As she gently patted his cheek, the giant who had collapsed stirred and opened his eyes.
A groan escaped him with every slight movement, his body likely aching all over.
Caterina, unconcerned, smiled and spoke to him.
"Hello there. I'm Caterina. A member of the Twilight Pirates──You're Kashi, right?"
"...How do you know my name?"
"I know a lot about the giants who work as gatekeepers at Enies Lobby. We have good ears, you see."
It was almost certain that Twilight would eventually oppose the government, including their behind-the-scenes connection with the Revolutionary Army. They had already completed most of the preliminary investigation into their forces and internal affairs.
Among them, the giants belonging to Twilight had also tilted their heads in confusion as to why these two giants were serving as gatekeepers here.
There were a fair number of giants in the Navy, but these two were originally members of the Giant Warrior Pirates, who had once rampaged across the world. It was unthinkable that they would become Marines now, and besides, they weren't even wearing the uniforms that should have been issued to them if they were.
Caterina suspected there were some special circumstances.
"You're a former member of the Giant Warrior Pirates, aren't you? Why are you serving the government?"
"How do you know... No, it's fine. It's no use talking to you about this anyway..."
Grimacing in pain, Kashi sat up and crossed his legs.
After readjusting his position, he began to speak dejectedly.
He had originally belonged to the Giant Warrior Pirates, but the crew had disbanded after their two captains started a fight on a certain island.
They had expected one of them to return after winning, but fifty years had passed and neither had returned, so they thought something was wrong and left the island to search.
On their way, they were captured by the Navy, and after being thoroughly interrogated, they were told that their two captains had been captured and were in Impel Down.
Finally, they were promised that if they guarded the gates of Enies Lobby for 100 years, they would be released along with their two captains and allowed to return to their homeland, Elbaf.
And today, after fifty years, the gate had been broken through.
"I see..."
Oimo and Kashi must have admired their two captains that much. Even if the lifespan of a giant was 300 years, one couldn't normally agree to work for 100 years.
It was hard to say, but Caterina decided to be blunt.
"Yeah. You guys have been deceived."
"...What did you say!?"
"I know about you guys because a giant named Dilus told me about you. He's a former comrade of yours, right?"
"Y-Yeah. He was also a member of the Giant Warrior Pirates, just like us."
Dilus, a giant belonging to Twilight, had been an acquaintance of Kashi and the others.
That was why he had been puzzled by the two of them siding with the government, and Caterina had approached them, thinking they might defect.
"The captains you're looking for are 'Red Ogre' Brogy and 'Blue Ogre' Dorry, right?"
"That's right. Do you know about our captains?"
"Of course. Because those two have long since returned to Elbaf."
"Huh?"
At Caterina's words, Kashi's mouth fell open, and his eyes widened in astonishment as if they were about to pop out.
Caterina hadn't been told the circumstances under which the two had started their duel, or the reason they had returned without a conclusion.
Dealings with Elbaf, and by extension the giants, were often conducted through Feiyun, who had many acquaintances, and since she was a woman of few words, information was mostly shared through Kanata.
Even though Kanata had informed her that Dorry and Brogy, the two captains of the Giant Warrior Pirates who had once rampaged across the seas, had returned, she hadn't been told the details.
"Our captains... have returned?"
"Yes. I'd like you to hear the detailed circumstances after you return to Elbaf, but it's true that the two of them have returned. If you can't believe it──"
"No, I'll believe you."
Kashi said so readily.
This time it was Caterina who widened her eyes at the quick reply, but for Kashi, it was probably a matter of course.
Oimo and Kashi had worked as gatekeepers at Enies Lobby for a long time, but no one had ever attacked the government's gateway before. Their only pastime in their boring days was the newspaper, which was sized so that even giants could read it.
It had been about 30 years since Feiyun appeared on the public stage. Dilus hadn't been in the papers, but Oimo and Kashi knew of Feiyun, a child who had grown up in a village in Elbaf.
If she belonged to the same pirate crew as that child, they would believe her.
