https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-178-Taking-You-All-Out-at-Once-7K-/12610980/
Chapter 177: The Demon Slaying Order? Activated!
Chapter 177: The Demon Slaying Order? Activated!
In the Tower of Justice, high up within the offices...
"They're finally here!"
Spandam, donning his half-face mask, was thrilled beyond measure as Robin and Franky, escorted by others, stood before him.
"Nico Robin, versed in the ancient script of the Poneglyphs, and Cutty Flam, you're now useless since the blueprints aren't with you. But seeing you, I'm still overjoyed! Hahaha! Ah!"
As Spandam approached, Franky seized the opportunity and bit down hard on his head.
"Ouch! Get him off me! Stop looking!"
The guards struggled to restrain Franky, and Spandam, rubbing his head, vented his frustration by kicking Franky several times.
"If I'd known you were still alive, I would've captured you sooner and prevented Sag from obtaining the blueprints. You've caused me nothing but trouble!"
Spandam smiled and said, "But it doesn't matter now. You're here, and there's no escaping this place—Enies Lobby!"
He spread his arms wide, laughing excitedly, "That iceberg was too clever and elusive, but I was about to lose my patience and force him to talk. Then, Admiral Aokiji delivered news about you, Nico Robin. He said you were heading to Water Seven, so the plan was set in motion. You took on the sin, and it has nothing to do with us here in the Enies Lobby organization. Wonderful, hahaha!"
"Why..."
Robin calmly asked, "Why would Aokiji give you the 'Demon Slaying Order'?"
She had willingly taken on the sin of attacking the mayor of Ice Hunter, cooperating with CP9, all because of this Demon Slaying Order, which CP9 had told her was in Spandam's possession.
"You're asking me?"
Spandam's smile froze, and he lunged forward, throwing a punch aimed at Robin.
"What gives you the right to question me?! You criminal!"
Bang!
Just as his fist was about to make contact with Robin's face, the large door that had just closed suddenly flew open as if struck by a heavy object. The massive door flew past Robin's head, and its bottom edge landed squarely on Spandam, pressing him down.
"Where's Spandam?!"
Sag strode in nonchalantly, scanning the surroundings. "Where's the person? Have them come see me."
The members of CP9 filed in behind Sag, and Lucci, spotting a pair of trembling legs protruding from under the door, remarked, "He's been crushed."
"Yo Yi!"
Wiper went over, grabbed one of the legs, and pulled out a dazed and nearly flattened Spandam.
"Is this Spandam?"
Sag walked forward and casually took a seat in the chair behind the desk, paying no heed to Spandam as he rummaged through the drawers in search of something.
Spandam, rubbing his head, swayed slightly from side to side, still disoriented from being struck by the door. Then, spotting Sag occupying his seat, he shouted, "You must be Sag! Who gave you permission to sit in my chair, you pirate?! Capture him now! And get the Pluton blueprints!"
"Apologies, Chief!"
Wiper drew his sword and held it against his abdomen, saying, "We are no match for the captain, and we failed to accomplish this task. For this, I deeply apologize, and the only way to atone for our incompetence is to commit seppuku."
"Blockhead."
Wiper slumped to the ground as if his soul had left his body, lamenting, "Yo Yi! What a pity that I can't die!"
"This isn't the time for jokes!"
Spandam yelled, his gaze turning to Sag. "You! Do you know where you are?! This is Enies Lobby, an island with a military force of ten thousand! I don't know how you breached the front defenses, but with so many of us, do you think you can escape? Escape?!"
His words trailed off into incoherent stuttering, and his eyes bulged as fear and stupor overtook his expression, with even snot dripping from his nose, half-hidden by his mask.
For Sag, rummaging through the drawers, had pulled out a golden Den Den Mushi the size of a palm!
This Den Den Mushi had no mouthpiece, only a button on its surface.
"Is this it?"
Sag dragged the Den Den Mushi along, his thumb hovering over the button.
"Be gentle! Be gentle!"
Spandam's body trembled like a sieve, and he pleaded, "Don't press it! It'll kill people! Pressing it will surely lead to everyone's demise!"
"So, it really is the Demon Slaying Order."
Sag's thumb hovered over the button as he smiled and said, "A tiny button that can determine the fate of an entire island, including the annihilation of all that exists on it. It's indeed a wonderfully effective tool for the most indiscriminate attack."
"Sag! What are you trying to do?! That thing must not be pressed! You've experienced its horror, and you know how terrifying it is!" Robin exclaimed, her pupils contracting with alarm.
