Chapter 503: The Buster Call (Part 1)
"CP9, you all have some nerve," Daniel laughed angrily, eyeing the three agents in black suits before him. "Demanding I hand over one of my own—clearly, a Warlord of the Sea holds no weight with you."
Daniel and his group had barely arrived in Water 7 when CP9's Rob Lucci, Kaku, and Blueno had the audacity to confront him, demanding he surrender Robin, the "Demon Child." Their mere presence disrupted the good mood he'd been in.
"Nicole Robin is a criminal wanted by the World Government," Lucci stated calmly, with a hint of derision. "Not even your Warlord status can shield her. Relinquishing her would be your best option."
"How unfortunate," Daniel replied, standing up slowly.
"Smart choice—no need to risk yourself over a demon child," Kaku said, only to suddenly scream in agony as his arm twisted unnaturally into a tight spiral.
"You! Iron Body!" Blueno managed to react as Daniel's form flickered beside him, raising his guard in the Iron Body stance, one of the Six Powers' defensive techniques.
"Remember this: may you find no Iron Bodies in heaven," Daniel muttered, driving his fist into Blueno's head and slamming him into the ground with such force that it cracked beneath him.
Daniel smirked as Blueno slumped unconscious. "In every fight you've lost, it's your stubborn Iron Body that betrays you, yet you never seem to learn."
"You—!" Lucci snarled, watching his teammates go down before transforming with the power of the Leopard Zoan. The white pigeon perched on his shoulder fluttered away as he finished his transformation.
But he barely had time to flex his claws before Daniel's hand clamped around his throat, hoisting him off the ground before slamming him down in rapid succession. The powerful impacts left Lucci dazed, his face bruised and swollen.
"And who do you think you are, hmm?" Daniel taunted, tightening his grip on Lucci's neck. "You're nothing more than a government guard dog. Don't think for a second I'd hesitate to kill you. No one would dare bring it up tomorrow."
Though CP9 was once the World Government's strongest covert team, they were little more than a joke to Daniel now. Not even Lucci's future self would intimidate him. If Daniel hadn't had bigger plans, Lucci would already be a dead man for his insolence. CP agents, unlike Marines, weren't protected by any reputational shield; if they vanished, no one in power would care.
"I'll let you live this time," Daniel sneered, dropping Lucci's beaten form on the ground. "Tell your superiors: Robin belongs to me now. Anyone who tries to touch her will deal with me."
With that, Daniel kicked each of them out the door onto the street, leaving them broken in the dirt.
"You're bold, aren't you?" Kuzan, who had been observing from a distance, emerged as the CP9 agents hobbled away. "The higher-ups won't let this slide. They don't give up on their targets easily."
"And so what?" Daniel replied, his eyes gleaming coldly. "I'd be more than happy to level Mary Geoise if they push me."
"Yeah, yeah, sure," Kuzan said, raising his hands in mock surrender. "I'll leave you to your vacation then. Robin, care to see me out?"
As Robin escorted Kuzan out, he watched her closely. Unlike her fearful reaction in the past, Robin had remained calm throughout the CP9 incident, a change Kuzan had picked up with his Observation Haki.
"So, you trust him, don't you? You're sure he can protect you?" Kuzan asked as they reached the door.
"Absolutely," Robin replied confidently.
"Even if your enemies include the entire World Government?" Kuzan pressed.
"Even then," Robin affirmed without hesitation.
"Well then, congratulations. It looks like Jaguar D. Saul's last wish has been fulfilled," Kuzan murmured, looking up at the stars with a faint sense of relief.
"Thank you, for everything you've done all these years," Robin said, a hint of warmth in her voice as she acknowledged Kuzan's silent protection over the years.
Kuzan merely waved a hand in response before walking away into the night.
---
Later, Daniel observed as Luffy and his crew raced to catch the Puffing Tom, the sea train carrying Robin and Franky toward Enies Lobby. He grinned, realizing the time was right to set his plan in motion.
