Chapter 127: Tower of Justice – Key Hunt & One-on-One Battles Begin
"Little ones—battle starts now!" Luffy roared, leaping first from the courthouse rooftop. His rubber arms stretched wildly in midair as he hurtled downward like a human cannonball toward the plaza in front of the Tower of Justice.
Sol jumped almost simultaneously, faint air currents swirling around him with no intention of slowing down. He and Luffy landed on opposite sides like twin meteors, kicking up clouds of dust and smoke.
Nami spread her thunderbird wings, gently clutching Chopper in her talons as she glided down gracefully. Zoro and Sanji used "Moon Step" just before hitting the ground—explosive air blasts under their feet—landing lightly and steadily.
Only Usopp came panting down the stairs, clutching his knees and gasping: "Huff… huff… Moon Step… I'm still not good at it… Didn't any of you guys think to give me a ride?!"
The group quickly broke through the scattered outer resistance and stormed into the Tower of Justice. The lobby was eerily spacious, with only one figure waiting there—Fukurou, the zipper-mouthed agent.
"Chapapa~" Fukurou let out his weird laugh. "Too bad—you're too late. Nico Robin and Princess Vivi have already been taken away by Director Spandam."
He pulled an old-fashioned key from his pocket and twirled it on his fingertip: "Look carefully—this is the key to their Sea Prism Stone cuffs. Even if you find them, without this key you'll never open those rock-solid restraints~"
"Then hand it over right now!" Luffy shouted angrily the moment he heard. His rubber arm stretched instantly, firing a punch straight at Fukurou!
Bang! The floor cratered, stones flying. But Fukurou had already used "Moon Step" to leap into the air, easily dodging the blow.
"Don't be so impatient, Straw Hat kid." Fukurou moved nimbly in midair. "This key might even be a fake, you know? There are seven CP9 members in this tower—each of us carries a key. If you want them, come find us~" As he spoke, he hopped upward to the higher floors using Moon Step.
"So that means we have to defeat all of you, collect every key, and try them one by one?" Zoro asked calmly, gripping his swords tightly.
"What a boring way to stall for time," Sanji said, lighting a cigarette with a sharp glare. "You're just buying time to get Robin-chan and Vivi-chan out through the Gate of Justice, aren't you!"
"In that case," Sol said, scanning his companions, "leave these guys to you. I'm going after Spandam to bring Vivi and Robin back. When I return, have all the keys ready."
"Got it! Leave it to us, Sol!" Luffy thumped his chest confidently.
"Perfect—seven CP9 members, and on our side…" Sanji glanced around at the group—Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Chopper, Usopp, himself, and Franky. "Also seven! Split up and move! Remember—even if it kills you, complete the mission!" he said gravely.
The group immediately sprang into action, each choosing a direction and shooting off like arrows toward different passages in the Tower of Justice.
Franky did not join the key hunt. The moment he entered the tower he went straight for his priority—finding the food storage.
After returning from the black market, he hadn't had time to refill his cola reserves. After multiple battles—especially the desperate "Wind Cannon" earlier—he had completely used up his last reserves. Right now, he had less than one bottle left inside him.
"If I don't refill all three bottles, there's no way I can beat those CP9 monsters…" He looked around anxiously. "Ah! There it is!" Ahead seemed to be the kitchen; his spirits lifted.
But at that moment—BOOM!
The ceiling suddenly shattered. A figure crashed heavily down in front of him, blocking the way—it was Fukurou, who had returned!
"Chapapa Want the key? Get past me first"
"Damn it!" Franky couldn't help cursing, his face full of frustration. "Of all times to run into an enemy…" He looked at the kitchen so close, then at Fukurou standing in battle pose—the irritation plain on his face.
"This room's empty… this one too…" Usopp (in Sniper King form) cautiously pushed open one heavy wooden door after another, heart pounding. Chopper followed close behind, sniffing the air constantly with his little nose.
"Sniper King, over here!" Chopper suddenly stopped, carefully analyzing the scents. "I think I smell an enemy—very strong!"
The two immediately changed direction, navigating the Tower of Justice like a maze. Soon they stopped outside a strangely decorated room.
Chopper carefully cracked the door open: "I see the enemy, Sniper King! Huh? Where'd he go?" Chopper looked back—Sniper King was already gone.
Inside the room, a tall figure with an exaggerated hairstyle stood with his back turned, seemingly chanting something. Hearing the noise, he slowly turned around—it was Kumadori of CP9.
"Yoyoi How rare!" Kumadori's eyes widened dramatically upon seeing Chopper. "A talking blue-nosed tanuki! What a curious creature"
"I'm a reindeer! Not a tanuki! Listen carefully, you jerk!" Chopper instantly flared up, jumping and yelling, completely forgetting his fear.
Just as Chopper pushed the door open wider, Usopp—who was following right behind—suddenly felt the floor disappear beneath him!
"Eh?! Where is this?!"
An air door that had silently opened caught him completely off guard. He screamed as he fell through! He felt himself pass through a strange spatial tunnel—then crashed heavily into an extremely wide, empty room.
"Ugh…" Usopp saw stars as he climbed up. Before he could even see his surroundings clearly, a cold voice came from ahead:
"Who are you? There's no record of you in the intel." Blueno stood before him like an iron tower, staring expressionlessly. "Are you here specifically to help the Straw Hats?" Blueno's gaze was sharp as a blade—he clearly remembered this masked figure as the one who shot through the World Government flag with a single projectile.
Usopp jolted in fright, heart nearly leaping out of his throat. But the "Sniper King" persona couldn't collapse! He forced himself to stand, steeling his nerves, and shouted in the most heroic (though actually trembling) voice he could muster:
"M-Me? Listen up! I am Sniper King, hailing from Sniper Island! You—hand over the key obediently and die, CP9!"
He had already talked big—but that didn't stop his face under the mask from going deathly pale, legs shaking uncontrollably.
(Inner monologue: I'm gonna die I'm gonna die! Why am I the only one who fell here?! Chopper, where are youuuuu!)
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