Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique

"Why... why did the Buster Call get activated..." Spandam knelt on the ground, pounding his fist against the floor again and again, unable to figure out why he had pressed it.

This was Judicial Island. He knew all too well what activating a Buster Call here meant.

Even with his father's achievements backing him, he might still end up executed by the enraged Five Elders.

"This idiot..." Rob Lucci said with a grim expression.

Why did their commanding officer have to be this fool? Activating a Buster Call on Judicial Island—how could he even think of it?

The eight-hundred-year-old Judicial Island, blown to pieces by their own Buster Call—that was a direct slap in the face to the World Government!

"Did you do something?!" Kalifa stared hard at Xi Yan.

That expression on his face just now had been far too eerie—she had seen it clearly!

Spandam, clutching at a lifeline, scrambled up from the ground, hair disheveled, glaring at Xi Yan like a demon: "Was it your doing?!"

If this hadn't been his own intention, the punishment he'd face would be much lighter—at least he wouldn't be killed... probably.

"You pressed the button yourself. What does that have to do with me?" Xi Yan sneered.

"Impossible—how could I have pressed it?!"

"But that's the fact~"

Spandam: ...

Yes, that was the fact. The Golden Den Den Mushi's button had indeed been pressed by his own hand, and the Buster Call about to destroy Judicial Island was his doing.

"Hehe, I see now." Sanji seemed to catch on and let out a laugh.

"What? What?" Usopp looked at Sanji in confusion.

"Just watch."

Sanji didn't bother explaining—after all, the enemy was right in front of them, and explaining would just tip them off.

"Interesting."

Zoro's lips curled up too. He had seen through it just like Sanji.

Back when they opened the Great Gate of Judicial Island, Xi Yan had already shown his ability—an Illusion that could control people without them even noticing!!

That bastard had just been controlled by Xi Yan into activating the Buster Call... Fine by him!

Xi Yan had said earlier that he'd handle the Buster Call problem, so let him handle it!

A powerful Ninja who could manipulate seawater, capable of taking down ten Navy warships single-handedly—it wasn't impossible.

"Looks like they know something." Kaku forced himself to stay calm.

He had read the expressions of the Straw Hat Pirates. Even though they hadn't explained, this was definitely tied to them.

No matter how stupid Spandam was, he wouldn't use a Buster Call to destroy his own turf—something was clearly off!

"Bastard, since you won't talk, then let CP9 and the Buster Call crush you." Spandam took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

Then, he glanced at CP9 and said, "Nico Robin cannot be lost—take them down!!"

With only three people inside here, if all of CP9 attacked together, capturing this guy shouldn't be a problem.

"You couldn't handle me just now, and you think you can take me now?" Xi Yan tilted his head slightly.

"That was then, this is now." Jabra grinned savagely. "Dragging along two dead weights, you think you can get away clean?!"

He admitted the guy was fast—so fast he sometimes couldn't react—which meant hitting him wasn't easy.

But... This time, with Nico Robin and Franky weighing him down, his speed advantage might not shine through!

"Chababa, offense and defense have changed~"

"Hmph, as long as Nico Robin is still in my hands, there's no problem."

Having calmed down, Spandam realized this: destroying Judicial Island with a Buster Call was a disaster, but if he could bring back Nico Robin, it meant reviving the Ancient Weapons!

Ancient Weapons... weapons so terrifying they could destroy an island in a single blow!!

With that achievement, his merits might offset his faults—no problem!

No... maybe he'd even get a reward!

At that thought, Spandam grew excited.

"Robin won't return to your hands." Xi Yan clapped his hands together. "Not now, not ever!"

While speaking, Water Splash began to form at Xi Yan's feet, and the ground trembled slightly.

"Take him down!"

"Shave!"

CP9 attacked Xi Yan all at once, as if determined to kill him.

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"

"Boom!!"

A Giant Water Dragon materialized out of thin air, slamming CP9 back and forcefully halting their assault.

"What the hell?!"

Jabra steadied himself, his face twisting in disbelief. What was he seeing?

A colossal water dragon had materialized out of thin air on the balcony, swallowing the three of them in an instant.

And not only that—the water dragon actually took flight, soaring toward the distant Judgement Hall?!

"Water Release... could this bastard be a ninja?!" Spandam, knocked into the corridor by the water's surge, froze for a moment before bellowing, "Don't let him escape! Capture that ninja!!"

If this guy really was a ninja, he might be from Wano Country!!!

That meant they could pry information about Wano from him—another massive merit to claim!

Hearing Spandam's roar, all CP9 members steadied themselves and snapped back to focus.

"A ninja?"

Weren't those things only supposed to exist in stories? Now a real one had shown up—was he a Devil Fruit User?

"Damn, he's about to reach the Judgement Hall!" Rob Lucci said.

"Rankyaku!"

CP9 struck together, a barrage of Rankyaku slicing toward the water dragon, blasting its rear half into a spray of water!

"Boom!!"

"Boom!!"

"Boom!!"

The water dragon, nearly at the Judgement Hall, seemed to lose its momentum, bursting apart into a shower of water and plummeting downward.

"Hmph, trying to escape right in front of us—what a delusion." Jabra snorted coldly.

"But... didn't the commander order us to take them alive, Chababa?"

Jabra: ...

Damn, he'd acted without thinking. If they'd killed Nico Robin and that ninja, wouldn't they face punishment?

"Calm down." Rob Lucci's face was grave. "They're fine."

"What makes you say that?"

"Can't you hear Franky's voice already coming from across the way?" Kaku pointed into the distance.

"Bastard, I thought I was about to die!" Franky yelped.

As the water spray dissipated, the full view of the Judgement Hall's high ground emerged.

There stood Xi Yan, his left arm wrapped around Nico Robin's waist, his right hand gripping Franky by the leg, a smile on his face as he stood on the platform beside the Straw Hat Pirates, lined up with the Partners!

"Xi Yan!!"

"Awesome, you got Robin back!"

The entire Straw Hat Pirates stared in delight at Xi Yan, clearly stunned that he'd snatched Nico Robin back so easily!

"Played... played for fools!!"

"Damn ninja!!"