Chapter 161: Spandam's Panic
Now that Luo Ning's mind is made up, leaving quickly is natural. By the way, he plans to head to the capital of Seven Waters to acquire the design drawings of Pluton. The power of this ancient weapon doesn't interest him; he's mainly driven by pure curiosity about its form and function.
Speaking of which, coming to One Piece World, it seems a bit self-deprecating not to see this for himself.
After the warship set sail, it swiftly passed through the Gate of Justice. Enies Lobby, the prison, and the Naval Headquarters formed a triangle, with several completely safe waterways separating them. This strategic layout necessitated the construction of the Gate of Justice.
The Gate of Justice exists solely to prevent pirates from exploiting these waterways as shortcuts. Pirates are forced to take detours, as the channel around the Gate is plagued by terrifying whirlpools. Ships wouldn't even dream of sailing through it, unless they possess the ability to fly like Luffy's late-stage ship. This advanced ship boasts the capability of long-distance flight with a single jet and even features a hang glider for aerial gliding.
"Enough talk."
Gazing at the approaching Enies Lobby, Luo Ning remarked.
"While I've always harbored a slight fear of Enies Lobby, at least I have someone backing me now!"
Robin offered a smile. In the past, the mere sight of Enies Lobby would have sent shivers down her spine. However, things were different now. Luo Ning's presence provided immense support, a force arguably more formidable than the World Government itself.
She also understood his motives for bringing her here: to finally settle the score. After all, the past agents dispatched by Enies Lobby, particularly Spandine and Spandam, had caused her immense suffering.
Luo Ning's ship, emblazoned with the flag of Impel Down, sailed into the port unimpeded. The sight of Luo Ning sent shockwaves through the assembled Marines. His reputation as an overwhelming force preceded him, a figure who even the World Government dared not trifle with – a man who rose from being higher than the Four Emperors to become akin to a king. Wherever Luo Ning appeared, extraordinary events were sure to follow, and the Marines knew better than to intervene.
"Leave us be," Luo Ning declared. "We're here for Spandam!"
With that, he and Robin disembarked, leaving the others behind in Impel Down. This mission was solely about Robin's past.
"V-Very well... please proceed," stammered the sweat-drenched port officer. The prospect of Luo Ning confronting Spandam, given Spandam's personality, did not bode well for the latter. But that was none of his concern. Spandam was widely disliked by everyone at Enies Lobby except for his sycophants.
Bluntly put, Spandam owed his privileged position to his father, Spandine. While not a good man himself, Spandine at least possessed a modicum of paternal concern, unlike his utterly incompetent son.
Spandam's position stemmed from his father, Spandine's influence. However, Spandam's string of disastrous operations nearly squandered Lucci's potential.
Lucci, self-proclaimed as the most gifted agent in 800 years, possessed immense power. Spandam, however, wasted a significant chunk of Lucci's training time by assigning him the retrieval of Pluton's blueprints. This ultimately led to Lucci's defeat by Luffy, who utilized his Second and Third Gear techniques. Luffy's own talent was undeniably formidable.
Had Lucci not been hampered by those wasted years, his strength likely wouldn't have been comparable to Luffy's. A proper match-up might have resulted in Luffy's swift defeat. Unfortunately, Lucci found himself under the leadership of a "useless buffoon" like Spandam.
Spandam's sole focus was self-aggrandizement and empty achievements. The World Government's decision to retain him baffled Luo Ning. While some villains serve a purpose, what role did Spandam truly play?
One could argue that Spandam's involvement with Tom served the World Government's interests. They employed a series of dubious tactics to obtain the Pluton blueprints from Tom, essentially driving him to his death. Even without Franky's intervention, the World Government would likely have fabricated another excuse to eliminate Tom.
Their objective was clear: acquire the blueprints from Tom. Failure to do so meant his demise. Letting him go was never a consideration.
The World Government operates in the shadows, and dirty tasks require expendable pawns. Spandam fit this mold perfectly. However, Luo Ning found it utterly perplexing that the World Government continued to tolerate Spandam's string of failures.
Spandam, in a drunken stupor, activated the Buster Call on Enies Lobby, a devastating attack he then blamed on his agents. Thankfully, Lucci and the others were eventually reinstated. Yet, the question remained: why keep Spandam around? Why promote him to the position in CP0?
Though the position wasn't as prestigious as Lucci's, Luo Ning considered it a prime example of the World Government's dwindling competence. One could only conclude that their decline was inevitable. Without the existence of these extraordinary powers, the Revolutionary Army would have likely seized control long ago.
***
Meanwhile, Spandam, blissfully unaware in his comfortable world, received news from the port. The news of Luo Ning's arrival startled him, but the news that Luo Ning was there for him sent shivers down his spine.
"Damn it, this can't be because of Nico Robin!"
Fear finally gripped Spandam. Since assuming power, his sole focus had been acquiring Pluton's blueprints and capturing Nico Robin. He relentlessly deployed soldiers and intelligence agents to track Robin's movements. Robin's years of fleeing were the only reason she'd evaded capture.
In the original story, Robin was apprehended by CP agents, but Spandam never intended to let her go. Robin aligning herself with Luo Ning had simply thwarted his plans, forcing him to shift his focus to the Pluton blueprints.
He hadn't anticipated that his respite from tormenting Robin would now come back to haunt him. He knew Robin wouldn't show mercy; his relentless pursuit over the years had ensured that.
Panic seized him, but escape was no longer an option. Luo Ning and Robin had already entered the gates. Where could he possibly run?