Cursed Seas and Slashing Tides

While Sanji and Franky prepared for the fight ahead, Nero groaned, dragging himself back to consciousness.

"Ugh…" He clutched his chest, forcing himself onto his knees.

"Who's this?" Lucci asked, glancing down at the struggling man with detached indifference.

"Probably the new member. A 'Four Powers' fighter named Nero or something." Kaku replied with a shrug.

"Damn it…" Nero growled, his face contorted with rage. "Up until now, I was a martial arts genius! I don't care about the orders anymore! I'm going to kill you!" He glared at Franky, his anger boiling over.

"Hey, newbie." Lucci interjected, his calm voice carrying an air of menace.

"Eh? You're Rob Lucci, right? I should've introduced myself sooner…just hang on a second, I'm gonna kill that guy first—" Nero began, but Lucci cut him off.

"We're taking Franky alive. You can't let your emotions take priority over your duties." Lucci paused for a moment, as if reconsidering his words. "Actually, never mind...I'll give you three seconds...so hurry up and run."

"Huh?!" Nero looked up at him in shock, confusion spreading across his face.

"Three." Lucci began, his voice cold and detached.

"Run…from who…?" Nero mumbled, his body trembling under Lucci's icy gaze.

"Two." Lucci continued, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"H-hey! You're kidding, right!?" Nero yelled, panic seizing him as he staggered to his feet.

"One."

Lucci raised a finger, pointing directly at Nero.

"Stop! Don't be an idiot!!" Nero screamed, his voice shaking with desperation. "Soru!" He vanished, attempting to flee, but it was already too late.

In an instant, Lucci reappeared behind him, his finger piercing Nero's chest with terrifying precision.

"Gwaaah!!" Blood sprayed from Nero's mouth as his body convulsed. His eyes widened in horror before his body crumpled lifelessly to the ground.

"Everything about you is a work in progress." Lucci declared, his voice devoid of emotion. "CP9 doesn't need you."

Lucci turned away from the fallen body, addressing the rest of the group without a flicker of remorse. "You're only superhuman if you've mastered all six powers."

He glanced at at the woman. "Kalifa."

"Yes, sir." She replied, adjusting her glasses.

"Send a report later. 'The new guy was too weak. We couldn't use him'."

"Understood." Kalifa said with a curt nod.

"They're supposed to be the protectors of justice…?" Sanji muttered, his tone dripping with disdain.

"Hard to tell who the bad guys are, huh?" Franky chuckled, though there was no humor in his voice.

Their conversation was cut short as Lucci's icy glare bore into them.

"I suppose I don't need to ask why you're here." He said, his voice low and menacing. "From the way you kicked that door open, it's clear patience isn't one of your virtues."

"You're right." Sanji shot back, exhaling smoke through his nose. "My parents raised me wrong."

"If you're here for Nico Robin, forget it." Lucci stated coldly. "She's far too much trouble for you to handle."

Sanji's fists clenched, but he kept his gaze steady.

Lucci's tone darkened further. "Some people are born unlucky. The best thing they can do is die for the world."

Sanji's brow furrowed, his anger simmering beneath the surface, while Franky remained silent, his expression unreadable.

"For example..." Lucci continued. "If there was a power capable of destroying the world, and the only one who could awaken that power was an innocent little girl, merely eight years old…"

He leaned forward slightly, his cold eyes locking with Sanji's. "Don't you think that girl should be killed for the sake of humanity?"

Sanji's teeth grit, the cigarette between his fingers trembling slightly. "What the hell are you trying to say?"

"I'm explaining Nico Robin's life to you." Lucci replied. "Now, of course, she's an actual criminal. But long in the past, she was just a little girl with a terrible power."

"For as long as she can remember, her very existence has been a crime. The only way she can make people happy is by disappearing. That is her burden to bear."

Franky and Sanji stared at him in disbelief, their fury bubbling inside.

"She should have perished twenty years ago." Lucci said, his voice icy. "I'm truly glad she'll die…before it's too late."

Sanji snapped. "Shut your mouth!" He shouted, closing the distance in a flash as his leg ignited with fiery determination. He aimed a kick at Lucci's head, but Lucci effortlessly raised his arm to block it.

"You're not changing anything." Lucci said, his tone unflinching.

The door to the next car suddenly slid open, cutting through the tense standoff.

"Robin!!" Sanji shouted, his voice filled with relief and desperation as Robin stepped into view. "You're okay! They didn't hurt you, did they!?"

Robin's cold gaze met his, and she hesitated before speaking.

"It seems…you won't understand unless I spell it out for you."

Sanji's relief turned to confusion and shock as her words sank in.

