Chapter 117: Spandam: Logistics? Stand Down, Let Me Handle This!
"Wahahaha! Did you see that, Nico Robin!?"
Spandam suddenly turned, pointing at the distant warships and laughing maniacally.
"That's the Buster Call I activated! Five Headquarters Vice Admirals, coordinating with ten warships for an encirclement! Your companions have absolutely no chance of survival!"
"Luffy... everyone..." Gazing at the ten ferocious behemoths in the distance, Robin's pupils couldn't help but tremble.
The island engulfed in cannon fire... her mother's tear-streaked face... the deceased Dr. Clover and all the scholars... Aokiji's cold, merciless figure...
All those cruel images, from her early childhood, were deeply imprinted in the deepest recesses of her heart, sealed away layer by layer.
The Buster Call had been activated. Her sacrifice had lost all meaning. But she didn't want to lose the most precious people around her again.
Only at this final moment did the most intense longing surge from her heart. A single, crystalline teardrop slid from the corner of her eye.
"...I can't die here."
"Hmm~~?"
Hearing Robin's low murmur, Spandam paused, then a mocking sneer spread across his lips. "Ahahaha! What's the use of saying such things now, Nico Robin!?"
"They just had to leave obediently, but no, they had to get a crazy idea and rush over here! Just a bunch of pirates who've never seen the world, yet they dare to dream of resisting a behemoth like the World Government!"
"Once we pass through that gate ahead, even Whitebeard himself would be powerless! Wahahaha!"
Spandam pointed towards the Gates of Justice at the end of the bridge. The next moment, a long boot kicked viciously into Spandam's lower abdomen.
Bang!
"I don't want to die here!"
Robin gritted her teeth, yanking the iron chain of her handcuffs from her opponent's grasp, and frantically ran back, away from those cold, imposing Gates of Justice. "I have to go back and help everyone!!"
"Puwah—!"
Spandam's eyes bulged as he bent over, spitting out a mouthful of sour bile, his expression contorted in pain as he stared at Robin. "You crazy woman! What kind of fit are you throwing all of a sudden!?"
However, the iron chain dragging on the ground was stepped on by Lucci. The taut chain snapped with a clang.
Thump!
Robin staggered and fell to the ground. She looked up, battered and bruised, her eyes filled with unwillingness. "I want to go back... to everyone's side..."
"I don't want to die here... I want to go back to the Going Merry... and continue adventuring with everyone..."
As if her intense longing had earned the pity of the heavens, a response came from the sky, echoing warmly in her ears.
"RO—BIN!!!"
The familiar loud shout made Robin's heart tremble. Filled with longing and anticipation, she lifted her head, following the sound towards the top of the Tower of Justice.
What met her eyes was Luffy, wearing his straw hat and sandals, standing above, yelling at the top of his lungs.
Beside Luffy stood Reiner, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Sanji, Chopper...
Figure after figure stood on the crenelated ramparts, all faces Robin longed to see most at this moment.
"Luffy! Everyone!!" Robin pressed her lips together, unable to stop trembling.
They could have just abandoned me... Why do something so foolish?
She wanted to say these words but couldn't get them out.
Just as she was willing to sacrifice herself for everyone, only at this moment did she finally understand: everyone felt the same way about her. Everyone was also willing to gamble their lives for her.
Robin wept uncontrollably, using all her strength to boldly shout the true desire in her heart at this moment:
"Please!!
"Take me back with you, please!!!"
"Of course, we will—ROBIN!!"
Luffy's eyes blazed with fury, veins bulging on his temples. He took out the flagpole he had just pulled up; the flag bearing the World Government's cross emblem whipped frantically, as if trying to break free from his grasp.
"The thing obstructing you! It's this, right!?" Luffy yelled, holding the flagpole horizontally above his head.
Seeing Luffy's posture, everyone vaguely guessed what he was about to do—
"Hey! Don't tell me he's..."
Watching Luffy on the rooftop, Lucci couldn't help but look shocked. "Is he serious... Does he know what he's doing?"
"Are you kidding me!?"
Spandam shrieked in terror. "If you dare do that! It's tantamount to declaring war on the World Government!!"
"WORLD GOVERNMENT!!"
