(A while ago)
In a building in Enies Lobby, a man was enjoying a luxurious dinner with an elephant by his side.
His hair was purple and wavy, reaching down to his shoulders. He wore a strange mask made of leather straps, along with a beige shirt, black pants, and a black vest.
He was Spandam.
On paper, the man named Spandam was the leader of CP9. However, every member considered Lucci to be their true leader.
The reason was simple. Spandam was an idiot, an arrogant, ambitious, impulsive man willing to do anything for a promotion.
He had previously led CP5, and when he reached CP9, his ambition only grew. He was determined to finish the work his father, Spandine, had started. It was Spandine who had called the Buster Call on Ohara, making him essentially responsible for its destruction.
"Damn it! That damn Sengoku, how dare he ruin my plans?!" Spandam shouted.
The World Government agents dressed in black didn't react. They were already used to Spandam's personality. He was like a little child throwing a tantrum whenever things didn't go his way.
Spandam was currently furious after learning that the Marines had planned an ambush for Allen Walker in Water 7.
It would put his plans at risk.
Years of preparation were being endangered by a brat worth five hundred million.
What kind of sense did that make?!
Of course, Spandam had spoken with Sengoku to complain, but the Fleet Admiral refused to change his ambush.
They couldn't postpone Allen Walker's capture any longer.
Allen's ship could fly!
Capturing him while he remained aboard the Black Pearl would be impossible, so the only way to catch him for good was on an island. Unfortunately, Allen had little interest in visiting islands outside the main ones along his route, so if they let him leave Water 7, they'd have to wait until Sabaody.
If he continued progressing at the same pace as before, by the time he reached Sabaody, his strength would become extremely troublesome, perhaps to the point that an Admiral would be needed to stop him. Unfortunately, that wasn't possible because the Admirals, along with Garp himself, were preparing for the war against Whitebeard.
So the ambush had to happen in Water 7!
The Five Elders also agreed after considering the circumstances and ordered Spandam and CP9 to support the operation.
"It doesn't matter..." Spandam calmed himself down.
While he didn't care about Sengoku's wishes, if the Five Elders approved, then all he could do was accept it and hope Lucci and the others obtained Pluton's blueprints without any problems. To further calm him down, they also entrusted him with the Golden Den Den Mushi, whose sole purpose was to summon a Buster Call.
A Buster Call was a highest-priority order that summoned ten Marine warships commanded by five Vice Admirals. Its only objective was destruction.
The order was clear. During a Buster Call, no distinction was made between allies and enemies. Everything was destroyed. They would keep firing until nothing remained on the island.
As usual, Spandam was an idiot. Once his anger faded, he began thinking about how he could benefit from this Marine "operation."
Thinking it over, perhaps he had underestimated Allen. The young pirate wasn't only being watched by the Marines but also by the Five Elders.
He was an extremely valuable target. His ability to copy other Devil Fruits, his ship capable of flying and traveling on land...
"What if we capture his crew?!" Spandam shouted.
The man began imagining the Five Elders praising him. Maybe he'd even rise to a higher position than his father.
Beside him, his "pet," an elephant, trumpeted as though it sensed this was a terrible idea.
"Relax, my lovely Funkfreed, everything will be fine!~" Spandam said. "Go call Jabra, Fukurou, and Kumadori!"
The rest was history.
Spandam decided to send the remaining members of CP9 to Water 7 with the intention of earning credit by helping capture Allen Walker.
It seemed like a foolproof plan considering the supposed weakness of Allen Walker's crew. However, it was a plan doomed to fail because they knew nothing about the magical chest, Lenalee.
....
To make sure his plan succeeded, Spandam also traveled to Water 7, though he remained on the outskirts aboard a ship, simply relaxing while waiting for news.
"What did you say?!" Spandam shouted.
The moment Jabra, Fukurou, and Kumadori were defeated, Rob Lucci informed Spandam of the situation. He also told him that Allen most likely already knew their secret identities and that obtaining Pluton's blueprints had become impossible.
Of course, he didn't mention that Allen knowing their identities was merely his own assumption.
Why would Lucci make such a claim?
To provoke the reaction he wanted from Spandam. An impulsive, foolish, aggressive reaction that would allow him to confront Allen Walker.
"Rob Lucci... as commander of CP9, I order you to execute Allen Walker immediately!"
"Understood." Rob Lucci smiled.
Someone incompetent and easy to manipulate, someone capable of committing the most atrocious acts for a little personal gain.
Every corrupt organization needed men like that.
"Good, then I'll call... call..."
"...?" Rob Lucci noticed the change in Spandam's voice. "Did something happen?"
On the other end of the line, Spandam's face had gone from uncontrollable rage to deathly pale.
The Den Den Mushi in his hand wasn't his personal one.
It was the golden one.
And he had accidentally pressed the button.
"I... I think I accidentally called in a Buster Call..." Spandam said, trembling.
At that moment, Rob Lucci cursed Spandam, but he also knew part of the blame was his own, so he accepted it and decided to act accordingly.
