Demons, they are demons!

At the main gate of Judicial Island, nearly a hundred people stood guard.

"Hey, what's that thing in the distance?!" a marine pointed in confusion.

"What?"

"You can't see that thing over there?"

"Pitch black, how am I supposed to see it? You're probably seeing things." His companion rolled his eyes. "Enough chatter. Spandam ordered us to watch the main gate—don't slack off."

This time, they were escorting Nico Robin, the Devil Child who could destroy the world. He didn't think anyone would dare come here to save her, but... they had to at least go through the motions.

Otherwise, how could they catch the senior officer's eye and get a promotion with a raise?

"I think you're just stressed out—"

Before the marine could finish, a dark blur shot past, grabbing his attention.

"No, wait—what just flew by?"

"Forget that, you should look ahead!" His companion pointed into the distance, stunned. "What the hell is that?!"

In their view, a colossal water dragon was racing across the sea, charging straight for the main gate.

"So you weren't seeing things after all?!"

"Damn, is that a Sea King?!"

"No, it looks like a dragon made of seawater!"

"Look—there's someone standing on its head!!"

"It's an intruder—take him down!"

Panicked, the marines grabbed their weapons and opened fire.

But their flintlock rifles couldn't even scratch the water dragon, let alone splash it.

"We're done for..." a marine muttered in despair.

"BOOM!!"

The massive water dragon slammed into the ground, engulfing the marines below in its impact zone.

One strike nearly annihilated them all!

Only those on high ground survived—and even then, just a handful.

"As expected, this kind of jutsu is perfect for trash fish." Xi Yan said as he landed on the ground.

Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique—perfect for clearing out weaklings.

One hit, and the field was cleared.

If he hadn't needed a few survivors to open the gate, he'd have killed them all.

"Who are you?!"

"Isn't it obvious?" Xi Yan flashed a grin. "I'm an intruder."

His blunt answer left the marines speechless.

"Spandam, we have an intruder!"

"Hmm?"

Spotting a marine holding a Den Den Mushi, Xi Yan shot him a look. Their eyes met.

The next moment, the marine's eyes went blank, his expression hollow.

"An intruder?" Spandam's voice crackled from the other end, incredulous. "Someone actually dares to invade Judicial Island?"

"You sure?"

"Sorry, Spandam, the intruder's already been dealt with."

"Already dealt with, huh." Spandam nodded, then made a face. "If he's dead, don't bother reporting it!"

He didn't care who the fool was who dared to storm Judicial Island. Since he was dead, there was nothing more to say.

He wasn't about to waste time on a corpse.

After ending the call, Spandam smirked. "Hehe, Lucci and the others will be here soon. Then I'll be the real hero!"

Capturing Nico Robin and Franky—two evils capable of shaking the world—made him a hero for all humanity!

He wondered how the Five Elders would reward him.

"The senior officer's daydreaming again, Chababa~"

"Hey, Onimaru Owl, that's enough!" Spandam snapped.

What did he mean by daydreaming?

He wasn't wrong, was he? He'd taken down devils that could shake the world—didn't that make him a hero?!

"Enough talk!" Spandam glanced at the three people sitting nearby. "This time, the assassination list only had three names. So why did twenty-three show up?"

"Explain yourselves!"

"It's not our fault." Jabra said helplessly. "The mission intel got leaked. We were ambushed as soon as we went in, so we had no choice but to kill them all."

"Bullshit, how could the mission intel leak!"

"Ha, I let it slip, Chababa~" Onimaru Owl said cheerfully. "Blurted it out by accident on the street."

Jabra: ???

"You bastard, whose side are you on?!" Jabra roared. "And is that zipper on your mouth just for show?!"

"Yo Yo Yi, Lord Commander, allow me to commit seppuku." Kalifa pulled out a long blade. "This time, someone has to take responsibility."

"I will atone with my death!"

"Iron Body!"

"Clang~"

"Can't... can't die..."

"Bastard, just go die already!" Jabra bellowed.

Spandam watched his subordinates with a pained expression. What kind of lunatics were these?

"Even though we've stalled for now, Luffy charging in alone is bound to stir up quite a racket." Xi Yan said.

Back when they were still discussing tactics, Luffy had already snuck up to the roof of the carriage.

By the time Xi Yan noticed, Luffy had launched himself forward like a spring.

It left Xi Yan a bit helpless, but it was fine—Luffy causing a bigger commotion inside would ease the pressure on Zoro and the others.

"You lot, go open the Great Gate for me." Xi Yan said flatly.

"Why should we listen... Yes, sir."

"???"

Watching the partners whose tone didn't match their earlier words, the surviving Marines were dumbfounded.

Even the one who had just called Spandam was stunned—what the hell was going on?

Seeing the partners silently move to open the gate, the sole surviving Marine looked at Xi Yan and his pupils shrank.

He saw a pair of crimson eyes!

"You... you're a demon..."

"Too much chatter."

The Three-Tomoe Sharingan slowly rotated. The Marine's movements froze, then the light faded from his eyes.

"How long has Nico Robin been inside?" Xi Yan asked.

"Half an hour ago."

"Half an hour, huh..."

Xi Yan frowned. That time was neither long nor short.

If not for that Henggang, they probably would have caught up by now.

Still, it was fine. Half an hour wasn't enough for them to pass judgment on Nico Robin—there was still time.

"Tell me, where are they taking Nico Robin?"

"I don't know." The Marine soldier said. "I'm just an ordinary Taxi Soldier, not qualified to know such things."

"My only duty is to guard the Main Gate."

"But you could check the Judgement Hall on the Inner Island. Maybe Nico Robin's there."

Usually, prisoners brought here were sent there, judged, then executed or transferred.

Whether Nico Robin would go through that process, he didn't know.

"Looks like I'll need to catch someone with a rank to get more info."

Shaking his head, Xi Yan knocked the man unconscious, then vanished in an instant with a body flicker.

When he reappeared, he was already behind the Great Gate, and behind him, the Main Gate was slowly opening!