Perhaps, for those who truly knew him, Lucci was an unparalleled prodigy.
A cold-blooded killer, the strongest member of CP-9.
Yet for true powerhouses, CP-9 Lucci of the World Government's intelligence network? Unknown.
Once, while assassinating a king, the monarch, blood gushing, looked up at Lucci with disbelief as he took his life:
"Who… are you?"
That dying question left a mark on Lucci.
For a spy, obscurity can be a virtue, but prolonged anonymity frustrated Lucci, a proud and arrogant genius.
Especially during his five-year undercover mission alongside Iceberg, an ordinary man.
Lucci had believed he could swiftly locate the Ancient Weapon Pluton's blueprints, yet he spent years pretending to be a mere shipwright, constructing broken vessels with ordinary laborers.
He could have been executing missions that would make the World Government tremble, contending with the Four Emperors himself.
Yet in the eyes of the World Government and the Celestial Dragons, Lucci remained insignificant, barely worth notice.
Previously, the Gorosei treated everyone equally, and Lucci had tolerated it.
But the arrival of Shirogai Yamikuro changed everything.
The Gorosei had labeled Shirogai the "Arrogant Emperor," deeming him more dangerous than the Four Emperors themselves—a reputation even Lucci, still undercover, could not ignore.
"An interesting fool," Lucci mused with quiet disdain.
Shirogai's refusal to join the Shichibukai, despite Gorosei's invitation, struck Lucci as foolish arrogance.
But then Shirogai defeated Admiral Kizaru and fought both Kizaru and Admiral Aokiji simultaneously without faltering.
Jealousy burned in Lucci's chest.
Geniuses are unsettled when they witness someone surpass them.
Gradually, under Lucci's keen, involuntary attention, Shirogai's reputation grew.
Rumors spread through the underworld, drawing the interest of powerful figures.
The more Shirogai became known, the more Lucci's resentment festered.
Without realizing it, Shirogai had become a thorn in his side.
Before Shirogai arrived in Water 7, Lucci, through World Government intelligence, had predicted the Straw Hat Pirates' path would inevitably lead them there.
Lucci intended to eliminate Shirogai decisively, proving his superiority to the World Government.
But what came next defied expectation.
Intelligence channels revealed that Shirogai had temporarily left the Straw Hats, challenged the Big Mom Pirates alone, and defeated Charlotte Linlin herself—one of the Four Emperors.
And that was not all.
The very next day, Shirogai ventured into Kaido's territory and confronted the strongest creature on the surface, emerging victorious.
Within mere days, no one questioned the title "Arrogant Emperor" bestowed by the Gorosei.
Defeating two Four Emperors in succession, Shirogai had proven himself a God-level force, fully deserving the respect and fear of the world.
The World Government heightened its surveillance, deploying CP-0 operatives to Water 7 to preemptively observe his weaknesses.
Lucci, meanwhile, received strict orders: locate the Pluton blueprints, avoid provoking Shirogai, and maintain distance from the Fifth Emperor.
CP-9 officer Spandam, cowardly and greedy, had hoped to seize Robin, gain the World Government's favor, and secure the blueprints, yet he hesitated, fearing Shirogai's wrath and the consequences of failure.
…
"Hmph."
Lucci's eyes scanned Shirogai, ropes around his neck held taut by Barry.
A faint trace of disdain tugged at his lips.
"You've stolen the limelight," Lucci thought.
"But I will surpass you."
"Coo-coo…"
The tie-pigeon on Lucci's shoulder turned, fixating on Shirogai in the distance.
"Last night, it was you and that Devil Child, Nico Robin, who attacked Iceberg, wasn't it?"
Barry tightened the rope, glaring fiercely at Shirogai and Luffy.
"You immoral pirates!"
"Robin? Robin did this? Impossible!"
Luffy's eyes widened, rejecting the accusation outright.
"Robin would never do such a thing!"
The workers erupted in outrage:
"What! They attacked Iceberg?!"
"Damn scoundrels! Kill them!"
"How dare you attack someone as good as Iceberg? Are you even human?!"
They grabbed wooden sticks, hammers, and planes, charging furiously toward Shirogai and Luffy.
"Leave this to us! They're pirates, and extremely dangerous."
Under Lucci and Kaku's watchful eyes, Barry halted the workers, speaking firmly while chewing his cigar:
"We will show no mercy to those who harm Iceberg!"
"Uncle Iceberg wasn't injured by us! Robin is not the culprit!" Luffy shouted.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Shovels cut through the air.
Luffy narrowly dodged, a flying shovel grazing his neck.
"Precise shots. Dodge, and you risk injury. Stand still, and you're fine."
Shirogai stood calmly, a faint smile on his face, assessing Kaku, the long-nosed man, silent and menacing beneath his baseball cap.
Kaku's voice was sharp:
"Pirates, your bounties read 'Dead or Alive,' right? Move, and you'll die."
"Ridiculous! Kill them first!"
Lulu, another foreman, fired his nail gun without hesitation:
"Only pirates who pay their final dues, and dead ones, are good pirates!"
The projectiles stopped mid-air under Shirogai's gaze.
"An ability user?" Lulu's expression hardened.
Dangerous pirates were always tricky.
Shirogai smiled faintly and exhaled.
The bullets spun and shot back at Kaku and Lucci.
"…"
Kaku rolled through the air, narrowly avoiding the counterattack.
"Humph."
Lucci caught the bullets with precision and tossed them toward the crowd, a test of Shirogai's reaction.
"Such a petty trick, Lucci," Shirogai said, shaking his head as if watching a childish prank.
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