"And that giant frog is still alive, somehow," he chuckled, recalling the massive frog, Yokozuna, that often tried and failed to block the train, a feat he barely survived each time.
"Mermaids, huh," Daniel mused, remembering the infamous Kokoro, a fish-man hybrid who defied all expectations of mermaid beauty. For Sanji, meeting her must've been nothing short of a nightmare. Thankfully, later encounters with more enchanting mermaids, like Caimie, would ease the trauma for him and the rest of the crew.
"It's fascinating how perceptive some people can be," Daniel thought, watching as Kokoro's granddaughter, Chimney, seemed to sense his presence in the sea train. He quietly exited, not wanting to be discovered.
The World of Pirates boasted many such gifted individuals, like a child from Skypiea who was born with a natural Observation Haki range that nearly rivaled Enel's Mantra.
"Time to head for Enies Lobby," Daniel decided, using his Flying Thunder God technique to appear on the sea train CP9 had taken to the island.
The train's journey was the last scheduled before the Aquan Laguna tide, as trains couldn't operate safely until the tide fully receded.
"Tom was truly a genius craftsman," Daniel mused, admiring the tracks' resilience against the sea's force. It was a shame he had to die, a victim of his integrity. Even the Five Elders had valued him, granting him time to complete the sea train before his execution. If Tom had chosen to yield, he might've been spared, but he was unyielding to the end.
"Franky's luck isn't quite as good as Robin's," Daniel noted as he recalled that Franky was being transported to Enies Lobby without the accidental intervention of Sanji or Usopp this time.
Unlike Robin, whose fateful encounter with Sanji on the train had altered her destiny, Franky was alone. Usopp, still bitter about the Going Merry's state, was currently estranged from the crew, though his defiance in fighting Luffy spoke to his desperation to protect the ship.
---
Meanwhile, atop the highest tower of Enies Lobby, Spandam was gleefully admiring the Buster Call's Golden Den Den Mushi, his hands practically shaking with excitement.
"To think Admiral Aokiji would entrust me with this! Hahaha! This is my golden ticket!" he muttered, reverently holding the device as if it were the most valuable treasure in the world.
And in a sense, it was. The Golden Den Den Mushi could summon ten Marine warships, led by five Vice Admirals, alongside a battalion of elite soldiers—an army capable of annihilating entire islands.
The Buster Call was indeed a rare privilege. It was Spandam's father, Spandine, who had wielded it during the Ohara Incident. Now, with this power in his hands, Spandam could barely contain his glee.
But he jumped when the phone on his desk rang, nearly pressing the button in his fright.
"Who dares interrupt me?" Spandam barked as he grabbed the regular Den Den Mushi, still shaken from his near-mistake.
"Sir, it's Rob Lucci. They're back," came a nervous voice on the other end.
"They're back? Excellent! They've finally completed the mission," Spandam muttered, then turned his attention back to his precious Golden Den Den Mushi—only to find it had vanished.
"You—who are you?" Spandam sputtered as he faced someone who looked exactly like him, down to the last detail. Panicked, he scrambled to grab his elephant-sword, Funkfreed, only to fumble as he struggled to draw it.
"Shouldn't I be asking who you are?" the doppelganger replied, brandishing Funkfreed with ease.
"Lies! You're the imposter!" Spandam yelled, his voice rising in desperation, hoping to draw the attention of his subordinates.
"If you're dead, there won't be anyone left to doubt my identity," the fake Spandam said with a wicked smile, raising Funkfreed as he closed in.
Spandam staggered back, feeling a sharp pain as the imposter grabbed his neck. His vision faded as a strong hand gripped his head, rendering him unconscious with a single blow from Funkfreed's hilt. The fake Spandam, Daniel in disguise, watched his limp form with satisfaction.
"Just take a nap for now. I'll reunite you with your father soon enough," Daniel muttered, pocketing the real Spandam with his Devour Pouch.
