Even someone like Chiyu, who to this world is practically a being from beyond the universe—an almost omniscient, all‑knowing figure—cannot possibly foresee everything that the future holds.
Take this occasion, for example: he merely intended to probe the secret of Pluton, yet never imagined that, all of a sudden, the World Government and Navy would launch a Buster Call!
Franky had clearly heard that dreaded name before.
His face went deathly white at once, his soul nearly leaving his body.
"A … a B‑Buster Call?!"
"Why would something like that show up in Water 7 all of a sudden…?"
Chiyu pondered for a moment but reached no conclusion.
Logically, CP9's objective was only the Pluton blueprints.
Even if they struck early at Iceburg, the worst they should have done was capture him, torture him and search thoroughly for the plans.
There was absolutely no need to invoke a Buster Call.
Besides, although CP9's combat strength was nothing compared with his own, for a small place like Water 7 they were already overwhelming.
They simply did not need a Buster Call.
Taking it further, even if Robin wanted to threaten Iceburg by holding all of Water 7 hostage, a lone woman could never justify pressing that button.
Everyone knew that once a Buster Call is triggered, it cannot be revoked.
Friend or foe, Navy or pirate—anything in the target area is obliterated without distinction.
Chiyu frowned.
"What on earth has happened?"
…
Mayor's Office—at the same time
All members of CP9 stared slack‑jawed, expressions full of disbelief.
Kalifa pushed up her glasses, cold sweat beading on her forehead.
"C‑Chief… what did you just do?!"
Spandam looked equally blank.
"D‑Did I… press it just now?"
The others gazed at him as though at an idiot—and nodded in unison.
Tears and snot spurted from Spandam at once.
"Damn it!! I‑I didn't mean to—I just wanted to scare that bastard a little!"
Rob Lucci was speechless.
He had always despised this superior, but however despicable Spandam's methods were before, he had never imagined he would make this kind of blunder.
CP9 moved out in force.
Posing as Iceburg's secretary, Kalifa launched a surprise attack, captured him, and summoned the rest of the team—including Spandam.
Naturally they showed no mercy, torturing Iceburg brutally in an attempt to wring the Pluton blueprints from him.
Yet Iceburg was a man of iron; no matter the torment, he never uttered a word.
Lucci had anticipated this, which was why he had chosen covert investigation at the outset.
But once violence began, there was no turning back.
They ransacked the mayor's office and Iceburg's adjoining home, but found nothing.
Sensing things were going badly, Spandam personally threatened Iceburg—claiming he would press the Golden Den‑Den Mushi and wipe out Water 7 if the blueprints were not surrendered.
Iceburg remained unmoved.
Feigning a press to frighten him, Spandam's hand slipped…
…and he actually pressed the button!
For a moment, Iceburg and every CP9 member gaped in shock.
Kaku held his forehead.
"Chief… can it be cancelled?"
Spandam shook his head frantically.
"N‑No way!
Once it's pressed, the Buster Call is irrevocable!
We—we must leave here immediately!"
Lucci replied coldly:
"Leaving before the mission is complete?
Are you even CP9?"
Spandam roared:
"Rob Lucci! I am CP9's commanding officer!
At this point who cares about the mission—we're about to die!"
"You have no idea how terrifying a Buster Call is—five of the Navy's strongest battleships plus five elite Vice Admirals!
Each ship carries a thousand elite marines—that's 10,000 troops!
"Ohara was obliterated in an instant. This tiny Water 7 will fare no better!
Wait any longer and the whole city will be a sea of flames!"
Iceburg could not contain his rage.
"Bastard! Spandam, why would you do this?!"
Spandam shouted back:
"I told you—it was an accident!"
"Your 'accident' will destroy all of Water 7!"
Unable to refute that, Spandam muttered:
"Wh‑Whatever! It's done—I have no way to undo it!"
His unreliability was nothing new; in the original incident he also triggered a Buster Call by mistake, confusing the golden snail for an ordinary one and leveling Enies Lobby.
Now it was Water 7's turn.
