Ambition

He truly could not make sense of it, no matter how hard he thought. Yet just as he was filled with doubt, Nero suddenly let out a spine-chilling laugh. "Hahaha, how unexpected! To think that in the East Blue, I'd run into someone who knows the Six Powers."

His laughter stopped abruptly. Then he frowned slightly and said thoughtfully, "But if I'm not mistaken, you were originally a pirate, weren't you?" With that, his piercing gaze fixed directly on Ener.

Nero belonged to the World Government's intelligence network, so he was naturally well informed about all kinds of news. In particular, since he was currently carrying out a mission in the East Blue, he paid even closer attention to recent events there.

Ener had first helped Smoker successfully capture the Krieg Pirates, the strongest and largest pirate crew in the East Blue. Then he had led everyone in wiping out Black Thorn Island, the East Blue's largest pirate den. This string of actions had dealt a devastating blow to the more than ten million pirates in the East Blue, costing them at least half their forces.

How could Nero possibly not know about such a major event? After all, he was a member of CP9. If he did not even know something like this, he would truly be unworthy of that identity.

And precisely because of this, he suddenly understood. This inconspicuous-looking guy had actually managed, in such a short time, to make a pirate master one of the Six Powers—Shave! It was practically a miracle! Nero himself had spent an enormous amount of time and effort learning four of the Six Powers, and each technique had required at least a year of training.

Nero took a deep breath and tried to calm himself. He knew he could not let his emotions control him now; he had to remain calm and rational. After a brief pause, he slowly said, "I need to speak with him alone. Once we are done, you can deal with him however you wish."

Hearing Nero's words, Ener became even more doubtful. He simply could not understand what connection someone from CP9 could possibly have with Morgan. It was completely beyond his comprehension. He could not help frowning as he looked suspiciously at Nero, seemingly waiting for further explanation.

Seeing that Ener did not respond, Nero added, "I'm one of the World Government's people, just like you. If you have any doubts about me, you can contact Burns directly. He'll tell you everything about me."

Ener lightly waved a hand and said with a smile, "That won't be necessary... I know a little about CP9."

A flicker of surprise crossed Nero's face, but it vanished in an instant, replaced by his trademark smile. He laughed. "Haha, of course. After all, you were born and raised in the Holy Land. It's only natural that you would know things others don't."

Before his words had faded, Nero suddenly turned to Morgan, a barely noticeable glint of cunning flashing through his eyes. The corners of his lips curled up as he asked with a smile that was not quite a smile, "So, may I have a private word with this gentleman now?"

Ener nodded without hesitation, a straightforward smile appearing on his face. "Of course!" Then he gave Gin a meaningful look, and Gin immediately understood. With a flash of movement, Gin returned to Ener's side in an instant, like a ghost.

It all happened too quickly for Morgan to react. He could only watch helplessly as Gin returned to Ener's side like a phantom, and the fury in his heart burned ever hotter. He felt completely ignored, and that feeling made him absolutely enraged.

Morgan's eyes widened as he glared furiously at Nero. "You bastard! If you have something to say, just say it! Stop playing games!"

Nero was not angered. A strange smile curled across his lips as he leaned close to Morgan and said quietly, "Colonel Morgan, everything you've done in the East Blue has been recorded. But if you're willing to work for CP9, we can let bygones be bygones."

Morgan was startled at first, then sneered. "Hmph. Why should I work for you?"

Nero's gaze turned cold. "Do you think you have another choice? We know the situation in the East Blue inside out. If you refuse, the World Government's harshest punishment awaits you."

Morgan's expression became extremely ugly. He clenched his fists, struggling fiercely within himself. Beside him, Ener silently observed everything, secretly trying to guess CP9's purpose. He knew things seemed to be getting more and more complicated, and a new storm might be about to arrive.

However, Nero seemed not to care about Morgan's anger at all. He let out that trademark laugh, and then his figure flashed. Like lightning, he vanished from where he stood in an instant.

The next moment, Nero appeared behind Morgan like a ghost. Before Morgan could react, Nero's hand chop came down like a gale, striking the back of Morgan's neck hard.

With a dull bang, Morgan did not even have time to cry out before he was knocked unconscious and collapsed to the ground.