"Hahaha…" Lucci couldn't help but mockin "Well then…take them down. But don't kill the pirate, that's what we agreed on." 

Kalifa and Blueno stepped forward, Kaku remaining beside Lucci, his presence looming.

"Dammit…Robin!!" Sanji shouted desperately. "Just come with us!! Iceberg told Nami about the Buster Call, we'll find a way to deal with it, so please…stop hurting yourself like this!!" 

Robin's face darkened. "There's nothing you can do about it. Just…don't come after me anymore." 

The two agents charged at Franky and Sanji without hesitation.

"See? It's useless. You can't take her away." Blueno appeared beside Sanji, his tone flat and unwavering.

Without missing a beat, Sanji swung his leg in a sharp kick aimed at Blueno's head.

"Tekkai."

The kick connected, but Blueno stood still, absorbing the full force without flinching.

"Why's he so hard?" Sanji muttered, narrowing his eyes in confusion.

"You stand no chance against the Six Powers." Blueno replied coldly, his stance unwavering.

"Oh yeah?" Sanji smirked as he began to spin rapidly. "Con-Casser Crush!"

His foot slammed into Blueno's side, forcing the agent to grit his teeth in pain.

'That kick was no joke.' Kaku thought grimly from the sidelines. 'Blueno's iron body barely held up.'

"Blueno, don't underestimate him! He might not have a bounty, but he's clearly one of the Straw Hats' main fighters!" Kaku barked.

Blueno nodded, acknowledging the warning, but Sanji was quick to seize the opening. Leaping into the air, he aimed a high kick at the agent.

Blueno ducked with precision, countering with a punch toward Sanji's midsection. But Sanji twisted mid-air, blocking with a leg strike. The force of their blows canceling each other out.

Blueno scoffed, a green door suddenly appearing behind him. Before Sanji could react, the agent disappeared through it.

"Where did he go?" Sanji's eyes darted around, searching for his opponent.

"No matter." He growled, turning toward Franky. "I need to help that punk guy!" He sprinted ahead, leaving the strange door behind.

…

Nearby, Franky faced off against Kalifa, tension crackling in the air.

"It's better if you surrender willingly." Kalifa said, her tone as cold as her expression.

"No way I'm doing that, lady! I'm not sticking around with you crazies!" Franky retorted, flexing his arms in defiance.

"I see…well, in that case, I only need to keep you alive." Her lips curled into a small smirk. "Soru."

She vanished.

Franky's eyes darted frantically as he braced himself. "Not this crap again!"

"Our intel says you're a cyborg." Her voice echoed behind him, sharp and taunting. Franky whirled around but wasn't fast enough.

"At least…half of you is." Kalifa remarked, kicking him squarely in the back.

"Ahhh!" Franky yelped, leaping into the air from the impact. "Aren't you supposed to be a top-secret agent!? Why the hell are you wearing heels!?" He angrily questioned as he rubbed his buttocks.

"Hmph. Just because I kill people doesn't mean I can't look good doing it." She glared at him, her expression unamused.

"What is with this chick…?" Franky muttered, staring at her incredulously.

"Now, stay down and follow the World Government's will!" She shouted before vanishing again.

"Damn it…" Franky growled, scanning his surroundings. "Guess I'll have to bring out one of my trump cards!"

Hearing this, Kalifa slowed her movements, her instincts flaring.

Franky pressed his back against the car wall with a determined grin. "Invincible…Franky!!"

Kalifa blinked, her lips twitching in irritation. "I suppose that's one way to put it."

Now protected from attacks to his back, Franky waited for her move.

Kalifa raised her leg high, her expression cold and calculating. "Rankyaku!" She snapped, preparing to launch an air blade.

But her instincts screamed a warning.

"Hey, punk, need some help—!?" Sanji's voice rang out as he arrived on the scene. His determined entrance faltered, however, as his eyes locked onto the elegant Kalifa.

"What is this…?" Kalifa muttered, a hint of disgust crossing her face as Sanji gawked, his mouth hanging open like a fool.

"The hell are you doing, man? She's the enemy!" Franky barked from where he remained pinned to the wall.

Sanji shook his head as if snapping himself out of a daze. "Ah, right. You can stay stuck to that wall—I'm going after Robin." He waved Franky off dismissively, turning to leave.

"Not so fast." A deep voice interrupted.

Sanji twisted just in time to dodge as Blueno emerged from a green door, his hand missing Sanji's shoulder by inches.

"You again?" Sanji's eyes narrowed. "Do I really have to beat you senseless first?"

Blueno didn't respond, stepping forward with cold precision.

