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[email protected]/Heroicverse
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That terrifying Conqueror's Haki felt like the sky itself was collapsing, pressing down on the hearts of the CP0 agents.
Contained within this fearsome pressure seemed to be an even more indescribable aura, as if hailing from the heavens, piercing the universe itself. It made resistance seem impossible.
The three agents—Enma, Tsukuyomi, and Leopard King—were drenched in cold sweat.
Such terrifying Conqueror's Haki was perhaps beyond even an Emperor like Red-Haired Shanks!
If the Conqueror's Haki of others was the "Aura of a King," then Auguro's was the "Aura of an Emperor!"
Lucci, standing nearby, felt an unparalleled satisfaction.
That's right! The World Government?
They were nothing but a group of useless parasites occupying high positions!
"Still not leaving?"
Auguro's eyes widened, and his right hand grasped the hilt of his Zanpakutō (Soul-Slayer Sword).
Enma gritted his teeth hard and roared, "Retreat!"
It wasn't that they didn't want to fight to the death; it was that their opponent was simply too powerful!
The three figures flashed, disappearing into a nearby alley. They even abandoned the mission to eliminate CP9.
Watching the three flee in disarray, Auguro retracted his Conqueror's Haki and turned his attention back to Iceberg.
"So, President Iceberg, what is your answer?"
Iceberg was silent for a moment, then asked seriously, "Do you also want Pluton?"
He couldn't help it; something the World Government coveted so relentlessly naturally made his first thought that Auguro also had his eyes on it.
Auguro immediately scoffed when he heard that.
"It's just a warship; I truly don't rate it highly."
Setting aside whether the claim that Pluton can destroy a country with one shot is true, even if it is, Soi Fon's Bankai (Final Release) has the destructive power of a nuclear explosion. Isn't that far more practical than a single battleship?
What's more, once he summoned the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, his Ryūjin Jakka (Flowing Blade's Fire) would have the power of a solar flare descending. What comparison could your shoddy Pluton possibly offer?
"Besides, have you forgotten that I already knew about the Pluton blueprints? If I wanted it, do you think that guy Franky could stop me?"
Hearing Auguro's words, Iceberg was reminded that it was Auguro who first alerted him that someone was targeting the Pluton blueprints.
"Then what do you want from me?" Iceberg asked. He didn't believe Auguro would help him for no reason.
"Simple!" Auguro shrugged.
"Water Seven and the Galley-La Company will henceforth belong to my jurisdiction! I will help Galley-La become the center of the global shipbuilding industry!"
"Water Seven will also become the center of the world economy!"
Hiss!
Iceberg drew a sharp breath.
Neither of those goals was easy to achieve, yet Auguro intended to accomplish both!
And this was coming from someone who had just landed on the World Government's blacklist!
Seeing Iceberg hesitate, Auguro didn't get angry, stating calmly:
"Of course, you can refuse! I won't force anyone."
"But what the World Government does to you and Franky in the future will no longer concern me."
To gain protection, he must offer allegiance in return. Mooching off others was not a good habit!
Giving Iceberg time to think, Auguro slowly walked toward the remaining CP9 agents.
Seeing Auguro approach, Jabra and Fukurou immediately adopted fighting stances. Fortunately, Lucci stopped them just in time.
Auguro smiled faintly at their reaction.
"Lucci, have you decided on a path of retreat yet?"
If Lucci still didn't understand his intentions now, it would only mean he wasn't worth recruiting!
Lucci was silent for a moment, then met Auguro's gaze without fear.
"How do I know that you won't discard me as a pawn, just like they did?"
Having been betrayed twice in quick succession, Lucci had completely lost his sense of security.
Auguro chuckled at the question.
"I truly didn't expect you to ask something like that!"
"What do you mean?" Lucci frowned.
Auguro spoke casually, "Do you remember the five hundred kingdom soldiers you killed when you were thirteen? You once said that because they were worthless, killing them didn't matter!"
"By the same logic, weren't you discarded precisely because you no longer held sufficient value?"
Lucci was stunned. The boomerang he threw years ago had just struck him right between the eyes!
If you can easily discard others, others can naturally discard you!
Fortunately, Auguro didn't twist the knife further, instead speaking with utmost composure:
"Firstly, I don't need low-level tactics like using pawns."
"Secondly, as long as you maintain your value, you naturally won't have to worry about being abandoned!"
"Or perhaps, the great Rob Lucci has become so insecure that he believes he is inferior to everyone else?"
"If that's the case, you should surrender to the World Government as soon as possible! I don't accept dead weight here!"
"Who are you calling dead weight!"
Lucci's inner fire was finally ignited.
Auguro smirked slightly.
"Then prove it to the World Government and that useless Spandam!"
"Make them realize that casting aside you, the strongest CP9 agent in 800 years, was the biggest mistake they ever made!"
"I can tell you this: what we are building is not some reckless pirate crew, but a true Ideal Nation! A nation that will make the World Government tremble!"
"It is precisely because of this that my ship has never flown a pirate flag!"
Lucci's expression shifted from astonishment to firm resolve.
He looked at Auguro and said, "Fine! I'll join you!"
Having been abandoned by the World Government, the only places left for him were the Pirates or the Revolutionary Army.
Compared to the Pirates, who committed endless evils, and the Revolutionary Army, who operated in secret, Auguro clearly had more grander ambition and was more appealing to him!
What better way to prove his value than by helping to establish a new nation that would overturn the World Government?
"Excellent!" Auguro nodded in satisfaction.
"From today, all of you will report to Soi Fon. You will continue to engage in intelligence gathering and assassination work."
The rest of CP9 offered no objections. If even the strongest Lucci had defected, they would only die faster if they refused!
At this moment, Auguro suddenly pulled out a Devil Fruit. It was the one he had acquired in the East Blue!
"This is the Zoan-type, Neko Neko no Mi (Cat-Cat Fruit), Ancient Zoan-type: Pseudo-Lion Form! It is the same caliber as the CP0 agent's fruit we just saw!"
"Whichever of you earns enough merit will be awarded this fruit!"
Hearing this, Kaku, Kumadori, Fukurou, and even Kalifa, who had not yet consumed a Devil Fruit, had their eyes light up. Today, they had clearly witnessed the disparity in power between Devil Fruits!
If they could obtain this fruit, their strength would instantly soar!
A hint of desire also flashed in Lucci's eyes. If he hadn't already eaten a Devil Fruit, he would definitely fight for this one!
He felt increasingly certain that the World Government never truly cared about him; otherwise, why would they have given him the most common Zoan fruit?
After having Hanatarō Yamada tend to the injuries of Lucci and the others, Auguro returned to Iceberg, asking calmly:
"Well, President Iceberg, have you made your decision?"