Nero stared expressionlessly at Morgan on the ground, then dragged him aside one-handed as though lifting a weightless chick, as if Morgan were nothing more than an inanimate object. Ener frowned and stepped forward. "What do you mean by this?" Nero slowly turned around, that eerie smile still hanging on his face. His voice was low and cold, devoid of any emotion. "This Morgan is truly stubborn. It would be better to restrain him first. Once we take him back to headquarters, we can slowly persuade him."

A trace of doubt rose in Ener's heart, but he did not show it directly. After all, Nero represented CP9's authority, and he did not dare offend him lightly. However, Gin, who had remained silent all this time, suddenly spoke. "Ener, I think something is suspicious here. Why is CP9 so eager to make Morgan work for them?"

Nero's expression shifted slightly, but he quickly returned to that inscrutable smile. He answered casually, "This is CP9's mission arrangement. You don't need to ask about the specific reasons."

Ener thought for a moment and felt Gin had a point. After hesitating, he finally said, "If that's the case, then I hope you'll give Morgan a fair disposition."

Nero nodded, seemingly unconcerned by Ener's request. He replied offhandedly, "Naturally. CP9 has always been fair and just." With that, he effortlessly slung Morgan over his shoulder, and his figure vanished from everyone's sight like a ghost.

Ener stared in the direction Nero had disappeared, the doubts in his heart growing deeper. He always felt that a massive conspiracy was hidden behind this, one that might bring an unprecedented crisis to the East Blue.

"Uh..."

The marines of the 153rd Branch and the residents of Shells Town were filled with disbelief. The invincible Marine colonel they had always known, the villain who had ruled over them, had become as weak and insignificant as an ant before these two groups today.

When they saw Nero drag Morgan away like a dead dog, someone finally could not help asking, "Major Ener, who exactly was that guy? Why's he acting so high and mighty?"

Major Ener gave the person who asked an expressionless glance, then answered coldly, "He's from CP9."

"CP9?" The term seemed to hold a special attraction for Zoro. His eyes immediately lit up, and he involuntarily stepped forward. "What kind of organization is CP9?"

Major Ener turned to look at Zoro and slowly explained, "CP9 is the World Government's intelligence department. Like the Marines and the Inspectors, they are part of the World Government. They are mainly responsible for gathering intelligence, carrying out secret missions, and other special work."

Zoro stroked his chin as he listened thoughtfully to Major Ener's explanation. A hint of wariness flashed in his eyes, as though he had developed some doubts about this mysterious organization.

"CP9 sounds pretty formidable," Zoro muttered. "Could they have some ulterior motive for taking Morgan away?"

Major Ener shook his head helplessly. "I don't know their exact plans either, but CP9 has always operated in secrecy. All we can do is wait and see what they intend to do."

At that moment, Luffy, who had been silent all along, suddenly sprang out like a coiled spring. Waving his fists, he shouted excitedly, "I don't care what organization they are! If they dare do bad things, I'll beat them all up!" Luffy's voice rang through the air, full of confidence and determination.

Everyone laughed at Luffy's enthusiasm, and the tense atmosphere immediately eased considerably. Ener looked at everyone with a serious expression. "Though everyone is feeling more relaxed now, we cannot let down our guard. From here on, we must strengthen our protection of the East Blue. No matter what scheme CP9 has, we must firmly protect these waters."

Hearing Ener's words, everyone nodded in agreement. They knew these waters meant a great deal to them, and they absolutely could not allow any enemy to destroy their peace. So everyone returned to their respective posts, preparing to continue their patrols and ensure the East Blue's safety.

However, at that very moment, a pair of eyes silently watched everything from the distant darkness. Hidden in the shadows, those eyes gave off a mysterious and cold aura. It was as if a massive storm was quietly brewing behind them, one that would sweep through CP9, Morgan, and the entire East Blue. And all of it was like a whirlpool concealed in darkness, waiting for the right moment to erupt violently.

Zoro keenly caught the deeper meaning in Ener's words. He nodded slightly, lost in thought. Ener's words seemed to have given him a new understanding of the mysterious organization known as CP9. But as he pondered, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind—the enemy who had fought them earlier.