For Kashi, that was all the judgment he needed.
"But, I see... so we were being used."
A voice mixed with irritation welled up from the bottom of his stomach.
He shook Oimo awake, who was stunned by Caterina's explanation and felt the same anger as Kashi.
They had been deceived and used. They had the right to be angry, Caterina thought.
"Then, you two──how about you give the World Government a taste of their own medicine?"
She puffed out her chest confidently, as if to say she had a plan.
Oimo and Kashi looked at each other as Caterina gave them a beautiful wink.
***
Inside the Courthouse, there were a fair number of Marines and a three-headed man called the Chief Justice.
To be precise, it was a strange trio of three people wearing a single garment.
"I-Is that Cerberus!?" Usopp and Chopper cried out, as Pedro and Zepo began to run.
"You guys head up! We'll rush to both towers right away!"
"Need help?"
"Don't need it!"
The two, running at high speed, mowed down the Marines as if sliding on the ground and clashed with the Chief Justice, Baskerville.
"Gunu! You villains, do you know this is a sacred courthouse and still commit such outrages!?"
"This is a crime!"
"A capital crime!!"
"Let's split the difference, death penalty!!"
"No objection."
Swiftly dodging the swords swung by both hands, Pedro and Zepo cut in without even confirming their intentions with each other.
Baskerville let out a cry of anguish at the continuous slashes and electric shocks.
Enies Lobby was a "day island" where the sun always shone. Even if it were a full moon, the Minks couldn't transform into their ultimate form, "Sulong," on this island. They had to conserve as much stamina as possible and prepare for the coming battle with CP-0.
Therefore, without any restraint, Pedro cut down Baskerville.
But.
"!?"
"Hmph!!"
He had sliced vertically between the middle and left of the three heads. He had thought that if he were some kind of ability user, his true form would be revealed.
However, what actually came out was another man riding on the middle man's leg.
As Pedro's eyes widened in surprise, the man of the right head swung his sword.
"I see, I thought it was a strange 'voice'... so it was three people from the start," Zepo noted.
The electric shock seemed to have been somewhat effective, judging by the smell of Baskerville's flesh burning and the arms that trembled so much they could barely hold their blades.
Seeing that they hadn't dropped their swords, their spirit seemed to be firm.
Even though they likely had little strength left, Baskerville swung his sword, trying to engage Pedro in a sword lock.
"Gunununu... You bastards, are you Minks!?"
"I remember... The two Minks traveling with Nico Robin!"
"So it's you!!"
"It's your doing that the Den Den Mushi isn't connecting, isn't it!? What did you do!!"
Pedro was strangely impressed that he could talk so much despite having no strength left.
He had height and muscle. If he hit, it would do more than a little damage, but at this level, he was no match for Pedro.
As he made that judgment, he and Zepo, who had circled behind while they were in a sword lock, released a cross-current of electricity.
"Agagagagagagah!!!"
Baskerville, struck by electricity from both front and back, fainted and fell backward.
They had wasted some time. They had to hurry up the tower, Pedro exchanged a look with Zepo.
"I'll take the right tower."
"Then I'll take the left. Let's hurry, Zepo!"
The two ran towards the opposing towers as if passing each other. They clapped hands as if wishing each other good luck, and with that as a signal, they accelerated at once.
Minks were a race that could generate electricity within their bodies and release it. Their combat ability was so high that they were even called a born warrior race, and even their infants and elderly were stronger than ordinary soldiers.
Pedro and Zepo were particularly strong even among the Minks.
Mowing down the soldiers waiting in the tower, cutting down the jurors who attacked, swinging iron balls, they reached the top of the tower, out of breath.
With a clank, they pulled the lever and turned to face the pursuing soldiers, protecting it. Seeing the drawbridge slowly move, they both knew that their respective tasks had been successful.
"Robin is waiting. We'll force our way through, even if we have to!"
***
Purupurupuru, click.
At the somewhat goofy ringing of the Den Den Mushi, Spandam picked up the receiver, looking slightly weary.
