Chapter 80: Preparation
As Rengoku tried to calm his anger in his quarters, Spandam suddenly barged in.
"Vice Admiral Rengoku! Prepare yourself at once—we're heading for the Gates of Justice!"
The sudden change of schedule made Rengoku frown in suspicion.
"The escort ship hasn't even arrived yet. What's the rush?"
Spandam snapped, as though the very question offended him.
"The Straw Hats have invaded Enies Lobby! Even the giant gatekeepers betrayed us—they were pirates to the core after all! We must move for the Gates of Justice immediately!"
"Then that means our soldiers are already under pirate attack," Rengoku said, rising to his feet. "In that case, I'll head out personally to reinforce them."
But Spandam blocked his way.
"Don't be ridiculous! You're coming with me to escort the prisoners!"
"There's CP9 for that. Why would I need to personally guard them?"
"Because you're the strongest! You have to protect me!"
For a moment, Rengoku was stunned into silence.
"…And why exactly should I be protecting you?"
"Don't play dumb! The order bore the seal of the Five Elders themselves! It said, 'Support CP9 in their mission.' And I am the CP9 Chief Commander, Spandam! That means my word is top priority!"
On paper, it was true. Which only made Rengoku angrier.
Below, Marines were bleeding against the Straw Hats' charge, and yet this so-called commander placed his own safety above all else.
But the orders of the Five Elders were absolute. Even if the Celestial Dragons were rotten, the Elders were different—they were the pillars keeping the world from falling into chaos.
Swallowing the fire in his chest, Rengoku followed Spandam.
Together, they ascended the Tower of Justice to the upper floors, where Robin and Franky were bound.
Then—
"ROOOOOBIN!!!"
"I'VE COME… TO BRING YOU BACK!!!"
Luffy's cry shook the air.
"Vice Admiral! From the courthouse roof—the Straw Hat is shouting something!"
"I can hear it!" Rengoku growled. "The whole damn tower can hear it."
Spandam, flustered, rushed out to see for himself, with Rengoku trailing behind.
[Monkey D. Luffy.]
When Rengoku first met him, he thought of him only as a hot-blooded fool—a Peacemain pirate who loved adventure, resembling Vice Admiral Garp in spirit.
But this… this was something else entirely.
He was defending Nico Robin, a great criminal.
And this was the same crew who, alongside the desert king's younger brother, had toppled Crocodile and freed Alabasta from his grasp.
Vice Admiral Garp… grandfather… your grandson seems intent on throwing his life away.
And if Luffy were to discover there was another prisoner here besides Robin… what face would he make then?
Rengoku had personally captured Portgas D. Ace, Luffy's sworn brother. The thought weighed on him like a stone.
Garp was a hero of the Navy.
His son, Dragon, was branded an enemy of the World Government. And yet, Rengoku considered him a kind of hero too—especially in his views about the Celestial Dragons.
And then there was his grandson, Monkey D. Luffy.
What are you thinking?
Would you really risk letting the Ancient Weapons fall into pirate hands, throwing the world into chaos again?
This was the crew of his benefactor's grandson.
A group who, until now, had lived as Peacemains—cheerful adventurers in their own reckless way.
Rengoku's heart resisted. He wanted, more than anything, to avoid raising his hand against them.
At this point, Rengoku could no longer deny it—things had gone too far.
If he ended up in direct conflict with Luffy, he would have no choice but to bind the boy and present him directly before Vice Admiral Garp.
"W-what the…?!"
"V-Vice Admiral!!!"
The commotion outside drew Rengoku's attention.
"What's going on?"
"You'd better come and see, sir!"
Following the Marine's urgent call, Rengoku strode out. Behind him, Spandam's whining voice echoed faintly—muttering complaints about being ignored as if he were supposed to be the one in charge.
Rengoku tuned him out and quickened his pace.
They returned to where Robin and Franky had been bound. But one thing had changed.
Franky's rear end.
It had swollen grotesquely, puffed up so much that it looked ready to burst with the slightest touch.
"Ah, damn… I was hoping to taunt Spandam with this, but it seems like you showed up instead," Franky muttered.
"Hm. Judging from that, are you planning to blow yourself up?"
"Damn right! Self-destruct! If I'm doomed to the gallows anyway, I might as well take all of you down with me. The blast radius would wreck everything for three kilometers!"
How much of that was truth and how much bluff, Rengoku couldn't be sure. But even if it was just compressed air rather than explosives, the destructive force would still be considerable.
"All personnel, move back! Fall away from Franky! Resume your posts at once!"
Rengoku calmed the panicked soldiers and ordered them to retreat.
"Heh. You're still better than Spandam—at least you don't think only of your own skin."
Rengoku ignored the barb, watching Franky carefully.
"Tch. You've got more guts than I thought, Vice Admiral."
"I can more or less guess what you're about to do," Rengoku replied.
"Hmph. Then good. Robin—hold on tight!"
Franky clamped Robin against his leg and triggered the air pressure.
"Coup de Vent!"
The massive blast of compressed air shot forth like a cannon, propelling them straight through the wall and out onto a balcony.
It didn't matter. Escape was impossible. Robin's wrists were still shackled in seastone cuffs.
Rengoku sighed at Franky's recklessness and strode toward them.
Spandam, relieved nothing had exploded, quickly summoned CP9 to follow behind.
"Wait!"
Robin's voice rang out—it seemed she had already begun communicating with Luffy outside.
Franky stood protectively in front of her, blocking the way. But that meant nothing to Rengoku.
"Strong Right! Ultimate Hammer!"
Franky's right arm clattered open, mechanisms whirring, and he lunged with a massive mechanical punch.
Clang! It might have been powerful, but without speed it meant nothing.
Rengoku tilted his body slightly and the iron fist cut past harmlessly. In the same instant, his leg snapped upward.
"Fish-Man Karate: Roof Tile Kick!"
Though Rengoku had mastered techniques equivalent to a hundred levels of Fish-Man Karate and Fish-Man Jujutsu, a full Ten Thousand Tile Kick here would be overkill—fatal, even. And they still needed to know where the blueprints of the Ancient Weapon had been hidden.
Killing him now would be easy. But if the designs slipped into the hands of another villain, that could not be forgiven.
Even holding back, the blow carried enough force.
Franky took the kick to his abdomen—and his vision went black instantly.
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