"What about that guy from earlier? What was his name?" Zoro's voice interrupted Ener's explanation. His eyes remained fixed on Ener, as though he wanted to find some clue in the answer.

Major Ener turned his head, glanced at Zoro, and slowly said, "His name is Nero. He's a newly promoted member of CP9, and the weakest among them."

"The weakest?" A surprised expression appeared on Zoro's face. He had been deeply impressed by the enemy named Nero, because during the battle just now, he had clearly sensed that Nero was quite capable. How could someone with that kind of strength be the weakest in CP9?

Zoro could not help doubting the claim that Nero was the "weakest." He began reassessing CP9. Perhaps their standards for evaluating strength differed from ordinary people's. Or perhaps Nero was merely a rookie in CP9, yet possessed astonishing potential.

Ener said seriously to Gin, "Don't underestimate him because of that. Anyone who can enter CP9 is no ordinary person. The minimum requirement for entering CP9 is mastering four of the Six Powers. That means this guy has mastered at least four of them!"

Gin could not help crying out in shock when he heard that. "What?!" His eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief. He had only barely mastered Shave himself, and he already understood the power of the Six Powers and the difficulty of training them. Yet someone had actually mastered at least four techniques. It was simply unbelievable!

A deep sense of awe rose in Gin's heart. He began imagining just how powerful a person who had mastered the Six Powers would be. The thought alone sent chills down his spine.

However, Ener's next words shocked Gin even more. "Their leader is named Rob Lucci, and he is no simple man. Not only has he mastered all six techniques, he has even developed his own derivative techniques from them. More importantly, he has trained them to their highest level and can use Life Return!"

Ener's tone was extremely grave, clearly showing that he had a profound understanding of Rob Lucci's strength. He continued, "To be honest, with our current strength, even if the three of us joined forces, we'd only get beaten senseless."

He was not joking. Take Zoro, for example. The strongest opponent he had encountered so far was Ener. And Ener himself knew perfectly well that compared to Rob Lucci, he was still far inferior.

The people who had died beneath his blade were merely insignificant nobodies from Black Thorn Island. Compared to the enemies he had faced when fighting CP9 in the original story, their strength was worlds apart.

"The three of us joining forces would still only get beaten senseless?" Gin stared wide-eyed in disbelief, as though he had heard the most absurd and unimaginable thing in the world.

After all, in his understanding, the Krieg Pirates were already quite powerful. Yet now he was being told that even if the three of them worked together, they would still be no match at all. It was truly difficult for him to accept.

And all of this was due to Ener's appearance. Because of Ener's interference, the Krieg Pirates had ultimately failed to reach the New World, and naturally never had the chance to encounter the man known as Mihawk.

So the two of them knew absolutely nothing about how mad the outside world truly was. Under such circumstances, how could Ener's words fail to shock them?

Ener looked at Gin and his companion's stunned expressions, the corners of his mouth lifting into a faint smile.

"Don't be so surprised," he said softly. "The world outside is enormous, far beyond your imagination. Forget us—even that Rob Lucci is only an insignificant little character on the world stage."

At that, Ener paused slightly before continuing, "The true top powerhouses of this world possess strength so terrifying that it defies imagination. With just one move, they could easily destroy all of Shells Town, or even send it straight to the bottom of the sea."

At that, Ener paused slightly and slowly turned his gaze toward Zoro, as though deliberately making him feel the weight of his words.

"The strongest swordsman in this world is Jora—" The moment Zoro heard the name "Jora," his eyes sharpened, and he stared intently at Ener. "Jora? What kind of person is he?"

He asked impatiently. Ener took a deep breath and slowly said, "Jora's swordsmanship is divine. His blade can cut through every obstacle, and his sword intent can pierce the soul. Legend has it that during a storm, he calmed the raging wind and waves with a single slash."

Zoro's hands clenched unconsciously, fiery fighting spirit blazing in his eyes. "I have to fight him someday!"

Ener patted Zoro on the shoulder. "This world is filled with powerful people. You must keep improving yourself. CP9 is only the tip of the World Government's iceberg. There are many other powerful forces hidden in the shadows."

At that moment, Luffy jumped excitedly at the side. "No matter how strong the opponent is, I'll beat them down!"