"Yes, yes, it mustn't be pressed. We can negotiate... Anything can be negotiated, Norton Sag."
Spandam said, "What do you want?"
"Lift your bounty? Cooperate with us and the World Government? Even with a vacant Shichibukai position, all it takes is for you to hand over the Pluton blueprints, and I can report to the World Government. After that, anything you desire can be yours."
"The Shichibukai sure are slow with their information."
Sag chuckled, "Don't you know? I just rejected the Shichibukai's invitation. They offered better terms than you—all I had to do was help decipher the ancient Poneglyphs. But here you are, presenting such harsh conditions. Have you been taking bribes?"
He waved his hand dismissively, "Tell me, are the Navy forces stationed in Water 7 under your command?"
"No, they're not."
He didn't have that kind of pull. Spandam was merely CP9's boss, and while he held the highest authority in the Judiciary Island, he had no connection to the Navy Headquarters.
"I announced my intention to come to the Judiciary Island a long time ago. Since you value Nico Robin so much, and as her brother and a survivor of Ohara myself, you'd think they'd have some plans regarding me?"
With the golden Den Den Mushi in his hand, Spandam could only answer honestly, "The Navy doesn't take orders from me, nor do they have any related tasks. Plus, with CP9 and a ten-thousand-strong army, I didn't think it was necessary."
"Then what about Garp? Where's Garp?" Sag inquired.
"I, I don't know."
He could, at best, be aware of the Navy's public movements, but when it came to someone like Garp, a maverick Navy hero, he was neither part of a system nor predictable, even if he were considered part of one.
The rank of Navy vice admiral was already exceptionally high, let alone for a veteran like Garp, a true Navy legend.
"You don't know anything. How are you even fit to be an intelligence officer?"
Sag glared at him disapprovingly, then paused to think. "Is Water 7 closer to this place or to the Headquarters?"
"The, the Headquarters... It takes a little over half an hour to get here from there."
The three regions of the Judiciary Island, Navy Headquarters, and Impel Down were connected by the rapid sea currents of the Gates of Justice.
"So, you can't mobilize the Navy forces stationed in Water 7?" Sag confirmed.
Spandam shook his head again.
Sag glanced at the golden Den Den Mushi in his palm and fell into contemplation.
If they could arrive swiftly from the Headquarters, then they probably wouldn't deploy the Navy forces in Water 7. Those forces were there to prevent him from causing trouble and, more importantly, to protect the city from pirates.
In that case...
Sag's expression gradually turned sinister.
"Sag! What are you up to?!"
Robin, keenly sensing the change in Sag's demeanor, couldn't help but exclaim.
Click!
As she spoke, Sag's thumb, which had been hovering over the golden Den Den Mushi's button, pressed down. A crisp sound rang out, starkly contrasting with the momentary silence in the office.
"Ah!!!
Spandam's jaw nearly hit the floor as he exclaimed in sheer terror, "You pressed it! You actually pressed it!!!"
"Yep, I pressed it,"
Sag glanced at the now-activated golden Den Den Mushi, then tossed it forward. Spandam scrambled to catch it, his eyes filled with dread as he stared at the phone worm.
To him, this device was not only a weapon but also a source of fear. He handled it with utmost care, afraid that he might accidentally trigger it.
And now, it had been activated!
"So, it's the Demon Slaying Order, huh? The Headquarters won't send too many troops, and by exhausting their forces, they'll summon Navy forces from other places. Water 7 isn't far from here, so if we deplete the Headquarters' ships, we can mobilize the Water 7 fleet! Without their protection, my men can raid the city!"
Sag threw his head back and burst into laughter, "My plan is flawless! It's a stroke of genius! Hahahaha! Whooohahahaha!"
"You'd destroy the Judiciary Island just to rob Water 7?!"
Spandam was stunned into silence.
You should've told me earlier!
If I'd known, I would've moved heaven and earth, risked my life even, to get the Water 7 fleet mobilized!
"Quick, hurry!"
Robin shouted, "Inform everyone here to evacuate immediately! The Demon Slaying Order doesn't discriminate—it will raze this place to the ground!"
"Blub blub blub."
As she spoke, the Den Den Mushi on the desk also began to ring. Sag picked it up, and as he did, the phone worm opened its eyes and let out a terrified squeal.
"Report! 'Straw Hat' Luffy has broken into the Judiciary Island! We failed to intercept him, and the casualties have already exceeded four hundred! The number is still climbing!"
"Oh? Your comrades have come to rescue you, Robin."
