"Oh, right. I almost forgot to mention..."
"I’m Spandam, the Supreme Commander of CP9 and Enies Lobby."
"In terms of authority, my position is equivalent to your Fleet Admiral."
"So when I speak..."
"It’s an order."
A man with a thoroughly sleazy face landed on the deck, flanked by three CP9 agents.
Tina and Smoker’s expressions changed instantly.
The identities of these uninvited guests had far exceeded their expectations.
The surrounding Marines also looked visibly apprehensive.
There had long been a saying throughout the seas—
Anyone brought to Enies Lobby was already considered guilty.
No one had ever walked out an innocent person.
With CP’s methods, all it took was a nod from Spandam to fabricate charges against anyone.
"Heh..."
Crocodile scoffed from inside the cabin, his wrists bound by Seastone handcuffs.
"You Marines really are pathetic."
"You can’t even hold onto military credit that’s practically been handed to you."
"If I hadn’t underestimated that brat..."
"How could I have ended up in your custody?"
"If I had fought seriously from the beginning..."
"Even one of your Admirals wouldn’t have been able to capture me."
"You—!"
Tina was left speechless with anger.
Meanwhile, Spandam’s grin grew even wider.
His father, Spandine—the former commander of CP9—had risen to CP0 largely by taking credit for the Marines’ actions during the Ohara Incident, particularly the achievements of then Vice Admirals Sakazuki and Kuzan.
Now that the defeat of one of the Seven Warlords had fallen into his lap...
As long as he claimed even part of the credit, it would be another valuable achievement on his record.
"Colonel Tina!"
"The Headquarters ship has arrived!"
"B-But..."
"It’s not a Vice Admiral."
"It’s an Admiral!"
The Marine lookout suddenly shouted.
An Admiral?
Everyone’s expressions changed.
Even Crocodile, who had been arrogantly claiming moments ago that he wasn’t afraid of Admirals, grew noticeably more serious.
As a veteran pirate, he had crossed paths with the Three Admirals before.
He knew exactly how terrifying they were.
Being escorted by only two Colonels had made him feel slighted.
Now that an Admiral had personally come to take custody...
He finally felt somewhat respected.
At the same time, however, it forced him to become far more cautious.
"Chief Spandam..."
"What should we do?"
Jabra was the first to ask.
Had anyone else come to escort Crocodile, CP9 would have had no reservations about stealing the mission.
But facing one of the Marines’ greatest military powers...
Even they had to proceed carefully.
Spandam’s expression darkened.
Then his eyes suddenly lit up.
"Find out which Admiral it is!"
Everyone paused.
Did it matter?
An Admiral was an Admiral.
"I think..."
"It’s the newly appointed Fourth Admiral..."
"Admiral Glutton Lucas."
Nero, the newest member of CP9, leaped down from the mast after getting a clearer look.
Spandam’s grin widened immediately.
"I thought it would be Akainu or Aokiji."
"So it’s the Fourth Admiral who’s been making waves across the world recently."
"Excellent."
"We should properly welcome this new Admiral."
"Are you looking down on Marine Headquarters’ newest Admiral?"
Tina’s face turned cold as she finally lost her patience.
"We may not know Admiral Lucas personally..."
"But this concerns the dignity of Marine Headquarters."
"I won’t tolerate your insults."
"Hehehe..."
"Colonel Tina, you’re taking this far too seriously."
Spandam laughed strangely.
"Everyone’s saying this new Admiral is incredibly powerful."
"They even claim he’s stronger than Rob Lucci—the strongest operative in CP9."
"We’re simply curious."
"Just how strong is he?"
"Of course..."
"If it were one of the other Admirals, we’d have already left."
As soon as those words fell, Jabra and the other CP9 agents all revealed eager smiles.
Within CP9, everyone constantly competed to prove they were the strongest.
If they could make a name for themselves against the newly appointed Admiral...
That would certainly be worthwhile.
As the warships rapidly closed the distance...
Lucas adjusted his glasses while studying the increasingly clear figures aboard the other vessel.
He hadn’t expected to run into the infamous CP9 commander here.
The man whose Douriki was supposedly only 9—weaker than an average civilian.
It also explained why someone would be crazy enough to try stealing the Marines’ military achievements.
"Koby."
Lucas took another sip of strong liquor before asking casually,
"If there were something that could instantly strengthen both your Haki and your combat ability..."
"What would you use it on?"
He had spent the entire journey thinking about that very question.
Although he had already reached his own conclusion...
He was curious to hear someone else’s answer.
"Admiral Lucas!"
Ain almost exploded.
"Is now really the time to ask something like that?"
"The people from Enies Lobby are practically in our faces already!"
Koby hurriedly tried to smooth things over.
"Colonel Ain, please don’t worry."
"Admiral Lucas may seem unreliable..."
"But he always keeps his promises."
Then he turned toward Lucas.
"If I could become stronger instantly..."
"I’d choose Conqueror’s Haki."
"Just like yours."
"It’s the mark of a true king."
"No amount of training can awaken it."
"Conqueror’s Haki..."
Lucas smiled and took another drink.
"That’s exactly what I was thinking."
"System."
"Use the Mutation Card on my Conqueror’s Haki."
Ding!
Please wait, Host.
Ding!
Mutation Card successfully activated.
Conqueror’s Haki is now mutating. Estimated completion time: 60 seconds.
The system notifications echoed one after another.
A warm current flowed into Lucas’s mind.
His perception of his own Conqueror’s Haki suddenly became much clearer.
It was as though it were continuously condensing...
Growing stronger...
Becoming more complete.
At the same time, a sixty-second countdown appeared within his consciousness.
Normally...
One minute meant nothing to him.
But remembering the system’s description of the Mutation Card...
He couldn’t help feeling slightly uneasy.
If this gamble ended in failure...
It would be a tremendous waste.
Ding!
Congratulations, Host. Mutation successful.
Conqueror’s Haki has evolved.
New Ability Acquired: Nen Manipulation.
"Nen Manipulation?"
Lucas blinked in surprise.
The result had completely exceeded his expectations.
If he remembered correctly...
Wasn’t that the passive ability of the Male Nen Master from Dungeon Fighter Online?
Before he had time to examine the new ability...
The Marine warship had already pulled alongside Tina’s vessel.
The arrival of the newly appointed Admiral instantly made the atmosphere tense.
Both Tina and Smoker grew noticeably more serious.
They knew perfectly well...
If CP9 had remained here despite an Admiral’s arrival...
Then they were undoubtedly plotting something else.