"Hmm? Looks like that fool of a director screwed things up again."
Kaku, now in his giraffe form, had heard every word from Rengoku.
"So what now? The fact that our commander's an idiot is one thing, but… do we still kill these guys?"
Jabra frowned, uncertain about the situation.
"Hard to say. But judging from how they managed to withstand our combined assault in that state, they won't be easy to take down."
Since Rengoku had publicly declared he would take full responsibility, CP9 no longer had a compelling reason to capture the Straw Hats. And though it wasn't a direct order from their official commander, once joint operations with the Marines were declared, Rengoku's authority ranked right above them.
Besides, judging by that earlier scream, their so-called director Spandam was as good as dead anyway. There was no longer any reason to cling to his orders. And even if they were blamed later, Rengoku had already promised to shoulder all responsibility.
"Roronoa, let's postpone our fight. It looks like our 'commander' is finished."
"Tch. A shame… but with a Buster Call on the way and orders to retreat, I guess I don't have a choice."
Kaku and Jabra returned to their human forms, tossed away their seastone keys, and leapt from the tower using Moonwalk to escape.
"Hey! Where the hell do you think you're running?!"
"Running? Don't flatter yourself. We're not fleeing from you. We're following the highest authority's command—to evacuate this island."
"Like I care. Next time we meet, I'll cut that damn giraffe nose of yours clean in half."
"Oi, square-nosed giraffe! Before you leave, I've got a message for you."
Zoro's shout stopped Kaku for a moment.
"Square-nosed giraffe…? Gahahahaha!! That's a good one!" Jabra doubled over laughing.
"Shut up, Jabra. Well then, what's this message?"
"Your vice-president back at Galley-La told me to deliver it: 'All of your heads are mine.'"
At those words, Pauly's face flashed through Kaku's mind. The man he'd worked alongside for five years.
"…I see. Then I'll make sure to pass it along to the others. Until we meet again."
And with that, Kaku and Jabra abandoned the fight and disappeared from the Tower of Justice.
Meanwhile, facing Nami, Kalifa tossed her a key with an indifferent smile.
"Looks like the director's finished, and command has shifted to that handsome Marine officer. Since he said we're working together, here—take this key."
"Huh? You're just handing it over like that?" Nami asked in disbelief.
But Kalifa's reply left her even more stunned.
"The key to Nico Robin's cuffs isn't with us CP9 agents. That's in the hands of Vice Admiral Rengoku. So giving you this changes nothing."
Ignoring Nami's shock, Kalifa vaulted off the tower and made her escape.
Kumadori, locked in a desperate brawl with a double-Rumble-Ball-boosted Chopper, also handed over his key before retreating.
Fukurou, still trading blows with Franky, did the same.
The Straw Hats gained what they needed without wasting more energy—but unease gnawed at them.
If CP9 gave up their fights this easily, how terrifying was this "Buster Call" and just how much dread did they feel toward Rengoku?
Only Rob Lucci remained behind, stubbornly refusing to yield.
"Hey! Didn't you hear your superior's orders? Get out of my way! I'm here to save Robin!" Luffy shouted.
"Hmph. I never liked that man anyway. I'm Cipher Pol—he's a Marine. Even if the chain of command puts him above me, he has no authority to punish me. I'll follow my own judgment. Tempest Kick!"
From the start, Lucci's pride and rivalry with Rengoku had made him hostile. His ego would not allow him to obey.
"Good. With the Buster Call coming to wipe everything out, let's see if you can defeat me before the world itself collapses… Straw Hat!"
Transforming into his beast-man form, the leopard hybrid, Lucci lunged at Luffy with a ferocious flurry of attacks.
The five CP9 agents—Kaku, Jabra, Kalifa, Fukurou, and Kumadori—slipped out of the Tower of Justice and used Moonwalk to cross over the courthouse roof, heading toward the Puffing Tom and the Marine escape ships waiting beyond.
"What about Lucci?"
Noticing one member missing, Kaku turned to the others.
"No idea."
"I didn't see him either, chapapapa. Maybe he's still with the director?" Fukurou suggested.
"Hmm… judging from how things looked, and from what came over the transponder snails, it seems Lucci, the director, Vice Admiral Rengoku, and Nico Robin ended up separated."
Kalifa recalled the expression on Lucci's face when Rengoku had shut him down earlier.
"The Straw Hat crew numbers seven in total, excluding Robin herself. I ran into the woman and that perverted cook."
"Jabra and I fought the long-nosed one and the swordsman."
"Yoyoi~! This humble one clashed with the raccoon dog~!" Kumadori announced dramatically.
"I fought the criminal Franky, but he's not officially part of the Straw Hats, chapapapa," Fukurou added.
Piecing together her comrades' testimonies, Kalifa reached a likely conclusion.
"Then by process of elimination… Lucci must be facing off against the Straw Hat captain himself. It makes sense. Both are the leaders of their groups."
The others nodded in agreement.
"And what about support?" someone asked.
"Support? If Lucci found out we interfered in his fight, he'd probably kill us first. No—we'll just focus on what we can do."
With Lucci absent, Kaku naturally assumed command, his strength and composure giving his words weight.
The others also considered Lucci's twisted nature—the way he reveled in killing—and realized Kaku was right. Intervening might be more dangerous than helping.
"Besides, Lucci already crossed blades with Vice Admiral Rengoku. Their relationship is practically hostile…"
"Strange, though. Who knew a man could hate someone's voice that much," Kalifa muttered wryly.
As they continued skywalking, the CP9 agents spotted a familiar figure collapsed below.
"Ah, over there—that's Blueno, chapapapa!"
"Yoyoi~! Even if he fell easily, a comrade is still a comrade! This humble one shall retrieve him~!" Kumadori dove down and soon returned with Blueno slung over his shoulder.
"So what now? Should we board the escape ship?"
"The sea train only leads back to Water 7. And there are likely even more pirates swarming it by now. Better we stick with the Marines' evacuation vessels."
"Agreed. Then let's hurry! The last thing I want is to get caught in a Buster Call."
--------------------
Want to read 20 advance chapters ahead?
Go to my patreon: patreon.com/Kinglass