Sag smiled at Robin, then spoke into the phone worm, "This is Sag. I've activated the Demon Slaying Order. You have half an hour. Find a way to escape any way you can, or you'll be blown to smithereens."
After hanging up, he turned to face the back of the chair.
From this direction, one could take in the entirety of the Tower of Justice, and likewise, a small stretch of bridge could be seen below the massive structure.
"Is that where we're picking them up?"
Sag mused, scanning the barren desk once more before speaking, "Go get me a bottle of wine. Half an hour is too long to wait idly."
"Are you doing this just for a laughable robbery, Sag?!"
Robin rushed forward, slamming her hands on the desk, her patience finally snapping. "You've seen it with your own eyes! You know what it does! Why would you do this?!"
She couldn't comprehend his actions. Having witnessed the devastation wrought by the Demon Slaying Order on their homeland, she expected Sag to be fearful of it, yet here he was, deliberately activating it for the sake of a robbery.
"Laughable?"
Sag's face darkened, "Robbery is no laughing matter. I'll forgive you this once, considering we're both from the same hometown and are family. My men are all waiting with their mouths open for their next meal. As a proper pirate and a captain, it's only right that I rob."
"If you don't rob, what will you eat? We're all pirates here, so don't spout such meaningless words. What you choose to do is your freedom, just as it's my freedom to do as I please."
The Straw Hat Pirates didn't rob?
Well, they didn't rob towns or islands, but they did go treasure hunting and stole from other pirates.
However, treasures didn't materialize out of thin air; they all had an origin.
Stealing from other pirates meant taking what they had stolen themselves.
What made the Straw Hats any different?
They just had a few extra steps in the process.
Sag didn't look down on the Straw Hats, though. Every pirate crew had their own style of doing things.
If they had a problem with it, they could settle it with their fists!
As for the hapless folks living in towns, this was the Judicial Island, barely populated by civilians, and most of them were family members of the staff. Besides, Sag had already given them a heads-up, and the sea train was parked right outside the gate, ready to take them away if they so chose.
"Let's go! We must leave now! We can't let the Demon Slaying Order hit this place!" Spandam snapped out of his daze and made a dash for the bottom of the Tower of Justice.
This tower was connected to the bridge leading to the Gate of Justice, where criminals were handed over to the Navy. They could make their way there now and avoid any accidental injuries by the Navy.
"We can't leave yet. The Demon Slaying Order is coming, and Sag intends to intercept it. That's his goal, so we can't have him pick us up yet," Lucci explained calmly.
He spoke without hesitation, knowing that Sag wouldn't mind his bluntness.
"Captain, do you plan to get involved with the Straw Hat Pirates as well?" Jabra asked, appearing with a bottle of wine that he placed on the desk.
"I only care about my plan," Sag replied, uncorking the bottle and taking a swig. "Although we're related by blood, they aren't my crew. Whether or not the Straw Hats can be saved is up to you."
All he needed to do was wait for the Demon Slaying Order to arrive.
An eerie atmosphere filled the office.
The CP9 agents remained relatively calm, unperturbed by the impending arrival of the Demon Slaying Order. They could always use the Moon Walk to escape if need be.
Spandam, on the other hand, was a nervous wreck, pacing back and forth. One moment he wanted to flee, and the next, he realized he couldn't. He would have taken his frustration out on the prisoners if it weren't for the situation with Robin and Franky.
As for Robin, she was untouchable, being related to Sag, and Spandam wasn't foolish enough to cross that line. That annoying white-haired guy had even caused CP9 to give up on stopping him, and he dared to activate the Demon Slaying Order, showing a blatant lack of reverence for the World Government. Franky, on the other hand, had a mouth and would bite if provoked.
As they waited, Spandam finally snapped out of his nervous pacing after half an hour, just as Sag finished the last swig of wine and placed the empty bottle on the desk, as if sensing something.
From the window, he could see the Gate of Justice, which had opened slightly, and ten massive warships emerged, speeding toward the Judicial Island.
"They're here!"
A sinister smile spread across Sag's face, and with a swift movement, he shattered the window and leaped out, creating a whirlwind of smoke and energy as he soared toward the large bridge in front of the tower.
Why take the underground passage like some local Beijingers?
That would be too slow!
He could just fly over!
"I've been waiting for you guys for quite a while now!"
Sag landed on the bridge, his eyes narrowing at the approaching warships, which were significantly larger than the bridge. Crimson-black energy surged from his body, rushing toward the ships.
Time for a little greeting!
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
