After the events at Enies Lobby, CP9 suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Straw Hat Pirates. Blamed by their superior, Spandam, they became fugitives pursued by the World Government.
While recovering in the Town of the Spring Queen, they gradually came to realize that they were more than just colleagues—they were bound by a shared fate.
Upon secretly returning to their homeland, they witnessed the new generation of CP9 in training. However, their victory over the Candy Pirates at Town of the Spring Queen had already exposed their whereabouts, leading the Marines to discover them.
But what they never could have expected was that among the Marines who arrived was none other than the soon-to-be Fleet Admiral—Admiral "Orange Horse" Wright!
"Rob Lucci… quite the fitting name, isn't it? 'Seizing the light'—is that what it means?"
Wright gazed at Lucci, who was struggling to maintain his composure, and the rest of CP9—who, despite their fear upon recognizing him, still stood firmly by Lucci's side. He gave a slight nod.
"Not bad. A united group. Rob Lucci, you are their de facto leader. Given your current predicament, you understand the situation, don't you?"
"…"
Lucci gently stroked Hattori, the pigeon on his shoulder. The man standing before him could erase them with a mere flick of his wrist, even though Lucci was reputed to be the strongest CP9 in history.
"Admiral Wright, if you've come all this way just to mock us, I find that hard to believe. Even if you intended to execute us, it hardly requires your personal attention. So, what do you want?"
"'Dark Justice'—that is your creed. 'Necessary Evil'—your guiding principle…"
A golden light flashed through Wright's eyes. In an instant, golden lightning crackled, and an overwhelming pressure bore down on CP9.
Kalifa, Fukurou, and Kumadori, who lacked the resilience of Zoan users, collapsed to their knees instantly. Blueno, the Door-Door Fruit user, gritted his teeth and trembled under the force, while Kaku and Jabra stood tense, drenched in cold sweat. Lucci himself, though sweating profusely, managed to endure without using his full strength.
"If you're going to kill me, then do it quickly!"
Lucci forced the words through gritted teeth—only to feel the immense pressure suddenly lift. Wright had withdrawn his presence.
"I uphold justice through light and hope. Now, I am offering you the chance to become an undercover agent for the Marines. What do you say?"
Lucci couldn't believe what he had just heard.
"Are you insane?! Our ideologies are completely at odds! There is no way I would ever join you!"
"You are a valuable asset, Rob Lucci."
Wright's voice seemed to burrow into Lucci's mind with undeniable force:
"You were betrayed—abandoned by the World Government you once served without question. Just like that first mission of yours, when you executed five hundred hostages. Back then, you believed they were weak and without value, fit only for sacrifice.
"But now… you and your comrades are the ones deemed worthless by the World Government. Doesn't that sound familiar?"
"Defeated by a band of no-name pirates. Even after invoking a Buster Call, you still failed. You not only disgraced the World Government but humiliated the Marines as well."
No! That was an accident! And Spandam… that bastard… I will have my revenge!
Lucci clenched his teeth. As much as he hated to admit it, defeat was defeat. As CP9's most skilled assassin, he understood better than anyone—failure meant death. But he wasn't ready to die just yet!
"So, as an enforcer of 'Justice of Hope,' I offer you a chance…"
"A chance to see the truth behind the World Government for yourselves."
The golden glow in Wright's eyes made Lucci's frown deepen.
"You have two choices: die here and now—or become an undercover agent and uncover the truth hidden from assassins like you. Choose."
"And don't think about playing tricks… You should know what I am famous for."
"…Reading people's hearts…"
Lucci clenched his jaw, his emotions surging chaotically.
I have a future… I can't die here!
And the others… they are not like those worthless hostages! I won't let them die so easily!
No value… Hah! Right now, we are worthless to the World Government. He's absolutely right…
The truth? Have we been deceived? Why would the Celestial Dragons, the so-called 'gods,' need to deceive us?
"Because… they are afraid. Afraid that if you uncover the truth about 'gods,' you will tear them from their thrones. They are not just deceiving you—they are deceiving the entire world."
Wright's words left Lucci stunned.
"So, what will it be? Are you interested in returning to their side under a new identity, uncovering the truth? I can train you. I can make you stronger."
