Chapter 465: CIPHER POL—AIGIS 0
The post-rain wind carried a cool dampness, swaying the red lantern hanging at the street corner.
The lamplight shattered in the puddles, reflecting specks of bloody light across the ground, flickering like some sort of omen.
"CIPHER POL—AIGIS 0."
Drake slowly raised his head. His voice was low, his gaze piercing through the misty rain to land on that symmetrical black-and-white mask.
"What a rare guest."
The newcomers were from the World Government's most secretive direct-report agency—CIPHER POL·AIGIS 0, abbreviated as "CP0."
They were known as the "Celestial Dragons' Strongest Shield" and the "World's Strongest Intelligence Agency."
Their operational authority was second only to the Five Elders. Wherever they appeared, it signified two things: "threat" and "purge."
The person leading them was Guernica, wearing that white mask with black-and-white pupils.
His long white coat was gently lifted by the wind, a cold light flashing across his metal earmuffs.
Behind him, Joseph and Gismonda stood shoulder-to-shoulder, their auras as sharp as blades.
"The Marines' SWORD unit,"
Guernica's voice was low and indifferent, carrying a machine-like steadiness.
"Trespassing in an area under World Government jurisdiction without authorization—"
He paused, as if pronouncing a sentence, "—I have the authority to take you back to Mary Geoise for interrogation."
"Tch—"
A soft chuckle pierced the silence.
Sanji lazily raised his head, tossing his cigarette butt to the ground. With a twist of his toe, the spark was swallowed by the rainy mist.
A playful smirk graced the corners of his mouth. His tone was frivolous, yet carried a sharpness that could not be ignored: "Hey, hey, hey~"
"What we do isn't something a mere CP organization has the right to question, is it?"
The air instantly grew taut. That careless arrogance sliced through the night like a blade.
Joseph and Gismonda's gazes abruptly turned icy. They shifted their feet slightly, their killing intent almost condensing into something tangible.
However, Guernica raised a hand, calmly signaling them to stop.
He didn't immediately respond to the provocation, simply staring quietly at Drake, who was still sitting on the wooden chair.
Raindrops slid down the eaves, splashing tiny ripples on the ground.
The sound of the wind swirled through the alleyways, mixing with the scent of tea, cooking smoke, and the damp air.
—"Marines."
Guernica silently repeated the name in his heart. In that moment, an indescribable, complex emotion seemed to churn within his chest.
Ever since the end of the "Paramount War," this violent institution—originally seen as the "Blade of Order"—
Was gradually breaking free from the shackles of the World Government, becoming an uncontrollable force.
They had secretly established independent scientific research, military-industrial, and logistical systems. They had even begun contacting and taking control of the intelligence and financial networks that originally belonged to the World Government.
And according to the confidential reports from CP Headquarters—
The Marines' source of funding was actually closely tied to the "Golden Emperor."
Behind the scenes, there even existed a "Mysterious Syndicate" that not even the CP organization could investigate clearly.
Every time the CP organization attempted to trace things back to a crucial node, the clues would be instantly obliterated by an "unknown force"—
Files vanished, personnel disappeared, intelligence channels were severed... It was like an undercurrent in the deep sea: silent, yet capable of overturning the balance of the entire world.
Guernica's brows furrowed slightly.
He knew very well that the true purpose of being sent to Kano Country this time was not to arrest a few members of a Marine special forces unit.
What he needed to investigate was the convergence of forces hidden beneath this bustling prosperity—
The Revolutionary Army, Marine informants, Adventure Fleets...
"Relax, 'Black Leg'."
Guernica finally spoke, his voice returning to a steady and restrained tone.
"We are just here to ask a few questions..."
His tone seemed mild, yet it carried a cold, oppressive pressure of someone controlling the situation.
Sanji's eyes narrowed slightly, the lamplight reflecting a sharp glint in them.
The smoke had long dispersed, yet it seemed to still swirl around him.