With Spandam neutralized, Daniel quickly located and pocketed two Devil Fruits stored within the room. The Giraffe Fruit was redundant, given his access to artificial versions, but the Bubble Fruit was unique and potentially useful.
"Let's keep these safe for now," Daniel thought. "Once I destroy Enies Lobby, the three Gates of Justice will be down by one."
The Gates of Justice of Justice were pivotal to the World Government's system, facilitating secure transport between Enies Lobby, Impel Down, and Marineford. Each gate was constructed with a unique vortex system, capable of speeding vessels through otherwise impassable waters. Any ship caught within the Gates' closed loops would be trapped in endless currents, unable to escape—a marvel of engineering Daniel fully intended to dismantle.
"Looks like I beat you to it," Daniel thought with a wry smile, as he sensed Luffy's chaotic energy somewhere in the distance. "With the timing of the Buster Call, the destruction of Enies Lobby is practically guaranteed."
---
In the main lobby of Enies Lobby, CP9's agents regrouped after their encounter with Daniel, nursing their injuries and bruised egos. Lucci, bandaged but resolute, entered with a scowl, ignoring the usual banter from Jabura, Kumadori, and Fukurou, who found humor in Lucci's defeat.
"Does the Government even realize who they've crossed?" muttered Kaku, his eyes wary as he glanced at the door.
"Enough," Lucci snapped, his patience worn thin. "Our orders stand. We will retrieve the blueprints and proceed to dismantle any resistance." He glanced pointedly at Franky, who sat chained and defiant, refusing to reveal any hint about Pluton's blueprints. Franky's eyes were steely; despite his restraint, he bore the CP9 agents' taunts with an unwavering expression.
Suddenly, their brief respite was interrupted by a chilling voice echoing through the corridors.
---
Daniel, disguised as Spandam, entered the room where the captured CP9 members were seated. He observed them silently for a moment, his gaze particularly cold as it settled on Franky.
"Tell me," Daniel began in Spandam's mockingly pompous tone, "why exactly you haven't surrendered the Pluton blueprints yet, Mr. Cutty Flam?"
"Never," Franky spat, his defiance unyielding. "I wouldn't let scum like you get near Tom's blueprints. The day you build that weapon is the day the world loses what little sense of justice it has left."
Daniel chuckled, dropping the pretense as he leaned forward, his voice softening as he broke character. "Justice, hmm? Funny how everyone thinks they can define that word." He extended a hand, palm open, and, with a swift application of Conqueror's Haki, immobilized every CP9 member in the room, pinning them to their seats with sheer force.
"I'll make it simple," he continued, his tone sharp as he glared down at Franky. "Those blueprints are useless in my hands—but I'll make sure the world never sees that power abused."
Franky narrowed his eyes, surprised by Daniel's declaration, but Daniel's intention was clear. His words had weight, a promise to dismantle, not exploit, the relic of destruction the Government sought.
---
The skies above Enies Lobby darkened as fleets of Marine ships approached in response to Spandam's call, the powerful roar of battleships echoing in the distance. Civilians in Water 7 were already evacuating, fearing the devastation of the infamous Buster Call as tidal waves crashed and the currents shifted under the pressure of advancing ships.
In the chaos, Daniel prepared to confront the oncoming wave of Marines, standing atop Enies Lobby's tallest structure, the ominous Gate of Justice visible behind him. Soon, the full might of the World Government would fall upon him, with Robin, Luffy, and Franky embroiled in their own struggles across the sprawling complex.
But Daniel's resolve was firm. With a single motion, he raised his sword, summoning the energy of the Six Paths. The time for hiding was over. Enies Lobby would fall, and with it, the first crack in the iron hold of the World Government.
As the first of the ships came within range, Daniel gave a small, cold smile. He could feel the world shifting, ever so slightly, in response to the gathering storm.
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