At the main gate of Enies Lobby, nearly a hundred soldiers stood guard.
"Hey, what's that thing in the distance?!" a Marine asked, pointing into the distance.
"What?"
"Can't you see that thing over there?"
"It's pitch black out here. How am I supposed to see anything? You must be seeing things." His companion rolled his eyes. "Enough chatter. Commander Spandam ordered us to guard the main gate. Stay alert."
This time, they were transporting the Devils Child, Nico Robin—someone capable of destroying the world. Though he didn't think anyone would dare come here to rescue her, they still had to put on a show.
Otherwise, how else would they catch the commander's eye and get promoted?
"You're just too stressed—"
Before the Marine could finish, a dark shadow flashed past, immediately grabbing his attention.
"Wait, what the hell just flew by?!"
"Forget that, look ahead!" his companion exclaimed in shock, pointing into the distance. "What the hell is that?!"
From their perspective, an enormous Water Dragon was speeding across the sea, charging straight toward the main gate.
"So you weren't seeing things after all?!"
"Dammit, is that a Sea King?!"
"No, it looks like a dragon made of seawater!"
"Look! There's someone standing on top of that Water Dragon!!"
"It's an intruder—take him out!"
The Marines panicked as the Water Dragon drew closer, raising their weapons and opening fire.
But unfortunately, their flintlock guns couldn't even scratch the Water Dragon. Most bullets didn't even make a splash.
"We're done for..." one Marine muttered in despair.
"BOOM!!"
The massive Water Dragon slammed into the ground, engulfing the Marines below in its devastating impact.
A single strike was nearly enough to wipe them all out!
Only those standing on higher ground survived—and even then, only a handful remained.
"Tch. Trash mobs are best dealt with using Ninjutsu like this," Meiser remarked as he landed.
The Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique was perfect for clearing out cannon fodder.
And just like that, one attack was all it took to sweep the field.
If not for needing a few survivors to open the gates, he would've wiped them all out.
"Who the hell are you?!"
"Isn't it obvious?" Meiser flashed a grin. "I'm the intruder."
Such bluntness left the Marines momentarily speechless.
"Commander Spandam, we've spotted an intruder!"
"Huh?"
Noticing one Marine holding a Den Den Mushi, Meiser shot him a glance. Their eyes met.
In the next instant, the Marine's gaze went blank, his expression vacant.
"An intruder?" Spandam's voice crackled from the other end, disbelief evident. "Someone actually dared to invade Enies Lobby?"
"Are you sure?"
"Apologies, Commander Spandam. The intruder has been dealt with."
"Oh, so they're already dead." Spandam nodded, then sighed in annoyance. "If they're already dead, why bother reporting it?!"
Though he had no idea who this lunatic was for daring to attack Enies Lobby, if they were already dead, there was nothing more to say.
He wouldn't care about a dead person anyway.
After hanging up the communication, Spandam smiled and said, "Hehe, Lucci and the others will be here soon. Then I'll be the real hero!"
Capturing Nico Robin and Franky, two evil individuals capable of influencing the world—he would be the hero of all mankind!
He wondered what kind of reward the Five Elders would give him.
"Sir is fantasizing again, chapapa~"
"Hey, Fukuro, that's enough!" Spandam snapped angrily.
What did he mean by "fantasizing"?
He wasn't wrong at all! Capturing such world-threatening demons—didn't he deserve to be called a hero?!
"Enough nonsense!" Spandam glanced at the three people sitting nearby and said, "Originally, there were only three targets on the assassination list, so why did it end up being twenty-three?"
"Explain this to me!"
"It's not our fault," Jabra said helplessly. "The mission details were leaked. We were ambushed as soon as we went in, so we had no choice but to kill them all."
"Bullshit! How could the mission details be leaked?!"
"Ah, I was the one who leaked it, chapapa~" Fukuro chuckled. "I accidentally mentioned it on the street."
Jabra: "???"
"You bastard, whose side are you on?!" Jabra roared. "And is the zipper on your mouth just for decoration?!"
"Yo-yoi, Your Excellency, allow me to commit seppuku," Kaku said, pulling out a long sword. "Someone must take responsibility this time."
"I shall atone with my death!"
"Iron Body!"
Clang!
"Can't... die..."
"Damn it, just die already!" Jabra yelled.
Spandam watched his subordinates with a pained expression—what kind of lunatics were these?
...
"Even though we've temporarily kept it under wraps, Luffy charging in alone is bound to cause quite a commotion," Meiser remarked.
Back when they were still discussing tactics, Luffy had already sneaked onto the roof of the train.
By the time Meiser noticed, Luffy had already launched himself forward with a spring-like leap.
It left Meiser somewhat exasperated, but perhaps this was for the best. Luffy causing a big enough disturbance inside would ease the pressure on Zoro and the others.
"You lot, go open the gate for me," Meiser said calmly.
"Why should we listen to—yes, sir."
"???"
The surviving Marines were dumbfounded by their comrades' sudden change in tone.
Just like the guy who had called Spandam earlier—what the hell was going on?
As his companions silently moved to open the gate, the sole surviving Marine looked at Meiser—and his pupils shrank in horror.
He saw a pair of crimson eyes!
"You... you're a demon..."
"Too much talk."
The Three-Tomoe Sharingan slowly rotated, and the Marine stiffened before his eyes dulled.
"How long has Nico Robin been inside?" Meiser asked.
"She entered half an hour ago."
"Half an hour, huh..."
Meiser frowned. That wasn't too long, but it wasn't exactly short either.
If not for that Yokozuna, they probably would have caught up by now.
But it didn't matter. Half an hour wasn't enough time for them to put Nico Robin on trial, so there was still time.
"Tell me, where are they taking Nico Robin?"
"I don't know," the marine soldier said. "I'm just an ordinary soldier. I don't have the clearance to know these things."
"My only task is to guard the gate."
"But you could check the Courthouse on the inner island. Maybe Nico Robin is there."
Generally, prisoners brought here would be sent there to stand trial before being executed or transported away.
As for whether Nico Robin would go through this procedure, he had no idea.
"Seems like I'll need to catch someone with rank to get more information."
Shaking his head, Meiser knocked out the guy in front of him and vanished in an instant.
When he reappeared, he was already behind the gate—and the main entrance was slowly opening behind him!