He smiled—a soft smile, but one laced with an unconcealable arrogance.
"Questions? —Heh, that depends on whether you're worthy of an answer."
As soon as these words were spoken, even Guernica, known for his calm demeanor, couldn't help but narrow his eyes.
A trace of icy fury flashed through the pupils behind his mask.
—"Arrogant Marines..."
As a CP0 agent, he placed the "mission" above all else.
If completing the mission required shedding blood, he would not hesitate.
If the person obstructing the mission was a colleague, he would eliminate them without a second thought.
"Stumbling blocks should be cleared away."
"The orders of the Five Elders represent the highest will."
On this trip to Kano Country, he was ordered to investigate the intelligence regarding the convergence of multiple factions here, and to uncover the secret dealings between the Marines and the Golden Emperor.
No matter who stood in his way, he had to see it through.
—And the group of people before him were nothing more than obstacles to executing his mission.
Guernica's gaze grew as cold and piercing as steel.
"I outrank you, I am on an official mission, and I hold the authority—"
He sneered inwardly, "You're not Roy; what right do you have to put on airs?"
"Reason is on our side. Even if I beat them into submission, no one can find fault with it!"
Having reached this conclusion, he didn't intend to waste any more breath. Killing intent permeated the air in an instant.
Behind him, Joseph and Gismonda exchanged a glance and adopted combat stances almost simultaneously.
Rainwater slid down their masks, dripping onto the stone paving with soft pitter-patter sounds.
The night wind whipped up the edges of their cloaks, the air thick with a hair-trigger tension.
The corners of Sanji's mouth curled up, his expression relaxed: "Yo~ Can't win an argument, so you want to resort to violence?"
He stretched his neck, his toe tapping lightly against the ground.
Behind him, Usopp had already flicked off the safety of his sniper rifle, and Hibari calmly rested her finger on the trigger. The soft click of metal was exceptionally clear.
Kujaku's steel whip slowly rose, gleaming with a cold silver light under the streetlamps.
Drake also finally stood up from his chair, battle intent igniting in his eyes.
"I hadn't had enough of a fight anyway. To think someone would deliver themselves right to my doorstep."
He chuckled lowly, "This is really a big help."
—The atmosphere completely detonated.
"Soru!"
Guernica's gaze darkened. With a stomp, the floor tiles instantly shattered.
His figure turned into a wisp of an afterimage, thrusting out with a Shigan (Finger Pistol)!
"Shigan: Renga (Consecutive Fangs)—!!"
Sanji raised his leg to intercept, the tip of his shoe flashing with sudden black light.
"Diable Jambe: Kuroashi (Black Leg)—!"
"BOOM!!!"
The two forces collided in the air. The erupting airwave overturned the wooden tables by the street, and the rainwater was blasted into mist by the air currents. In a brief instant, the street seemed to be ripped open!
But right in that moment of flashing lightning and crossing blows—
Guernica's gaze suddenly changed.
"—Where are the other two?"
He caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye: Joseph and Gismonda, who had been following closely behind him, were now standing completely motionless in their original spots.
The two tall men's bodies were trembling slightly, as if suppressed by some kind of power.
Guernica's eyebrow twitched, instinctively sensing danger.
Just as he was about to turn his head—
Bzzz—
The air suddenly grew dry, carrying the smell of burning metal.
Rainwater evaporated in the air, and electrical arcs flashed in the shadows of the alleyway.
The scene that flashed across Guernica's peripheral vision made him instantly break out in a cold sweat.
—He saw that, between Joseph and Gismonda, a figure made of lightning had appeared out of nowhere.
The man was bare-chested, his bronze muscle lines faintly visible amidst the flashing lightning.
With one arm resting casually on the shoulder of each of the two tall agents, a playful smirk curled his lips.
"Hey, hey, hey—"
"Are you guys trying to lay a hand on my cute juniors?"
♧♧♧
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