Ener looked at everyone and said seriously, "From now on, we must work even harder. We must protect the East Blue and prepare ourselves for the challenges ahead."

Everyone nodded one after another. A new adventure seemed to be quietly unfolding. Dracule Mihawk, also known as Mihawk, possessed strength beyond imagination."

Ener's voice was slightly low, yet full of reverence. "With a casual swing, he can split the sea apart as easily as cutting tofu." Hearing of Mihawk's feats, the fighting spirit in Zoro's eyes grew even fiercer. "I will surpass him!" Luffy shouted excitedly from the side, "Zoro, once you surpass him, we'll go beat even more powerful guys together!"

At that moment, enormous waves suddenly surged across the sea, and a mysterious ship slowly approached. A tall man with a cold gaze stood aboard it, surrounded by an overwhelming aura. Ener's expression changed as he said in a low voice, "Not good. He's one of Mihawk's subordinates. It looks like he's coming for us."

When everyone heard the man's words, their hearts tightened sharply, and the relaxed atmosphere was instantly replaced by tension. They quickly adjusted themselves and assumed fighting stances, standing ready for battle.

Before the words had faded, the subordinates behind him leaped from the ship like starving tigers pouncing on prey. Like a pack of ferocious beasts, they charged toward everyone with imposing force. They held all kinds of weapons and wore savage expressions, clearly harboring ill intent.

A heart-stopping battle was on the verge of breaking out, and everyone knew how important it was. They were not merely fighting for their own lives, but to protect the vast waters of the East Blue and fulfill the dreams in their hearts. At this moment, there was no retreat. They could only give everything they had and face this life-or-death struggle.

However, Gin and Zoro reacted far more violently upon hearing the man's words. Their faces turned pale in an instant, their eyes widening round with utter disbelief. It was as if the man's words had struck them like a bolt from the blue, making them completely unable to accept this cruel reality.

However, Gin quickly recovered from his shock. He clenched his fists tightly, and his gaze became incomparably firm. He knew that the world Ener had described as so powerful was precisely the world he had always longed for.

At the same time, Zoro's hand had unconsciously settled on the hilt of his sword. A vague figure suddenly appeared in his mind. That figure held a weapon and slashed fiercely toward the sea. With that motion, the sea seemed to be touched by magic, splitting apart and forming a deep ravine.

Simply imagining such a scene made Zoro's heart race with excitement. His breathing grew rapid as well, as though he could feel that immense power continually radiating from the figure.

At that moment, the image of a girl from his childhood suddenly appeared in Zoro's mind. Her smile was like the warm, bright sun of spring. A powerful emotion surged through Zoro's heart, and his hand around the sword hilt tightened again without his noticing.

"Our promise..." Zoro murmured softly, as though those words contained endless strength and meaning. Though his voice was quiet, it echoed through the air like thunder, revealing an unshakable resolve and conviction.

"I will become the world's greatest Master Swordsman! I will never break my word!" Zoro gripped his three swords tightly, his unwavering gaze fixed on the distance as though he were staring directly at that faraway goal. His voice gradually rose, carrying an indomitable presence, as though the entire world could hear his oath.

At this moment, the flame in Zoro's heart burned more fiercely than ever before. He knew the path to becoming the world's greatest Master Swordsman was filled with hardships and obstacles, but he was not afraid. This promise was not merely a commitment to someone—it was the deepest pursuit in his heart, the pursuit of the ultimate swordsmanship.

Ener stood nearby, the corners of his lips lifting into an imperceptible smile. Looking at Zoro, he secretly sighed. These two both have extraordinary potential, especially Zoro. I need to find ways to ignite their fighting spirit and make them keep surpassing themselves.

Though Ener's words seemed simple, they were like a double-edged sword. They could arouse the desire to win in their hearts while also placing pressure on them. Only then would they have enough motivation to keep growing stronger and pursue that seemingly unreachable goal.

However, Ener's gaze did not remain on Zoro for long. It soon shifted toward the direction in which Nero had dragged Morgan away, his heart filled with curiosity. Why exactly had Nero come looking for Morgan? The question lingered in his mind, filling him with anticipation for what would happen next.