Clap!
Shen Yuan slapped Lucci twice, with merciless force!
Rob Lucci awoke sluggishly, as if waking from a fever dream, his blurred vision sharpening to reveal Shen Yuan's cold stare.
A flicker of true fear crossed Lucci's eyes—one that had not surfaced even in his darkest missions.
It was as if he was staring into the abyss itself.
"What do you want? We are agents of the World Government—"
"Lackeys of the World Government?" Shen Yuan sneered. "Just vermin dressed in justice, cleaning up filth with more filth."
His words were blades, slicing into Lucci's pride more than any steel could.
Lucci gritted his teeth, attempting to tear through the Sea-Prism Stone chains binding him—but he couldn't muster the strength. Haki, Rokushiki—useless here.
"I ask questions. You answer. Try anything clever—I'll kill you."
Lucci's gaze sharpened, weighing the situation. In this man's presence, even the six Rokushiki forms wouldn't help him.
He reluctantly nodded.
"The Government sent you for the Tori Tori no Mi, Model: Swallow. Was that your only objective?"
Lucci's lips tightened. Silence.
"Pfft!"
In a blur, Shen Yuan unsheathed Shigure—Tashigi's cherished sword—and plunged it into Lucci's kidney.
"...Urgh!"
Lucci's eyes went wide, red veins creeping into his sclera.
Tashigi gasped, fists clenched. That's my sword, you bastard!
Is this what justice looks like?
"I'll ask again. What else were you assigned to do?"
Still silent. Still stubborn.
"Tough nut, huh?"
Shigure glinted again—stab!—this time into Lucci's other kidney.
"UMMMHH!!"
Lucci's eyes nearly bulged out of his skull. Why the symmetry?!
Pain blossomed through his body like wildfire. Cold sweat dripped like rain.
"Pfft!"
The blade sliced across Lucci's palm and drove into his forearm with surgical precision.
"Exquisite," Tashigi whispered, reluctantly impressed. That strike… too precise for an amateur. A swordsmanship Awakening? No—it's a refined Skill Tree branch...
Lucci's pride broke. His scream was raw, primal—an echo of agony not even CP9 training had prepared him for.
The other CP agents—Weiqu, Kaku, Bruno—watched in cold horror. None dared move.
"Fine. No more questions. Just speak, or die."
Shigure's edge hovered near Weiqu's throat.
Cold sweat erupted instantly. His lips trembled.
Just then—Lucci's bloodied face turned toward him and glared—a silent threat. Weiqu froze.
"Pfft!"
Another clean stab—this time to Lucci's upper arm!
"Want some grilled meat next, Shen Yuan?" Rayleigh muttered with a chuckle.
Tashigi shook her head. Master, please…
"No, your sword's sharp enough to cook with."
Traitor!
"AHHHH!!!"
The scream echoed.
Weiqu's will shattered.
"We were also assigned to investigate Iceburg and Tom in Water 7! The World Government suspects they hold the Pluton blueprints!"
"Hmph. Already knew that."
Without pause, Shen Yuan slit Weiqu's throat. A gasp of regret lingered on his lips as his lifeless eyes stared upward.
"Next. You. If you don't satisfy me—"
Kaku's brain, already running on four metaphorical cores, now overclocked to eight.
"Wait! I have Devil Fruit intel—valuable intel!"
Shen Yuan's eyes sharpened. "Now you're talking."
Kaku sighed in relief and spilled the data.
**"The Logia Mera Mera no Mi is rumored to be on Longchain Island, in the hands of a rogue Navy officer.
And—there's a Paramecia Float-Float Fruit user... here."**
"Where?" Shen Yuan's tone turned razor-sharp.
That fruit—once wielded by Shiki the Golden Lion—was his dream target!
"It's..." Kaku hesitated, gauging leverage.
"Playing games?"
STAB!
Shigure pierced Kaku's ribs!
"AHHHH!"
The pain shattered all strategy. Kaku gasped.
"Golden Lion! He's rumored to be hiding in the East Blue, on an unnamed island, rebuilding his power!"
Shen Yuan's expression twisted. "Unnamed island? You mean you don't even know where it is?"
Nameless Island. Just like how authors call themselves "Anonymous."
"You pass. You live."
Kaku exhaled in relief.
"What about me?"
"You? Half alive."
"What does that mean—"
"Hell's calling," Rayleigh smirked.
"Kalifa's on her way here! That's got to count for something!" Gabra blurted out.
"Hmm. Good info."
SLASH!
Gabra collapsed, smirking even in death.
"But I don't like smug bastards."
The cabin fell silent. Tension strangled the air.
"Brother," muttered Owl, voice shaking, "the higher-ups are aware of you. They're contacting Marine HQ. Either they'll recruit you... or wipe you out."
Shen Yuan stroked his chin, intrigued.
"You. What's your name?"
"Bruno..."
"Good. You live. Kaku—you die."
"What? Why?!"
"You tried to use me. That alone makes you dangerous."
A flash of black Haki surged. Shen Yuan's Armament-covered Shigure pierced Kaku's chest.
PFFF!
Blood poured from Kaku's mouth as he collapsed, eyes wide in disbelief.
"Bruno, that Door-Door Fruit of yours... interests me. Join me."
Bruno smiled. His inner plan activated.
Step One: Free myself. Step Two: Door-door my way off this ship. Step Three: Hide. No one will ever find me.
But dreams shatter.
With one swing, Shen Yuan sliced Bruno's right arm clean off.
"Your future? Doesn't exist."
"You... you madman! Are you declaring war against the World Government?!"
"That's your last sentence."
A clean cut ended him. Bruno's head fell. The blade's slice was so clean, the ceiling reflected off the wound.
"Lucci, you're next."
SLASH!
Rob Lucci's head rolled across the floor, finally silenced.
Only Owl remained, trembling. He didn't dare breathe too loudly.
"You… I'll keep. You're the only one here who might still be human."
Owl nodded furiously, like a chick pecking grain. He would not test his luck.
---
Meanwhile...
A figure glided toward Drum Kingdom using Moonwalk—light steps touching air.
It was Kalifa, unable to reach her team by Den Den Mushi. She followed her Vivre Card instead.
Her boots hit the ship deck lightly.
What she saw inside the cabin…
…would haunt her forever.