, and Kuchiki slowly got up, raising his cane.

"Yo yo yi~ You saw through me, what a failure~ But once you're bound by my hair, you won't be able to escape~"

"Life Return: Hair Binding Technique!"

Kachiki's hair instantly transformed into retractable octopus tentacles, rushing towards Chopper. Panicked, Chopper dodged frantically, forgetting to retaliate.

Only when one of his hooves was grabbed did he react, immediately attacking and shouting.

"Wild Dance: Storm Horns!"

If Lake were to witness this, he would definitely applaud: "As expected of the signature Storm Horns, Chopper has really mastered it!"

The hard antlers, under Chopper's head-shaking and swaying, transformed into a wild flurry of slashes, instantly severing all the hair surrounding Chopper.

Kujiri was also surprised by this, but what surprised him even more was Chopper's earlier shout of "Storm Kick," which seemed to be "Storm Horns"?

Kujiri was completely bewildered, but he put his questions aside for now and launched another attack on Chopper.

"Life Return: Lion Finger Pistol!"

Using Life Return, Kujiri transformed his hair into many outstretched fingers, attacking simultaneously. Chopper, still defending against the hair, sensed the danger with his Observation Haki.

However, before he could react, he was struck and sent flying. But Kujiri didn't hear Chopper scream; instead, he heard a familiar yet perplexing voice.

"Iron Body!"

That's right, Chopper shouted "Iron Body" just before being hit? Kusatake's attack was incredibly powerful; it even blasted down the pillars in the room.

The smoke cleared, and now all Kusatake needed to do was wait for it to dissipate so he could see Chopper lying on the ground. His doubts would vanish, because the dead don't need to know anything.

But unfortunately, when the smoke cleared, Chopper was standing unharmed in the ruins. He wasn't even lying down; he didn't have a single scratch.

Kusato was completely dumbfounded, pointing at Chopper and shouting, "You...you...what happened to you? Why aren't you hurt? And you just shouted 'Iron Body,' right?!"

In his excitement, Kusatake even spoke faster, forgetting his usual catchphrase. The innocent Chopper tilted his head and answered Kusatake's question.

"It's Iron Body! Lake taught me. It seems like a really powerful move, but I don't know why Lake always tells me not to use it carelessly."

"What?!" Kusatake completely lost his composure, shouting in surprise.

Chopper was so frightened that he transformed into his muscular mode and assumed a defensive stance, thinking that the guy had suddenly gone mad. He then turned red-eyed and began muttering to himself.

"Iron Body... So that Tempest Kick from earlier was real... But how could there be something like Tempest Horn? That's impossible! An illusion! It must be an illusion, I'll expose you right now!"

As he spoke, Kuchiki attacked again, shouting.

"Shave! Finger Pistol Q!"

Kachiki, who had vanished from his spot, instantly reappeared above Chopper's head, then used his special Finger Pistol extension technique, forming a circle with his index finger and thumb.

He then hurled the iron pestle from within the circle at high speed. The power was so great that even though the pestle's end had no sharp point, it still managed to punch a hole through it.

Although Chopper's Observation Haki wasn't very strong, and his body couldn't keep up to dodge in time, he could still sense danger and confront it head-on.

"Iron Body: Tempest Horn Drill!"

Chopper unleashed his unique combination technique. The Iron Body defense increased his body's hardness, then he concentrated the Tempest Horn Drill's attack power into a single point.

The power was no less than Kuchiki's Finger Pistol Q, and perhaps even stronger.

*Bang!*

The moment their attacks collided, a powerful impact exploded from the center of the attack, sending dust flying everywhere.

After a brief stalemate, Chopper's attack prevailed. Kumamoto was sent flying head-on, his face showing disbelief. Chopper pressed his advantage, launching another attack.

"Charge - Storm Horn!"

"Storm Kick - Lotus!"

Unexpectedly, Kumamoto, who had lost his balance in mid-air, was still able to launch an attack. This attack's form was similar to "Storm Kick - Chaos."

The difference was that this attack could be used in the air. Although it would unleash a large number of slashing waves, the attack range wasn't as wide as "Storm Kick - Chaos."

A dense barrage of slashing waves attacked Chopper. Chopper didn't retreat, maintaining his charging stance and shouting.

"Iron Body!"

This shout instantly boosted his courage by 99% and defense by 1%. Chopper ignored Kuga's attacks and charged forward relentlessly, while Kuga continuously increased the intensity of his attacks.

Chopper's defenses had long since been breached, but Chopper himself remained unchanged, charging forward until he crashed headfirst into Kuga.

"No!"

Kua's final cry was filled with resentment as he was sent flying, embedding himself in the wall at incredible speed.

Instantly unconscious, his eyes rolling back in his head, looking utterly disheveled, Chopper proudly shouted as he saw his battle record restored.

