Chapter 74: Retrieving the Pardon Letter

Chapter 74: Retrieving the Pardon Letter“Are you going to kill me?” Robin’s eyes closed slowly as she braced herself for what might come next. “Go ahead! My life has been a living nightmare! As long as I’m breathing, those around me might be in danger.” She mustered a weary smile and continued, “At least now, you can ensure that the Poneglyphs remain a mystery, and the Ancient Weapons stay hidden.” Bakula shook his head, his expression stern. “It’s clear you care deeply for your friends. I’m sorry, but I don’t have the authority to decide your fate.” He locked eyes with her. “For now, my orders are to escort you.” “To Enies Lobby!” She commented, a hint of sadness in her voice. “No! We have other plans for you... We want you to help us locate The Ancient Weapons!” His voice held a resolute tone. “No way! I’d rather face my end than become part of this!” She exclaimed, tears welling up. “And destroy it!” He emphasized. Hearing this, she felt perplexed and insecure. “Destruction?” She clenched her lip, grappling with the situation. “How can I be sure you won’t use them for your own purposes?” “You can’t. You’ll have to trust me on that.” He reached into his pocket and retrieved a stack of papers. “These are the blueprints left behind by the legendary Shipwright Tom. Originally, they were in the possession of his student, Franky...” He gave a wry smile. “Ironically, Spandam believed these were Pluton’s blueprints, so he pursued them relentlessly. But the truth is, these are Tom’s designs, meant to contain and dismantle Pluton! That’s why we decided to infiltrate CP9.” Robin was stunned. “A weapon that can destroy Pluton!” “Exactly, this weapon alone would be enough.” Bakula nodded solemnly, addressing Robin. “I won’t deny that we could harness this power, but our ultimate goal is peace! A new era without bloodshed and sacrifice. We aim to use this power to end the Pirate Age and break the oppressive grip of the Celestial Dragons over all living beings.” The audacity of his statement hung in the air. The Celestial Dragons were not to be challenged, especially by Cipher Pol agents... After all, they operated under the world government’s authority! “You...” Robin was utterly perplexed. “Who are you?” “Who am I, heh...” He chuckled wryly, “That’s a complicated matter. I’ve almost forgotten who I really am due to what I’ve been doing.” With a swift motion, he removed his shipwright disguise, revealing a black outfit that exuded an air of secrecy. “You can call me Bakula. We operate in the shadows for an independent secret organization, receiving directives from high-ranking Navy officials to ensure justice prevails. For now, that’s all you need to know.” “But I’ve never heard of you!” She said with skepticism. “Come on, Nico Robin! I thought you were smarter than that! That’s the whole point of a secret organization! We operate discreetly and only reveal our true selves to new recruits who possess the skills to make a difference.” He paused and then asked, “So, Nico Robin, are you willing to join us? Are you ready to be a part of this change?” ——————————— The next morning, As Scholar awoke, Saitama’s battleship had already left Water 7. The plan was to discredit Saitama with the Navy by accusing him of kidnapping Kalifa and sexually assaulting her inside his cabin. This would likely lead to Saitama’s arrest and imprisonment, where he would be vulnerable to assassination. But something unexpected happened. When Scholar woke up, he couldn’t see anything. Darkness surrounded him. Moreover, he felt somewhat weak, as if his energy was being drained from him. He could faintly hear the sounds of a train outside. The only conclusion he could reach was that he was tied up with Seastone and locked inside a narrow place, such as a shipping container. “What the heck?!” He tried to scream, but his mouth was tightly shut. All he could make was a muffled sound. A barrage of questions flooded his mind. “Am I kidnapped? Who dares to do that? Are they CP9 or Spadam? No, they’re not that strong. Moreover, since they were carrying out the orders of the Five Elders, they wouldn’t dare to do this! How could I not feel attacked? ...” Scholar’s heart pounded in the oppressive darkness as he struggled against mounting panic. He was trapped in a confined space, the seastone restraints