Kalifa took her chance, pivoting into a swift kick aimed at Sanji's midsection. He bent backward, dodging her strike by a hair.

"You'll be crushed, intruder." Blueno declared, his tone emotionless.

"Tsk." Sanji glanced between the two. "I'd rather hear that from her." He pointed at Kalifa with his thumb, his voice laced with sarcasm.

"This is bad…" Franky grumbled, still stuck to the wall.

"The Straw Hats are annoyingly resilient." Kaku observed with an annoyed click of his tongue.

"They'll fall soon enough." Lucci added, his voice calm but laced with irritation. His fists clenched subtly at the sight of the prolonged fight.

Robin, standing nearby, watched in silence, her gaze heavy with thought. Her fists trembled at her sides, though she tried to keep her expression neutral.

…

Back at the battle, Kalifa struck first. "Rankyaku!" She shouted, sending a slicing air blade toward Sanji.

Sanji leapt to dodge, but Blueno materialized behind him with Soru, gripping his shoulders and pinning him in place.

"Damn it!" Sanji cursed, struggling. As the air blade closed in, he used all his strength to kick his legs upward, flipping his body above Blueno's head.

"Tekkai." The blade struck Blueno, but he stood unfazed, his iron-like body absorbing the impact.

Sanji took the opportunity to twist his legs around Blueno's neck in a leg lock. "How about letting me go?" He taunted, his smirk defiant.

Blueno grunted, unmoved.

"I'll take that as a no." Sanji quipped. Using his leverage, he flipped Blueno forward, slamming his head into the train floor.

Kalifa, unimpressed, darted toward him. "Your resistance is meaningless." She declared.

"Extended Hammer!" Franky interrupted, launching a projectile punch toward her. Kalifa gracefully dodged, her expression annoyed.

"Not bad, tin man!" Sanji grinned, sprinting toward Robin.

"Hm?" Kalifa turned to pursue but was cut off by Franky stepping into her path.

"Strong Hammer!" He aimed a punch at her face, only for her to stand still, her Tekkai nullifying the impact.

"Not even a flinch, huh…" Franky muttered disappointingly.

"Soru!" Kalifa instantly vanished from his sight.

"Oh, it seems I'll just…" He abruptly flopped to the ground. "Invincible Franky!"

Kalifa's eye twitched in frustration as she stopped her technique.

….

"Robin! Let's get out of here together!" Sanji shouted while running toward her.

"He's coming here?" Kaku arched an eyebrow.

Lucci, silent until now, let out a low chuckle. The sound grew into a cold laugh, his fury finally breaking through.

"This is pathetic." Lucci growled, his voice sharp. "How are you being pushed back by pirates? We are the elites of the World Government!"

Kalifa and Blueno flinched, shame crossing their faces. Even Kaku looked away, his gaze drifting to the wound on his chest.

"Enough." Lucci stepped forward, his tone like ice. "I'll end this myself."

"Lucci–" Robin's voice broke in, her eyes blazing with determination. "We have a promise! Don't forget that!"

Lucci stopped mid-step, his gaze cutting toward her. "I haven't." He turned back to Sanji, disappearing in an instant.

Sanji barely had time to react before Lucci's fist buried itself in his chest, the force launching him back into the third car.

"Sanji!" Franky shouted, straining against the wall.

"You should worry about yourself." Lucci descended on him with a heavy stomp, cracking the floor beneath Franky and knocking him out cold.

Sanji staggered to his feet, clutching his ribs. "I…won't let you keep Robin…"

Lucci snorted, closing the distance in a heartbeat. "Poitrine Shoot!" Sanji launched a desperate kick aimed at Lucci's chest.

"No." Lucci caught the kick effortlessly, his grip like a vice.

Sanji struggled, but his leg wouldn't budge.

"This farce ends now." Lucci raised his fist, Sanji's eyes widening as a black coating spread over the agent's arm. "You pirates are an annoyance. Nothing more."

"You'll…lose…" Sanji muttered through clenched teeth.

Lucci's fist slammed into Sanji's midsection, the force reverberating through the car and leaving Sanji unconscious.

"Blueno…unlach the car, there's no reason to keep him with us." Lucci ordered as he turned back.

Blueno nodded and unlatched the cars as ordered, leaving the defeated Sanji behind.

"Lucci…we're almost there." Kaku suddenly announced.

Hearing this, Lucci took a deep breath. "Five years." He murmured, his gaze darkening as he stared ahead. "After all this time, we've finally returned…to Enies Lobby."

He turned to Robin, a small, cruel smile curling his lips. "Welcome home, Nico Robin."

Robin clenched her fists, her teeth gritted in silence as the Gates of Justice loomed ahead.