The time was already past midnight. Normally, he would have been asleep long ago, but with the matter of the intruders reported earlier, he couldn't sleep. Besides, as soon as the arrangements for escorting Robin and the others were complete, they would be transferred immediately. There was no time to sleep soundly.
"This is me. A report on the intruders?"
"──Surprising. You still haven't noticed."
"Huh? What the hell was that, you bastard, that way of talking to me──"
"I know, Director of CP-9, Spandam. Son of Spandine, and you won the position of Director of CP-9 thanks to his influence, right?"
"If you know, aren't you going to change your attitude!?"
"Of course not. Or would you like me to list all of Spandine's evil deeds one by one?"
Spandam turned his gaze to the Den Den Mushi.
Spandine had held considerable power within the World Government, had dabbled in evil deeds, and had won political struggles through all sorts of means to gain power. Spandam, who had taken him as a model, had done the same, and had connections in various places.
In short, he had plenty of things to be concerned about.
"When did I ever do any evil deeds, you bastard, don't mess with me, I'll catch you and torture you in Impel Down!!"
(He's talking so fast...)
(He probably has a lot to be concerned about.)
As the nearby guards were thinking such things about the fast-talking Spandam, the caller said, "You should look towards the Courthouse."
Thinking there couldn't possibly be anything there, he turned his gaze—and saw Bruno collapsing on the roof of the Courthouse, and "Straw Hat" Luffy looking this way with a glare.
"Wha──"
He scrambled to his feet, dropping the receiver as he clung to the window.
It wasn't a mistake. That was definitely CP-9's Bruno collapsing, and Luffy was looking this way.
"Right now, Oimo and Kashi are fighting with all their might at the Front Gate of the Main Island! There's no problem at all!"
A familiar voice echoed.
The report he had heard just a few dozen minutes ago was exactly this.
"I thought you'd find out if I raised the drawbridge, so I decided to call."
"...Who the hell are you!? Were you impersonating one of my guards!?"
"I just mimicked the voice a little. It was helpful that you were deceived so easily, though."
If the Marine code had been changed, they would have been found out, but Enies Lobby, as the government's gateway, had never been attacked before.
No one here was accustomed to dealing with emergencies.
Spandam, breaking into a cold sweat, asked again with trembling lips.
"...Who are you?"
One step before the innermost part of Enies Lobby. On top of being attacked all the way to the Courthouse, one of the CP-9 members had already been taken down.
As he asked in stunned disbelief, the woman on the other end introduced herself with a serious tone.
"My name is Caterina. Of the Twilight Pirates──though this time, the assistance part is large."
Before the Gates of Justice, that is, at the throat, the Tower of Justice, was about to be attacked.
As he stared blankly at Luffy, who had defeated Bruno, Spandam felt as if Luffy's eyes met his.
It was probably an illusion. Even if he could see through the glass from this side, they couldn't see him from the other side. Luffy didn't even know who Spandam was.
But still.
Spandam was terrified of the man who had torn through their throat to come and save Robin.
"The reason I contacted you is, of course, one thing──to have Nico Robin returned. I wanted to ask if you have any intention of doing so."
Turning around at the voice from behind, Spandam belatedly noticed that Guernica of CP-0 had taken the receiver.
"That's an impossible request. You've come this far, you must be prepared for the consequences, right?"
"Of course. But this situation must be unexpected for you too. I'm just saying that handing her over before you suffer too great a loss is one option."
"Even if they rival the Four Emperors, we can't have you getting too carried away. We'll have you all die here."
"...I see. Then, it's unfortunate, but──"
Before Caterina could continue, a shout rose from the direction of the Courthouse.
"Rooobiiiiiiiiin!!!"
At Luffy's cry to have his comrade returned, Spandam instinctively recoiled and fell on his bottom.
Noticing this, the members of CP-9 and CP-0 gathered one after another.
The "Straw Hat Pirates" also began to gather on the roof of the Courthouse.
Whether she knew this or not, Caterina calmly announced.
"It seems they've arrived too──Then, shall we declare war?"