So... Hi^^
I hope every one of you had a nice Christmas.
Also, I'm sorry for not uploading in so long. This chapter had mostly been sitting in my block completely written in German for a few months but I never had the time or focus to translate it completely until now. And to be honest I didn't have much time to write further ahead in German as that would kinda keep me on track for this fanfic. So I cannot tell you when I will upload the next chapter. But I don't think I will have more time to write before March. So don't expect anything before that date.
~ Chapter 28 – Confrontation with Cipher Pol 9 ~
"Wouldn't it be easier if you use your devil fruit?", Ace complained while he carried a box with medicine.
"No, this way we know for sure that we got everything and also in which box the stuff is", Law said while he made a note for the box the alphas was caring.
This made Ace grumble lightly. "Why do we have to take everything with us to hotel rooms? We get Shippy back after a few fixes", the black-haired complained more. "They do a little more than a few fixes. They also do improvements in nearly every area. So the shipwrights need some space to work. So us taking our stuff with us give them some more room and also to prevent that they accidentally break something", Law explained and put the notebook away.
"Also despite Luffy being a Shichibukai pirate ships aren't allowed in the city. But since the Aqua Laguna is coming they will put our Ship in some kind of depot. The problem is the depot is in an area that might be affected by the Aqua Laguna. So we really shouldn't leave anything here which might be damaged by water", Ain said while she carried a smaller box.
The additional information made Ace only grumble more.
"Will you stop being this unproductive and complaining?", Law said slightly angry, and kicked his mate into the ass.
This made Luffy who just came from the ship caring Chouchou laugh out loud. This led to them spending more time than planned on bringing their stuff to the hotel.
"CP 9?", Bartolomeo asked confused when the whole crew was later in Ace's and Law's rented room.
"Cipher Pol 9. They are a secret organization of the World Government. But only the agencies CP 1 till CP 8 are publicly known. CP 9 is kept secret and consists mostly out of assassins. They are the only Cipher Pol department who are allowed to kill without an order being given to them. They can kill as long as it doesn't hinder their goal", Ain explained with crossed arms.
"Wow, so you picked a fight with a mass murder organization to protect Robin? I'm so proud of you, Ain, that you didn't think about 5,000 plans first", Ace said excitedly with a grin. But his grin quickly disappeared when the logia user noticed Law glaring at him.
"Well if these CP 9 guys are strong then they should be good training", Luffy chirped quite cheerfully.
"I give up… How much did your brains suffer under your grandpa to be that careless?", Law asked annoyed at the brothers.
"Assasins of the world government? Well, that does sound like an interesting fight", Zoro thought out loud with a grin.
"If they come too close to Robin-chan, I will cook them. No lady will be hurt as long as I am close!", Sanji shouted and pranced protectively around the black-haired woman.
"Luffy does have a talent for picking out people who wouldn't know danger if it stood right in front of them", Ain mumbled and shook her slightly while Bartolomeo was getting fired up by Zoro's and Sanji's motivation.
"This is the power of friendship. A path I need to follow when I want to stay true to the Okama way", Bon Clay said proudly.
Robin didn't know how to react to the others. Should she laugh about their optimism and antics? Or should she cry because it underlined what Ain had said earlier?
She was part of the crew. But not a part that was only there to be left behind someday. She was part of the crew because they wanted her for herself and wanted her to stay with them.
The black-haired woman slightly bit her lip to prevent tears from falling.
"Can we go back to the situation? There might be more to it than we think", Ain said. "Like what?"
"The simple coincidence that CP 9 is in Water 7 while we are also here?", Law asked and looked at the blue-haired woman who nodded.
"Yeah, also I might have been confrontational before when it was Robin and me VS one of CP 9. But there had been still a chance that the agent would attack. Like I said they are allowed to kill and if their mission is to get Robin then he would have attacked right there without any remorse. But since he didn't, I think CP 9 is after something else and that is something they need to accomplish first. It must be something they need to stay in disguise", Ain explained.
"So until they finished that something we are safe?", Bartolomeo asked. "Normally, we should even be safe after they got it because of Luffy's Shichibukai status. But since the interaction with them, I think that their idiot of a leader told them to not care about it", Ain said.
"That means we should be prepared to fight until we have left Water 7", Law concluded. "Or we should look that we can leave Water 7 as soon as possible. The repairments on Shippy shouldn't take long, right?", Ain asked.
"No, Paulie, the front worker, told me that they wouldn't take long and also that Shippy is fine to travel to the New World", Law said.
Robin looked towards Ain. It was clear that every other person in the room except Law was ready to fight.
"Then should we just prepare in case we need to fight?", the black-haired woman asked softly.
Carefully he left the building. He looked around to be sure that he wasn't followed. It could be dangerous if someone saw him. Especially since he didn't know who he could really trust.
There was a chance that world government agents were among his workers. It annoyed him that they tried it both ways. One way was public to everyone. It was even a joke around his workers when the officials came to bother him. But now there had been a confirmation that there could be some agents in the shadow.
