Damon took the brocade box, looking at Iceburg with a half-smile.
"You wouldn't have given such a precious gift for just these two reasons, would you?"
Iceburg looked at the boy in front of him with great surprise, not expecting him to be so perceptive. He didn't seem to mind that his thoughts had been exposed; instead, he leaned close to Damon's ear and whispered:
"If possible, please be ruthless towards that CP9 officer. That guy is occupying our company's dock and hasn't paid us a single Berry."
Damon smiled. In reality, Iceburg was likely afraid that the CP9 commander would vent his anger on Tom Shipbuilding after this scandal. Some things were better left unsaid.
After bidding farewell to Iceburg, Damon and his companions located the three-masted sailing ship from the deed. Once they boarded, Damon placed the Devil Fruit on the table.
"I don't plan to consume a Devil Fruit. Whoever needs it can take it."
Smoker, having already eaten the Moku Moku no Mi (Smoke-Smoke Fruit), refused outright. The others hesitated until Hina slowly spoke:
"Damon, could you please give me this fruit?"
Damon handed it to her directly—a generous gesture that deeply moved her. Unlike most, Hina didn't waste words; she gave him a long, grateful look. Knowing the taste was foul, she took only a small bite to gain the power.
As she closed her eyes to settle her stomach, the power surged. Suddenly, she flicked her hand, and jet-black iron bars shot out, forming a cage.
"The power of the Ori Ori no Mi (Cage-Cage Fruit)?"
"It suits me perfectly."
Amidst the envious gazes of the others, Hina suddenly pulled Damon into her arms. Damon felt a fleeting, moist sensation on his lips, and her magnetic voice whispered in his ear:
"Thank you, my little man."
As the ship sailed toward Enies Lobby, News Coos flew across the globe, delivering the shocking headlines.
Enies Lobby, the Judicial Island. An island directly under the World Government where no innocent person has been acquitted in 800 years. Beyond its Gate of Justice lie only two destinations: Marine Headquarters or the Great Prison, Impel Down.
Inside the Tower of Justice, a soft melody drifted from the commander's office. A CP9 agent in a suit stood awkwardly outside, clutching a newspaper.
If I interrupt him now, he'll kill me, won't he?
Driven by urgency, he knocked. The music stopped, followed by the rustling of clothes. Spandam burst through the door, face contorted with rage.
"You'd better have a good reason, or you're fired!"
The agent handed over the paper. Spandam glanced at it and collapsed to the floor. The headline screamed in bold black font:
"Justice is Served: The Navy Storms Enies Lobby!"
The article detailed Spandam's history of corruption and incompetence.
"Quickly! Call Rob Lucci!" Spandam shrieked, crumpling the paper. "I order him to kill these six Marines!"
As night fell, the ship approached the island. While the rest of the world was draped in starlight, Enies Lobby remained bathed in perpetual light—the "Island That Never Sleeps."
As they gazed at the massive iron fences blocking the sea, the Transponder Snail (Den Den Mushi) rang. It was Zephyr.
"You brats! You think you've grown wings? Heading to Enies Lobby without informing me?"
Silence followed, then Zephyr's tired voice softened.
"Don't forget what I taught you. When you believe something is just and necessary—do it! If the World Government blames anyone, I'll take the responsibility. I'll resign if I have to. Remember, you are Marines. Justice will prevail!"
The six officers stood straight and saluted the snail. "Justice will prevail!"
After hanging up, Zephyr rubbed his temples. "That reckless nature... is that old bastard Garp still refusing to admit Damon is his illegitimate son? Shameless!"
At Marine Headquarters, Garp suddenly sneezed.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku was sipping tea, flanked by the three Admirals: Akainu, Aokiji, and Kizaru.
"Today," Sengoku began, "we discuss officially including Jinbe, the Knight of the Sea, into the Seven Warlords of the Sea (Shichibukai)."
Bored by the politics, Garp simply crunched on his senbei crackers.
At the main entrance of Enies Lobby, the guard was supposed to be 10,000 strong, but thanks to Spandam's corruption, barely 3,000 were on duty—all of them lazy and untrained.
As Damon and his team disembarked, a guard raised his rifle. "Who are you?"
Damon flashed his ID. "Navy business. Stand aside."
The guard was confused until his companion gasped. "Wait! We were told that if any Marines showed up, we must kill them on the spot! They aren't allowed inside!"
The guards immediately raised their weapons, the air growing tense.