After hanging up the call, the dark underground shipyard fell into a deathly silence. Only the dripping of water echoed in the cavernous space.
Lucci stopped struggling. For a moment, it felt as if he had returned to that bloody night… standing before five hundred captured soldiers, coldly declaring the judgment that 'the weak have no right to live'. Now, fate had come full circle and struck him.
"How ironic…" Lucci laughed self-deprecatingly.
With a crisp snap, Setsuna cleanly broke Lucci's neck, then casually tossed the corpse toward the stunned CP9 members. The dull thud of the body hitting the ground jolted them awake.
Just as Setsuna turned to leave, Blueno, as if possessed, suddenly spoke. "You… you're not going to kill us…"
The moment the words left his mouth, he regretted it. The other members immediately covered his mouth in terror, afraid this foolish question would invite death.
Setsuna turned back with an amused smile. "I am an ally of the World Government. Why would I indiscriminately kill innocents?"
He shrugged. "If that idiot hadn't insisted on seeking death, I wouldn't have bothered."
Once Setsuna left, the CP9 agents collapsed, feeling as if they'd been completely drained.
"We actually survived!" Kaku's shirt was already soaked with cold sweat, his voice still trembling.
"This Chiaki-sama is truly a rare good person!" Kalifa patted her heaving chest. Small droplets still clung to her glasses.
"It's just a pity about Lucci…" Kaku sounded somewhat sad, his expression complex.
Silence spread among them. After a long while, Kumadori timidly spoke. "So, what do we do now?"
"Act as if nothing happened," Blueno sighed. "As for Lucci… let's say he took his own life after the mission failed."
Everyone nodded tacitly. Given the involvement of secrets related to the Five Elders, their superior probably wouldn't even dare file a report.
…
Setsuna led Robin and the other two away from the damp, dark underground shipyard. Bright sunlight fell upon the streets of Water 7.
As they turned a street corner, they saw a tall figure leaning lazily against a seaside railing.
"Ara ara, what a coincidence," Aokiji slowly turned around. The Justice cloak of a Marine Admiral fluttered lightly in the sea breeze.
His gaze passed over Setsuna, directly settling on Robin.
Robin's body visibly stiffened for a moment. But when her eyes met Setsuna's reassuring back, the fear in her heart was miraculously soothed.
She took a deep breath, lifted her head, and met Aokiji's gaze with stubborn, determined eyes.
A flicker of relief passed through Aokiji's eyes. "It seems you've finally found a place to belong."
"Exactly!" Robin's tone was more resolute than ever. "I will never run away again!"
"The one who gave her this belief is you, isn't it? Chiaki Setsuna-san," Aokiji scratched his messy curly hair, his tone carrying a touch of emotion. "For a prisoner you happened to capture… you didn't hesitate to snuff out the most talented genius of CP9."
A playful smile lifted the corner of Setsuna's mouth. "You know the details of Robin joining the crew so well. Don't tell me you hide in the shadows spying on her every day, Marine Admiral… no, I should call you a Peeping Tom."
Aokiji forced a smile. "Ara ara, calling me a Peeping Tom is too rude."
Setsuna nodded slightly. "You're right. It should be Peeping Tom and Stalker."
Aokiji sighed helplessly, his expression turning serious. "I'm just a bit curious. For what purpose are you protecting Robin? For example…"
His gaze sharpened. "Ancient script?"
A nonchalant smile remained on Setsuna's face. "Killing a person might require a reason. But does saving a person need a reason?"
Hearing Setsuna's answer, the three girls' eyes sparkled like stars, feeling their Captain's back was just too cool.
Even Aokiji was deeply moved. "It's that simple?"
Setsuna nodded. "Many things are simple. For instance, my desire to beat you up right now stems from a simple desire to fight."
"Spare me," Aokiji raised his hands. "I believe in Lazy Justice. I have zero interest in fights outside of justice."
Setsuna raised an eyebrow. "So you're interested in being a perverted stalker instead?"
"Really, spare me," Aokiji sighed again. "To prove I'm not a pervert, I'll give you some information."
Aokiji's gaze fell on Bonney. Robin quickly blocked his line of sight. "You perverted Marine! What do you want with Bonney?"
Aokiji felt deeply powerless. "I'm really not a pervert. Sakazuki is the pervert."
"Sakazuki!" Robin's expression changed. For her, a survivor of Ohara, Akainu was undoubtedly a worse nightmare than Aokiji.
Aokiji said in a complex tone. "This little girl's identity is important. It was inconsequential before, but recently she seems to have gained attention. Sakazuki has received orders to bring this child to Mary Geoise."
The word 'Mary Geoise' seemed like the most terrifying nightmare. The moment Bonney heard it, she trembled in fear, clinging tightly to Setsuna's leg, large tears rolling down her face. "I don't want to go back! I don't want to go back!"
Seeing Aokiji scare Bonney to tears with just one sentence, both Robin and Uta glared at him angrily. "You perverted Marine!"
Aokiji scratched his hair in frustration. There was a time when just hearing his name would make Robin tremble. Now she dared to call him a pervert to his face. Wasn't this change a bit too fast?
"Don't worry. A mere Marine Admiral is nothing. No one can take you from me," Setsuna comforted Bonney while ruffling her hair.
"A mere Marine Admiral?" Aokiji smiled wryly, holding his forehead. This was the first time he'd been so thoroughly looked down upon.
He tried to explain helplessly. "Maybe because I'm too easygoing, it gives you the wrong impression. Marine Admirals aren't small fry. Sakazuki is absolutely not to be underestimated."
Setsuna naturally knew Akainu's strength, possessing the Magu Magu no Mi, hailed as the Logia-type fruit with the highest offensive power.
In the original timeline's great battle with Aokiji, Akainu not only broke Aokiji's left leg but, according to Jinbe's account, had the capability to kill Aokiji.
But unfortunately, Setsuna possessed a 'Weapon Against Akainu'… the support of the Five Elders.
Those high and mighty rulers always believed in 'rather give to outsiders than to our own slaves'.
As long as he demonstrated sufficient value, even if Akainu was acting on orders from the Celestial Dragons, he'd only receive a scolding from the Five Elders.
Setsuna nodded slightly. "I understand. Since you provided the information, I won't fight you today, Mr. Perverted Stalker."
"I shouldn't have shown up today," Aokiji sighed once more, his figure gradually turning to ice crystals and dissipating into the air.