Franky and Robin ran through the corridors of the Tower of Justice, their footsteps echoing sharply against the stone as they moved toward the source of the loud commotion. The air itself felt tense, vibrating faintly with the aftermath of something violent.
Although this was definitely risky, Franky pushed forward without hesitation. He really wanted to get there because, most probably, there was a chance that it might be Spandam being hunted by someone—and Franky would absolutely want to see Spandam die in front of him. And even better, if he got the chance to kill Spandam with his own hands, that would be the best outcome for him. That bastard deserves it…
Soon, both of them arrived at a corridor where the floor was almost completely destroyed. Only a few scattered sections remained intact, jagged edges hanging over the open drop to the lower levels. Cold wind rushed through the broken structure, carrying dust and the faint scent of burnt debris. The surrounding walls had been torn apart, leaving the entire area exposed—everything outside clearly visible through the wreckage.
There had definitely been a large, high-scale battle here.
As their eyes swept across the devastation, they finally landed on a figure—Gojo.
He was sitting casually on a tilted, broken section of wall, resting as if the destruction around him meant nothing. His blindfold was still in place, his posture relaxed, almost lazy, yet there was an unmistakable presence around him that filled the ruined corridor.
Robin's gaze lingered on him for a moment, and then it clicked.
So he was the one hunting Spandam.
A faint understanding settled in her eyes.
Gojo, meanwhile, had already sensed their arrival. Without any urgency, he slowly turned his head in their direction, facing them.
Then Franky's eyes shifted—and froze.
In a corner of the ruined corridor lay the severed, rolled head of Spandam. Just a few meters away from it, his decapitated body lay sprawled across the broken ground. Dust drifted lazily between the two halves, the silence around them almost eerie.
Franky's expression twisted, and then he burst out loudly, "This bastard is finally dead! Damn, it would have been better if I was the one who killed him. I missed the chance." His fists clenched tightly at his sides. Tch… should've been me…
Gojo, hearing that, immediately understood. Franky must have had his own enmity with Spandam. And honestly, from just the few words Gojo had heard from Spandam—and the way he treated his subordinates—it wasn't hard to imagine. Someone like him wouldn't just have enemies… he would have many.
Numerous.
Gojo remained seated on the tilted wall, facing them calmly as the wind tugged lightly at his clothes. "Both of you should leave here," he said. "Leave this place as soon as possible."
But before he could continue, Franky cut in, impatience clear in his voice, "Were you the one who killed Spandam?"
Gojo paused briefly, then replied simply, "Yes."
No pride. No hesitation.
Then he continued, his tone still calm but carrying a faint edge, "As I was saying before, both of you should leave here immediately… or else you'll be in huge trouble."
A subtle shift seemed to pass through the air.
"In just a few minutes, a Buster Call is going to arrive on this island. So it would be best for both of you to leave now."
As soon as Robin heard the term Buster Call, her face turned pale. The color drained instantly, her body going rigid before trembling faintly. Her knees nearly gave out as if the weight of that single phrase had dragged her back into a nightmare she could never escape.
The wind howled faintly through the broken corridor, carrying an echo that felt far too familiar.
Gojo noticed.
He looked at her, understanding clear despite his covered eyes. He knew what that word meant to her—knew the trauma it carried.
So her reaction was no surprise.
"You should leave," Gojo said, his voice steady. "There is still time. Go and inform your crew… and leave Enies Lobby as soon as possible."
Robin steadied her breathing, forcing control back into her body. Her fingers tightened slightly as she straightened. Not now… I can't freeze now…
"Yes… I have to inform Luffy and the others," she said firmly.
Then she looked at Gojo. "Are you not going to leave? If you don't… you'll be blasted into pieces."
Gojo's face twitched slightly at that.
Her imagination about worst-case scenarios… was quite something.
"Don't worry about me," he replied. "I can leave on my own. A Buster Call isn't something I need to be worried about. I'll just rest here for now."
A faint gust of wind passed through as he continued, "If you want to find your crew, go to the other side of the Tower of Justice. From there, shout their names from the window. Your Straw Hat Pirates are on the adjacent building—they should hear you."
Robin didn't hesitate. "Thank you very much," she said, and immediately turned and left.
Gojo then looked toward Franky. "Your Franky family is with them as well. You should warn them and help them."
Franky nodded firmly. "Yeah."
Without wasting another second, he followed after Robin, his heavy footsteps fading into the distance.
Soon, Gojo was alone again.
He remained seated on the tilted wall, resting as silence slowly returned to the ruined corridor. The air felt strangely still, broken only by the occasional whistle of wind through the wreckage.
A few minutes passed.
Then—
A deep, rumbling sound spread across the surroundings.
The massive Gate of Justice began to open.
From the broken walls of the Tower of Justice, Gojo could clearly see everything outside. His gaze shifted outward as the enormous gates parted, revealing the sea beyond.
Through them, ten large Marine ships entered one after another.
Their movements were precise.
Disciplined.
Clearly, this was a fixed, pre-planned military formation. The way they spread out made it obvious—they were going to surround the island.
Each ship carried nearly a thousand Marines. Their sheer numbers pressed in like an overwhelming force, suffocating the sea itself.
Gojo activated his observation haki, extending his perception across Enies Lobby. His awareness spread outward, slipping through structures and across distances.
Soon, he found them.
The Straw Hats.
They were escaping—running toward the main gate. Their movements were hurried but coordinated. Good… Gojo thought faintly. They had a way out—and that was enough.
He stood up slowly from the broken wall, debris shifting beneath his feet.
"It is time to leave," he said. "My objective here on Enies Lobby is done. The Straw Hats are also escaping."
His gaze remained fixed on the fleet.
"I will leave with them… but before that, I should deal with these Marine ships. Otherwise, they will be quite a hindrance."
Then—
Something unexpected happened.
Behind the Marine ships, the massive Gate of Justice began to close.
A deep grinding sound echoed across the sea as the enormous gates slowly moved inward.
This was not part of the Vice Admirals' orders.
Confusion spread among them.
Why was the gate closing?
The answer was simple.
The Straw Hats had found a control room—
And they had shut it.
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