"First," Big Mom continued, "you provide us with more of your Lineage Factor, and we'll build you a custom Seraphim, free of charge. Second, if you provide the Lineage Factor of another Emperor-level powerhouse, we will build anywhere door for you for free the next time we acquire a core."
Hearing Big Mom's offer, Whitebeard pondered for a moment before nodding in agreement.
A custom Seraphim for free was a good deal; ordering one from the blackmarket cost a staggering 200 billion Berries.
"Mamamama! Lineage Factor is very important to us and we pirates need all the strength we can get to face the Marines, right?" Big Mom said.
Whitebeard knew they were likely being taken advantage of, but he had no reason to refuse.
He truly needed an anywhere door.
Of course, if he could ever acquire one of the Marine's genuine models, he wouldn't want this knockoff.
Still, it was best to have a backup plan.
If Kaido and the others only ever managed to secure one core, having their own knockoff door would be a huge advantage.
"Gurarara... Very well. Here's to a successful partnership," Whitebeard rumbled.
Big Mom laughed happily, and after concluding their business, she and her crew departed through the door.
"Pops..." Marco began as soon as they were gone.
"Hmph. We need that door," Whitebeard said.
"We'll try to get one legitimately. If that fails, we'll just have to snatch a core." He frowned.
"But they need the Lineage Factor of another Emperor-level powerhouse. Who could we even get it from?"
"Pops! Maybe there is someone else we can seek out..." Marco said suddenly, stroking his chin.
"Oh? Who?"
"One of the three legendary pirates... a man who stood on par with you and Roger."
Whitebeard's eyes lit up.
"Is it... Shiki?"
"That's right! How could I have forgotten him?" Whitebeard laughed. "Gurarara... In that case, Marco, you will take command of the fleet in my absence!"
"And I," Whitebeard declared, "will go find Shiki myself!"
Marco's face hardened with resolve.
"Yes, Pops!"
With that, the entire Whitebeard Pirates sprang into action.
*****
On that same day, shocking news rocked the seas.
The Straw Hat Pirates had stormed Enies Lobby, openly declared war on the World Government, defeated the CP9 and successfully escaped from a Buster Call!
For a time, the world was in an uproar.
At Marine Headquarters, Fleet Admiral Sengoku was furious.
"Damn it! This is a slap in our face!" he roared. "Garp's grandson! How dare he do something so audacious!"
"Indeed," Tsuru said gravely, shaking her head. "To openly declare war... the World Government cannot forgive such an act."
"Hmph! Immediately dispatch a Seraphim to Water 7," Sengoku ordered. "Eliminate the entire Straw Hat crew!"
"Yes, sir!" a marine officer replied, rushing to mobilize the unit.
Garp, who had been standing at the door, heard everything.
"Luffy..." he muttered, his face dark as he silently gritted his teeth.
"Why must you be so reckless?" His giant fists clenched, his expression a storm of conflict.
Finally, he let out a deep sigh, as if he had made a decision.
"I'm going," he resolved. "I won't let Luffy follow in Ace's footsteps."
Shaking his head bitterly, he set off.
*****
Meanwhile, on the ruins of Enies Lobby.
"Lucci! Lucci, wake up!" Kaku said, shaking his unconscious leader.
"What do we do? With Lucci out cold, it'll slow us down!" Jabra worried.
"We can't just leave him here," Kalifa added. "The Marines is after us. Staying here is a death sentence!"
Because of their failed mission, the members of CP9 had been branded as fugitives by the very World Government they served.
They felt a bitter and despair.
It was a classic case of casting a tool aside once it was no longer useful.
"Put him on your back. Let's move," Kaku decided. "It's the only way."
They may have been ruthless assassins, but they wouldn't abandon a comrade.
"Alright, let's..." Jabra started, but just as he was about to lift Lucci, a small figure appeared silently before them.
They all froze, their expressions instantly turning grim.
Before them stood the Seraphim modeled after Hawkeye Mihawk.
"Oh no..." Kaku's face went pale.
As members of CP, they knew exactly how powerful the Seraphim were.
Even if this was just a Shichibukai-level model, it was far beyond what they could handle in their current state.
They were all seriously injured; just standing still was an effort.
How could they possibly fight?
"This is bad," Kaku said grimly. "If we want to escape, we have to get past it."
Before he could finish, the Mihawk Seraphim flickered.
Using the Marine's Soru technique, it instantly appeared in front of them.
They recognized the move, but they were too slow to react.
The Seraphim's finger shot out 'Shigan'.
