"You bastard, who the hell are you?!" Spandam angrily scrambled up from the floor, glaring at Meiser with eyes that seemed to spit fire. "Judging by your clothes... a Marine?"
"Who gave you permission to do this?!"
"Do you even know the consequences of your actions?!"
Spandam was absolutely furious. He had been discussing a bright future with his subordinates when suddenly, the door was blasted off its hinges.
If not for his sheer luck, wouldn't that door have smashed right into his face?!
He wasn't part of Cipher Pol 9—he didn't have a monstrous physique like them. Getting hit by something like that could kill him.
"Clearly, this guy isn't a Marine," Blueno remarked.
His outfit was just that of an ordinary Marine soldier, but he carried a long sword at his waist. Combined with the fact that he'd just kicked the door down... something was obviously off about him.
"Another pirate invading Enies Lobby this time, chapapa~"
"Earlier reports said the intruder was just the Straw Hat Boy, but it seems that wasn't the case," Blueno added.
As he spoke, he glanced at Spandam's desk and noticed the Den Den Mushi wasn't properly placed—probably why they hadn't received any updates.
"To invade this place alone... should I call you foolish or bold?" Kalifa adjusted her glasses and said coolly.
The others watched Meiser expressionlessly, clearly surprised that a pirate would dare come here alone.
"Bold, I suppose," Meiser replied with a chuckle. "After all, I'm someone who doesn't bow to any law. Your World Government can't keep me in check."
"You bastard, who the hell do you think you are?!" Spandam roared. "How dare you speak like that! Don't you know the World Government represents absolute authority?!"
To openly scorn the World Government—he had never seen someone so brazen. Did this fool not understand what that meant?
"That's your World Government, not mine," Meiser said.
"So?" Kalifa asked. "You came here alone... to challenge all of us?"
"Just wanted to meet our enemies for this fight," Meiser replied. "And to say a few things."
"Don't tell me you're here to deliver a declaration of war," Jabra said with exaggerated disbelief. "That's such a pirate thing to do."
"Hahahaha!"
He'd seen this kind of thing countless times during missions.
"You could take it that way," Meiser shrugged. "Of course, if you refuse, I don't mind just killing all of you right here."
"A declaration of war?" Kaku gave him a strange look. "And who exactly are you representing?"
Kaku ignored the latter half of Meiser's statement—to him, that was impossible. He had complete confidence in his own strength.
"The Straw Hat Pirates."
"You think the Straw Hat Pirates can take on all of Cipher Pol 9?" Rob Lucci questioned.
Though he didn't know why the Straw Hat Pirates had gained another member, Rob Lucci didn't care. The outcome wouldn't change.
"No."
"Hmph, seems you still have some self-awareness—"
"Plus the Buster Call," Meiser added.
At these words, Rob Lucci's expression darkened instantly. Was this guy looking down on him?
What did he mean by "plus the Buster Call"? Did he not know what the Buster Call was, or was he just that confident in his own strength?
"Yo-yo-yoi~"
"Pirate, do you even know what the Buster Call is?" Kumadori chimed in.
It was a terrifying military force capable of annihilating an entire island. Most importantly, every Buster Call was overseen by five Vice Admirals from the Navy Headquarters.
"I know."
Kumadori visibly faltered, surprised. "If you know, then why—"
"Because this is your method of threatening Robin," Meiser said. "But if the Buster Call can't touch us, then this method becomes useless, doesn't it?"
After speaking, Meiser swept his gaze over the group before finally settling on Spandam. "You seem to be their superior... That means you're the one with the authority to activate the Buster Call, right?"
"Damn right, it's me!" Spandam snarled, his face twisted in anger. "I do have the authority to initiate the Buster Call, but... kid, you're overestimating yourself."
"Do we even need the Buster Call to deal with you?"
Every member of CP9—except that new recruit—was here. Handling the Straw Hat Pirates should be a breeze.
With a cold laugh, Spandam barked, "Seize him!"
Issuing a challenge... What a childish pirate. With Nico Robin and Franky already in his grasp, did he really need to play these games?
Even if he broke the agreement, what could Nico Robin possibly do?
"Not just you—every pirate who set foot on Enies Lobby will die," Jabra added with a bloodthirsty grin.
Anyone who dared defy the World Government's authority deserved the harshest punishment!
These reckless pirates needed to be eliminated one by one to restore the World Government's dignity.
"Bastards, this wasn't part of the deal!" Nico Robin screamed from outside.
Hadn't they promised that if she obeyed, CP9 would leave the Straw Hat Pirates alone?
But from the sound of it, they had no intention of sparing them. This was nothing like what they'd agreed to.
Franky gave Nico Robin a pitying glance. At this point, did the enemy even need to honor that so-called agreement?
"Hah, what a naive woman."
Listening to Nico Robin's cries, Spandam smirked disdainfully.
That worthless agreement meant nothing to him—it was just a means to capture Nico Robin.
If those pirates had stayed quietly in Water 7, he wouldn't have bothered with them. They were just another bunch of pirates, dime a dozen on the seas. Killing them or not made no difference.
It wouldn't affect his career. As long as he brought Nico Robin and Franky back, unimaginable rewards awaited him—maybe even a promotion to lead the legendary CP0!
However...since these bold pirates dared to come to Enies Lobby, there was no need for him to be polite—just kill them all!
"Kid, forget about declarations of war for now. I've got to admire your guts for coming here alone to pick a fight with us."
"Shave!"
Jabra appeared before Meiser, sneering coldly: "But sorry, we're assassins. We don't play by those rules."
"Finger Pistol!"
"Thud—"
"Hahaha, how patheti—"
Before Jabra could finish his sentence, he realized he hadn't hit that ignorant brat at all—instead, it was just a wooden log.
Jabra: ???
What the hell is this?
He had definitely struck his target, so why had it turned into a log? Could this guy be a Devil Fruit user?
What kind of ability was this? He couldn't make heads or tails of it.
"Come with me, you disheveled-looking officer."
At the sound of Meiser's voice, everyone turned in shock to find that, unnoticed, Meiser had already appeared right in front of Spandam.
There he was, crouched on the desk with a pair of crimson eyes, calmly watching the panicked Spandam.
Those blood-red eyes seemed to grow larger and larger in Spandam's vision.