Captured

"Robin hadn't come back?" When Li Ziming returned to the Going Merry, Robin was gone, just as he had expected. "Sorry, I'm going to look for her."

"Will you be all right?" Zoro asked, worried. He had a bad feeling about this.

"Why do you get to go looking for beautiful Robin?" Sanji complained. "I'm going too."

"Now, now. There'll be plenty to do tomorrow. You might be busy all day, so you'd better get some rest tonight." Li Ziming paused thoughtfully. "If I'm not back tonight, go find Iceburg and Granny Kokoro."

"Why those two? And I get the feeling you're hiding something." Nami turned to Luffy. "Do something about him!"

"Ming said there'd be things to do tomorrow, didn't he? We just have to sort them out then." Luffy's trust in Li Ziming was absolute. "For now, we just have to believe him."

"He's right. Though it looks like we're in trouble again." Zoro wiped down his sword.

"Not trouble. Big trouble." Li Ziming shrugged. "I wanted to explain everything, but there's no time. So I'll say just one thing: Everyone, please come rescue us!" His last words were deadly serious, and everyone sensed that this was no ordinary situation.

"Go on!" Luffy pressed down the brim of his hat. "I'll never let anything happen to my friends!"

"That's right!" The others met Li Ziming's gaze without a trace of fear.

"Thank you, everyone!" Li Ziming bowed to them, then hurried toward Iceburg's home.

Near Iceburg's home, Li Ziming spotted three figures.

"Sorry, am I interrupting?" Li Ziming's sudden appearance startled them. "It looks like you've taken our archaeologist and the man who's supposed to build our ship." He looked at the masked man before him. "I never imagined we'd meet again like this."

"What are you doing here?" Robin looked at Li Ziming coldly. "Treinta Fleurs!"

"Did you have to use such a vicious move?" Explosions erupted across Li Ziming's body, preventing Robin's arms from sprouting on him. "And surely you don't think that alone will stop me?"

"Kid, you're pretty strong," Franky said. He was bound and his face was covered in blood, but he was still full of energy.

"This guy alone can't take me down," Li Ziming said smugly.

"What if I join him?" An animal-like voice rang out. An instant later, a gust of force shot toward him like a bullet.

"Explosion!" Li Ziming couldn't match his opponent's speed. Even Soru probably wouldn't be enough.

The explosion struck his opponent but did no damage at all. Li Ziming seized the chance to get out of range.

"Tekkai?" Li Ziming studied the newcomer. His upper body was bare, he wore a magician's hat, and a pigeon perched on his shoulder. "Rob Lucci? What an honor. I didn't expect you to come. I thought it would be Kalifa." He sounded a little disappointed.

"You seem to know us well," the masked man said sternly. "All the more reason we can't let you leave."

"Exactly. So I surrender!" Li Ziming's sudden declaration caught everyone off guard. They all wondered what he was planning.

"Shall we take him?" asked the pigeon on Lucci's shoulder.

"Take him. He might know something too." The masked man sounded dismissive. "Besides, he's just a Devil Fruit user. Once we put Seastone Cuffs on him, he won't be able to cause any trouble."

"But why capture us now?" Li Ziming asked curiously. "Have you already gotten Pluton's blueprints?"

"You really do know a great deal," the masked man said, surprised. "But now that we have Franky, Iceburg is no longer of any value."

"So CP9's people are coming with us?" Li Ziming frowned. "Is that why Lucci is here?"

"No. I'm here as a precaution," said the pigeon on Lucci's shoulder. "Franky and Nico Robin are both dangerous. I wouldn't feel comfortable sending you to Enies Lobby without keeping an eye on you."

"So you're supervising the transfer?" Li Ziming shook his head. "You're going to break Mr. Iceburg's heart. You were Dock One's best foremen."

"We're CP9 first and foremen second," the pigeon on Lucci's shoulder said firmly.

"Enough talk. Let's get to Enies Lobby before anything else happens," the masked man said coldly.

"Let's go." Lucci led the way.

"Lucci, you and the others stay here. If these people try to hide anything, bring in the Straw Hat Pirates and Iceburg. They care so much about their precious friends, don't they?" the masked man said coldly. He seemed to expect that Li Ziming and the others would not give up what he wanted easily.

"Understood." The pigeon on Lucci's shoulder nodded. "I'll escort you to the station, then."

"Mm." Lucci nodded.

And so they headed toward Blue Station.

"Why did you come?" Robin asked Li Ziming calmly. As far as she knew, he wasn't the sort to act on impulse.

"Kid, are you planning something?" Franky had concealed his identity for so long; he was no fool.

"For one thing, I wanted our archaeologist to finally stop worrying. For another, would you believe me if I said I was interested in Pluton?" Li Ziming said with a smile.

Lucci appeared in front of Li Ziming in the next instant. "Are you planning to make an enemy of the World Government?"

"There's no D. in my name." Li Ziming shrugged. "You don't have to worry about me doing anything too drastic."

"What are you doing, Lucci?" the masked man snapped. "He might know something about the Ancient Weapons! Can you take responsibility if he dies?"

"Sorry," Lucci said, though his hand still gripped Li Ziming tightly. After a moment, he let go.

"That hurt." Li Ziming raised a hand and rubbed his face. "I wonder if I can put this on Spandam's tab."

"Spandam!" Franky erupted in anger. "That bastard!"

"Easy, easy." Li Ziming patted Franky on the shoulder. "You'll get your chance."

"You've got some nerve, kid!" The masked man seemed to have had enough. He punched Li Ziming in the stomach, doubling him over in pain.

"I'll put that one on Spandam's tab too." Li Ziming was still smiling, as though the prospect of going to Enies Lobby did not worry him at all.

"Let's see if you're still so tough when we get to Enies Lobby." The masked man sneered and led the three of them aboard the Sea Train, leaving only Lucci and his pigeon behind.