385 Chapter 385

385

"Now, where's your chief? Spandam was it? Where is he?" He asked kindly. 

All of them stood there awkwardly for a moment, all looking at the side, where Spandam was foaming from his mouth and on the floor.

Suddenly the pressure in the room pressed down again, the old man promptly looked at Kalifa, "Kick him in the balls." 

"I'm sorry, sir?"

The man smiled, the pressure in the room increased a little bit, "Did I stutter? We can't have an agent of justice sleeping on his work." 

Kalifa moved her body even before she could realize it, kicking Spanamn in the balls, planting him on the wall, and fully waking him up. 

"M-My balls… *hek* but Spandam stopped mid-way when a sword was buried at the right side of his face, fully waking him up, while blood poured down his cheek. Only then did the pressure of the room disappear. "K-King Bradly… Sir, it's an honor to meet you." he said with some struggle.

The man chuckled, "Oh, please don't use that old title, just call be Bradly instead. I might be your superior, but you young ones don't need to be all straightforward in front of me," He said kindly, showing a smile that looked quite genuine, "But I do hope I never see you sleeping again at work. Youngsters should be filled with passion for justice, only then can we keep the status quo." 

Spandam nodded like a chicken, his pants already wet. Was it from fear or Kalifal's kick, no one knew. Though, Kaku was certainly sure Lucchi found much amusement in that, not that it was any different for him.

"Good," Bradly smiled, again, though his only eye hardened as he looked at him, "Now give me the full report of your mission. And for your own sake, I do hope that I find it noteworthy. Unlike others I need a valid reason as to why you have been holding up a Cipher Pol 9 unit for five years."

Spandam gulped and nodded, standing up with much difficulty as he walked on wobbly legs and started giving the report. All the while Bradly listened carefully, while reading the report. 

Unlike the other Cipher pol units, CP9 was special. All CP9 members were trained from birth to fulfill their roles in serving for the greater good. They were trained in assassination, espionage, and combat. 

There was a reason why the CP9 unit remained as a legend to the outside world. Every few years CP9 agents would get replaced, either promoted or demoted depending on their performance. But it couldn't happen to their own team, as Spandam had been hogging their full teams on wild goose chase for five years. 

While Blueno, Lucchi, Kaku, and Kalifa were working undercover in Water seven, the other CP9 agents were also working under Spandam. And Kaku was being honest here, they rarely did any good work. The unit as a whole was getting underutilized by Spandam. 

So he was bound to get caught someday. The World Government might have corruption, but there were inquisitors in place to keep things in check. And the man in front of them was one of them.

The man standing in front of them was former Admiral King Bradly. A man who had served the Navy for decades, before retiring from his position. 

Now he was a World Government agent, a chief member of the highest Cipher Pol unit. A man who had one of the highest authority when it came to Cipher Pol.

It was just Spandam's bad luck that he got sent here as an inquisitor to investigate. The man was known for his wrath after all. 

Kaku heard rumors about this man, about his time working as a marine admiral and they were not pleasant. And, it made Kaku wonder on why a free man like him joined the World Government. 

There was no way for a CP9 agent to be free. Most of them had seen what happened to the few traitors, and no one wanted that. The World Government was strict and cruel in setting examples. 

He was a marine. And even a marine had more free will than a Cipher pol agent. 'Unlike us they are free? They have vacations, family and even retirement… the only thing we get is either a carrot or a stick,' Kaku mused internally. 'But then again, where will I go? Where can I go?…'

Kaku's thoughts were cut off when King Bradly spoke, he looked stern, his expression unreadable, "So you're telling me that, for five years you have been holding out our best agents on a wild goose chase?" 

"I-I…" 

"Do not speak," Bradly said, cutting him off, a frown on his face, "I will say this once, and once only. Never question my orders, and never cut me off, or be prepared to face my wrath!"

He looked around the room, unlike before he wasn't actively trying to drown them in killing intent. But even then every one of the CP9 agents knew by instinct that King Bradly was getting angry, almost wrathful. Their instincts told them not to do or say anything that would make the beast unleash his wrath. 

"Do you understand, soldiers?!" 

"Sir, yes sir!" All of the CP9 agents said at once. 

It almost felt like they were back at the training grounds again, with drill sergeants chewing them out. 