The Buster Call wouldn't arrive immediately, so he still had time to go after Allen before it happened.
Without another word, he hung up and headed toward the restaurant where Allen was.
....
...
....
(Back to the Present)
At this point, a dark aura surrounded Rob Lucci.
Perhaps he had sacrificed all of Water 7, but if he managed to eliminate Allen, it would all have been worth it because his justice would have been carried out successfully.
"I suppose it's time..." Allen said.
Knowing the Buster Call was approaching, he could no longer remain indifferent to the situation.
"What should we do?" Robin asked nervously, still slightly pale.
Allen smiled and gently caressed her cheek.
"Don't worry. I'll take care of everything."
Robin leaned her cheek into Allen's hand as she closed her eyes, feeling her heart gradually calm down.
"Okay..."
Kalifa watched in silence. She couldn't understand how Allen could remain so calm. Five Vice Admirals led a Buster Call. On top of that, Gion and Doll were about to arrive in Water 7, and Rob Lucci himself was already at the level of a Vice Admiral. If Allen and his crew wanted to escape, they'd have to face eight heavy hitters!
Despite all that, Allen continued comforting Robin, and once she smiled, having regained her composure, he stood up.
"Walker..." Rob Lucci growled.
The two of them had completely ignored Rob Lucci, who growled angrily. He had come ready to fight, yet Allen treated him as though he were nothing but air.
How dare he be so arrogant?!
Rob Lucci knew about Allen's accomplishments, but in the end, he had only escaped from Garp and Aokiji. It wasn't as though he had actually fought them head-on.
In Lucci's opinion, even if Allen was strong, they should still be on roughly the same level, meaning this wouldn't be an easy victory.
Allen released Kalifa, but instead of moving away, she froze. She didn't know why, but as she watched Allen stand up, she saw him as though he were five meters tall.
Unaware of the danger she sensed, Rob Lucci smiled with aggression and hostility as his muscles tensed.
"You seem awfully eager to fight. Did I steal your girlfriend in the past or something?" Allen mocked.
"I simply despise evil," Lucci replied.
"Evil... Have you looked in a mirror? Something tells me your hands have more blood on them than many ruthless pirates."
Rob Lucci frowned.
Rob Lucci's past was dark. Unlike Garp or Tashigi, his philosophy was one of dark justice, where the ends justified the means.
When he was only thirteen years old, he had been sent on a mission that would define the rest of his life.
A group of pirates had captured five hundred soldiers to threaten a king. The situation was dire, so the king requested help from the World Government.
They sent Rob Lucci...
What was the young genius's solution?
He infiltrated the pirates' hideout and slaughtered all five hundred of the king's soldiers. His justification was that they were weak, and justice did not negotiate with evil. After that, Rob Lucci also killed the pirates, though in the process he received five cannon wounds to his back that, coincidentally, resembled the World Government's emblem.
Rob Lucci was that kind of man. He would never accept getting along with Allen. It didn't matter if Allen had done nothing wrong. It didn't matter if he had been enjoying his stay in Water 7. The moment a bounty was placed on his head, he became an unforgivable existence in Rob Lucci's eyes.
Rob Lucci's eyes gleamed.
"Soru!"
Rob Lucci vanished. His Soru was far faster than that of any other CP9 member. His strength was nearly double that of Kaku and Jabra.
In essence, this man was equivalent in strength to a vice admiral!
Rob Lucci appeared in front of Allen with both fists pressed together.
Within the Rokushiki, there existed a secret technique, one that could only be mastered by someone who had completely mastered all six techniques.
This technique completely ignored external defenses, directly damaging the target's internal organs.
Its name was...
"ROKUOGAN!! (Six King Gun)!" Rob Lucci shouted.
A shockwave erupted from his fists, passed through Allen's body, and destroyed everything behind him, blasting apart the wall.
Kalifa and Robin had already moved away.
The people inside the restaurant began screaming and fleeing.
"I know you have Armament Haki, but this technique ignores defenses! Ordinary Haki won't protect you!"
"..." Allen didn't respond.
'He must have caught him by surprise and inflicted severe internal damage.' Rob Lucci thought.
"I'm taking your head as proof of my justice, Allen Walker!"
A cold smile spread across Rob Lucci's face, but it froze instantly.
"Rokuogan... I see. It's like Advanced Armament Haki, capable of causing internal damage," Allen said calmly as he raised his head.
Rob Lucci's pupils contracted as his instincts went into overdrive, sensing danger. He tried to retreat, but it was too late.
Allen clenched his fist, which turned metallic black, but that wasn't all—a crimson aura wrapped around it.
"You—"
Without giving him any time to react, Allen's fist struck Rob Lucci square in the abdomen. Instantly, the Haki pierced through his Tekkai like butter.
"Urggh!"
Blood burst from Rob Lucci's eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. He immediately lost his transformation and remained standing like a corpse.
