The appearance of a Marine Admiral meant Soifon absolutely could not allow Oguro to head out with only two vice-captains.
Robin saw that no familiar face was staying behind, so naturally she didn't want to remain in Seireitei either.
Oguro had no choice but to take both of them along.
Thankfully, their wounds were only surface injuries. Nothing serious.
Otherwise Oguro would never have agreed.
In a quiet, hidden corner of Water Seven, the Senkaimon gate opened silently.
Oguro used Observation Haki to confirm that no one was nearby before stepping out with the others.
Robin couldn't help admiring it. "This gate is incredible. Even the World Government's chief scientist, Vegapunk, couldn't create something like this."
Oguro replied, "The gate is too important. Never mention it to outsiders."
Everyone nodded.
The strategic value was terrifying.
Imagine two islands separated by dozens of miles… and with one door, you could instantly drop ten thousand troops into your enemy's backyard.
They wouldn't even have time to react.
If the World Government or certain powers learned about this, they would stop at nothing to seize it.
After finding a hotel to settle in, Oguro immediately set out to locate Rob Lucci.
Because aside from rescuing Robin during the Enies Lobby attack, Oguro had another intention.
He wanted to recruit Lucci.
Before leaving for Enies Lobby, Oguro had spent a long time provoking Lucci on purpose. It wasn't meaningless.
After founding the Divine Kingdom, Oguro discovered he was still terribly short on manpower.
Especially specialists.
For his kingdom to thrive, he needed his own intelligence network.
The Onmitsukido's Second Division technically handled intelligence, but they had no people to staff it right now.
And to gather intel in the One Piece world, he needed locals familiar with the terrain.
A CP9 agent like Lucci was the perfect elite workhorse.
He had intentionally fanned the flames between Lucci and the World Government and set Spandam up during the Enies Lobby battle, greatly increasing the chance Spandam would shift blame.
All so Lucci would completely cut ties with the government.
With Spandam's personality, news should come within a day or two.
And right now, Lucci was still hospitalized.
Soifon hadn't held back when delivering that strike.
Even with a Zoan Devil Fruit, Lucci would need days to recover.
As expected.
The next day, Oguro sensed Kalifa sneaking into Lucci's room.
"What is it? Why come running to me?" Lucci's expression was as cold as ever.
But Kalifa's beautiful face was full of anxiety.
"We're in big trouble!"
She handed him a sheet of paper.
A confidential order from the World Government.
Sent secretly by an old colleague of hers.
"Due to CP9's failure in battle which resulted in the fall of Enies Lobby, all CP9 agents except Commander Spandam are hereby dismissed and classified as targets for immediate elimination. Kill on sight."
Lucci's face turned darker than a burned pot.
The news that Enies Lobby had been wiped out by the Buster Call had already spread across the Grand Line.
Lucci originally thought Spandam would be dismissed because of it.
Maybe they would catch a break.
He never expected that instead they would be expelled and marked for execution… while Spandam alone walked away untouched.
"This is definitely that bastard Spandam's doing!" Lucci growled without hesitation.
The entire CP9 was marked for death, yet only Spandam was fine.
If he wasn't behind it, who else?
"This isn't the time to argue about who set us up!"
Kalifa pushed up her glasses, almost frantic.
"With the kill order out, every government agent nearby will rush here to hunt us down. What do we do now?"
Truthfully, Kalifa was the most innocent among them.
She hadn't participated in the Water Seven conflict nor the battle of Enies Lobby.
Yet she still had to take the fall.
She wanted to rip Spandam apart with her bare hands.
Lucci fell silent, thinking hard for a solution.
"How are Kaku and the others?" he finally asked.
Kalifa said, "I contacted them earlier. They're on their way to Water Seven."
Lucci nodded slowly. "Once they arrive, we're going to Iceburg."
"Iceburg?"
Kalifa froze before understanding hit her.
"You're after the Pluton blueprints?"
Lucci's expression remained ice cold. "Our only chance is to locate Pluton's design. If we bring the blueprints to the government, we might regain our status."
He didn't have definite evidence yet, but the situation was urgent.
There was no time for a thorough investigation.
He would capture Iceburg and force the blueprint's location out of him.
One of the Ancient Weapons, Pluton, was more than enough to serve as a tribute.
Kalifa's eyes brightened. It was indeed a viable plan.
"I'll go contact Kaku and tell them to hurry!"
She rushed off, and Lucci carefully put on his coat, preparing to leave the hospital.
With an active kill order, this place was no longer safe.
Fortunately, as a professional agent, Lucci had a private safe house in Water Seven. He could hide there for a few days without issue.
But neither Lucci nor Kalifa noticed the small ear growing from the corner of the wall.
And everything they said was heard word for word.
At a restaurant outside the hospital, Robin released her Devil Fruit ability and reported everything to Oguro.
"So your ability really is perfect for intelligence work."
Soifon looked pleased.
After Robin joined Oguro's ranks, she was immediately assigned to work alongside Soifon, collecting and analyzing intel.
"Lord Soul King, shall I track him down and find his hideout?" Soifon offered actively.
Oguro waved a hand. "No need. Since their target is Iceburg, we just have to watch him."
Oguro originally expected only Lucci and Kalifa.
Kaku and the others were an unexpected bonus.
He would take them all.
The next day.
Iceburg worked late in the headquarters of Galley-La Company.
Ever since discovering that government agents had infiltrated the company, he reorganized several operations.
Work had been relentless.
The only good news was that Franky had finally listened to him and left Water Seven.
Now the government's dogs could search all they liked. They would never find the Pluton blueprints.
Click.
The office door suddenly swung open.
Iceburg frowned. Who had no manners?
But when he looked up, his face instantly paled.
Rob Lucci stood at the front.
Kalifa, Kaku and several unfamiliar figures followed behind him.
All of them in black suits, stepping inside in a single line, their eyes cold as they stared him down.
***
69 stones for 2 bonuses guys please throw some stones 🙏
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