"Chopper Mask! Invincible! Ah~ Ouch! When did I get so many wounds? I need to heal them quickly."

"Healing Palm Technique!"

A faint green light emanated from Chopper's hooves, and moments later, his injuries were completely healed. Kuga, who had already lost consciousness, suddenly coughed up blood again.

Suddenly, Chopper was startled and quickly and carefully took the key from his body before fleeing as if running away.

Another CP9 member fell, bringing the total number of CP9 members to three. The Straw Hat crew was almost unharmed, and the previously difficult battle on Enies Lobby had become remarkably easy.

Along the way, Lake had elevated the Straw Hat crew's strength to a whole new level. Meanwhile, Sanji, who had previously received support from Nami, had also found his enemy.

Zoro, led by Merry, also found his enemy. Finally, Luffy charged forward relentlessly, his motto being, "If there's no way to go, use your fists to open it."

They fought their way forward, closing the gap with Lucci. Everything was proceeding smoothly, but then, someone dialed a Den Den Mushi.

*Burp burp burp… burp burp burp… Clap~*

"This is CP0."

"Reporting."

"CP9's three-person mission failed. Sin attacked the Buster Call."

"As long as Lucci is alive, leave all CP9 members to him. Did the Buster Call threaten him?"

"The Buster Call was wiped out. It seems he wasn't serious. He may have already noticed me."

"Look for an opportunity. Don't report if necessary."

"Roger."

Clap

Chapter 112 The cunning wolf has fallen, and the swordsman's duel begins."Finally here? I've been staring at you impatiently! Let's see which lost lamb has bumped into me~"

"Lost lamb? Tch~ You're really being underestimated. But dealing with someone like you is no problem at all."

This conversation was between Sanji and CP9's Jabra. Sanji had just opened the door when he heard the guy's mocking voice. Already annoyed, Sanji was ready to give this mustachioed man a good taste of his anger.

Jabra, a user of the Dog-Dog Fruit—Wolf Form Fruit—is a member of CP9 with a Doki rating of 2180. He always believed his Doki was no less than Kaku's.

He is the only CP9 member who can freely use the Iron Body Fist technique even in his Iron Body form. He often uses despicable tactics, but his intelligence isn't very high.

Upon seeing Sanji, Jabra still wore a sinister smile. These CP9 members all had an arrogant and condescending attitude.

This reaction was understandable; the guy's smile would soon be gone. Sanji didn't waste any words and attacked directly.

Whoosh!

In an instant, Sanji disappeared. Jabra immediately recognized Sanji's speed and movement as using Shave. Before he could say anything, Sanji reappeared.

"First Meat SHOOT!"

"Iron Body!"

Bang!

With a muffled thud, Jabra blocked Sanji's attack, looking smug. "Is that all? Little lamb~"

The only response was a cold snort from Sanji. Sanji leaped into the air again, launching another swift attack. Jabra remained confident, not intending to dodge.

However, when burning blue flames appeared on Sanji's body, he panicked. But by then, it was too late to dodge.

"Diable Jambe - First Meat Shoot!"

"Iron Body... Ah!"

Jabra, using Iron Body again, couldn't withstand the blow. Sanji kicked him directly into the ground, shattering the earth with the force of the impact.

But that wasn't all. Sanji didn't land; he hovered in the air, using Moonwalk, his expression cold, the flames beneath his feet growing ever brighter. Then...

"Diable Jambe - Second Level Meat Grinder!"

Just as the meteor shower of attacks was about to strike Jabra, he finally stopped playing dead, suddenly performing a backflip to dodge Sanji's attack.

Then, his eyes darted around as if he'd thought of something, a barely perceptible smile appearing on his face. Then, he suddenly knelt on the ground, crying and shouting.

"I surrender! You're amazing! You've mastered the Six Powers and are even more proficient than me! I'll follow you, and together we'll defeat Lucci. Then you'll be the leader of CP9!"

Sanji frowned, not rushing to attack. It wasn't because he genuinely considered Jabra's suggestion, but because Sanji sensed something was amiss.

Sure enough, the moment Sanji hesitated, Jabra revealed a sinister smile and suddenly charged towards him, his body transforming in the process.

The Dog-Dog Fruit—Wolf Mode. The Zoan-type Devil Fruit granted Jabra not only speed and strength, but most importantly, astonishing regenerative abilities.

In its human-beast form, Jabra possesses the ferocity and cunning of a carnivore, along with a strong body, agile speed, and claws and teeth capable of tearing anything apart.

"Iron Body - Heavy Wolf!"

What appears to be an ordinary fist is actually Jabra concentrating all the power he uses to unleash "Iron Body" into his fist, releasing it with a hardness akin to diamond.