binding him tightly. The sense of disorientation gnawed at him; he had no idea where he was or how long he’d been imprisoned. Desperation urged him to utilize his powers, but the unforgiving seastone cuffs thwarted any attempt. He felt utterly powerless. His single objective was to break free and reunite with his team. Yet, the cramped conditions made movement impossible, and the seastones refused to yield. Straining his ears for any glimmer of hope, all he could discern was the constant drone of the Sea Train. Time was not on his side. He shut his eyes tightly, making a conscious effort to steady his racing heart. Survival hung by a thread, contingent on maintaining a clear and rational mindset for the task at hand: devising a feasible escape plan. Yet, desperation drove him to struggle relentlessly. Then, an unexpected sensation stirred within him as his knee came into contact with something oddly soft, a momentary relief in the oppressive darkness. Within the dimly lit enclosure, a glimmer of hope emerged. His attention was drawn to a small opening that intermittently allowed feeble rays of light to penetrate. As he continued to assess his surroundings, an unforeseen development unfolded, adding a touch of realism to his dire situation. The cramped space he occupied was shared by his fellow CP9 members, all trapped in the same dire situation. Seeking external backup was no longer an option; survival depended on their own resourcefulness. Their only hope lay in breaking free and taking on their adversaries as a united team. With caution, he tried to maneuver sideways, exploring his confines with heightened senses, hoping to find a way to escape the seastone restraints. Yet, once again, he collided with the same strange obstacle. He instinctively turned his attention to investigate the mysterious obstacle in his path, utilizing all of his senses in a quest for comprehension. It exuded a fragile, enticing aroma, akin to the scent of hair, accompanied by a moist, rhythmic quality reminiscent of breathing. In that pivotal moment, he paused, striving to connect the dots and rule out an unsettling hypothesis. The same ray of light passed by again, freezing him in place with a sudden revelation. Blocking his path was none other than Kalifa, her expression a mixture of embarrassment and anger. Scholar had unintentionally made inappropriate contact with various parts of her body. Her stern gaze seemed to convey a warning: “This is sexual harassment, and I’ll report it to your superiors, you nerdy fool.” The Sea Train chugged further away, slowly vanishing from sight. One day... Two days... Three days... ——————————— The news had quickly reached Justice Island. “Sir! I’ve got some updates. Robin, known as the Devil Child, is now in our custody, and we’ve successfully secured Tom’s blueprints as planned. They should be here with me in another day or two!” Spandam reported confidently through the Den Den Mushi, eagerly anticipating the arrival of his agents. Two days later. “Why is it taking so long?” Spandam paced nervously before calling a soldier and handing him a note. “Go check on those individuals and let them know their presence is required immediately, and ensure it’s done discreetly.” “Understood, sir,” the soldier nodded respectfully. Three days later. -Blu-blu-blu...- -Clank!- “Yes?” Spandam answered hastily. “Sir, regarding the packages you requested...” The messenger began. “So, what’s the situation?” Spandam responded with genuine concern. “They’re gone, sir!” the messenger said, his voice tinged with worry. “Gone? What do you mean, gone?” Spandam inquired, his frustration showing. “None of them are here, sir! They’ve all disappeared!” He replied, his fear evident. “Disappeared? Are you kidding me? Where could they have gone?” Spandam’s voice trembled with frustration. “I don’t know, sir! They vanished about six days ago!” Just after saying those words, the communication was abruptly cut off. The report he received was nothing short of shocking... All the CP9 agents had seemingly vanished without a trace. With his entire team missing and no clear explanation, a multitude of unsettling possibilities raced through his mind. “Do they intend to seize Pluton for their own purposes? Or perhaps they’ve been abducted! Both scenarios would severely damage my reputation in the Navy! What should I do now?” With a hint of anxiety, he reluctantly reached out to the commander of CP0. -Blu-blu-blu...