2 chapters will be uploaded on daily basis i.e. 14 Chapters will be uploaded every week apart from the bonus chapters.
1 Bonus Chapter will be uploaded for every 50 Power Stones or 1000 Collections.
All interested readers can read advanced chapters on: Free Members of Patreon can read 10 Chapters ahead of Webnovel for FREE.
[email protected]/Heroicverse
×××××××××××××××
Auguro led his group straight to Bruno's Bar, the known contact point for Rob Lucci's team. Unfortunately, the bar door was tightly locked, and the "Closed for Business" sign hung prominently.
"Are they hiding? Or is this a trap?"
Auguro's eyes narrowed as he silently analyzed the possibilities. Given the World Government's usual methods, it was possible they were using Robin to set a trap for him.
"Forget it. Even if it's a trap, it doesn't matter. Against absolute power, all schemes are just the self-amusement of clowns!"
With power as his foundation, Auguro feared no one!
Dock One
Auguro sought out Barth to ask about Rob Lucci's whereabouts.
"That guy left early today!"
Hearing this, Auguro knew immediately that Lucci must have seen Robin and subsequently abducted her!
Barth, unaware of the gravity of the situation, continued on his own.
"If you have urgent business, you can go to his house and look for him."
They arrived at the address Barth provided as night began to fall. Auguro swept the area with his Observation Haki (Kenbunshoku Haki) and confirmed that Lucci was currently at home!
Knock, knock, knock!
Auguro tapped on the door.
Lucci peered out cautiously and his heart immediately skipped a beat.
Sith Auguro!
How did he find this place?
Lucci's first reaction was that he had been exposed. But he wasn't sure, as the two had never even met face-to-face.
"Rob Lucci, I know you're inside. Open the door!"
While Lucci was still hesitating, Auguro's icy voice cut through the door.
Well!
Now there was no doubt—he had indeed been exposed!
After a brief moment of hesitation, Lucci chose to open the door. He was currently surrounded. Starting a fight immediately would be unwise; he needed to look for an opportunity! As a member of CP9, he needed brains in addition to brawn!
"Can I help you, gentlemen?" Lucci feigned a look of confusion.
Auguro didn't waste time with pleasantries, getting straight to the point.
"Where is Nico Robin? Hand her over!"
Lucci's eyes hardened, but he maintained his cover.
"I'm sorry! I don't know the person you're referring to!"
"If you're looking for someone, you might want to try Mayor Iceburg! He would be happy to help you."
Good grief. You won't shed a tear until you see the coffin, will you?
Auguro glanced at Soi Fon.
The next second, Lucci felt a blur before his eyes, followed by a fierce grip on his neck. He was lifted completely off the ground.
Bang!
Lucci was violently slammed against his own wall. Soi Fon held him suspended by his neck with one hand, locking him down completely.
Such terrifying power!
Lucci, being called the strongest CP9 agent in 800 years, inevitably possessed a core of arrogance. But now, Soi Fon had utterly shattered his pride with just a casual move! Forget resisting, he hadn't even clearly seen how she moved!
"Rob Lucci, CP9 member, superior is Spandam, mission is to infiltrate Water Seven to search for the location of the Pluton blueprints. Should I continue to elaborate?"
Auguro strolled leisurely into Lucci's house, looking at the captured man with cold indifference.
Lucci was completely dumbfounded.
Knowing his identity, his superior, and even his mission! These were all top secrets of the World Government! Isn't he just a pirate? How does he know so many state secrets!
Auguro sat down on a chair, speaking from a position of authority.
"So, Rob Lucci, don't try any tricks with me. Tell me where Nico Robin is!"
"Hmph!"
Lucci snorted, and fur began to sprout on his face. He activated his Devil Fruit ability!
Zoan-type, Cat-Cat Fruit, Leopard Model!
"Rankyaku (Storm Leg)!"
Lucci lifted his foot and kicked out a blade of air. As Rob Lucci, who firmly believed in Dark Justice, he was convinced that there were only CP9 members who died in battle, never ones who surrendered!
"Seeking death!"
A flash of fury crossed Soi Fon's eyes. She casually waved her left hand, effortlessly dissipating the air blade, then grabbed Lucci with her right hand and smashed him violently into the floor.
CRASH!
The hardened granite floor instantly shattered. The tremendous sound even alerted many of the surrounding residents.
Cough!
Lucci coughed up a large mouthful of blood. His transformation into his animal form had been brutally interrupted by pure force. He now had at least six or seven broken ribs, and his internal organs were damaged to varying degrees.
Clap, clap!
Auguro applauded.
"Truly loyal! But to whom is your loyalty given? Spandam? Do you think he cares if you live or die?"
"Pah! I serve the World Government! Spandam is nothing!"
Give my loyalty to Spandam? Don't insult me that badly!
"Haha... The World Government?"
Auguro laughed mockingly, as if he had heard the world's greatest joke.
"You don't seriously think the World Government sees you as one of their own, do you?"
"You don't need to try and sow discord between me and the World Government!"
Lucci looked at Auguro with contempt. Psychological warfare was something CP9 had mastered years ago!
The smile on Auguro's face did not diminish. "Sow discord? Haha! I don't need to! Just think about it yourself: You are hailed as the strongest CP9 agent in 800 years. Why were you assigned to work under a simpleton like Spandam?"
"Furthermore, you've been working under him for seven years without achieving any results, yet the World Government hasn't even bothered to inquire. Is this the treatment the strongest operative in 800 years should receive?"
"With the talent you showed back then, if they didn't bring you back to train directly in CP0, they should have at least found a mentor with both military and academic prowess to guide you. Does Spandam qualify?"
Lucci fell silent. Many things didn't hold up under scrutiny. But Lucci had subconsciously chosen to ignore all of it, because once he thought deeply, his faith, his entire existence, would completely collapse!
However, Auguro was not finished with him. He lightly tapped the desk with his finger, adopting a reflective posture.
"Let me think, when did the World Government give up on you?"
"Ah! It must have been the moment you ate the Devil Fruit!"
Lucci's eyes instantly widened.
"Impossible!" he roared instinctively.
"The Devil Fruit was a gift from the World Government, meant to increase my strength!"
Auguro struck him without mercy.
"Increase your strength? With the most common Zoan-type Devil Fruit? The value of the 'strongest agent in 800 years' must be quite low, wouldn't you agree?"
"Even if they couldn't find a Logia or a Mythical Zoan, how hard could it be to find an Ancient Zoan or a somewhat unique Paramecia? The World Government has 800 years of accumulated resources! They couldn't even produce a decent Devil Fruit?"
"Let's not even mention the Navy's top fighters. Among their mid-generation, they have Smoker with the Logia-type Smoke-Smoke Fruit and Hina with the Paramecia-type Cage-Cage Fruit. Who among them isn't stronger than you?"
"Has the World Government's foundation fallen so far? They couldn't even spend a few extra years to find you a better Devil Fruit?"
"Ultimately, it's because in the eyes of the World Government, you're nothing more than a pawn that can be discarded at any time, which is why you weren't worth investing too many resources in!"