After all, he did hear the words 'Cipher Pol 9' when he was at the dock to talk with the new Shichibukai Luffy. Even if it had been only a hushed whisper from one of the two female members who came by. It made him feel uneasy.
While he had only heard about Cipher Pol 1 to 8, he knew that this was something, that shouldn't be messed around with.
Especially with Nico Robin in the city and the more he thought about it, the more he realized that it had to be a big coincidence if Cipher Pol was in the city because of this woman. It did make more sense if they had already been in the city with a different goal.
And the only thing he knew was that this goal had most likely to do with the blueprint of Pluton. It was dangerous for the person who had the plan to be in the city at the moment especially as long as Nico Robin was here.
So he had no choice but to talk with him again. Maybe now he could persuade the idiot to leave the city and to go in hiding for real this time.
Well, normally he would say that he had already tried it and would then leave it. But… he couldn't help but feel responsible for this idiot.
After all, Tom had somewhat raised them as brothers.
"You're late, Bakaburg."
His thoughts were interrupted by the idiot, he was worried about.
"Never imagined that you would be on time. But that's fine. You have to leave the city. The earlier the better. Before the Aqua Laguna would be the best", Iceburg said seriously.
"This again? I already told you that I won't leave!"
"Cipher Pol agents are in the city. At the moment, they seem to be after Nico Robin. But when they caught her, they will go after you. That's why you have to leave."
"And? I don't care. When they come after me, I will pound them into the ground so that they don't think about it again", Franky said confidently and laughed. Why couldn't the other take this warning more seriously?
How blind could Franky still be for danger? After all, they had lost Tom due to the other being a little too curious about danger.
"Don't be that careless. You know that these plans should stay hidden because they are needed to build a counter against Pluton if needed. We can't let these people who killed Tom get the plans", Iceburg said seriously
"Well, if it is needed I will burn them in front of their eyes", the other suddenly spoke seriously.
"Are you crazy? What if they think that you know them? Then you will only become a bigger target!"
But before he could lecture the other a loud bang could be heard and the earth seemed to shake slightly.
An explosion?
"That was outside the city. Around Rocky Cap, I think", Franky said who looked in that direction.
He felt his heart sink. "Franky, take the next train and leave the city. Rocky Cap is the location of the Shichibukai Ship. The Crew which Nico Robin is part of. Cipher Pol probably did their first step…"
But he couldn't speak further. A wall next to them opened like a door and two masked Persons stepped out.
"Cutty Flame, you are under arrest!"
Someone had followed them! The CP-Agents. But why are the voices familiar?
Luffy sprinted nearly flew to the location where Shippy should be. The location where an explosion had happened. Hopefully, Shippy was alright.
Who thought it was nice to detonate something close to his ship?
But shouldn't some of Ice-Ossan's workers be there? The mayor had told them that some workers would be on watch as it is a construction site. And they seemed like good guys. So they wouldn't do something stupid like him, right?
He transformed to get even more speed. He had to get there as fast as possible.
And it was good, he had sped up.
A big wolf was standing over one of the workers. Using all of his speed to his advantage he transformed back to his human without losing any of it. The kick resulting from the speed was enough to send the wolf flying in a pile of wooden planks.
"Strawhat Luffy…", the worker's voice sounded weak. "Get somewhere safe. Ice-ossan would be worried about you. The others will be here soon", Luffy said and prepared himself to launch into a fight again. "This guy is responsible for the explosion and the fire, right?"
"Yes, but there are more…"
"Jabra was sent flying. Chapapapa." A person who reminded Luffy of a ballon was slightly jumping up and down next to the pile where the wolf landed. "Shut up, Fukuro", the wolf said annoyed with teeth bared. So it was devil fruit user. Most likely that was the hybrid from. Because Luffy had never seen a wolf-like that.
"Oi, put the fire out and leave Shippy alone!", Luffy demanded. His hands balled into fists. Ready to underline his demand.
The wolf was laughing. Now more people appeared. A masked guy with swords, a strange guy with a very white face and a leopard devil fruit user.
"You are not in the position to give us orders or demand anything from us. It will endly deadly if you stay in our way", the leopard said.
"Shut it!", Luffy shouted angrily. "Well, if you don't meet our demands we can grill you alive", Ace said who appeared next to him.
Zoro, Sanji, Bartolomeo, and Bon Clay were also here now. Now they had the upper hand.
"Leave the Neko to me", Luffy spoke while he cracked his knuckles.
As the captain, he should make sure to not put his crew in danger. And just from their presence, the leopard was the most dangerous.
His opponent growled. Well, better finish him as quickly as possible.
Law, Ain, and Robin had separated from the others when they heard bullet shots.
This is how they found a cyborg who was carrying a heavenly-injured Iceburg. It seemed as he had been able to shake off whoever was responsible for the wounds but it still took them some time to get the information.
"So two masked persons attacked and they came through a wall?", Ain asked while Law looked over the injures. This needed to be treated right away. Otherwise, it could end very badly for the major.
"If they hadn't injured Bakaburg, I would have punched them out the city", the cyborg who introduced himself as Franky said confidently. But the man didn't seem so confident regarding Robin. It seemed as he was very sceptical about her.
