"Um... Mr. Ulquiorra is joking, right? Someone as insignificant as me just thinks it's impossible..."
Spandam rubbed his hands together, his face full of obsequiousness.
Do you think I'm joking?
Cifer rested his chin on his fist, his expression completely unwavering, which froze Spandam's fake smile.
"This... this isn't right! Who's trying to frame me today?"
However, he would not give in so easily and insisted that he did not have it.
"It doesn't matter if you don't say anything, since I can sense their presence."
Before arriving, Cifer had completely concealed his Spiritual Pressure, so the Hollow within the Devil Fruit was completely unaware of his arrival.
But he could clearly sense their presence. He exchanged some polite words with Spandam, but since the other party was not tactful, there was no need to continue being polite.
Under the latter's horrified gaze, Cifer opened the drawer of his desk, and inside a semi-transparent box, two fruits with different patterns lay quietly.
"Wait a minute! These two Devil Fruit do not belong to me personally; they belong to CP9 and the World Government!"
"Before you take it, Shichibukai, please reconsider your cooperative relationship with the World Government!"
Spandam could no longer remain calm, completely unprepared for the other party to simply open the drawer and search for it.
His words had already implied that the item belonged to the World Government, hoping to make the other party have some reservations.
Although the items originally belonged to the government, once they were in his hands, they became his property. How could he just give them away so casually?
Using government resources to win over people's hearts is what a qualified leader should do!
"As you know, the Shichibukai have the legal right to plunder, and this is my legal plunder."
He kept tossing the two fruits into the air, Cifer stood up and said something that filled Spandam with despair.
"No!"
"If anyone finds out that two of my Devil Fruit were stolen for no reason, I'll definitely get a scolding!"
Spandam then spread his arms and blocked his way.
Since the government can so easily hand it over to me, it's unlikely to be anything particularly powerful.
Furthermore, given the man's current popularity, it's unlikely the government would break ties with him over two insignificant achievements.
Two hundred million Belly is nothing to the upper echelons; they are more concerned with the stability this person is bringing to the sea.
But!
If the higher-ups found out that I had just handed over two fruits so easily, how could I possibly maintain my position?
It's impossible to win by fighting. Rob Lucci isn't here, and even if the entire CP9 team came together, they couldn't win.
That's all I can do to pretend and try to keep them here.
"If you're willing to bravely sacrifice yourself to protect these two fruits of the World Government, I think that's fine too."
"How... how could that be? I was just joking. As an ally of the World Government, the Shichibukai have nothing to do with two Devil Fruits. I'll give them to you!"
Seeing that Cifer seemed to be getting impatient, Spandam quickly stepped aside, his attitude completely different from before.
"Really? Then I'll gladly accept it."
Just as he was about to leave after carelessly destroying the wall, Cifer suddenly stopped and turned his gaze to Spandam, startling him.
"Excuse me... is there anything else I can help you with?"
He rubbed his hands together, and his fawning expression returned.
"It's nothing, I just think your face is disgusting, and I'm wondering if I should kill you."
"Huh?! Why?"
Spandam retreated repeatedly, hiding behind Jabura, his whole body trembling.
"Don't worry, since you've been relatively cooperative and still have some use, I'll let you off this time."
Cifer turned and soared into the air, leaving the crowd bewildered in the wind.
"Is that Geppo?!"
The Sogeking surprised. Apart from Logia Devil Fruit and Geppo, he had never heard of any other way to levitate.
"What a joke! He's a pirate, how could he possibly know the Six Powers... Besides, he's flying!"
Jabura saw things more clearly. To use Geppo, one needs to constantly tap their feet lightly in the air to maintain it, which the opponent clearly did not do.
"Damn it~ My Devil Fruit ~"
"Ulquiorra, I'm going to tell my dad about you!"
Heartbroken, Spandam collapsed to the ground, his voice filled with resentment.
The Devil Fruit he finally managed to get his hands on was stolen before it could be of any use, and he was even humiliated in front of his subordinates.
More importantly, he was too embarrassed to directly report this matter to his superiors.
He was determined to get his father to come up with a way to report that arrogant guy to the World Government, and ideally, strip him of his Shichibukai status!
"It looks awful, sir, it hurts... sniffle sniffle"
Despite the pain in his lower back Chopper didn't forget to unchain and mock him.
"It's all because of you! If you were stronger and braver, I wouldn't have suffered such humiliation today!"
He turned around and angrily berated the men. Although he hadn't intended to get into a conflict with that man, these guys, as his subordinates, should at least have stood up for him!
Otherwise, what's the point of calling them over? To watch me make a fool of myself?
"We're just members of CP9, not your lackeys, Spandam!"
Since the person had already left, there was no need for them to stay any longer. Jabura and the Sogeking together, helping the Chopper walk outside.
"One by one... If it weren't for you guys helping me advance further, you'd really be annoying..."
In the office where only Spandam remained, his complaints could be heard.
"Cifer, where did this Devil Fruit from?"
Back on the ship, the three weaklings immediately surrounded it. Although they had all eaten this before, it did not diminish its preciousness and rarity.
"I just chatted with the commander of the Enies Lobby for a bit, and we hit it off, so he gave it to me."
The Devil Fruit ordinary people would love to hold dear was casually tossed onto the deck by Cifer.
"But something that made you come all this way to ask for it must be something special, right? Do you want some?"
Robin picked one up and examined it carefully in his hand.
Cifer was the only non-Devil Fruit user on the ship, and Robin was unaware of his previous experiment, so this was the only possible explanation.
"I have no intention of eating the fruit; I just need it for something later."
Cifer lay back on the beach chair, and his suppressed Spiritual Pressure returned to normal in an instant.
"Just now... the fruit seemed to tremble?"
Robin was completely bewildered, wondering if she was mistaken; she had never heard of a Devil Fruit moving on its own.
"It seems like there's nothing this time... Is it not enough...?"
During Cifer's investigation, the two small objects shattered in that instant.