Luffy's eyes widened in fury. He roared, lifting his leg and smashing the flag in his hand downwards. "What kind of bullshit thing is that anyway!!?"
Crack!
Accompanied by Luffy's roar that resounded through the heavens, the cross flag snapped in two, blown away by the howling sea wind.
The air seemed to solidify. A deafening silence!
Thump.
"He actually... broke it..."
Only after the shattered flag sank into the sea did Spandam recover from the unbelievable scene.
Looking at the group of pirates standing tall atop the Tower of Justice, the darkness in his heart gradually surfaced, his face turning grim.
Relying on his family background, after so many years of struggling and pandering to his superiors' expressions as if walking on thin ice, he had finally reached the position of CP9 Commander!
And them! Just a bunch of pirates! A bunch of fledgling pirates! How dare they openly provoke the authority of the World Government!
"Straw Hat Pirates!!"
Spandam glared viciously at the rooftop. "This is equivalent to declaring war on the World Government! In the future, you'll end up just like this woman! Living under the World Government's constant pursuit, in a world without light or..."
BOOM!! BOOM!!
BOOM!! Before his words faded, an intense wind pressure struck.
A cannonball landed on the Bridge of Hesitation, sending stone fragments flying, and Spandam's entire body was thrown into the air.
Massively powerful explosions sounded one after another as soaring flames suddenly erupted on the island.
Everyone's attention was drawn to these sudden explosions.
On the distant sea surface, ten warships, like ferocious beasts swallowing everything, fired their cannons in volleys. Black cannonballs rained down like a dense, mad storm.
Five figures stood ramrod straight, imposing and majestic, at the bows of several warships, their gazes varied as they watched everything unfolding on Enies Lobby.
"Well, well, well. This is quite something," Vice Admiral Yamakaji said, his eyes slightly closed, a kind expression on his face.
"Is that Mr. Garp's grandson? Indeed, one family doesn't produce two different kinds of people. This personality... is quite a match for Dragon."
"Like grandfather, like grandson, truly."
Momonga, with his mohawk and braid, spoke up, hands in his pockets, expression serious. "Acting so recklessly without thinking... to actually break the World Government's flag... that's going a bit too far."
"Hahaha! Men!"
Yamakaji waved his hand, calling over a Rear Admiral from behind him, and smiled gently. "Bring the ship closer. I want to go meet those few pirates."
"Ah... this..."
The Rear Admiral looked somewhat troubled. "Enies Lobby is already within artillery range. Is it really necessary to get closer?"
"It's fine, it's fine," Yamakaji waved his hand dismissively.
"Bring the ship closer."
On another nearby warship, a seductive figure with long, upswept hair, wearing pink clothes and shorts that revealed long, fair legs, spoke up.
Wielder of the famed sword Konpira, Vice Admiral and Admiral Candidate—Momousagi Gion.
"Garp-chan's grandson, huh? I'd like to see him too," Gion smiled faintly, arms crossed before her chest.
"Ohoho! It's little Gion!"
Yamakaji still wore his squinty-eyed, leisurely smile. "Looks like everyone's quite interested. Then let's go take a look together."
"Get serious, you lot!"
Doberman's expression was displeased, the ugly scar on his face making him look extremely fierce. "We're here to execute a mission! Don't act so unconcerned, every one of you!"
What 'see Garp's grandson'!? Are you here for a tea party!?
"Don't be so irritable, Doberman."
Momonga stated coolly, "Admiral Aokiji also said that for this mission, we can just act according to the situation."
Acting according to the situation... the meaning was clear. Kill if you want, hold back if you don't. As for telling them to show mercy or anything... Aokiji wouldn't do that.
An Admiral not taking action personally was already giving Garp enough face, showing the utmost leniency towards Straw Hat.
"Still so lazy, that fellow," Onigumo muttered, hand on his sword hilt, eyes lowered coldly.
And so, amidst the deafening, continuous roar of cannons, the ten warships began to approach Enies Lobby.
"Elite troops, Major rank and above, step forward! Prepare for close-quarters combat!"
The soldiers on deck bustled about, running back and forth. Rear Admirals yelled at the top of their lungs, directing them. "The enemy is a pirate crew with several members whose bounties exceed 100 million! Do not let your guard down! Artillery status, report!"