Well, it should be expected. After all, Robin had a bad reputation. But it wasn't helpful at the moment. Especially in this situation. Maybe he should say something.
But before he could, a hushed creak of a door could be heard.
"ROOM", Law mumbled and put all five of them out of the danger from the first attack.
The second didn't come as Robin blocked it by gripping the wipe with her devil fruit powers.
"It's the same mask", Ain said and prepared to fight.
That means their opponents were CP 9 Agents.
Law glanced at his patient. The mayor definitely shouldn't stay here. He hadn't finished treating him completely. He would need a safe place.
"Robin, Ain, think you got a chance against them?", Law asked.
"Don't worry, we will handle it without destroying the city", Robin said. Her eyes focused on their opponents. "But I can't guarantee that these two will still exist." Ain definitely seemed a little too excited to use her devil fruit if the mimic of the bluenette were anything to go by.
"Franky, I need your help. We need to bring him somewhere safe so I can patch him up", Law ordered the cyborg.
"I know the perfect place. Follow me!"
Ace was annoyed.
Luffy was fighting the leopard. Zoro's opponent used swords, but also seemed to be able to slice through things by using his legs. Sanji got the wolf as an opponent.
Hell, even Bepo's opponent seemed more interesting despite babbling all the time.
His own opponent was attacking him with hair! What kind of stupid power was that?
What made it even more annoying was that the guy sometimes thought that he did something honorless, he stopped fighting and tried to commit seppuku, which irritated him a lot.
Also, even with his logia powers, it seemed like he couldn't do much damage.
Did this guy use haki?
Otherwise, he wouldn't seem so unaffected. Maybe a mix out of Tekkai and Haki?
But it also didn't make much sense. If his opponent used Haki, it wouldn't be so easy to dodge the attacks.
"Maybe I should get a bit more serious, Yoiyoi."
"What?!"
That was the last bit that turned Ace's mood. He wasn't annoyed anymore. He was pissed.
Because something that he really disliked was an opponent who didn't seem to take him seriously.
"Chapapa, too slow", Fukuro said.
Bepo slowly got a little bit out of breath. Slowly it got a bit too hot for his taste. Especially while fighting an opponent who moved around using Geppo.
"Maybe you should get back to the zoo."
"Sorry."
His impulse to apologize even when he shouldn't seem to surprise Fukuro. Enough that he could hit him with a powered-up electro kick.
Thank god, he had Law teaching him some vital spots which would be very sensible for his electro attacks.
Now that his opponent was knocked out. What should he do?
Help one of the others with their fight?
That was his first thought until Bepo looked at the ship. Despite Bartolomeo's and Bon Clay's best effort, there were still lingering flames around the ship.
"No one will destroy Shippy that easily!"
And with that outburst from him, it was clear what he would do.
"And with that, he should be stable", Law said and stopped his ROOM.
"Bakaburg will survive?", Franky asked directly.
The surgeon nodded. "But his life is most likely still in danger. There are still chances that another CP 9 member will attack him."
It would be dangerous if some more members find them here. One member would be fine for him to handle. But more than one would mean a lot of trouble.
After all, Corazon had told him about Cipher Pol. Especially about departments 0 and 9.
"What if the reason they are most likely here is destroyed right before their eyes. Then they should leave Water 7 and Bakaburg alone, right?"
Law lifted his head from the unconscious mayor. He narrowed his eyes at the other person. Was Franky thinking about doing something stupid like the idiots are doing at the moment?
"I don't know for sure. I'm not really familiar with CP9. But I know that they have permission to kill if it is needed to finish their mission."
This seemed to get Franky thinking. "Shouldn't you be worried about your friends then? Two of them are fighting against the agents."
Law felt a small smirk creep on his lips.
"CP 9 might be strong. But I think Ain and Robin can fight them off themselves pretty well."
And well if there were other CP 9 Agents on the island. Well…
"Well, well, what have we here~"
Law turned to the door.
A slim man whose face reminded him of some kind of animal stood there.
"Looks like Nero, the sea weasel, will get the fame for this mission…"
"Don't think about it! Oi, doctor-guy, keep him safe. I will beat this one", Franky said and charged at the man with brute force so they both fell over the handrail and in the water.
Law facepalmed and groaned. Franky was thinking like the idiots he had to deal with daily.
To be honest, I was going to write on and maybe do some more fighting stuff. But then the first scene kinda felt off... So I cut it out and thought this was a good point to end the chapter.
For the fights, since writing fights isn't really my strong suit, I will possibly skip them, and maybe when I feel more comfortable and maybe have a lot more time I will write them as fillers (but no guarantee on that one).
So just for the overview. The matchups are/were Luffy VS Lucci(+Hattori), Ace VS Kumadori, Bepo VS Fukuro, Zoro VS Kaku, Sanji VS Jabra, Franky VS Nero, and Ain/Robin VS Blueno/Kalifa.
But I will deal with the aftermath of the whole ordeal in the next chapter and then we will see how it will go on ;)
So I hope that every one of you will have a great start in 2022