"Argh!" A bloody hole appeared in Kaku's chest.
"He's too fast! Everyone, attack together!"
The remaining members of CP9 unleashed their best Rokushiki techniques.
But the Seraphim drew its sword and swept through them with masterful swordsmanship, augmenting its attacks with Haki.
In a single, overwhelming assault, it defeated them all.
"Damn... this thing is too strong!"
With a final scream, the last of CP9 fell to the ground.
"Looks like this is where we die," Kaku said with a bitter smile, his eyes full of despair.
The others lay defeated, unable to resist as the Seraphim approached.
"We're dead," Jabra gritted his teeth.
"The World Government is truly ruthless. We fail one mission, and they decide to eliminate us..." The thought filled him with rage.
Lucci had also regained consciousness, but his injuries were the most severe.
He couldn't even stand, let alone fight.
They could only watch helplessly as the Seraphim closed in to execute them.
To their surprise, however, it stopped just before them.
It didn't strike the final blow.
"Huh? What's going on?" the CP9 members muttered as they were confused.
"Please wait a moment," the Seraphim said, its sharp eyes fixed on them.
This only deepened their confusion.
They didn't want to die, but they had no idea what was happening.
Just then, a pink door shimmered into existence in front of them.
"What now?!" Kaku and the others tensed, looking toward the door.
The next moment, five elderly men with distinct appearances stepped through.
"The Five Elders?!" Everyone stared in disbelief, completely thunderstruck.
The five highest authorities of the World Government were standing right in front of them.
"Hmph," one of the Elders said, looking down at the defeated agents with an unreadable expression.
"Rob Lucci."
"Present..." Lucci replied weakly.
"Elders," he said, forcing himself to his feet with Kaku's help.
"I know our failure was due to my negligence. As the leader, I am willing to take full responsibility. I, Rob Lucci, will commit suicide on the spot, if you agree to let the others go." His eyes burned with determination.
"A noble spirit," another Elder snorted. "As expected of a once-in-800-years genius. However, we are willing to give you another chance... if you can prove your value."
Lucci and the others were stunned, then overjoyed.
They weren't going to die! It might only be a temporary reprieve, but to be alive was to have hope.
"Elders, what do we need to do to prove ourselves? We are willing to go through fire and water for you and the World Government!" Lucci declared.
"Hmph... Come with us," was the only reply from the elders.
The Five Elders turned and walked back through the door and the CP9 agents quickly followed.
The next moment, they found themselves in a mysterious laboratory.
"To traverse the distance in an instant..." Lucci thought while stunned.
The Anywhere door was as magical as the rumours claimed.
"Don't gawk. This is Marine Headquarters. Dr. Leon's laboratory," a voice said.
Lucci and the others looked over and saw Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Garp, the three Admirals and Vice Admiral Tsuru.
The entire top brass of the Marines was present.
And with them stood a small child.
They could immediately guessed his identity.
"Dr. Leon..."
"He's so young," Kalifa whispered.
Lucci was shocked.
He was known as a once-in-800-years combat genius.
But what did that make Leon, a boy who invented world-changing technology before he was even ten? He was a monster of a different breed entirely.
In that moment, the proud Lucci felt a genuine sense of respect for a talent that dwarfed his own.
"Ah, Five Elders. What brings you all here?" Leon asked, looking at them nonchalantly.
"Hahaha, we're here on business, of course! How is it coming along? Have you developed the new Devil Fruit?" Ju Peter asked with a kind smile, the others looking on with anticipation.
This scene shocked Lucci and his team.
The Five Elders, the most powerful men in the world, were always stern and never smile.
Yet here they were, looking at a child with kind, hopeful expressions.
Only Dr. Leon could command such treatment.
"Hahaha, you've come at just the right time!" Leon smiled confidently. "Take a look!"
He gestured to a strange box.
As it slowly opened, a brilliant light shone from within.
Nestled inside was a fruit covered in bizarre spiral patterns.
"A Devil Fruit?" Lucci and the others were puzzled.
They were Devil Fruit users themselves, but for a behemoth like the World Government to treat one with such importance was unusual.
Because they had been locked in a fierce battle with the Straw Hats, they had no knowledge of Leon's latest invention.
"Hahahaha, wonderful!" the Five Elders beamed. "Leon, may we have this one?"
Leon shrugged. "No problem. Take it if you want."
"Excellent!" Saturn's face lit up.
He then turned to Lucci and gave a direct order.
"Rob Lucci. Eat this Devil Fruit."
-----------------------------
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