On the gradually departing ship, Lucci silently watched the children and Kalifa comforting them.
It was strange.
The female agent, usually aloof and unapproachable like a flower on a high peak, was very patient with these children.
With a gentle tone her colleagues had never heard, she calmed the children who had belatedly reacted.
Children are like that.
When suddenly frightened, they might not react much, but after things end, they often realize what happened.
Seeing Kalifa's expression, Lucci didn't stop her.
"Lucci... where do we go after this?"
Kaku adjusted the course, locked the helm, then walked onto the deck.
His words pulled Lucci back from his memories.
"..."
Lucci didn't respond because even he didn't know where to go now.
Those sailors and agents were now missing, probably dead or alive, only the three of them remained… oh right, and those brats.
Seeing no answer, Kaku's eyes flickered, then looked at the children.
"What about these children..."
Despite Kaku's good temper when bringing the children aboard, he was actually more decisive and ruthless than Kalifa, who appeared cold outside but warm inside.
If Lucci decided, he wouldn't hesitate to abandon these brats.
"Keep them for now."
Hearing this, Kaku immediately turned his head in shock, looking incredulously at Lucci.
"You really plan to send each of them home?"
Never mind the workload… just their current awkward identities made doing these things risky.
After all, strictly speaking, the Marine, pirates, and Revolutionary Army were all their enemies now.
Without a major power's protection, once their identities were exposed, they'd immediately become outcasts.
Hearing Kaku's question, Lucci just snorted lightly, then pointed at his neck.
"Don't forget, she's not dead yet."
Hearing this, Kaku also looked.
Sure enough, the chain was still there. Though starting to fade, undoubtedly, their lives were still in that person's hands.
Before the chain disappeared, they'd better behave.
He didn't plan, at least not now, to send these children home, but wouldn't abandon them either.
But just after he said this, the chain on their necks slowly 'faded', as if losing power.
"..."
This was a bit awkward.
The chain's anomaly made Lucci, who intended to use this as an excuse to maintain his cold image, somewhat embarrassed.
Exchanging a glance with Kaku, Lucci decisively strode toward the children.
"Hmm? Lucci, coming to help too?"
Kalifa smiled, wiping a child's tears, then turned to Lucci, her expression instantly becoming blank.
As if her earlier demeanor was just acting as an agent.
The children, seeing Lucci, this intimidating uncle, approaching, immediately shrank fearfully behind Kalifa.
—Though Kalifa's figure couldn't block the over-two-meter-tall children at all.
"I've already learned from these children."
"The one who kidnapped them is Caesar Clown, the scientist the World Government once captured, colleague of Dr. Vegapunk."
"This guy occupied the abandoned experimental base on Punk Hazard, experimenting on these chil… what are you doing?"
Mid-sentence, Kalifa noticed something off, directly blocking Lucci, stopping his hand reaching for the children.
Lucci also very 'cooperatively' stopped his hand at this moment.
"We can't take these burdens with us."
"That 'Captain' is probably almost dead, this thing will soon disappear."
"Next, follow the original plan..."
Lucci's attitude was clear… Kalifa couldn't refute for a moment.
But she still chose to stand before the children.
Her stance was unmistakable.
"...So, this is your decision? Kalifa."
Lucci looked at his childhood companion, no killing intent or other emotions in his eyes.
But Kalifa, familiar with Lucci's personality, had a bad premonition.
Lucci would really kill these children!
After the World Government's collapse, various reactions emerged among their agents.
Some wanted to make a comeback, some deeply reflected on their mistakes.
Like her.
Kalifa's original nature wasn't bad… she just had no choice before, doing those things.
Now the World Government was gone, the new 'boss' actually suited her temperament.
Honestly, she was the first among the three to truly consider working under Karin.
Kalifa wanted to live for herself, not just be a killing tool.
These children were innocent… she was unwilling and wouldn't allow Lucci to harm them.
If Lucci insisted, Kalifa wouldn't mind fighting him here.
Even with no chance of winning.
"Don't do this, don't do this, aren't we comrades?"
"Do you really want to attack your own comrades?"
Kaku wanted to mediate, but both Kalifa and Lucci stared intently at each other, not responding.
Just as tensions peaked, a brilliant golden light erupted in the distance.
The dazzling radiance could be seen even from afar.
Like another sunrise on the horizon.
Simultaneously, the chains on their necks, which had become somewhat illusory, solidified again, even more 'real' than before.
"... It seems 'Captain' won."
Lucci suddenly withdrew his hand, then calmly said.
"Kaku, change course, back to Punk Hazard."
Hearing this, the tension on Kaku's face vanished. Winking at Kalifa, he dashed to the pilot house.
Only then did Kalifa slowly relax.
Fortunately, luck seemed on her side… things didn't escalate to the final step.
The children hiding behind her, though unaware of the crisis they just faced, sensed the tense atmosphere dissipating.
They timidly glanced at Lucci walking back to the bow, then at each other.
"Don't be afraid, we'll take you home."
Kalifa reassured them.
This time, her tone was full of confidence.
…
Regardless of whether this minor conflict created rifts among the CP trio, the perspective returns to Punk Hazard.
"...Wake up..."
"Birdland..."
Amidst a cacophony of sharp, awakening sounds, Karin opened her eyes.