Allen grabbed him by the neck and threw him to his left.
Rob Lucci's body slammed into the wall, creating a crater before collapsing to the floor, motionless.
"Let's go." Allen didn't even spare Rob Lucci a second glance before looking at Kalifa and Robin, his eyes still calm and a faint smile on his face.
"Okay~" Robin smiled, but Kalifa was pale.
To her, Rob Lucci was a monster, an incredibly powerful agent who could kill her in an instant. He was like a living weapon capable of wiping out an army by himself.
And yet he had been defeated with a single punch.
"Kalifa?" Allen asked with a hint of amusement as he offered his hand to her.
The woman trembled before standing up, walking over to Allen, and taking his hand.
No more words were necessary. She understood Allen's intentions.
In short, she had just been promoted from tour guide to the World King's hostage.
She couldn't complain. She and her team had tried to kill Allen and failed. Losers didn't get to choose.
....
Back in Iceburg's office, his expression was grim. He had received reports that Allen's crew had gotten into an incident in the city—or, more specifically, that they had been attacked and had repelled the assault.
"Bounty hunters, Marines... or Government agents?"
He had already sent his best men to the scene and could only hope there hadn't been any civilian casualties.
As he thought about it, the door opened, and three people walked in. When Iceburg turned around, he couldn't help but feel concerned, though he didn't show it.
"Allen Walker... I'll say this upfront. I had nothing to do with that attack."
Allen smiled and entered the room before sitting down on the sofa. Behind him, Robin sat to his right, while Kalifa entered last and sat to his left.
"Why don't you have a seat? I have good news and bad news for you," Allen said, narrowing his eyes.
Iceburg wasn't an ordinary man. He remained calm and did as Allen asked. He didn't even make the slightest attempt to call for help. He stood firm, even in front of him.
"I see." Allen smiled. "No wonder they chose such a tedious method instead of simply taking Pluton's blueprints by force."
"...!"
Iceburg couldn't maintain his composure after hearing those words.
How did Allen know?
No... more importantly, was that his objective too?!
Iceburg's face darkened, but instead of fear, his eyes made one thing clear.
Even if he died, he would reveal nothing.
"Relax." Allen laughed. "I'm not the one after Pluton's blueprints, am I right, Kalifa?"
Iceburg's eyes widened as he glared at his secretary. She didn't say a single word and simply remained silent, but that alone was more than enough confirmation.
Iceburg clenched his teeth.
"Allen-san... I'm going to need more context."
Allen smiled in amusement.
"Sure. I'll tell you everything, including who the traitors are and why Water 7 is about to be destroyed. But of course... there's a price."
"What?!" Iceburg exclaimed in disbelief.
The man looked Allen in the eyes, then after a moment stood up from the sofa, walked to a painting with a safe hidden behind it, and opened it, revealing gold bars and countless stacks of Berries.
"Tell me everything," he demanded.
Allen laughed once again.
"You're easy to get along with, and I like that."
Allen proceeded to explain everything, from CP9 and their plan to steal Pluton's blueprints to the agents who had infiltrated his company.
But what chilled Iceburg the most was learning that a Buster Call was already on its way. The revelation made him stagger back to his desk, where he slammed his fist down hard enough to shatter the wood.
"BASTARDS!!"
To Iceburg, Water 7 was more than just a city.
It was his entire world.
And because of the Government's whim, it was about to be wiped off the map.
How could he possibly accept that?!
"The World Government has always been like that. Innocent lives mean nothing to them as long as they accomplish their goals," Robin said indifferently.
Kalifa clenched her fists. She didn't agree with something like this either, but as an agent she was merely a tool. She had to obey or face the consequences.
"Calm down, Iceburg," Allen mocked. "Did you forget I told you there was both good news and bad news?"
..." Iceburg looked at Allen in silence before becoming confused.
There was no reason for Allen to bother coming here.
He should have been gathering his crew and setting sail immediately.
"Don't get the wrong idea. While receiving a secretary as a gift isn't something I'd complain about, the fact that she's a Government assassin makes it hard for me to owe you anything. Still... I'm in a good mood." Allen smiled mysteriously. "How about I take care of the Buster Call for you?"
Iceburg and Kalifa were left speechless by those words.
Robin, on the other hand, simply laughed.
"What? Did I say something so strange?" Allen teased.
"But that's..." Iceburg couldn't finish his sentence. Suddenly, he felt weak and collapsed to his knees.
'What's happening?! What is this crushing pressure?!' Iceburg thought, barely able to breathe.
"It's a call for destruction. I know that," Allen said indifferently. "But it doesn't matter! I just need to know whether you're willing to accept my help and, by doing so, openly stand against the World Government."
"...!" Iceburg felt a chill run down his spine.
He had underestimated Allen; everyone had.
A declaration that would shake the world.
At this very moment, Allen had clearly and definitively declared his opposition to the World Government... And this time, not as some rookie pirate, but as someone capable of shaking the world itself.
====
Patreon.com/_Aizen