Spandam was so terrified that his soul nearly left his body.
The fact that he didn't drop dead on the spot was proof of how "brave" he was.
Meanwhile, Domino—
Because of Leno's earlier words—
Her pretty face instantly flushed crimson.
She shyly covered her burning cheeks with both hands.
"So… so Lord Leno already considers me his woman!"
Leno: ??? Foolish woman.
While Spandam's brain short-circuited and his body stood frozen stiff with fear—
The Marines behind him, who had been about to seize Leno, also froze in place.
They weren't blind.
They recognized that face.
The former Navy Vice Admiral.
The man rumored to have been thrown into Impel Down's Eternal Hell.
Why—
Why was he standing here?!
And judging by Spandam's reaction—
Something was very, very wrong.
Spandam's lips trembled violently.
His legs went weak.
"You… you're supposed to be locked up! Eternal Hell! That's impossible!"
He abruptly shrieked,
"Guards! Guards! What are you standing there for?! Arrest him! No—kill him! Kill him immediately!"
He stumbled backward in panic.
As long as Leno died—
He would be safe.
Yes, safe!
But—
Before the Marines could even react—
Leno's figure flickered.
In the next instant, he appeared directly in front of Spandam.
So close that Spandam could feel his breath.
Spandam's pupils shrank to pinpoints.
"Don't… don't come closer!"
Leno looked down at him, eyes cold.
"Spandam. You still haven't changed."
"Loud. Arrogant. And utterly useless."
Before the words finished—
A terrifying pressure suddenly descended.
Conqueror's Haki.
It exploded outward without restraint.
Boom!
The surrounding Marines rolled their eyes back and collapsed one after another.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
In an instant, only Spandam and Domino remained standing.
Domino stood there unharmed—
Because Leno had deliberately avoided her.
Spandam, however, felt as if a mountain were pressing down on his soul.
His teeth chattered uncontrollably.
"Y-you… what do you want…"
Leno leaned slightly closer.
His voice was low, yet every word cut like ice.
"I'm here to borrow a warship."
"And you're going to help me prepare it."
Spandam's face turned pale as death.
"Impossible! This is Enies Lobby! I'm an official of the World Government! If you touch me—"
Crack.
Leno grabbed him by the collar and lifted him off the ground effortlessly.
Spandam's legs dangled helplessly in the air.
"Official?"
Leno sneered.
"Do you really think that title can protect you?"
He slightly increased the pressure of his grip.
Spandam instantly felt suffocated.
"W-wait! Wait! I'll arrange it! I'll arrange a ship immediately!"
Survival instinct overwhelmed everything else.
Dignity?
Authority?
All meaningless.
Seeing Spandam's cowardly capitulation—
Domino looked at Leno with even greater admiration.
Lord Leno was so domineering!
But just as Leno was about to force Spandam to lead the way—
A shrill alarm suddenly echoed throughout Enies Lobby.
"Alert! Alert!"
"Emergency report! Leno has escaped from Impel Down!"
"Repeat—Leno has escaped! Domino is an accomplice! Engage with full force—no mercy!"
The broadcast rang through every corner of the island.
Spandam's eyes widened in shock.
"W-what?!"
Domino's heart sank.
The Navy… had already branded her an accomplice.
Leno, however—
Only narrowed his eyes slightly.
So fast.
It seemed the Navy's response was quicker than expected.
And—
They had already decided.
No mercy.
The Marines who usually fawned over Spandam—
His corrupt lackeys—
Suddenly emitted several soft puchi sounds without any warning.
Invisible blades sliced through them.
In an instant, they were reduced to neatly severed chunks.
Their bodies collapsed into scattered pieces across the ground.
They didn't even have time to scream.
It was Leno.
He had infused his Conqueror's Haki with that intense splitting characteristic.
With nothing more than a single glance—
He erased them completely.
This kind of "crowd-clearing" was far more efficient than ordinary Conqueror's Haki.
Witnessing such a horrifying scene—
A pungent smell spread from Spandam's trousers.
He had literally wet himself.
In his wildest nightmares, he had never imagined that Leno, after escaping Impel Down, would become this terrifying.
Just one look—
And several of his fairly capable subordinates were dead beyond death.
Spandam completely abandoned any sense of dignity or image.
With a loud thud, he dropped to his knees before Leno.
Tears and snot streamed down his face as he kowtowed frantically.
"Lord Leno! Spare me! Spare me!"
"Please! Let me go! I didn't know she was your woman! I truly didn't know!"
"Please just treat me like a fart and let me go! I was wrong! I'll never dare again!"
Endless pleas poured out of his mouth like they cost nothing.
As for why Leno felt zero psychological burden killing those Marines?
Simple.
Anyone who associated with trash like Spandam—
Bullying colleagues, abusing power—
What good could they possibly be?
Who knew how many fellow Marines they had harmed in the shadows?
Killing them felt like removing a blight.
Leno's heart didn't ripple in the slightest.
Hearing Spandam repeatedly say "your woman,"
Domino's face flushed even deeper.
Especially since Leno did not refute it at all—
Her heart felt as sweet as if soaked in honey.