"…"
One choice led to certain death. The other offered strength, revenge, and the chance to uncover a thrilling secret.
All it required was a change in allegiance—from a World Government spy to a Marine Headquarters agent.
A sinister grin spread across Lucci's face.
"It seems we have no choice…"
"But I'll admit, I am intrigued—not just by the idea of revenge against Spandam, but by the truth about these so-called 'gods' as well…"
Had anyone else said this, Lucci would have scoffed and killed them on the spot. But these words came from the next Fleet Admiral—Wright!
Staring into Wright's golden eyes, Lucci gave a firm nod.
"I accept!"
...
As the year drew to a close, a new one was about to begin.
Marine Headquarters had been completely rebuilt. The Oris Plaza, which had been shattered by Whitebeard during the Summit War, was fully restored. Even the untouched 'Fortress of Justice' had been renovated.
According to Marine tradition, the arrival of the new year was marked by the tolling of the Ox Bell sixteen times—eight chimes in gratitude for the past year and eight to pray for the year ahead.
But this year's tolling was different…
For it also heralded the promotion ceremony of the youngest and most renowned Fleet Admiral in history—"Orange Horse" Wright!
The 'sixteen tolls' carried a profound meaning—
The old era had ended. The new era would be forged by the Marines!
Alongside Wright's ascension to Fleet Admiral, the Marines made an unprecedented move—promoting a new Admiral:
The former chief instructor of the Dawn, who had demonstrated Admiral-level strength in the Summit War—'Fujitora' Issho!
Dressed in a purple kimono, wooden sandals clacking against the stone, gripping his cane-sword, the civilian-born Issho now stood alongside "Akainu" Sakazuki, "Kizaru" Borsalino, and "Aokiji" Kuzan, ready to fight for justice!
"Hahaha… Finally, I can enjoy my well-earned retirement."
Having stepped down as Fleet Admiral, Sengoku no longer bothered dyeing his hair. His once-voluminous afro and long braided beard had turned completely white—even whiter than Garp's.
Perhaps, from overthinking.
Sengoku's style of dress had undergone a drastic transformation.
Gone were the formal uniforms of the Fleet Admiral. Instead, he now sported casual floral T-shirts, shorts, and flip-flops, never seen without a bag of senbei or mochi slices in hand. Occasionally, he even led his beloved pet goat around...
Was this truly the same stern, meticulous, and impeccably dressed Fleet Admiral of the past?
The once-dignified leader of the Marines had retired and undergone a complete shift in demeanor, transforming from a wise and commanding presence into an easygoing and carefree Inspector General.
Even Garp hadn't gone this far—after all, that old man had always been a goofball, retirement or not!
If Sengoku's drastic change had left the entire Marine Headquarters reeling, then Wright's appointment...
A Marine Fleet Admiral in his thirties, compared to the usual candidates in their sixties or seventies—what difference did it make?
The biggest distinction was that Wright had fewer reservations, acted with greater decisiveness, and under his leadership, the Marines' operational style had undergone a shift.
During Sengoku's tenure, the priority had always been to uphold the orders of the World Government. Even though he personally disagreed with many of their decisions, he had maintained this stance on the surface.
However, after Wright took over as Fleet Admiral, the World Government's reputation was no longer the Marines' primary concern.
The top priority was executing justice!
All the dirty and thankless tasks? Wright dumped them squarely onto the Cipher Pol agencies. After all, those guys existed precisely to handle such affairs. The Marines had a duty to assist—but how much assistance to provide? Well, that was another matter entirely.
This approach did allow Cipher Pol to gain a certain degree of additional power, but in Wright's view, preserving the Marines' integrity was worth it.
Truthfully, the Marines' strength had already reached a level that made the World Government uneasy. By allowing Cipher Pol to take on more responsibility, Wright was effectively throwing them a bone for reassurance.
On the surface, this redistribution of authority seemed to place some checks on the Marines. But in reality, those so-called "powers" meant little in Wright's eyes.
Most importantly, this perceived concession allowed Wright to adopt a hardline stance toward the New World without triggering excessive resistance from the World Government.
Besides…
Had he truly ceded any real power at all?
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