For three days, the entire sea's attention had been fixed here.
The Marines and the CP organization had all gathered on Enies Lobby.
During this time, Water Seven had instead slipped completely out of sight.
...
"This... is Tom's Workers Shipbuilding Company?"
"That's right. Ever since the Sea Train began operating, they've been going full steam ahead, preparing to expand."
"This expansion is on a whole different level."
"After all, this is the largest shipbuilding company in all of Water Seven. Even within the World Government, plenty of people have secretly invested here."
"Those... parasites sure love betting on both sides, huh."
"Enough, everyone shut up." Rob Lucci raised his head and looked at the CP9 subordinates.
"Remember your mission. You must infiltrate Tom's Workers! The Pluton blueprints are definitely here!"
The moment Rob Lucci spoke, the CP9 members dropped their playful smiles.
They were all prodigies within the CP organization, yet the gap between them and Rob Lucci was enormous.
What they couldn't figure out was... why send the most elite CP agents, wasting precious time that could be spent growing stronger, on a mission to find some elusive Pluton blueprints?
"I know you have many doubts," Rob Lucci said coldly. "But you must bury them deep. A CP agent doesn't need to be clever. What they need is... loyalty."
"Spandam may be an incompetent fool, but he's our actual leader. By using himself as bait, he's drawn the eyes of the entire world to Enies Lobby... What he has to face won't be these shipwrights and workers."
Rob Lucci frowned slightly.
He had never liked Spandam, but this time, Spandam had indeed come up with a good plan...
Stir up the waters of the entire world, making it easier for them to act.
Of course... they had no idea that Franky had already burned the so-called "Pluton blueprints" to ashes.
...
Enies Lobby, open-air courthouse.
Spandam sat beside several high-ranking Marine officers, wearing a sinister grin.
Michael turned his head and looked at this petty man.
"What... are you laughing at?"
"I... cough, cough... I just thought of something amusing."
Spandam looked at the famed Chief Inspector before him with a sycophantic smile.
But inwardly, he felt only contempt.
"You're a scheming little man, but I have to admit—you're a loyal guy. You didn't hesitate to use yourself as bait to draw everyone's attention..." Michael raised an eyebrow. "You don't think I know what's in that head of yours, do you?"
"Speaking of which, didn't you inherit your father's position as CP9 commander? Where are your CP9 elites? For instance, that so-called once-in-five-hundred-years genius Rob Lucci... not by your side? Don't tell me they took this opportunity to sneak into Water Seven to do... something they shouldn't?"
"Like, for example, searching for those legendary Pluton blueprints."
"Oh, look at that. This whole scheme of yours actually isn't bad. The genius of it lies in the fact that no one would expect a cowardly, spineless man like you to provoke the Admirals against each other and blow this whole thing out of proportion."
Spandam's mouth slowly fell open as Michael spoke.
His beady eyes widened in shock, tears and snot dripping down in streams as if to prove his terror.
Michael sighed.
Boring.
These so-called "schemes"... were utterly boring.
Even Sakazuki and Kuzan, hot-blooded as they were at the time, eventually realized something was off afterward.
Not to mention someone like Michael, who was cunning to the core.
Every breath he took twisted through nine bends and eighteen turns.
The World Government's decline had become all too obvious in recent years. For them to suddenly pick a fight over something so small—it didn't add up.
After all, if a top-lane player who got crushed under their tower suddenly dived straight at you... even the dumbest player should realize the enemy jungler and mid were probably on their way to gank your lane!
"Michael, what exactly... do you mean by that?"
"Exactly what it sounds like." Michael shrugged at all the Marine top brass. "We Marines haven't exactly been obedient these past few years... so of course they want to regain enough military strength. Going after Pluton isn't that surprising."
Michael said it without the slightest hint of restraint.
What made Spandam truly despair, though, was that at these rebellious words, every Marine present—from the Fleet Admiral to the Grand Staff Officer, from the three Admirals to the two Vice Admiral substitutes—wore the same expression of agreement.
And this was after the World Government had tried its best to divide the Marines through the World Draft.
"Report, Vice Admiral Michael! The Elders and their fleet have arrived at the Gates of Justice perimeter and are requesting entry."
"Then what are you waiting for? Let them in." Michael turned to Shu, who had come to deliver the message. "Without them, this whole show won't have an audience."
...
Meanwhile, outside the open-air courthouse, the CP agents were trembling as they watched the Marines before them.
Without exception, these were all members of the Secret Special Force.
Since the medal ceremony six years ago, this was one of the rare times they had all gathered again.
"Well, well, if it isn't our dear Amazon Empress, Boa Hancock. What wind blew you here today?"
Rosinante looked at Hancock with a faint smile, his tone carrying a hint of mockery.
But Hancock, as the Amazon Lily Empress and Base Commander of the women's branch, didn't seem the least bit offended.
After all, Rosinante was not only Michael's younger brother, but also the treasurer personally appointed by Michael himself. All additional expenses had to go through Rosinante's hands.
For example...
The twelve rounds of massive training ground renovations at the women's branch.
"Ahem, Rosinante, no need to be so distant." Hancock showed an overly adorable smile. "We're all family here."
"Family or not, you can't just keep squeezing me dry!" Rosinante said, exasperated. "That's all money, you know!"
"Money's meant to be spent, isn't it?"
At Hancock's words, the nearby teammates all nodded in agreement.
"You people... clearly don't understand how hard it is to earn that money!"
Before he could finish, Jack suddenly stood up and said sternly:
"Hancock, I think Vice Admiral Rosinante is right!"
"Get lost!"
Rosinante shot Jack a glare.
"Among everyone here, you spend the most!"
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