She felt her decision to follow Leno was absolutely right.
Wasn't his heart already warming a little?
In truth, Leno simply didn't see the need to waste words correcting something so trivial.
Even if he knew what Domino was thinking, it wouldn't have stirred much reaction.
Just as Leno was about to say something further—
A Den Den Mushi rang from Spandam's pocket.
Purururururu…
Spandam trembled violently.
He glanced fearfully at Leno, silently asking for permission to answer.
He was terrified that any unnecessary movement would result in him becoming the next pile of fragments.
Seeing his cowardly state,
Leno sneered.
"Oh? There are things you don't dare to do, Spandam? Go on. Answer it."
Spandam's face flushed between red and green, humiliated—
But he didn't dare utter a word of protest.
His trembling hand pulled out the Den Den Mushi.
Soon, the call connected.
The snail's face transformed into a man wearing frog-shaped glasses with a braided beard.
Sengoku's serious voice came through.
"Spandam. Leno has escaped from Impel Down."
"I've dispatched Borsalino to search the nearby seas. He will soon arrive at Enies Lobby for inspection."
"When he does, you are to cooperate fully."
"Leno escaped Impel Down?! Why would he come to Enies Lobby?! Fleet Admiral Sengoku, what exactly are you doing?!"
"Cooperate with an inspection? Why should I?!"
The words burst out of Spandam's mouth before he even thought.
The moment he finished—
He realized what he had said.
He cautiously glanced at Leno beside him.
Seeing Leno's calm expression, he exhaled slightly in relief.
On the other end, Sengoku's face darkened instantly.
His voice dropped into a restrained roar.
"This is an order from the World Government! You do not get to refuse!"
Feeling Sengoku's anger,
Spandam reluctantly muttered, "I… I understand."
He was just about to hang up quickly—
When Sengoku added:
"Oh, and one more thing. Impel Down's Vice Warden Domino has defected."
"If you encounter her, don't be deceived. She is Leno's accomplice."
"Why would she?!" Spandam reflexively blurted out in curiosity.
The instant the words left his mouth, he wanted to slap himself.
Why is your mouth so loose?!
In this situation, why speak so fast?!
He shot a terrified glance at Leno.
Leno, however, didn't seem bothered.
If anything, he was also curious.
"Hmph. Domino was once saved by Leno."
"Ever since he was imprisoned, she's likely been plotting how to help him escape."
"She's been secretly inquiring about Crocodile's detention schedule…"
"In any case—if you encounter her, show no mercy! Either capture her alive or execute her on the spot!"
Click.
The Den Den Mushi went silent.
And at that moment—
Leno's heart stirred.
Though Sengoku hadn't gone into detail—
He understood enough.
Domino hadn't stayed away that week because of fear.
That foolish woman…
She had likely been searching desperately for information and opportunities to help him escape.
Was it a trap?
Could Sengoku possibly predict he'd appear specifically at Enies Lobby—
And stand here with Spandam?
If that were true, then fine—
Sengoku would be more of a cheat than he was.
Before Leno could sort through the complexity of his thoughts—
Domino's anxious voice sounded beside him.
"Leno! We have to go! If Admiral Kizaru arrives, it'll truly be dangerous!"
Leno looked at her.
At the pure concern on her face—
Every bit of it for his sake.
Suddenly, he felt she was foolish.
Rarely gentle, he reached out and lightly patted her head.
His tone, however, remained rough.
"You think I don't know that? Behave."
Then his gaze shifted to Spandam.
"I trust Mr. Spandam will make the 'correct' choice."
"Misleading that lazy Admiral won't be too difficult."
Spandam instantly broke out in cold sweat.
He knew—
One wrong sentence now, and he would become minced meat.
"Damn you, Leno!!! Why did you have to escape?!"
But inner screaming aside—
Reality demanded submission.
Stammering, voice trembling, he hurried to pledge loyalty.
"Y-Yes! I… I absolutely won't let Admiral Kizaru discover you! I swear!"
Leno nodded in satisfaction.
He reached out and patted Spandam's trembling shoulder.
The pat alone nearly made Spandam collapse to the ground.
"Good. You don't have to die—for now."
Leno's tone was light, almost casual.
"Oh, and by the way, I've already left a mark on you. If you dare betray me…"
His gaze suddenly turned ice-cold, murderous intent surging like a tidal wave.
"You'll die ten thousand times more miserably than those Marines just now."
"I wouldn't dare! Absolutely wouldn't dare!"
Spandam forced out a smile uglier than crying itself, bowing repeatedly.
He didn't dare gamble on whether Leno was bluffing.
That single glance that dismembered men alive—
It was too horrifying.
He was afraid of death.
He hadn't finished enjoying his luxurious life yet.
Leno no longer paid him any attention.
Instead, he grabbed Domino by the wrist—
She was still standing there, dazed, cheeks burning red, practically steaming after the unexpected head pat—
And pulled her toward the depths of the Tower of Justice.
"Spandam."
Without turning his head, Leno issued a command.
"Lead the way. I want to see the so-called Devil Child your CP9 captured… and that cyborg named Franky."