Jabra finally understood.
The water dragon from earlier had merely been a decoy. It hadn't hit the ninja at all—perhaps even the splashing water itself had been deliberately created by him!
"Damn it!"
Being toyed with like this—how could Jabra not be furious?!
"Looks like offense and defense have switched again, chapapa~"
"If you don't talk right now, no one will think you're mute," Kalifa snapped irritably.
Did this idiot seriously not know how to read the situation?
Then again, if he actually knew when to speak and when not to, someone wouldn't have had to zip his mouth shut in the first place.
"What? What happened?"
Spandam, clutching his head, rushed back over. When he saw the scene in the distance, his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
"Hey!!"
"Why are Nico Robin and the others over there now?!"
"CP9, what the hell are you all doing?!"
Spandam was furious.
Just moments ago, he had been fantasizing about his glorious future—and now reality had smashed him in the face with a club.
Franky had burned the blueprints.
The ninja and Nico Robin had returned to the Straw Hats.
This… what the hell was there left to play?!
CP9's expressions darkened further after being scolded.
Getting outplayed by the enemy was bad enough—now they also had to endure the rage of their own incompetent superior.
"Yoyoi~"
"Director," Fukurokuju struck a pose, "just because they went over there doesn't mean they'll leave Enies Lobby alive."
"As long as they're still on this island, we can capture them."
"Exactly," Blueno added. "This waterfall may be impossible for ordinary people to cross, but not for us."
With Geppo, they could reach the other side and engage them at any time.
"…Ah, right."
Spandam finally calmed down and nodded.
He'd been too agitated earlier and completely forgot about that.
CP9's Rokushiki made the waterfall meaningless.
"More importantly," Kalifa adjusted her glasses, "without the key, Straw Hat can't free Nico Robin anyway."
She then looked toward the Straw Hat Pirates, who were still immersed in the joy of reunion.
"Hey, pirates!"
No one responded.
"Crack—"
A vein bulged on Kalifa's forehead.
"Hey! Straw Hat pirates! Are you listening to me?!"
"What do you want?" Nami glanced at her.
Couldn't she see they were busy reuniting with their companion? Talking now was incredibly annoying.
"Don't celebrate too early," Kalifa said. "Have you forgotten Nico Robin is still locked in Sea Prism Stone handcuffs?"
"What, you've got the key?" Zoro asked.
"Heh. Close enough."
The moment she said that, Jin's gaze sharpened instantly.
If the key was on that woman, he wouldn't mind killing her on the spot.
Kalifa took an instinctive step back under his stare, but after realizing her teammates were nearby, she steadied herself and stepped forward again.
"Relax. Let me finish."
She took out a key.
"There are six keys in total—each carried by one of us."
"The real key that unlocks Nico Robin's cuffs is among them."
"Now tell me—are you really planning to escape right now?"
Zoro placed his hand on his sword hilt.
"So unless we take your keys, Robin can't be freed."
Sanji exhaled smoke slowly.
"Then we fight."
"Can't we figure out the cuffs later?" Nami said. "We already got Robin back."
"Are you sure?" Kalifa sneered.
"Traveling every day while facing possible assassination attempts—dragging along someone shackled with Sea Prism Stone."
"What if someone else can unlock them?"
"Sorry, but Sea Prism Stone handcuffs are special," Kalifa said coldly.
"Unless you find a very specific Devil Fruit ability, the only way is the key."
"The sea is vast—do you really think you can find that kind of person?"
"Or are you planning to let Nico Robin wear those cuffs for the rest of her life?"
She looked utterly confident, as if she had them cornered.
"Well said!" Spandam burst into laughter.
"Even if you escape today, I can mobilize more forces to hunt you down!"
"Do you really think you can protect Nico Robin while she's still wearing those cuffs?!"
"You—"
"Shut up already!!!"
Luffy suddenly shouted, startling Spandam so badly he nearly fell over.
"I already said I'm gonna punch that pigeon guy into the sky!" Luffy yelled.
"And we've already declared war on you—why would we just leave?!"
"Luffy…"
"He's right," Jin said calmly.
"You've already activated the Buster Call. Leaving without doing anything would feel a bit wrong."
"This time, I'll make Robin understand—"
"That the Buster Call isn't anything special at all!"
"Jin…"
In his arms, Nico Robin's eyes welled with tears. She bit her lip, desperately trying not to cry.
"Looks like nothing's changed," Zoro said.
"Isn't that better?" Sanji replied. "I've been wanting to kick them for a while."
"You idiots…" Nami sighed, then straightened.
"Fine. Then let's make a real mess of this place."
"Works for me!" Chopper shouted angrily.
"You people who hurt Robin—prepare yourselves!"
"I, Sniper King, won't hold back either!"
"Everyone…"
Robin finally couldn't hold it in anymore. Tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Ahhh!!"
"You bastards!!"
Franky covered his face.
"I seriously love you guys!!"
"Damn it!"
"Damn it!!"
"Alright!" Franky stood up, shouting.
"Then let SUPER me help you out!"
"Today, I'm SUPER amazing too!!"
Kalifa stared at the scene with a livid expression.
Only now did she realize—
She was the clown.
She thought she'd found their weakness, but in the end, all she did was hand them a knife.
"Damn it! If that's the case, then why go through all this trouble?!" Kalifa shouted at Jin.
"Me?" Jin glanced at her.
"I did want to fight you, sure—but I don't have the habit of leaving my companions in the enemy's hands."
"Having the power to save them, yet still letting them remain in danger—"
"That's not something I'd ever do."
"Damn you!"
"Then let's settle it with real strength!" Kalifa snapped.
"Kid," Lucci said coldly,
"the Buster Call isn't as simple as you think. You'll regret today's decision."
"No."
Jin grinned.
"You don't understand my strength at all."
"Making an enemy of a ninja on the seas—"
"Is the greatest mistake you'll ever make."
"One you'll remember for the rest of your lives."
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