It was the third day since Rengoku and his Marines had arrived at Water 7.
From the shipyard, Rengoku watched as their damaged warship was being dismantled. Just as reinforcements from Naval Headquarters docked in, an unexpected message reached him.
Not an invitation. Not a request.
A directive.
The sender? None other than Cipher Pol — specifically the shadowy force known as CP9. The one who bore the title of Commanding Minister was a man Rengoku had never even heard of before: Spandam.
And yet, this man had sent a directive sealed with the insignia of the Five Elders themselves.
Rengoku had no love for Cipher Pol, those self-proclaimed "shields of the Celestial Dragons." Still, the authority of the Five Elders was no trivial matter. That alone was enough to rouse his suspicion.
He followed the instructions, arriving at a concealed meeting place within Water 7.
There, several men in beast-like masks awaited him.
Among them stood one who did not wear a mask, but instead strapped a strange piece of leather across his face.
This odd figure was none other than the one who had summoned him—Spandam, Commanding Minister of CP9.
"Yoo-hoo~! Greetings, future Admiral!" Spandam waved his hand with false cheer.
Rengoku's eyes narrowed.
"So, you're Spandam of CP9. To send me a directive with the Five Elders' seal… does this truly represent their will?"
In theory, documents stamped by the Elders weren't that rare—Admirals, Vice Admirals, and high-level strategists like Tsuru could all obtain them with proper justification.
Ministers of Cipher Pol, too, could receive stamped directives, provided they had cause.
But in reality, only those who had met with the Elders directly—Admirals, CP0, or ministers of CP9—could expect such authority.
And the man before him… his aura was utterly lacking. By Cipher Pol's own scale of "Douryoku," this Spandam barely ranked a 9. Generous at that. He was weaker than an ordinary Seaman Recruit. If he held such power, it was not by strength, but through connections.
Unfortunately, CP9's shadowy nature left Rengoku with little more than speculation. Cipher Pol and the Marines were, on paper, equals under the World Government's banner.
"Ha! Our CP9 agents recently compiled a report," Spandam said smugly. "When we handed it to the Five Elders, they stamped their seal right away! Such decisive men, don't you think?"
He gestured for Rengoku to sit.
The directive itself was simple—only one line:
"Assist CP9 in their mission."
Marines aiding Cipher Pol was not unusual. Both served the World Government, and joint operations were possible. But the fact that this order bore the Elders' seal made one thing clear:
It was a compulsion.
The Elders anticipated Rengoku might resist. His sense of justice would not easily bend to CP9's darker methods—massacres of civilians included.
This directive stripped him of that option.
"While I trust the Elders' judgment," Rengoku said firmly, "I cannot trust yours. Grant me one week—I will meet the Elders myself and confirm this order directly!"
He rose to leave, only for one masked agent to block his way.
"You dare bar the path of a Vice Admiral? Marines and Cipher Pol stand as equals. Do you, a mere agent, wish to start a war between us?"
Though Rengoku's words were calm, his spirit pressed down like a storm. The agent instinctively stepped back.
"Now, now, let's not get so worked up, future Admiral," Spandam drawled, feigning ease. "This mission doesn't involve civilian slaughter, I assure you. It's far simpler—just one arrest."
"One person?"
"That's right." Spandam's grin widened. "Five years ago, you let her slip away. This time, it's none other than Nico Robin. According to our intel, she's here in Water 7. Perfect, no?"
Rengoku's jaw tightened.
Spandam continued, practically giddy. "The Elders themselves wish for your cooperation in this capture. They even granted me this to aid the mission."
At his signal, a subordinate stepped forward, setting a small ornate chest between them.
"What is this?" Rengoku asked.
"Why not open it and see for yourself?" Spandam smirked.
Reluctantly, Rengoku lifted the lid. Inside lay a fruit unlike any other—its skin a radiant golden yellow, shaped like a twisted yam, its edges lined with crimson, leaf-like ridges.
His eyes widened.
"A Devil Fruit…"
"Correct!" Spandam declared, almost hopping with delight. "The Neko Neko no Mi, Mythical Zoan—Model: Nemean Lion! Fufufu~! Can you believe it? A top-class Devil Fruit, personally bestowed by the Five Elders themselves!"
The Nemean Lion—a monstrous beast of legend, impervious to all attacks. Even the greatest hero under heaven had to fight for thirty days, staking his very life, before finally slaying it.
According to the tale, the hero tried every attack known to man throughout those thirty brutal days, only to kill the lion at last by strangling it until it suffocated.
In the Devil Fruit encyclopedia, it was mentioned only in passing—just a few short lines.
...
"What does this mean?"
"What do you think it means? Do you really believe the Five Elders gave this to you out of pity? No—eat this Devil Fruit, and add your strength to CP9, so that we may capture that vile [Devil's Child], Nico Robin!"
But with Rengoku's ability, he could capture Nico Robin without ever needing a Devil Fruit. That was why he failed to understand the true intent of the Five Elders.
"Nico Robin is currently with the Supernova crew, the Straw Hat Pirates. Surely CP9's forces wouldn't find it too difficult to handle them?"
"Their total bounty is over 300 million berries, and they even defeated the Warlord, Crocodile. So of course, a backup plan is necessary. If we fail, it would hinder my promotion—ah, no, I mean, it would jeopardize the protection of justice itself!"
With that, Spandam pushed the Devil Fruit toward him.
"If it were me, I'd have eaten it without hesitation. Yet here you sit, unmoved… Truly impressive willpower. Or could it be you're thinking, 'I am a swordsman, I will never eat a Devil Fruit'? But I don't recall you being such a 'pure swordsman.'"
What Spandam knew was already enough: Rengoku wielded a blazing sword, had mastered Fishman Karate up to a total of 200-dan, and had fully learned Rokushiki. He was an expert in close combat—a specialist in battle, yes, but not a mere swordsman.
"Or perhaps… are you planning to sympathize with Nico Robin again, and let her escape 'once more'?"
"This is a gift from the Five Elders. Eat it, and prove that you still serve the World Government and uphold justice. Otherwise… what, will you side with pirates instead?"
It seemed CP9 already knew the truth about him letting her go five years ago.
Well, of course they did. As the World Government's top intelligence agency, it would be stranger if they didn't.
But then, why had neither the Five Elders nor the Government ever blamed him for dereliction of duty?
Could it be… this was 'another chance'?
"…Very well. I will eat it."
There was no reason not to.
He sat down, peeled back the skin of the Devil Fruit, and examined the flesh within.
It was small enough to eat in one bite.
"Fu…"
This was his first time eating a Devil Fruit. He wondered what it would taste like. People said it was horrible…
He put the fruit into his mouth.
Instantly, his mouth was filled with a flavor beyond description.
Disgusting. Perhaps now, Rengoku truly understood the 'suffering' Vivi had endured when she ate the Tori Tori Fruit back then.
Still… compared to Hancock's cooking, it wasn't much worse.
So, surprisingly, he swallowed it down with little effort.
Spandam, who had been eagerly waiting to see Rengoku's reaction to eating a fruit not his own—a fruit infamous only for its terrible taste—was left disappointed.
What? That's it? He ate it too easily!
Boring.
"When does the mission begin?"
Rengoku, having finished the fruit without even testing his new power, asked about the start of the mission instead.
"You'll find out when the time comes. Until then… wait."
With just those words, Spandam left, taking his agents with him.
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