Instead of stopping him from reporting, Rolan waved his hand.
"Partners, it seems we've walked right into a trap set by the World Government. Their goal in capturing Iceburg was to lure us here and force us to make a rescue attempt."
Enel grinned broadly.
"Yehahahahaha, what's there to fear? No matter how many they send, we'll smash them with thunder!"
Rolan glanced over his crew's faces. None showed fear. Only excitement. He nodded once, voice low.
"Then fine. Let's use this battle to make the Ion Tempest's name echo throughout the world of one piece."
He leapt first from the ship. His crew followed swiftly. To avoid any interference, Nami raised the ship on clouds, lifting it to a height of four thousand meters.
Enel looked up to the sky, chest puffed out, wearing the expression of I am the strongest in the world.
"Yehahahahaha, step forward! I am God of Thunder!"
Kuro pushed his glasses up, stretched his shoulders with a grin.
"It feels good to move again after all this time."
Zoro tightened his grip on his sword's hilt, eyes cold with intent.
"Time to test my new skills."
Crocodile raised his scorpion-hook, silent, but the gleam in his eyes drowned out any words — fighting intent clear.
Beside Rolan stood Nami and Lina, two women orbiting the silent center. They spoke nothing, even as their expressions were tense.
Franky paced, body trembling with impatience, like a hunting dog ready to bolt. If not for Kuro's restraint, he might have charged ahead alone.
"Kuro, don't hold me back! Iceburg's life is at stake!" Franky spat out.
Kuro shook his head, calm but firm.
"We don't even know where he is exactly yet. Rushing blind now is pointless."
Rolan frowned slightly. His tone remained flat. He produced the still-active Transponder Snail that one of the Special Agents had dropped. He held it, eyes narrowed.
"Did you really think you could ambush us and get away clean?" he asked.
The snail whimpered, its tone trembling.
"Y-you must be Rolan… Hot, hot, hot! Why is my hand burning?"
Metal clanged as guards scrambled. Then the snail spoke again, voice frantic.
"This is a death order from the Gorosei! CP9 paid a heavy price to capture Iceburg and lure you here."
Darkness stole into Rolan's gaze. Still calm, still composed — but ice cold.
"How is Iceburg doing?" he asked quietly.
Silence fell. Then the snail snarled through its muffled voice.
"Remove his gag! Let him speak."
Static crackled. Then a choking voice followed.
"If you want to save him, come to the main tower now."
Rolan's eyes sharpened.
"I guess you didn't expect me to move this fast." His voice was a whisper, sharp as steel. "Your main force hasn't arrived yet, has it?"
The snail froze. Its voice squeaked.
"You… who are you? How do you kno—"
"Call it instinct," Rolan replied. His tone remained casual, carrying disdain. "But here's the thing — your CP9 means nothing to me. Hand over Iceburg quietly."
The snail sneered.
"Hahaha, you do realize I hold the command for a Buster Call — one word from me and this island burns to ashes."
At those words, Robin's face drained of color. Memories of fire, death, and loss surged up. She pressed a hand to her mouth, trembling. The horror of that past weighed on her.
Rolan's eyes flickered briefly, just enough for Robin to notice. He stepped forward, voice flat, tone indifferent. He placed a hand on her shoulder — firm, protective, not soft.
"Don't be weak. Live. Survive. That is enough."
Robin swallowed and nodded, eyes still wet. She straightened.
Rolan turned back to the snail.
"Spandam," he said, the name clipped. "I don't care about your Buster Call. If you want to kill civilians, burn the island. I'll make sure you die along with them."
The Transponder Snail shrieked in panic.
"Lucci! Get them now!"
Rolan shrugged lightly as the snail disconnected. He raised his voice in a flat drawl.
"Partners, we move. This is the first time all of us fight as one. Franky, Robin — come with me. The rest, hold off reinforcements."
Without hesitation, he slung a shoulder bag over his back, then shoved Franky and Robin in front of him.
In a blink, they vanished toward the tower.
Nami stomped her foot.
"Hmph!"
Her lips curled in disdain at their disappearance.
Kuro schemed quietly.
"There will be too many enemies at the main gate. We must cut them off so Rolan is undisturbed."
With that, he morphed into a Peng bird and dashed into the crowd.
Crocodile, Enel, Zoro, and the rest followed, charging into the masses of agents.
Chaos exploded.
Suddenly, a voice rang out.
"So you're Ion Tempest, are you? Not bad!"
Enel looked up to a rooftop where a bald man sneered down at them.
"What weird creature are you?" Enel called, lightning crackling around him.
The man smirked.
"Name's Fukuro. I'm the silent blade of CP9."
Enel's grin widened.
"Lightning — 20 Million Volt Discharge!"
In an instant, he vanished and reappeared above Fukuro, foot alight with electricity, smashing downward.
Bang!
Fukuro slammed into the ground, motionless.
Enel chuckled.
"Thought you were strong? Turns out you're just paperwork and muscle."
He surveyed the fallen body, then lunged back into the swarm of agents.
Meanwhile, Zoro swept his sword in a deadly arc, slicing through waves of enemies like he was cutting melons. Steel rang. Blood sprayed. Agent after agent fell before him.
The plaza twisted into a battlefield of screams and gunfire, but the Ion Tempest crew advanced without hesitation.
Rolan had already disappeared ahead with Franky and Robin, determined to reach the tower and rescue Iceburg.
_____
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