Boom!
The tremendous impact sent the tightly sealed Gate of Justice trembling violently.
The Gate of Justice was one of the World Government’s great facilities, connecting its three major strongholds by controlling the ocean currents.
Once a ship passed through the gate, it could ride the designated current directly to its destination.
It also allowed vessels to bypass the Red Line, drastically reducing travel time to the New World.
According to Marine Headquarters’ records, traveling through the Gate of Justice was dozens of times faster than taking the long route through the deep sea.
"Admiral Lucas..."
Koby forced a bitter smile.
"Right behind the Gate of Justice is the Red Line."
"Sending the Chief of CP9 flying like that..."
"Isn’t that... a little inappropriate?"
His current role was much like Bogard’s aboard Garp’s ship.
His job was to cover for Lucas whenever possible and prevent him from causing major incidents.
Unfortunately...
Before Koby could even react...
Lucas had already launched Spandam with a single burst of Haki.
Koby wasn’t sure whether Spandam was simply too weak...
Or whether his own crisis-management skills were hopelessly inadequate.
"Did any of you see me lay a hand on him?"
Lucas adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and casually looked around the deck.
Every person his gaze landed on immediately looked away.
Spandam’s fate was still fresh in everyone’s minds.
No one wanted to make eye contact and be blasted away next.
"Who was it?!"
"Who dared startle Saint Charlos?!"
A shrill voice suddenly rang out from one of the ships waiting beside the platform for the Gate of Justice to open.
Koby and the others immediately turned pale.
"The World Nobles..."
Hina gasped.
"That’s the flag of a Celestial Dragon!"
"What are they doing here?"
From their very first day at the Marine Academy, every Marine had been taught about the Celestial Dragons.
Descendants of nineteen of the twenty founding kings who established the World Government eight hundred years ago...
They called themselves the descendants of the creators of the world and enjoyed absolute privilege.
Should a Celestial Dragon be threatened...
Even an Admiral or CP0 would be mobilized to protect them.
For ordinary people...
Encountering a Celestial Dragon was nothing short of a nightmare.
And now...
Lucas had just sent Spandam flying.
If the Celestial Dragons decided to make an issue of it...
Things could become very troublesome.
Spandam painfully climbed to his feet.
Instead of fear...
His face lit up with wild delight.
He had been wondering how to get revenge.
Now...
The appearance of a Celestial Dragon was nothing less than heaven itself lending him a hand.
"Tie Spandam up."
Lucas casually dusted off his clothes as he stood.
"Whatever offense he committed against the Celestial Dragons..."
"He can explain it himself."
Everyone froze.
Including Spandam.
I’m the victim!
He had been planning to turn the tables...
Yet Lucas had shamelessly beaten him to it.
More importantly...
After witnessing Lucas’s terrifying strength...
Even Jabra and the rest of CP9 didn’t dare object.
They could only stand there in silence.
"So..."
A muffled voice suddenly spoke.
"You’re the Marines’ newly appointed Fourth Admiral?"
The crowd on the platform parted.
A Celestial Dragon wearing the signature bubble helmet slowly waddled forward.
A long strand of mucus hung from his nose.
Lucas immediately recognized him.
Saint Charlos.
The same Celestial Dragon whom Luffy had famously punched in the original story.
He hadn’t expected to run into him here.
The world’s biggest magnet for trouble...
"Saint Charlos."
A short figure dressed in a white robe and wearing a mask stepped forward from behind him.
"He is indeed the Marine known throughout the seas..."
"The Fourth Admiral..."
"Admiral Glutton Lucas."
Seeing the attire, Lucas raised an eyebrow.
So the Celestial Dragons even traveled with CP0.
As expected...
A fool was always accompanied by an even bigger fool.
"Spandam."
The CP0 agent glanced back coldly.
"Get over here."
As the intelligence agency ranking above CP9—and the organization that answered directly to the Five Elders—
CP0 naturally outranked even the Chief of CP9.
Spandam’s face immediately turned pale.
He hadn’t expected to encounter CP0 here.
Fortunately...
His father, Spandine, was one of their members.
Suppressing the pain, he hurried over.
"Sir..."
Spandam lowered his voice, his face full of grievance.
"This so-called Fourth Admiral is completely lawless."
"He destroyed Enies Lobby’s warship..."
"And repeatedly attacked me."
"I hope you’ll uphold justice."
The masked CP0 agent silently looked toward Lucas before snorting.
"Spandam."
"You truly are an embarrassment."
"You’ve disgraced not only yourself..."
"But the entire Cipher Pol."
"Still..."
"This Fourth Admiral really is as arrogant as the rumors say."
"He acts however he pleases."
"If Saint Charlos weren’t here..."
"Even I wouldn’t have a reason to make things difficult for him."
"But now..."
"With a Celestial Dragon present..."
"He won’t have a choice."
Spandam blinked in confusion.
He had no idea what the CP0 agent was planning.
However...
As the agent walked over and quietly whispered something into Saint Charlos’s ear...
Spandam’s face slowly filled with excitement.
"Admiral Lucas..."
Ain frowned.
"I don’t think that CP0 agent has good intentions."
"I have a very bad feeling about this."
Hina and the others nodded in agreement.
The mere presence of a Celestial Dragon was enough to make them nervous.
Now...
With CP0 obviously plotting something...
It felt as though they were walking on thin ice.
"It’s not that they seem to have bad intentions."
Lucas calmly took another sip of strong liquor.
"It’s written all over their faces."
"But don’t worry."
"We’ll deal with whatever comes."
"Let’s head ashore first and resupply."
With that, Lucas casually leapt onto the platform.
Around them were numerous merchant ships waiting for clearance after paying the passage fee.
However...
Because a Celestial Dragon was present...
None of them dared disembark.
They would rather miss the opening of the Gate of Justice than risk drawing a Celestial Dragon’s attention.
Seeing someone stroll ashore so casually...
Right in front of a Celestial Dragon...
Left everyone utterly astonished.
Ding!
CongratUlti ons, Host. Ten minutes remain until the end of today’s workday.
After faithfully checking in from nine to five for an entire week, you are about to enjoy your first weekend as an Admiral.
To reward your exemplary work ethic, the system grants you one Silver Treasure Chest.
Upon opening the chest, there is a 70% chance of receiving a reward from the current world, and a 30% chance of obtaining a reward from another world.
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