- -Clank!- “Sir, I apologize for disturbing you at this late hour, but I’m deeply concerned...” Spandam’s voice wavered. “What? Speak quickly!” The CP0 Chief replied tersely. “Have you received any updates regarding Agent Scholar?” “No! Why? What has happened?” The voice on the other end grew solemn. “Well, it’s somewhat peculiar, sir... but would you believe me if I told you that not only have all my elite CP9 agents disappeared” “WHAT?! Kidnapped? This is CP9 we’re talking about! How could this happen?” The voice on the other end resonated with disbelief. “But, sir, it’s not just CP9... Scholar is also nowhere to be found!” Spandam’s voice was filled with trepidation. “My agent Scholar! This is unbelievable!” ——————————— Meanwhile, Saitama’s battleship plowed steadily towards The Holy Land Mary Geoise. At the same time, a marine warship departed from headquarters, making its way to the territory of one of the highly regarded Shichibukai. In a secluded location, the remnants of an ancient civilization lay in ruins. Under Vice Admiral Momonga’s command, the ship finally arrived at its destination, Kuraigana Island. His primary mission was to secure pardons for the crimes that the Navy had granted the Seven Warlords, while firmly warning him that his crimes would not be forgiven in the future. Curiously, this mission didn’t seem to warrant the presence of a Vice Admiral. The real objective was to find a legitimate reason to arrest that Shichibukai. Rumors had circulated about the island being inhabited by ferocious mandrills, so Momonga and his unit remained on high alert, ready for any unexpected combat. However, much to their surprise, their journey remained uneventful. As they explored the abandoned castle and lifeless ruins, the surrounding forest remained eerily quiet. Finally, in a clearing, they spotted their target, “Hawk Eyes” Mihawk. But during their initial encounter, Momonga couldn’t believe his eyes! Dracule Mihawk, the Strongest Swordsman in the World, was engrossed in farming alongside a group of indigenous gorillas. What’s more, he had put away his famous black sword, was dressed in a simple short-sleeved shirt, had casually placed a towel over his shoulder, and was leisurely enjoying rice balls! Was this a bizarre illusion? The Marines rubbed their eyes, double-checked the scene, and eventually accepted that the figure tending to the field was indeed the world’s greatest swordsman! “This...” As Momonga stepped forward, a whirlwind of emotions overcame him. “Um... Dracule Mihawk! I’m Vice Admiral Momonga, representing the Marine Headquarters. In light of recent decisions, your role has been...” Before he could finish his sentence, a rolled-up parchment came hurtling in his direction. “I’m well-informed about the recent developments.” Mihawk didn’t turn around. “Whether The Seven Warlords continue or not doesn’t bother me. You came for this; take it and go. I didn’t make lunch for you.” “Ah... alright,” he responded, discreetly observing his surroundings for any suspicious activity. “Don’t bother yourself; I live here alone with these creatures! Now, leave!” Mihawk’s voice echoed. As Momonga boarded the warship for their journey back, he couldn’t help but feel surprised at how smoothly everything had gone. He had anticipated a challenging mission, yet it had unfolded with unexpected ease, leaving him with a sense of disbelief. ——————————— Florian Triangle. Vice Admiral Onigumo commanded from the deck of a massive three-masted ship ‘Thriller Bark’, his tone firm and authoritative. “Hand over that pardon letter!” he demanded, extending his right hand with a sense of purpose. “You’re no longer one of the Seven Warlords, Gecko Moria!” Moria, a rather obese figure reminiscent of a bat, his bloodshot eyes betraying a hint of defiance, retorted, “You think I’ll just give it to you like that? Kishishishi... This isn’t how things work out here. Ever heard of pirates willingly returning what they’ve taken? Ah, I might as well take care of all of you and plead ignorance later! Kishishishi...” —————————————————————— Hey everyone, I hope you all had a great time reading this chapter! I’m really excited to hear your thoughts and get your feedback. 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