"Reporting! Five warships have achieved full island bombardment coverage! The other five warships are currently concentrating fire on the Front Island!"
"Continue loading cannonballs without stopping! In five minutes, shift concentrated fire to the Main Island!"
"Yes, sir!"
BOOM!! BOOM!! BOOM!! The power and density of the cannonballs clearly exceeded the imagination of anyone who hadn't witnessed it firsthand.
Spandam propped up his battered body from the ground, looking frantically and blankly at the distant warships continuously bombarding the island, unable to stop himself from roaring:
"The Straw Hat Pirates are over there! Are you blind!? Fire over there!"
Are you kidding me!? There are ten thousand troops stationed on this island!
Although he had heard rumors, Spandam never imagined the bombardment would truly be so cold and merciless! This was completely indiscriminate!
"It's useless. You simply don't understand the Buster Call."
Robin, kneeling on the ground, had a look of utter despair in her eyes. "It is an indiscriminate bombardment that completely erases an island from the map."
"People... are not visible on a map."
"You filthy-blooded woman! It's not your place to lecture me!" Spandam, incensed with shame, rushed forward, raising his hand to slap Robin.
Zzz—CRACKLE!
A lightning bolt, as thick as two fingers, flashed out, instantly piercing Spandam's arm. The terrifying high temperature seared his flesh black, even cauterizing the blood so it couldn't flow out.
"AHHH!!!"
A pig-like squeal of agony rang out. The intense pain made Spandam's entire face contort as he collapsed to the ground, rolling around.
Atop the Tower of Justice, the lightning around Frieren gradually dissipated.
Reiner, however, frowned deeply, his gaze locked deadly onto the rapidly approaching warships. The tall, slender woman standing at the bow of one of them made him particularly wary.
Momousagi has arrived. How strong is an Admiral Candidate? One would never know without fighting them.
But Reiner knew in his heart: the gap between Vice Admirals could be greater than between a human and a dog. If she didn't comprehensively exceed that level, the Navy wouldn't specifically bestow the title of Admiral Candidate.
Thinking this, he couldn't help but glance at Frieren, who was continuously sending sand skywards.
Still a bit short... need some more to be enough, Reiner thought secretly, then turned and spoke to the others:
"The cannonballs don't pose much threat to you. If those Vice Admirals make a move, I'll block them. Later, we need to quickly cross back through the entire island and return to the train."
"The CP9 members in the tower are rushing up now. Luffy and I will go save Robin. The rest of them... I'll leave to you. No problem, right?"
"No problem from me," Zoro replied calmly.
"Leave it to us here. Also..."
Sanji stated coolly, "Robin's handcuffs are Seastone, right? We still need to find the key."
"No need to look for a key."
Reiner glanced at Frieren's flying sand, gestured, then summoned the hawk undead and said, "We can use sand combined with Armament Haki to create a key. Everyone, let's get moving!"
"Then please take care of things! I'll go find a place to hide first— Hey, hey, hey! Wait a minute!!!"
Before Usopp could finish, Zoro grabbed him by the collar and leaped towards a lower balcony.
Just last night he was clamoring about getting stronger, and today he's back to his old self.
Sanji and Chopper followed close behind. Nami also transformed into lightning, vanishing from her spot in the blink of an eye.
"Let's go, Reiner!"
Luffy stared intently at Lucci on the bridge below. The two locked eyes, sparks flying in the air between them. "Leave that pigeon freak to me! You go help Robin unlock her cuffs first!"
With that, Luffy's legs bulged like springs for a moment, his skin turning red. Leaving behind wisps of white steam, he vanished with a whoosh.
Reiner also jumped onto the hawk, heading towards Robin's location, arriving above her in the blink of an eye and leaping down.
Bang!
Reiner's feet slammed heavily onto the ground. The ground beneath him instantly cracked like a spiderweb, spreading outwards as a cloud of dust billowed up.
"Cough cough cough."
"'Black Snake' Reiner, logistics member of the Straw Hat Pirates, bounty five million Beri."
Spandam coughed a few times, covering his face, the intense pain from his hand making his eyes gradually turn vicious.
He was just looking for someone to vent his anger on, and a suitable opponent had arrived. Spandam raised his hand and shouted to the side:
"Lucci, don't interfere! Let me handle this one!"
(End of this chapter)
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