"We hold off Shirogai for a moment? Delay CP-9 from completing their mission?"
CP-0 Hidden Snake sprinted across the rooftops of Water 7, the wind tearing past him as he glared bitterly at the Den Den Mushi in his hand.
"Nameless. Why don't you just let me and Blue Oni kill Shirogai directly? That would be far simpler."
"I'm sorry, Inbi Hebi, Blue Oni."
The Den Den Mushi's face remained emotionless as it spoke.
"This is a direct order from the Gorosei. You will obey. You know the consequences of defying the will of the Gorosei."
"We… will try our best."
Hidden Snake's expression twitched, the weight of the order nearly crushing him.
He exchanged a look with Blue Oni. Both men saw the same despair in the other's eyes.
They had agreed that Saturn would hold off Shirogai, while they only assisted CP-9 from the shadows.
Now suddenly, they were ordered to stall Shirogai themselves.
A man who defeated the Three Admirals.
How long could they survive?
One minute?
Ten seconds?
Or perhaps not even that long?
Maybe they wouldn't last a single exchange.
"Damn it!"
Blue Oni cursed, unaware that his cheek had swollen from earlier impacts.
They were raised as the World Government's disposable knives, trained since childhood to perform the dirtiest missions and to throw away their lives when necessary.
But that didn't mean they didn't fear death.
If anything, the more darkness they witnessed, the more they clung to life.
Sadly, their lives belonged to the World Government, and not even CP-0 dared resist the Gorosei.
To betray the Government meant punishment far worse than death.
"Haa…"
Hidden Snake exhaled, brows furrowed in thought.
"Perhaps we can use his companions. Threaten him."
"That long-nosed guy who stayed on the Going Merry?"
Blue Oni immediately understood.
"I'll capture him."
Blue Oni turned sharply and vanished toward the harbor where the Going Merry was docked.
"Until then, it's my job to hold him off?"
Hidden Snake sighed bitterly.
"I hope you won't need to come back for my corpse."
He unslung an antique sniper rifle from his back. His personal weapon.
"Poison Eye."
He loaded Sea-Stone bullets with trembling hands.
"Sea-Stone rounds… maybe they can hurt that monster."
He didn't believe his own words. Sea-Stone bullets could wound weak Devil Fruit users, but against someone of Shirogai's level, they were nearly useless.
With Observation Haki, he might not even allow a bullet to come near him.
Click.
One by one, he loaded the rounds, then scanned the distant alleys for the best sniping angle.
After a minute, Hidden Snake found the optimal perch.
If Shirogai passed through here, he would take the shot.
If not, he would fail. There would be nothing more he could do.
He rested "Poison Eye" on the ledge and peered through the scope.
He could only hope.
"…"
Then he saw a smiling figure walking down the street.
Hidden Snake froze.
"Not good…"
Shirogai strolled casually toward the Carrera Company headquarters, completely unhurried.
Hidden Snake's heart plummeted.
Why didn't you use your Devil Fruit and vanish?!
Why must you walk right into my crosshair?!
Inside, he screamed.
Outside, he aimed calmly, pretending to be steady.
Shirogai, with that same amused smile, casually glanced upward toward the high-rise where Hidden Snake hid.
"Heh."
He had sensed the faint killing intent the moment it touched him.
A CP-0 agent aiming a long-range shot.
"Poor guy."
Shirogai understood immediately.
"Because of the Gorosei's mistake, Saturn failed to stall me. CP-9 hasn't completed the Pluton blueprint acquisition either."
He chuckled softly, his eyes lifting toward the sniper tower.
"You were chosen as the unlucky one to stall me."
Hidden Snake's entire body went cold.
He felt Shirogai's eyes lock onto him.
"Gone! He disappeared?! Where did he go?!"
Hidden Snake spun his scope wildly, sweat pouring down his back.
He didn't realize the truth.
Shirogai was already standing silently behind him.
Watching him struggle.
"Gone, where did he go…"
Hidden Snake wiped his forehead, dread twisting in his gut.
He slowly lifted his head.
"Hey."
Shirogai smiled gently behind him.
Whoosh!
Hidden Snake's instincts exploded. He grabbed Poison Eye and vanished using Soru.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
Three gunshots roared through the air as he fled desperately.
"Damn it! This monster got behind me without me noticing at all!"
Hidden Snake sprinted away while firing three Sea-Stone sniper rounds.
Neck.
Chest.
Eyes.
All three bullets were dodged effortlessly.
The last of his hopes shattered.
Hidden Snake used Moonwalk repeatedly, leaping farther from the Carrera headquarters.
"I have to survive… until Blue Oni brings the hostage!"
"Don't run, Inbi Hebi. I only want to ask a question."
Shirogai's voice drifted behind him like a haunting whisper.
Hidden Snake's entire back felt cold enough to freeze.
"What is this terrifying presence… what does he want to do to me?"
He didn't dare speak.
He didn't dare stop.
He just ran.
The memory of Poison Eye's death replayed in his mind.
The spine ripped out alive.
The screams.
The final plea.
Hidden Snake clenched his teeth and pushed his body to its limit.
Run!
I must hold on until Blue Oni returns!
---
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