Being able to protect oneself without needing others to stand guard is a rare and valuable gift.
This holds especially true in the New World, where no matter how strong a person's reputation may be, the life of a pirate is always lived with one's head hanging by a thread.
Even the most powerful can meet an unexpected end; in this world, there is no such thing as an immortal, unbeatable warrior.
Still, El was more than capable of standing on his own. For the moment, he was completely alone in his quarters and the surrounding area.
…
"Are you absolutely certain El is the only one there?" Lucci asked.
Jabra scoffed, curling his lip. "What? Do you doubt me? Or have you forgotten just how sharp my sense of smell is? I can easily tell how many people are in any given place!"
"Tch…" Lucci smirked. "I almost forgot you have a nose like a hound's!"
"You—!"
Jabra nearly shifted into his Devil Fruit form to lunge at Lucci. He was a user of the Zoan-type Dog-Dog Fruit, Model: Wolf, while Lucci held the Zoan-type Cat-Cat Fruit, Model: Leopard.
By nature, the two had always clashed and disliked each other.
"Enough, both of you," Blueno stepped between them. "If we are sure El is alone, then it is time to put our plan into action."
Blueno was already fully prepared, waiting only for confirmation from Jabra.
"Wait a moment…" Lucci still seemed uneasy. "Are you sure this is wise? If anything goes wrong… perhaps we should call it off… I still have a bad feeling about this…"
"Lucci, what has gotten into you? Why are you hesitating now?" Even Blueno looked at him in confusion.
"I'm moving in."
Lucci was never usually this indecisive, but the pressure El exerted was immense. Even now, he had not fully settled on the right course of action.
Still, he had already given Blueno permission to proceed—and with Blueno's abilities, even if things went south, escape would not be impossible.
Creak…
A doorway shaped like a human figure opened up in the wall. Blueno stepped through it, and the wall sealed shut behind him, looking completely undisturbed. Not a trace of the opening remained.
Such was the power of the Door-Door Fruit—wherever he wished, Blueno could create a door and walk right through it. This was exactly what gave him the confidence to go and test El's strength.
Night had fallen, bringing the perfect cover for their move. Blueno had now reached the vicinity of El's quarters.
None of the crew's high-ranking officers had returned yet; whatever El had sent them off to do, it was a golden opportunity Blueno could not afford to miss.
Using his power, he first created several hidden doors in nearby spots where no one would ever think to look—his escape routes.
If anything went wrong, he could choose any one of them and vanish instantly. Even if those doors were blocked, he still had his ultimate trick: the ability to open a door directly in mid-air.
The most surprising feats in this world often come from Paramecia-type Devil Fruit users.
The overwhelming power of Logia types is obvious to anyone. Zoan types stand out clearly just by transforming into beasts, even if their physical enhancements are less immediately dramatic.
But it is among Paramecia users that the true masters of odd and extraordinary abilities are found. Their powers come in endless strange and wonderful forms—like Blueno's Door-Door Fruit.
With it, he could open a doorway in thin air, step inside, and bring anyone or anything he chose along with him.
Once inside, he effectively entered a separate dimension.
He could watch everything happening in the real world clearly, yet remain completely hidden and protected—an ability that felt almost like a cheat code.
Used correctly, its utility far surpassed what most Zoan or even Logia users could offer.
That said, awakening the true potential of a Paramecia fruit was far more difficult.
For Logia and Zoan types, their powers followed similar patterns; the methods used to awaken one could often be adapted to another.
If one user found a path to awakening, others could follow the same steps and have a reasonable chance of success.
But for Paramecia users, each power was so unique that there was little to learn from others. Imitation and reference were limited at best.
El himself had only recently realized that someone was watching him—and likely planning to strike.
He guessed they probably worked for the World Government or the Marines, but he did not know exactly who they were or what abilities they possessed.
Still, he did not waste time worrying over such details. Let them come—he had no reason to fear them.
Lying down in his room, he soon began to breathe in slow, steady snores—all part of his plan to lure his enemy in.
If he appeared alert and ready, no one would dare attack. But if he seemed relaxed and vulnerable, his foes would not be able to resist.
…
Blueno heard the sound of snoring from inside the room.
What a careless pirate, he thought. In this line of work, you should always guard your life above all else.
In this Great Pirate Era, there are more pirates than there are drops of water in the sea!
He had expected El to be some sort of terrifying monster, but now he looked like nothing more than a reckless young man who had stumbled upon great power and did not know how to use it wisely.
Even so, Blueno did not let his guard drop. He was a professional, raised and trained from childhood by the World Government—he would never make such a basic mistake.
Creak…
Keeping the sound as faint as possible, Blueno opened a door directly into the wall of El's room.
First, he would search for information and intelligence.
If there was anything valuable in the quarters of this famous young captain, he would take it.
And if the chance presented itself… eliminating the man would be a bonus.
One could not deny that Blueno was bold.
He was planning to assassinate the captain of the El Pirates—the most talked-about rising force in the world, whom even the World Government and Marines dared not provoke recklessly.
Yet this was not recklessness; it was exactly what CP9 was trained to do.
Gathering intelligence, infiltrating, and eliminating high-value targets were their specialty.
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