A massive warship, as imposing as a ferocious sea beast, could be seen over the eastern horizon of the ocean.
"Report."
"Rear Admiral Rosinante, we are approximately 15 kilometers away from Minion Island. There are currently no signs of anyone near the beach on the eastern side of the island."
The Marine lookout lowered his binoculars and quickly stepped onto the deck, standing before Rosinante, who was clad in a heavy coat.
Rosinante was not merely reinstated to his original position after completing his undercover mission, he was promoted three ranks higher.
Back when he was an undercover spy, he had only been a Marine Commander. Now, he had risen to the rank of Rear Admiral.
Had he not consumed the Calm-Calm Fruit, which was rather underwhelming, he might not have been just a Rear Admiral but a Vice Admiral instead.
"Commodore Kalifa, fire a shot towards the shore! If Tanaka is on the island, he will definitely hear the cannon blast. By then, he should be able to guess that I've arrived."
Upon hearing this, Rosinante turned excitedly to a blonde female officer beside him and issued the order.
Due to his many years as a spy, he didn't have many friends in the Marine. Aside from Sengoku and Tsuru, his only close friends were Law and Tanaka, who had saved his life multiple times on Minion Island.
After such a long separation and with their reunion imminent, he was naturally excited.
So, instead of using a Den Den Mushi to contact Tanaka, he chose a different method—firing a cannon at the island as a signal.
"Understood."
Dressed in a military uniform that was almost too tight for her well-fitted frame, Kalifa turned and walked towards two Marine officers.
"Captain Jabra."
"Lieutenant Bruno."
"Prepare a cannon immediately. Rear Admiral Rosinante has ordered a shot fired toward the shore."
Kalifa spoke with strict professionalism, as if she didn't know the two men at all. In reality, she was discreetly passing on intelligence.
"So, he's finally showing up?"
Jabra, sporting a long black ponytail, responded casually, but when his gaze fell on Minion Island, there was a menacing glint in his eyes.
"Don't underestimate him. According to the intel from the Marine, the target of this mission not only possesses the powers of the Op-Op Fruit but also has mastery over some unique abilities, such as teleportation techniques."
After the Marines left, Bruno lowered his voice. His hair, styled into two distinctive horn-like shapes, gave him an imposing presence even as he spoke quietly.
"You guys are so timid! You're CP9, for crying out loud. A brat who's only had the Op-Op Fruit for about a month is enough to make you all cower?"
"Is this what Lucci has been teaching you?"
With two white horns protruding from his head and a mop of pink hair, Who's-Who casually munched on something while struggling to push a cannon forward. At the same time, he spoke in a mocking tone, making sure that Jabra, Blueno, and Kalifa could all hear him loud and clear.
"This isn't cowardice. It's about respecting the opponent. It's precisely because we have this level of caution that we've maintained a 100% mission success rate to this day."
"By the way, there's something I probably don't need to remind you of, right? Who's-Who, you are currently a convict."
"You lost the Rubber-Rubber Fruit and were imprisoned. If you fail to capture the Op-Op Fruit user this time, what do you think will happen to you?"
Kalifa adjusted her gold-rimmed glasses, her gaze discreetly scanning the deck while she spoke in a tone that seemed polite yet carried sting.
"Since when do you have the right to lecture me?"
Who's-Who's face darkened instantly upon hearing this.
Having the Rubber-Rubber Fruit being stolen by pirates during transport was the biggest stain on his record as a CP9 agent.
Had the World Government not suddenly issued a mission to capture the Op-Op Fruit user…
Had the user's whereabouts not surfaced in the North Blue…
Had he not coincidentally been imprisoned in the North Blue…
Then he wouldn't even have the chance to atone for his sins. He would have already been executed by the World Government.
That was why he despised anyone bringing up the subject of the Rubber-Rubber Fruit in his presence.
"Still don't get it? Then I guess it falls on me to spell it out for you."
"If we fail to capture the boy named Tanaka, the worst that happens to us is losing our perfect mission completion record. We'll still be CP9."
"But you..."
Kalifa remained composed, her features barely betraying any reaction as she coldly and methodically put him in his place. Who's-Who's face flushed red with anger, yet he was left speechless.
"Kalifa, focus on the mission."
Jabra, inwardly delighted, couldn't help but smirk.
He had disliked Who's-Who for a long time.
CP9 had always been known for its ruthless efficiency, but internally, they maintained strong unity—except for Who's-Who. With his foul temper and sharp tongue, he had made himself unpopular within the unit.
However, there was no denying his talent, his strength rivaled even Lucci's.
Now that he was a convict atoning for his failures, a direct confrontation could jeopardize the mission. Worse, it might endanger Kalifa, so Jabra decided to step in to diffuse the tension. As he did, he exchanged a quick glance with Bruno.
"Let's get back to the Op-Op Fruit user. Personally, I think we should ensure he never gets the chance to use his Devil Fruit powers."
"From the intel we've gathered, the Op-Op Fruit is far too overpowered."
"Not only can it teleport people within a certain range instantly, but it can also slice through anything."
"Tekkai probably won't be able to withstand its cutting power."
Catching Jabra's signal, Bruno immediately shifted the conversation back to strategy.
"I suggest we remain hidden near Rosinante until the target reveals himself and gets close." As he spoke, Jabra lit the cannon fuse.
BOOM!
The deck-shaking roar of the cannon was deafening.
A pitch-black cannonball launched from its muzzle, piercing the sky with a shrill whistle. It streaked across the ocean, hurtling toward the eastern shoreline of Minion Island.
BOOM!
Flames erupted, thick smoke billowed, and sand exploded into the air, leaving a deep crater in the ground.
The peaceful silence of Minion Island was shattered by a single, unexpected cannon shot.
"We take him down in one move."
Jabra grinned menacingly, his sharp-toothed smirk resembling a wolf locking onto its prey—sending chills down the spines of those who witnessed it.
Though Who's-Who was irritated, he understood the stakes. If he failed this mission, he would be executed by the World Government. This was his one chance to clear his name and reclaim his status in CP9.
Given the choice between being a soldier or a fugitive, who wouldn't prefer the former?
---
Using the Void Walker's Gate, Tanaka had traveled from the Naruto world to Minion Island. He was already heading toward the meeting spot he had arranged with Rosinante—the eastern coastline of Minion Island.
As Jabra's cannonball landed, the thunderous explosion reverberated through the air.
Even though the impact site was several kilometers away, the deafening roar still reached Tanaka's ears loud and clear.