Seeing Kaku reveal such a terrified and shaken expression, whether it was Lucci, or Kalifa beside him, both fell silent.
They truly could not imagine what Kaku had experienced.
To the point that—
The steady and calm mindset forged through years of agent training was now standing on the verge of collapse.
"Not a Marine big shot we're familiar with?"
"Then could it be—"
"A newly risen Marine rookie?"
"But I've never received any information saying that the Marines recently produced such a terrifying newcomer—one who has awakened Haoshoku Haki, and can even freely control and use it!"
Lucci's voice was low.
"I've never heard of it either. That's why when I actually saw him today, my thoughts froze. My worldview was completely overturned by his existence!"
"Do you dare believe it?"
"That Marine who instantly defeated me at first contact—"
"A Marine with the talent and potential for Haoshoku, who can freely wield Haoshoku Haki—"
"He is actually a seven-year-old child!"
"I'm not wrong, and you didn't hear wrong."
"That Marine, strong like a monster, is only seven years old!"
Kaku's throat was dry as he poured out everything he wanted to say, his tone filled with shock.
When his words fell—
The atmosphere turned bizarre.
Silent.
Deathly silent.
Lucci was stunned.
Kalifa was dumbfounded.
Her beautiful eyes widened round, her pupils filled with dense horror.
Unbelievable!
What did Kaku just say?!
How is this possible?!
Even with Lucci's calm temperament, Kaku's words violently overturned it.
His rational thinking was smashed by the hammer forged from Kaku's words, slamming heavily into his mind, turning his thoughts into chaos.
"Not being some Marine big shot would already be fine…"
"But you're telling me—"
"The Marine who instantly defeated you, who possesses Haoshoku—"
"He is actually a seven-year-old child?!"
Lucci's emotions surged like a towering tsunami, wave after wave crashing endlessly.
Is this even possible?
He wasn't doubting Kaku as a person.
He was simply doubting the words Kaku spoke.
There was no other reason—
Those words were simply too unbelievable.
A seven-year-old child possessing Haoshoku?!
And not just possessing it—
But being able to freely control and use it?!
Most importantly—
Kaku was instantly defeated by such a seven-year-old child at first contact?!
Everything shattered common sense.
Just as Kaku said, Lucci's worldview was overturned, trampled into the ground, and torn apart repeatedly.
All past understanding collapsed with Kaku's words.
Years of agent training had given Lucci an extremely calm and composed personality.
But at this moment—
Everything was completely destroyed!
Seven years old?!
Instantly defeating Kaku?!
Possessing Haoshoku?!
What kind of freak is this?!
Lucci couldn't help recalling the past.
Back then, when he joined CP9 at a young age, he stood at the peak of excellence, becoming the most outstanding agent CP9 had produced in eight hundred years, countless honors surrounding him.
But compared to the seven-year-old Kaku described—
All of Lucci's glory instantly became meaningless, vanishing like bubbles, fragile and worthless.
A seven-year-old instantly defeating Kaku?!
Lucci didn't believe that when he was seven, he could have achieved such an absurd feat.
The gap—
Was simply too great!
For the first time—
Lucci deeply felt that perhaps his own talent wasn't that outstanding after all.
In comparison, it even appeared mediocre, ordinary, completely unremarkable.
"M-my God…!"
"Kaku, do you know what you're saying?"
Kalifa stared at Kaku blankly.
Her mental endurance had completely collapsed.
A seven-year-old defeating Kaku?!
Oh my God!
Someone explain this.
Is this real or not?
She desperately wanted to believe it was fake.
But coming from Kaku's mouth, the possibility of falsehood was extremely low.
Yet this matter was far too horrifying.
So horrifying that Kalifa simply couldn't accept it.
"Of course I know what I'm saying."
"I was instantly defeated by a seven-year-old at first contact!"
"Can you imagine it?!"
"What level of monster is this?"
"Only seven years old, yet powerful enough to instantly kill me."
"I don't dare imagine such a terrifying thing in my entire life."
"Even though it truly happened right before my eyes, and I personally experienced it, even now, it feels unreal—like everything that happened was illusory and fake."
Kaku exhaled heavily, as if finally finding someone to confide in and vent to.
Heaven knows—
How suffocating it was for him to hold these words in!
Now it was finally fine.
He could finally find companions and pour everything out.
Thus—
Kaku successfully found companions who fell into worldview collapse together with him.
