CP9's intelligence system was exceptionally effective, yet Kaku racked his brain and still couldn't figure out who the young man before him was. Drake, in his Allosaurus form, did give him a slight inkling.
Could it be them?
But it didn't look like them. Not just "didn't look like," there was absolutely no resemblance. If not for the extreme rarity of Ancient Zoan Devil Fruits, Kaku wouldn't have even considered that possibility.
"Are you the 'Mad Dog' Bellamy?" Filled with doubt, Kaku couldn't help but ask.
"A dead man has no need to know so much." Bellamy couldn't be bothered with him. What did it matter if he knew his identity? Would it have the slightest impact on the outcome of this battle?
Although Bellamy didn't admit it directly, Kaku had already found the answer in his tone.
It really is Bellamy!
Why were the Bellamy Pirates on the same train as them? And why had CP9 received no prior intelligence?
Just as Kaku was reeling from the shock, the shrill ring of a Den Den Mushi suddenly sounded from Lucci's body.
"Purupurupuru... Purupurupuru..."
The combatants, startled by the urgent ringing, all turned to look.
At a time like this, who would be calling?
Not only were the Bellamy Pirates curious, but even the members of CP9 were puzzled as to who would suddenly call at this moment.
Before long, the insistent ringing actually managed to wake Lucci.
Rob Lucci struggled to his feet, his hand trembling as he picked up the Den Den Mushi.
"Hello, is that Lucci?" a voice demanded. "Why did it take you so long to answer!"
"Cough, cough... cough."
The voice was unmistakably Spandam's. Lucci was about to retort when he couldn't stop himself from coughing up a mouthful of blood.
Damn it!
Drake's two heavy blows had shattered the ribs in his upper body. That he could still force himself to get up was a testament to his astonishing willpower.
Spandam, on the other end of the Den Den Mushi, seemed completely oblivious to Lucci's condition and continued to babble on.
"I just received an urgent report! It seems the Bellamy Pirates are on the Sea Train with you! You all need to be careful. That Bellamy guy is a complete and utter madman. Do not provoke him, you hear me?"
The news from Spandam sent a chill down the spines of the fighting CP9 members.
Why are you only telling us this now!
Such crucial intelligence... why hadn't they been told before boarding the train? It was impossible that the Cipher Pol intelligence division hadn't received the news in advance. That useless Spandam was not only incompetent but also dared to be negligent in his duties.
You bastard! If I make it back alive, I'll definitely kill you!
Lucci slammed his fist onto the floor in frustration and forced himself to stand.
"BE...LLA...MY!"
"Rob Lucci."
Bellamy looked at the man whose face was contorted with unwillingness to accept defeat and casually flicked his fingers. Two years ago, he had been just an unknown street punk. But now, he was more than qualified to look down upon this once-in-a-millennium genius of CP9.
"That look in your eyes... you can't accept it, can you?"
Well, who would be willing to fall halfway through their journey? If not for the misfortune of running into Bellamy's crew here, Rob Lucci would have surely carved out a place for himself on these seas in the future.
"Drake, finish the fight quickly."
With Muret and her Slow-Slow Fruit firing potshots from the rear, Rob Lucci had no chance of victory. If Lucci had known about Muret's ability beforehand, he would have charged over to stop her at all costs. But he didn't know, and so he lost to Drake.
This was the power of intelligence.
The outcome of this battle was no longer in doubt. Bellamy began to urge Drake to end it quickly. Next, he needed to find someone to ask about these slaves—no, these civilians.
Who should I pick?
Bellamy glanced at the members of CP9, planning to find the most pliable-looking one to interrogate. That woman looked promising—soft and weak, she probably couldn't take much punishment.
Her name is Kalifa, right? I remember she ate some kind of Bubble-Bubble Fruit? But after fighting for so long, he hadn't seen her use any abilities. Had she not eaten the fruit yet? Bellamy couldn't clearly recall the details of such a minor, insignificant character.
"I'll just grab her first."
Muret's Slow-Slow Beam had completely covered the train car. With their speed slowed several times over, the battle had entered garbage time. In truth, the moment Blueno fell, they had already lost their only chance of escape.
Bellamy's figure suddenly appeared behind Kalifa. "You're coming with me." His right hand shot out and grabbed her by the neck, lifting her up as if she were a rag doll.
Car number ten was a bit too chaotic and unsuitable for an interrogation. Bellamy simply carried Kalifa into car number nine. The moment he entered, several bullets flew towards him. A group of World Government guards, responsible for watching the slaves, were attacking him with their weapons. And the civilians who had fled here earlier had been captured again.
Seeing this, Bellamy couldn't help but find it amusing.
"Why does this keep making me look like some kind of savior?" To have him, a pirate, repeatedly rescue a group of civilians... what had this world come to?
Holding Kalifa in one hand, Bellamy casually pushed out with the other. An invisible wall of wind immediately formed in the car. The bullets struck the wind wall and were all deflected. The ricocheting bullets accurately struck the heads of the guards. With a series of whizzing sounds, all the guards collapsed to the ground in an instant.
The degree of control Bellamy had over his power was on full display in that casual palm strike.
His actions immediately caused a misunderstanding among the people in the car. The civilians thought Bellamy was there to save them. But before they could even begin to rejoice, Bellamy looked at them and barked with a blank expression, "All of you, get out."
"This..." Everyone looked at each other, unsure of what to do. Fortunately, their recent experiences had worn down their sharp edges. No one jumped out at this moment to do something that would displease Bellamy. They all just timidly lowered their heads and retreated into car number eight.
Soon, car number nine fell silent, leaving only Bellamy and Kalifa.
"Alright, let's begin," Bellamy said, tossing Kalifa to the floor and waiting quietly for her response. "Tell me, what's the deal with these people?"
Anyone who could serve in CP9 was sharp; she would surely understand what he wanted to know.
"Thirty seconds. After thirty seconds, I'll begin the torture."
The concept of showing mercy to a woman was destined to have no connection with Bellamy. When he said torture, he meant cruel torture. So far, no one had been able to remain silent under his methods.
Whether Kalifa talked or not, the end result would be the same. It was just that if she didn't talk, the process might be a bit... brutal.