"Good," he said, before sighing, and massaging the bridge of his nose, "I'm getting too old for this." He said before clapping both of his hands, "I have decided. As my authority as a member of Aegis, I declare this mission void. CP9 agents are to be handed under my jurisdiction, and chief officer Spandam is deemed…"

But Spandam cut him off, "H-Hey, you can't do that…"

Bradley looked coldly at Spandam, "Deceased." 

"Wha…" But Spandam couldn't even finish his sentence as his head was sent rolling. His eyes were still wide when former Admiral Bradly sheathed his sword.

A thin trail of blood came out of his neck area, before his body fell to the floor, head rolling forward. 

"CP9 clear out the body from the office, blood usually sours my mood." He said walking over the dead body.

No one said anything as Fukuro and Kumadori came forward, taking out black zipper bag, and dumping the body inside. Blueno on the other hand was already mopping the floor of the blood. 

King Bradly walked forward and stopped at the large winds of room. From here one could see the whole of Enies Lobby. "Quite the beautiful sight isn't it… all uniformed and straight. The last time I came here was around a decade ago, time sure does fly…" He said to himself before turning towards them with his kind smile, "I presume I got a bit overboard. I was only planning on dismembering him for his lack of usefulness, but…" the older man sighed, "Anyway, who is the one that's in charge after that moron." 

Even though Jabra wanted to nominate himself, all of them looked towards Lucci, as the world government agent stepped forward. 

"Ah… Rob Lucci, I have been told you are a man of many talents," he said smiling, "Now even though I want nothing more to take all of you back and give out proper missions. Better utilize all of your talents, I can't do that… you see the World government has wasted a lot of resources on this fool. So this mission needs an end."

Bradley continued, "I don't care if the mission succeeds or not, but the mission needs a closer. So we have to do things fast… so I'm asking you, agent. What would you do?" he asked looking at Lucci. 

Lucci seemed to straighten up a bit. Even from here, Kaku could feel all the remaining agents in the room were eager to see things happen. 

Rarely Spandam ever asked for their suggestion. So for King Bradly to do it, was quite the development. Kaku could respect that. And other agents also shared his testament. 

King Bradly continued, an air of charisma around him, "Speak your mind soldier. You have been undercover for almost five years for this mission, you are bound to notice something about odd about the target?"

"Thank you, sir." Lucci started, "If I'm being honest, It's a hunch, but one that I'm sure of… while working under Iceburg I have gotten to know him on a personal level. The man has plans. If he does have the blueprints of pluton, then he knows like his teacher Tom, the government might try to kill him. Iceburg might be a nonchalant person, but he is a cautious man. So either he doesn't have the blueprint or someone else has it." 

"Interesting," Bradly said, taking the tea cup off of Blueno's hand who had just returned. He sipped the tea, and said, "Go on." 

"From our independent research," Lucci said, indicating to Kaku, and Kalifa, "We have discovered that there was also another student that worked under Tom. Cutty Flam was his name, the boy presumingly died under the sea train when he tried to stop Tom's execution." 

Bradly chuckled, "A hot-headed one, wasn't he… huh, youngstars!" he said, smiling, "Brings me back to my heydays…"

"A few years ago, someone had come to Iceburg under the same name," Lucci said, "At that time, we didn't think much as Iceburg just waved it off… but after doing a bit of research, I can almost certainly say that it's Franky."

Bradly nodded, "This Franky character… how certain are you about this?" 

Lucci steeled his resolve, "I am almost sure… this man doesn't have a past. We couldn't trace back his past, and not only that his shipwright skills are far from average. And some of his inventions are in line with the things Cutty Flam had created."

King Bradly nodded, standing up, "Well, great then," he said, walking forward and clapping Lucci on the shoulder, giving him a firm shake, "Do whatever it takes, I only give you twenty-four hours to either get the blueprints of Pluton. Burn down Water Seven if you have to, get me those papers. And if you can't… then don't worry. I do not care if this mission either succeeds or not, but this needs closure." 

With that King Bradly passed Lucci as he walked towards Blueno, "Oh, and also fake Spandam's death. Spandine is one of my good friends and I hope nothing will leave the room," He said with a smile, "Spandam for all he's worth was a government agent, so putting death on some pirate should do the trick…" 

"Yes sir," Lucci said while King Bradly walked away, stopping in front of Blueno as he opened the door, letting him pass through. 

------ (No Chapter tomorrow. But you guys will get one in Saterday. Didn't want to break out the chapters. So yeah. Enjoy!)

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