-Real World-
Water 7
"Have you seen Lucci or Kaku anywhere today?" one shipwright asked another as they gathered around the docks.
"Not a trace of either of them," came the worried reply. "They just... vanished."
"So they really were World Government agents after all..."
The revelation hung heavy in the salty air. 5 years of shared meals, joint projects, and casual conversations suddenly took on sinister new meaning. These shipwrights had unknowingly worked alongside government operatives, and the implications were terrifying. Had their secrets been accidentally discovered during those years, they would have been quietly eliminated without a trace.
Iceberg had dispatched search teams throughout the city, but they returned empty-handed. Neither agent had reported to the docks for work, and their dormitory rooms stood vacant. The Sky Screen's exposure had sent them deep underground.
"Those World Government lapdogs must have been investigating Pluton's blueprints all along," Iceberg muttered to himself from behind his office desk. Despite having advance knowledge of their true nature, the knowledge brought no comfort. He understood all too well that his company's employees, skilled as they were at shipbuilding, stood no chance against trained government assassins.
Outside his office door, a blonde woman in elegant glasses pressed her ear to the wood, eavesdropping with practiced silence. Kalifa's beautiful features couldn't completely mask the calculating coldness in her eyes—a trait that had served her well in her dual role as secretary and spy.
"Secretary Kalifa, is Boss Iceberg available? I need to report something urgent," called Barry, one of the foremen, as he approached the office.
"He's inside. Go right ahead, Barry," she replied with practiced professionalism.
As Paulie entered the office, Kalifa smoothly exited Galley-La without a word to anyone. Her graceful figure disappeared into the maze of narrow alleyways that crisscrossed Water 7's urban landscape.
CP9 Hideout
The secret meeting place buzzed with nervous energy as Kalifa arrived to find her fellow agents already assembled.
"Kalifa! Did you see the Sky Screen?" Kaku's characteristic optimism shone through despite their compromised situation. "We all got promoted to CP0! Can you believe it?"
The long-nosed agent couldn't contain his excitement at the prospect of advancement and increased pay, even if their current mission had been derailed.
"Since our identities are already compromised, there's no point in maintaining cover any longer," Lucci observed with his typical analytical detachment. He swirled wine in his glass, clearly frustrated by the premature exposure. "We should confront Iceberg directly. Though that cyborg Franky seems to have caught wind of the situation and gone into hiding."
The core Water 7 infiltration team—Lucci, Kalifa, Kaku, and Bruno—had gathered to await orders from their CP9 superior, unsure how to proceed with their mission compromised.
The door opened with a soft creak as a stunning black-haired woman in an elegant red cheongsam entered their hideout. "Well, well... everyone's already here. That saves me the trouble of tracking you all down individually."
Ada's presence commanded immediate respect from the assembled agents. They knew she maintained close connections with Spandam and had joined CP9 years before the current team. Though they'd never worked together directly, her Devil Fruit abilities displayed on the Sky Screen marked her as an elite operative of the highest caliber.
"Kaku," she addressed the giraffe-nosed agent directly, "I notice you haven't acquired your Devil Fruit yet."
"Senior Ada, I haven't accumulated sufficient merit within the department," he replied somewhat sheepishly. "I lack the credentials for such rewards."
At this moment, Kaku remained ignorant of where he might find the Zoan Ushi Ushi no Mi, Model: Giraffe that the Sky Screen had shown him wielding. The knowledge that he would eventually obtain such power filled him with anticipation, but the path remained frustratingly unclear.
"I know exactly where your fruit is located," Ada revealed with a slight smile. "Commander Spandam possesses a Devil Fruit that doesn't appear in any official encyclopedia. I suspect it's destined for you."
Kaku practically bounced with excitement at the revelation. "Incredible! The Giraffe Fruit must be perfectly suited for my combat style!"
"You've all completed your Water 7 assignments admirably," Ada continued. "These Devil Fruits were always intended as strength enhancements for your next phase of operations. Kalifa, there's a fruit waiting for you as well."
The prospect of finally receiving their promised rewards energized the entire team. After 5 years of deep cover work, they were ready to embrace their true potential as elite government operatives.
Kalifa, however, had noticed something intriguing during her analysis of the Sky Screen footage. Lucci's protective behavior toward this woman named Ada seemed completely out of character for their normally emotionless leader. His concern transcended mere professional courtesy—there were definitely deeper feelings involved.
How fascinating... she thought, her gossip instincts activating. In 5 years of working under him, I've never seen Lucci show interest in anyone. He's always been a perfect killing machine, devoid of personal attachments.
"Senior Ada, seeing everyone's promotion to CP0 is truly enviable," Kalifa said with genuine enthusiasm. "I've become completely addicted to watching the Sky Screen—I think about future events constantly. It's absolutely captivating content!"
The female agent's passion for following the ongoing drama had become an obsession. Fortunately, the Sky Screen hadn't yet featured any palace intrigue storylines, or Kalifa might have abandoned sleep entirely to keep watching.
This enthusiasm for "drama-chasing" wasn't limited to civilians—even elite CP9 agents found themselves drawn to the Sky Screen's revelations. In their otherwise dark and secretive lives, it provided a rare source of entertainment and hope.
The Sky Screen's focus returned to the battle between CP0 agents and Donquixote Family executives, drawing viewers back to the unfolding confrontation.
-Broadcast-
"Senior Ada, leave the fighting to Lucci and me," Kaku declared confidently. "I'll handle the fat one."
He selected Machvise as his opponent while Lucci would engage Gladius. Notably, both agents seemed to dismiss the black-haired young man as a significant threat.
The mysterious figure enjoyed protection from two Donquixote executives, suggesting high status but questionable combat ability. Perhaps he was simply one of Doflamingo's valued associates—hardly worth CP0's direct attention.
Ada remained cradled in Lucci's arms, one hand pressed to her throbbing temple as fragmented memories continued assaulting her consciousness. Despite her personal distress, duty came first. "Kaku, don't underestimate them. If you can't achieve rapid victory, both of you should retreat immediately."
Her warning carried the weight of experience—sacrificing elite agents for a single operation would represent an unacceptable loss to the World Government's intelligence capabilities.
"CP0 is seriously underestimating us," Gladius observed with dark amusement.
"Let these World Government lapdogs experience the power we gained from Eren-san," Machvise added with equal menace.
What followed defied all logical explanation. Both Donquixote executives performed identical actions—biting deep into their own palms with their teeth, drawing blood that dripped onto the ground below. This apparent act of ritual self-mutilation before battle left even experienced CP0 agents speechless with confusion.
Golden electrical currents began emanating from their self-inflicted wounds, spreading across their entire bodies like living lightning. Superheated steam rose from their forms as the energy intensified.
Two massive bolts of golden lightning crashed down from the clear sky, striking both executives simultaneously. The earth itself trembled under the impact as a fierce windstorm erupted around them, forcing the airborne CP0 agents to struggle maintaining their Moonwalk techniques.
"What in the hell is that?!" Kaku shouted over the howling wind.
Before their horrified eyes, both Donquixote executives began transforming. Bones, muscle tissue, and flesh materialized from nothing, expanding their forms at an impossible rate. Within moments, two colossal humanoid figures wreathed in steam towered over the battlefield—giants born from lightning and willpower, defying every known law of Devil Fruit powers.