The Straw Hat Pirates tensed up at once when they saw CP0 slowly approaching.
White suits and masks—those who dared dress like that were usually not to be trifled with.
Moreover, nearly all CP0 agents were proficient in the Navy's Six Powers and Haki.
That was also the Navy's confidence when facing ability users.
Although abilities came in all varieties, as long as one possessed Armament Haki, one could harm ability users. At the most fundamental level, Haki was still the strongest and most versatile power.
Eating a Devil Fruit could indeed make someone stronger quickly, but if the user themselves was not strong enough, even the most powerful fruit could not unleash sufficient power.
Even with a Devil Fruit ability, if one's Observation Haki and Armament Haki were not powerful enough, there would still be weaknesses in battle.
Take Luffy, for example. If he had not been strong enough, the Nika Fruit would never have awakened and would forever have remained nothing more than an overlooked Gum-Gum Fruit.
The Gum-Gum Fruit had existed for centuries. Even the World Government no longer valued it that highly; otherwise, they would not have allowed it to remain lost outside and be stolen by Red-Hair.
Powerhouses like Cipher Pol 0 were extremely troublesome. Aside from Luffy, the other members of the Straw Hat crew were not that strong yet.
Luffy had already prepared to fight, but Cipher Pol 0 slowly walked before them, removed his hat, and bowed.
"Shalria invites you to attend a banquet with her."
After saying that, Cipher Pol 0 said nothing else. He merely stood where he was and silently watched the Straw Hat crew, waiting for their decision.
Luffy's fists were already coated in Armament Haki. He had never expected this lackey of the Celestial Dragons to say