CP0 Shat their pants!

In the broadcast room, as Lucci crushed the Den Den Mushi in his hand, all the CP0 members fell silent, leaving only Festa's faint groans.

They knew there was some tension between the Navy and their CP department, which is why Lucci was sent on behalf of the World Government's Five Elders to negotiate. But they hadn't expected the Navy to be so dismissive.

Watching the island skies filled with falling magma rain, burning meteors, spreading frost, and countless laser beams shooting from the sea, Lucci's face beneath his mask darkened.

"Is he still refusing to talk?" Lucci asked, glancing at the CP0 agent administering a potent hallucinogen to Festa.

"His consciousness is blurry, but he hasn't answered our questions about the Eternal Pose. Instead, we found this." A CP0 member handed Lucci an old, weathered box.

When Lucci opened it, he frowned. Inside was an Eternal Pose, and crudely carved beneath it was the name "Laugh Tale." However, the pointer didn't point to the next island from Lodestar Island, but rather back in the direction they came from, indicating that it wasn't leading to the final island, but somewhere before reaching Lodestar Island.

"Wake him up," Lucci ordered without hesitation.

"Understood." The CP0 agent pulled out a vial of foul-smelling, dark green liquid and roughly forced it down Festa's throat. Under the influence of the drug, Festa quickly regained consciousness, the pain returning with full force.

"Festa, what's your plan? You used a fake Eternal Pose to lure them here—what are you after?" Lucci coldly questioned, looking down at the bloodied Festa.

"Cough… don't talk nonsense… it's a real Eternal Pose!" Festa gasped out.

Squish!

Before he could finish, Lucci stomped on Festa's head, crushing it, then casually tossed the Eternal Pose with "Laugh Tale" carved on it onto his lifeless body. The other CP0 members said nothing, understanding that not only the pirates but even the World Government had been tricked by Festa.

"Tsk, how amusing. The mighty CP0, played like a bunch of dogs. Oh, I nearly forgot—you were dogs raised by the Celestial Dragons to begin with." A male voice suddenly echoed in the broadcast room.

Hearing this, the CP0 members all looked sharply toward the source of the voice. They recognized it immediately; there was no need to ask.

It was Albert Nicholas, the World Government's top enemy.

"No need to act so surprised. We're all old friends by now."

…

"Hey, did you guys hear that?" Someone in a plaza pointed at the live screen, thinking they were hearing things.

"Of course, we heard it!"

"Are they finally showing us the latest footage?"

People started whispering. The spectacle of magma rain, meteors, and lasers was impressive, but they were far more interested in what was actually happening on the island.

"Ah, what a hassle. Well, let's give everyone a proper greeting." As the male voice continued, the broadcast screen split in two, revealing another scene. In what looked like a broadcast room, several figures in white cloaks and masks were staring coldly at the viewers.

The audience was stunned. They had no idea who these strange people were, given that CP divisions of the World Government were beyond their reach, let alone the secretive CP0.

Some viewers, however, recognized the masked and cloaked figures.

"So cold. It seems the World Government has really trained you all well," said the voice, and the screen shifted, revealing a face that shocked everyone.

"Hey, everyone! Had your meals yet?" Nicholas greeted the camera casually.

Seeing his bizarre behavior, the other CP0 agents instinctively looked toward their leader, Rob Lucci, known as the CP department's once-in-a-century genius. Before they could ask what to do, Lucci cut them off, saying, "Everyone, prepare to retreat."

After issuing the command, Lucci turned toward the Door-Door Fruit user, subtly protected behind them.

"Leaving already? It's quite rude to leave without saying goodbye," Nicholas's voice suddenly echoed in their ears, sending chills down the spines of the CP0 members. They knew that hearing someone like Nicholas speak so close meant something very dangerous was happening.

"When… did he…!"

In an instant, all the CP0 agents tensed, focusing on the direction of the voice. Before this, they had kept their Haki active and locked onto Nicholas, but he was still holding the Den Den Mushi elsewhere—so how was he now among them?

Swoosh!

Despite their confusion, every CP0 member immediately went into combat mode. No one wants to die, especially in a situation like this.

They stared anxiously at the suddenly appearing Nicholas, overwhelmed by the pressure radiating from him, like the air itself was solidifying. This invisible pressure made the CP0 members feel as if they were deep underwater, the weight on them growing unbearable, as if they were about to suffocate.

As for resisting, their bodies rejected the idea before they could even attempt it. The answer was clear: they'd die.

In less than a breath, all the CP0 agents, including Lucci, were drenched in cold sweat, their instincts screaming at them.

Being part of the World Government's top secret unit gave them sharp intuition, usually an advantage, but now it was a curse, amplifying their fear.

Lucci, standing at the forefront, trembled slightly, struggling to suppress the terror within.

"How… is he so strong?!"

Lucci's mind raced, unable to comprehend it. He wanted to fight back but found himself completely immobilized.

"Damn it…"

Realizing this, Lucci felt crushed. He had once mocked his peers for their fear of Nicholas. Now, facing him directly, he finally understood the source of that fear. In front of this man, he was no more than an ant.