In the first half of the Grand Line, Enies Lobby.
The surrounding seas were shrouded in dark clouds. Though the downpour had gradually subsided, the ocean remained anything but calm.
On the vast sea wrapped in darkness, only the sky above Enies Lobby looked as if a gigantic hole had been blasted through it.
Sunlight shone down on the island without obstruction. It was the middle of the night across the entire sea, yet Enies Lobby alone was brightly lit.
Woo—woo—woo!
A train slowly decelerated as it pulled into the station in front of Enies Lobby's main gate. Rows of Navy soldiers and black-clad agents stood at attention, clearly having waited there for quite some time.
"Th-this... Sea Train... what..."
"I don't know. Maybe it was attacked?"
"Shh—keep your voice down. Someone important is about to arrive."
When everyone saw the Sea Train, which had only two cars behind its engine, they exchanged puzzled whispers.
"Choo—!"
Only after the Smoke Tom came to a complete stop did the carriage doors open, and several dark figures slowly emerge.
"It's been a long time."
Kalifa raised a hand to tuck a lock of blond hair behind her ear and said wistfully, "It's been five years since I left, but nothing here has changed. Too bad it'll be destroyed soon."
"Let's hurry." Lucci kept his hands in his pockets.
Ignoring the agents who came forward to greet them, he headed straight into the island. "The Navy's ten warships have assembled and set out from Marineford. They'll arrive here in about thirty minutes."
"What's that idiot of a chief up to now?" Kaku followed them, his expression calm.
Kaku was clearly used to Spandam's antics by now. "Let's just hope the warships don't blow this island to pieces before the Straw Hat Crew even