Sanji had already guessed that this guy had ill intentions, so this level of sneak attack was entirely within his expectations. The eerie blue flames on his body burned even more fiercely.

"Diable Jambe - Finishing Touch SHOT!"

Sanji somersaulted in the air, his foot, burning like a branding iron, slamming towards Jabra.

Bang!

Fist and foot collided, the stalemate lasting only a moment before Jabra's attack was shattered. The instant the power dissipated, Sanji's foot embedded him into the ground.

However, this guy's tenacity was extraordinary. After taking that kick, he immediately stood up again. Although blood was still flowing from his head, the ferocity in his eyes remained undiminished.

Suddenly, the guy leaped into the air, assuming a fighting stance and shouting.

"Finger Pistol - Moonlight Ten-Finger Pistol!"

This was an enhanced version of Jabra's special finger pistol technique. He slightly bent his fingers, brought his palms together in a half-open motion, and then used the ten-finger pistol while swooping down from above, amplifying its power with the speed of his descent.

Sanji's expression remained unchanged. His increased strength allowed him to sense the difference in their abilities; this level of attack was insufficient.

Sanji calmly looked up at Jabra. Just as the attack was about to strike, he tilted his body, instantly dodging the blow.

Then, Sanji raised his leg and coldly chanted:

"Diable Wind Jambe - Crushing!"

This was one of Sanji's strongest techniques, a powerful strike to the enemy's head with his heel. Without Observation Haki, Jabra couldn't dodge the attack as easily as Sanji.

All he could manage was a defiant shout: "Iron Body!"

Shouting for Iron Body at a time like this, the outcome was predictable. Before he could even let out a scream, Jabra's body was flattened.

After the attack, Sanji landed gracefully, tossed aside his burnt-out cigarette, and lit another. Jabra lay on the ground, a wisp of white smoke rising from its head, only its whites visible, bloodshot eyes.

The Straw Hat crew gained one more key, bringing their total to four. This means four CP9 members have been defeated, leaving only Kaku and the strongest, Lucci.

However, as if unwilling to lose to Sanji, while Sanji was fighting Jabra, Zoro, led by Merry, also found Kaku.

"I never expected my opponent to be you. What a coincidence."

"Ah~ But a single encounter isn't enough for me to let you go, especially since you harmed our crewmate."

"Crewmate? Daring to have someone as dangerous as Nico Robin as a crewmate? Are you naive or just plain stupid?"

"Enough with the nonsense. I'm in a hurry. It seems you're not going to hand over the key willingly, so let's fight."

"Perfect! I've also wanted to see the Straw Hat crew's swordsmanship. It's been a long time since I've met my match."

"Is that so? I hope you won't disappoint me!"

Upon hearing Kaku introduce himself as a swordsman, Zoro's eyes visibly brightened, a look of keen interest spreading across his face, and a powerful fighting spirit emanated from him.

Kaku, not to be outdone, drew his two swords. Both men seemed to have found an interesting opponent, but Merry, standing nearby, was far from happy.

Merry had agreed to help, but Zoro clearly wanted to fight alone. Sensing Merry's resentful expression, Zoro was at a loss.

Reluctantly, he could only place Merry on his shoulder and fight alongside her, but on the condition that she wouldn't intervene recklessly; her primary concern was protecting him in case of danger.

Chapter 113 Kaku's Defeat, Ship Spirit MagicZoro acted this way out of confidence in his own strength. Of course, he never underestimated Merry; after all, how could a legendary ship spirit be without power?

Merry sat happily on Zoro's shoulder. Simple-minded, she had no idea what fighting meant; she was only happy that she could help.

However, Kaku, seeing this, was not in a good mood. He lowered his sword, frowned, and said, "What does this mean?"

Zorro smiled and said, "It doesn't matter. There are differences between swordsmen. You can't possibly touch Merry."

Zorro's words were practically a blatant provocation. Veins visibly bulged on Kaku's forehead. His anger made him charge at Zoro without hesitation, sword in hand.

Kaku, a member of CP9 (power level 2200), is also the youngest member, but he likes to feign maturity and often refers to himself as "this old man."

Currently, Kaku is the strongest member of CP9 besides Lucci. Besides being proficient in the Six Powers, his swordsmanship is also formidable; he can wield two swords simultaneously and unleash the Six Powers' "Storm Kick."

Therefore, he calls himself the "Four-Sword Style." It's worth noting that Kaku has extensively studied "Storm Kick," developing many variations tailored to his own style.

Furthermore, after returning, he consumed a Devil Fruit—a Zoan-type, Ox-Ox Fruit, Giraffe Mode. While it might not sound impressive, don't forget that Zoan-type abilities have their unique advantages.

"Storm Kick: Chaos!"