Looking out the window, Lucci already saw the silhouettes of massive Navy warships advancing.
It was no surprise: Water 7 was close to Enies Lobby, which—together with Impel Down and Marineford—formed a strategic triangle allowing rapid naval deployment.
Lucci said icily:
"Iceburg, hand over Pluton's blueprints now.
Otherwise, you—and all of Water 7's citizens—will unquestionably die."
Iceburg laughed bitterly.
"Lucci, do you think I don't know your tricks?
Even if I hand them over, it won't stop the Buster Call. The city will still be ashes!"
Lucci responded:
"At the very least…
I can warn the populace, let them gather ships and flee.
Many might still survive.
"Otherwise they'll all be slaughtered in their sleep."
Iceburg trembled with anger.
"You would threaten me with every life in Water 7?!"
"Exactly. And time is short: soon those warships will encircle the city. By then it will be too late for anyone to run."
Iceburg's face turned ashen.
He wanted desperately to keep the blueprints—but which was more important: a single drawing, or the lives of every resident?
He could not decide.
At that very moment, an amplified voice thundered through Water 7:
"A Buster Call has been initiated! All citizens who wish to live—board our warship immediately!"
The previously silent night was shattered.
Awoken from sleep, the townspeople exchanged frightened looks, unsure what to do—until they spotted the distant Naval ships drawing ever nearer.
"W‑What is that?!"
"A Buster Call? Isn't that the weapon the Navy and World Government use to erase entire regions?!"
"Why here, all of a sudden?!"
"Run—RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!"
Panic erupted; screams, sobs and shouts filled the air.
Yet the broadcast continued, firm and clear:
"All residents: proceed to Dock 1 and board the Naval warship Uchiha. Vice Admiral Chiyu will protect every one of you!"
"Vice Admiral Chiyu? The Uchiha?"
"C‑Could it be… that Navy God of Slaughter Uchiha Chiyu?!"
"That's right! I heard he arrived this morning—and his men even got into a fight during that public trial…"
"Can we really trust him?"
"What nonsense! The man may be a God of Slaughter, but he only kills pirates and villains—never an innocent soul!
"Statues of him stand all along the Grand Line. Every place he's passed has been purged of pirates, bringing peace. Even Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords, died by his hand, saving all of Alabasta!
"Exactly—Uchiha Chiyu is our only hope!"
With growing hope, people fled their homes, riding water‑buses and Yagara Bulls down the canals toward Dock 1.
Under the misty moonlight, Water 7 seemed to come alive.
Iceburg shuddered. Then, on his blood‑smeared face, a grim smile appeared.
"Hahaha… hahahaha!
Spandam, Lucci—looks like your plot has failed…
"You acted tonight because that man showed up, didn't you?
Too bad your scheme will crumble at his hands!
"Uchiha Chiyu will never side with you in the name of 'justice'!"
Spandam and Lucci both blanched.
"That bastard dares interfere with CP9's mission!"
Lucci recalled his earlier conversation with Chiyu, who had said he would never harm an innocent to achieve his ends.
That was what made his justice different from both Lucci's and Admiral Akainu's.
Lucci sneered:
"How laughable…
Uchiha Chiyu, do you realize that by doing this you're taking on an entire Buster Call?"
"Let's see how many people you can save—how long you can last."
He barked an order:
"Take Iceburg. We're pulling back for now."
"Yes, sir!"
Kaku and Kalifa hauled the half‑dead Iceburg to his feet.
Spandam, drenched in cold sweat, urged haste:
"Right! We must sail immediately—back to Enies Lobby!"
The group hurried to Spandam's personal warship—only to discover…
…it had been utterly wrecked, practically dismantled.
Standing atop the ruined hull was—
Franky and his gang!
Spandam exploded with fury:
"Y‑You bastards! What have you done?!"
Seeing the tortured, barely recognizable Iceburg, Franky's rage knew no bounds.
He clenched his fists and roared:
"YOU DAMN BASTARDS!
I'M GOING TO KILL EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU!!"