These words undoubtedly shattered Lucci and Kalifa's worldviews.
Too unbelievable.
Too shocking to the world.
After half a quarter-hour—
Lucci and Kalifa still couldn't calm their shaken emotions.
"A seven-year-old Marine."
"Possessing Haoshoku, able to freely control and use it."
"And on top of that—"
"Instantly defeating Kaku at first contact!"
"Leaving Kaku with no ability to fight back…"
Such things previously only existed in their imagination.
Yet—
One day, this dreamlike scenario actually became reality!
"Kaku, are you sure this isn't your hallucination?"
Kalifa asked again with a trembling voice.
She still couldn't accept it.
"What do you think?"
Kaku replied seriously.
"T-then what do we do now?"
Kalifa's lips parted slightly. Feeling completely lost, she immediately asked,
"This monster has arrived in Water 7. It could seriously affect our plan."
"Could it be—"
"That we can only let such an extremely unstable factor exist, while we're powerless to do anything about it?"
"What if our entire plan collapses because of him?"
"Our five or six years of effort—wouldn't it all become nothing?"
Just thinking about it—
Kalifa felt a chill down her spine.
Five or six years of effort!
Was it really going to be scrapped because of this?
Immediately—
Lucci and Kaku fell silent, saying nothing.
Kalifa's question—
Was the greatest problem they currently faced.
How should they properly deal with this extremely unstable factor?
This was something they must consider and handle.
If they didn't deal with it, whether this unstable factor would severely interfere with their plan proceeding as scheduled—
They had no way of knowing.
As agents, their habit was always to make plans flawlessly, then eliminate all unstable factors, ensuring a hundred percent success.
But suddenly—
An unstable factor appeared.
Naturally, they had to treat it with extreme caution.
Only—
This unstable factor might be extraordinarily powerful!
Otherwise, it couldn't have instantly defeated Kaku.
If they truly wanted to eliminate this unstable factor in advance—
They would need to make extremely careful preparations.
"Any factor that obstructs the plan and is highly likely to interfere with its execution—"
"We must strangle it in the cradle!"
"Five or six years of infiltration and planning…"
"I absolutely will not allow any factor to destroy our plan!"
Lucci suppressed the shock in his heart and spoke coldly.
Five or six years of planning—
How could it be allowed to be destroyed?
"I agree as well."
Kaku forcibly suppressed the fear and dread in his heart, pondered for a moment, then said,
"But how do we deal with such a terrifying monster?"
Someone who could instantly defeat him was definitely no ordinary opponent!
"Looks like we can only mobilize everyone."
Ambush…
Assassination!
Lucci narrowed his eyes slightly, cold light flashing within.
A vast killing intent radiated from his body.
It caused Kaku and Kalifa to feel the surrounding air temperature plummet sharply, becoming icy cold—so cold that goosebumps rose all over their bodies.
"Immediately gather Blueno and the others. Have everyone assemble!"
"With all of us acting together, the success rate of eliminating this unstable factor in advance should still be quite high."
Lucci calmly began issuing orders.
"Understood."
Water 7's streets were extremely prosperous.
People came and went, lively and bustling.
Pedestrians of all kinds wore different clothing, coming from islands across the sea, gathering in this prosperous sea city.
The most distinctive feature of Water 7—
Was the waterways lining both sides of the streets.
The flowing water continuously streamed down from higher ground.
Thus—
Many merchants sniffed business opportunities here.
They captured water beasts to carry boats along the waterways.
The boats could carry passengers, allowing them to quickly tour Water 7's many streets.
Everywhere—
Water beasts carried travelers across the water, swiftly passing by.
Splash!
Seawater splashed, scattering onto the streets on both sides, drawing glances from passersby.
For some reason—
As Raifeng walked through this bustling street, he suddenly felt a strange sensation.
A cold aura lingered on his back, clinging without dispersing.
As if—
He was being watched from the shadows.
That prickling sensation.
"Is this my imagination?"
Raifeng narrowed his eyes slightly.
But his perception had always been extremely sharp.
The possibility of it being an illusion was very low.
So—
Had he already been targeted?
Thinking of this—
The smile on Raifeng's face became somewhat intriguing.
His pace slowed, deliberately reducing the frequency and stride of his steps.
"Interesting."
"I just arrived in Water 7, and I'm already being watched."
"I'm quite curious—"
"Who exactly are these people tailing me?"
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