He immediately unleashed a wide-range Storm Kick attack. Leaping high into the air, Kaku unleashed a barrage of slashes at Zoro, who, still smiling, reminded Merry to hold on tight.

"Three-Sword Style: 108 Pounds Phoenix!"

Three blue slashes were unleashed, forming an even larger phoenix-like sword wave. Kaku's dense attacks were like water droplets falling into the ocean, offering no chance to defend himself.

Only when Zoro's attack reached Kaku did he realize the gravity of the situation, brandishing his twin swords and shouting.

"Four-Sword Style: One Line Sky!"

The simultaneous attack of the Tempest Kick and the blades was something only Kaku, a master of Tempest Kick, could achieve. Four slashing waves merged into a massive white slash that collided with Zoro's attack.

Boom!

The impact exploded in mid-air, shattering the room's surface with its force. Zoro's eyes were fixed on the smoke. The next moment...

Clang!

Kaku suddenly appeared beside Zoro, his twin swords' swing blocked by Zoro. Zoro turned to Kaku and said,

"That move was somewhat decent, but... not enough."

The instant he finished speaking, Zoro seemingly casually flicked one of Kaku's swords away, and then an invisible gust of wind gathered at the tip of Zoro's blade.

"One-Sword Style: Steel-Slicing Flash!"

The seemingly ordinary thrust made Kaku feel the threat of death. He dared not be careless, instantly transforming into his giraffe-like humanoid form and immediately unleashing his ultimate technique to defend.

"Storm Kick: Round Slash!"

This was the pinnacle of Kaku's Storm Kick technique. Supporting himself with one hand on the ground, he used the centrifugal force of his giraffe neck to spin at high speed, then kicked out with his foot.

This attack was powerful enough to easily cleave the Justice Tower in two, but to Kaku's surprise, his strongest attack barely withstood the previous thrust.

He was even injured in the end; the bloodstains on his chest didn't lie. Kaku's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief.

Zoro remained calm, even silently sheathing his two swords, wielding the Sandai Kitetsu in one hand, as if sheathing it.

Kaku felt utterly insulted. His anger and resentment clouded his judgment, completely forgetting the power of Zoro's attack.

Kaku leaped high again, his body spinning rapidly as he shouted,

"Storm Kick: Spiral White Blade!"

This move was a combination of the destructive power of "Storm Kick: Circular Slash" and "Storm Kick: Chaos." Kaku instantly spun at high speed, applying twisting force.

His muscles tensed in a spiral, using the extended neck of his "Giraffe Turret" to rotate his body.

A spiraling, explosive slash hurtled towards Zoro, whose previous movement wasn't a sheathing of his sword, but rather a starting stance.

"One-Sword Style: Gale: Lion's Song!"

This technique was specifically designed for cutting; the flash of the blade was barely visible as it opened, its power as swift as lightning.

Kaku, who had been spinning like a storm of blades just a second ago, fell silent the instant Zoro's figure flashed past.

Then, Zoro slowly sheathed his sword.

*Sizzle!*

A horrifying wound appeared on Kaku's body, splattering blood everywhere. At that moment, Kaku knew he had lost, utterly and completely.

Merry, who hadn't participated at all, suddenly jumped off Zoro's shoulder and took small steps to Kaku's side.

Zoro didn't stop her, as Kaku was no longer a threat. Merry simply stretched out her hands and chanted to Kaku:

"Elf Magic: Ship Spirit Contract!"

Merry's small hands suddenly emitted a pale blue light. The heavily injured Kaku, barely clinging to life, knew what she was doing but was powerless to resist.

However, after sensing Merry's power, Kaku suddenly gave a bitter smile and said:

"Actually, this is quite nice..."

As he spoke, Kaku's body turned into white specks of light, gradually dissipating and merging into Merry's body. Zoro, seeing this, was quite worried.

He immediately stepped forward to ask Merry what she had done, and Merry replied happily.

"I sensed his strong attachment to the ship, so I tried to form a ship spirit contract with him. Now he's the ship spirit of the Proverbs, but unlike me, he can't just exist as a ship spirit."

Zoro paused for a moment, then remarked, "I see. Becoming a ship spirit... that ending isn't so bad for that guy."

Zoro's first impression of Kaku wasn't bad to begin with, although he almost attacked him after mistaking him for Usopp. However, Kaku had been inspecting the Going Merry for them at the time.

Zoro could see the look in Kaku's eyes; perhaps due to his years as an undercover agent, Kaku had developed a special affection for the role of shipwright.

Instead of performing his duties like a professional shipwright, he expressed regret after inspecting the Merry's condition.

Furthermore, the conditions for achieving the Merry's elven magic were only met with the recipient's consent, so this outcome was arguably Kaku's own choice.

As for the future, well, there's always tomorrow.