Chapter 13: Breaking News! Gion Betrays and Destroys Enies Lobby

"Breaking news, breaking news!"

"Kuke has shown up at Enies Lobby! What's he planning to do?"

"Isn't the Navy hunting him down? How could they let him appear so brazenly at Enies Lobby? Are they all useless?"

"Take pictures, now!"

"The World Government is going to be humiliated again today. We were told to record everything happening here, so we'll document it all without any hesitation."

The gathered journalists, realizing what was happening, became ecstatic.

They didn't fear Kuke. In fact, Kuke was the one pirate who didn't strike fear into the hearts of ordinary people. Even Tiger hadn't managed to earn this kind of reputation—after all, Tiger was a Fishman, a different race.

Kacha!

Kuke ignored the frenzy of reporters, allowing them to record everything. In fact, their presence was beneficial. Using advanced Armament Haki, he shattered all the slaves' chains and freed Koala from the execution platform.

The freed slaves, overwhelmed with emotion, were moved to tears.

They couldn't speak, only kneeling in gratitude.

"Go now. If you're captured again, there won't be anyone left to save you," Kuke instructed.

…

Whizz! Whizz! Whizz!

Four figures appeared at the entrance in a flash. They were the official members of CP9.

Suddenly, piercing alarm sirens rang throughout Enies Lobby as thousands of Marines gathered, surrounding the area.

"It's him! The most wanted criminal by the World Government! He dares show his face at Enies Lobby—kill him!" The four CP9 members exchanged glances, then disappeared using Soru.

In the blink of an eye, they surrounded Kuke.

"Finger Pistol!"

"Rankyaku!"

Just as Kuke was about to act, he felt a small hand clutching his clothes from behind. Koala was holding onto him desperately, as though he was her only hope, unwilling to let go.

Kuke didn't mind. His enemies were weak.

The four CP9 members present weren't even on the level of Lucci's generation. There was no need to draw his sword.

Covering his fist with advanced Armament Haki, he shattered the air as his fist collided with the CP9 agents' Finger Pistols. Their fingers twisted and snapped.

"Iron Body!"

The CP9 member, already gravely injured, activated Iron Body in a last-ditch effort to defend himself from Kuke's punch.

But his efforts were in vain. His eyes rolled back, and he died on the spot.

The other three CP9 members launched more Rankyaku attacks, but the sharp slashes were blocked by an invisible Haki barrier. Kuke extended his hand, grabbing one of the agents by the throat. A simple squeeze ended the second life.

"We're no match for him!" The remaining two CP9 members turned pale with fear.

They used Moonwalk to flee into the air, but Kuke wasn't about to let them escape. He slowly drew his sword, Haki flowing along its edge.

"One-Sword Style: Single Cut!"

His blade tore through the earth, sliced through the walls, and landed squarely on the two fleeing CP9 agents, cutting them both in half.

Within a matter of moments, Kuke had easily dispatched all four of the CP9 agents.

As he stepped toward the door, the stunned reporters could do nothing but keep clicking their cameras.

Outside, thousands of Marines stood at attention, aiming their rifles toward the entrance.

"Hahaha! To think that the notorious criminal would walk right into Enies Lobby! This is the opportunity of a lifetime!" Spandine, the chief of Enies Lobby, laughed with glee. In his mind, he was already imagining the rewards and promotions he'd receive for capturing Kuke.

"Sir, it seems like CP9 might be in trouble. The enemy is far stronger than expected. Perhaps you should retreat for safety?" one of his officers suggested cautiously.

"Hmph! There are thousands of Marines here, and there's no escape for him! Once we find the target, we'll fire together. Even Whitebeard couldn't survive that!"

Footsteps echoed from within the courthouse.

Kuke emerged from the entrance, still holding Koala by the hand.

"Fire!" Spandine roared.

Thousands of guns aimed at Kuke, ready to fire.

"You corrupted Marines have become accomplices to evil," Kuke's cold voice echoed over the battlefield.

In an instant, a figure appeared in front of him—it was Gion, also known as Momousagi (Peach Rabbit).

"Who is that?" a Marine asked, confused.

"Vice Admiral Gion? Why is she with the criminal?"

The Marines stared in disbelief. Some of them had once idolized her.

"Has Gion betrayed us?" They couldn't believe it. Their spirits were breaking.

"If you don't want to die or become accomplices, leave now," Gion commanded, looking at the Marines.

Some hesitated, torn between loyalty and fear.

"You dare betray the Navy and the World Government, Gion? You're finished! Shoot them both!" Spandine screeched hysterically.

Click, click, click! From the rooftops, the reporters were going wild with their cameras.

"This is it! This is the real big news! Gion, the famous Navy vice-admiral, has betrayed the Navy and sided with Kuke!"

"Could the Holy Land invasion have been an inside job? Is the Navy secretly rebelling against the World Government?"

"Hurry! Get this information back to headquarters. This is a major scoop!"

Even though staying there meant they could die, the reporters couldn't resist the allure of such a massive story. They risked their lives, documenting everything and sending the photos back to their news outlets as quickly as possible.

"Gion, take her and go. While you're at it, check on Hancock. Leave this to me," Kuke said, handing Koala to Gion.

Koala didn't want to leave him. Her tear-filled eyes clung to Kuke.

"I won't hurt you," Gion reassured her. She cast one final, disappointed look at the Marines. I told you to leave, but you didn't listen. What happens next isn't my concern.

With Koala in tow, Gion disappeared in a flash, reappearing at another part of Enies Lobby. There, she saw Hancock in the middle of a fight with another CP9 agent. Hancock was winning, but the battle would take more time.

"Don't interfere, Vice-Captain. This is my fight. I need to grow stronger for Kuke's sake," Hancock said, her eyes full of determination.

…

"Fire!" Spandine commanded.

Thousands of bullets filled the air, targeting Kuke, sealing off any escape routes.

"Ghost Energy: Yama King Descends!"

A terrifying, ghostly figure of the Yama King appeared behind Kuke, as twisted and fearsome as death itself.

Killer intent fused with his advanced Armament Haki.

This was Kuke's ultimate move, one meant to obliterate Enies Lobby.