So That's How I Came Up~

The mayor's office was quiet, the tension in the air thick as Finn lounged casually on the sofa, arms draped over the backrest. His gaze fixated on the three men who had just walked in—Lucci, Kaku, and Blueno. Blueno, closing the door with a soft thud, made the atmosphere even more suffocating.

Finn didn't move, his posture relaxed, but his eyes glimmered with amusement as they darted between the three men.

"Monkey D. Finn," Lucci said coldly, his rigid stance resembling a steel rod. His expression was hard as stone.

A brief pause lingered in the air.

"Do I know you guys?" Finn grinned, teasingly. "From the looks of it, are you here to fight?"

Lucci ignored the question, his tone steady but filled with quiet menace. "I heard you plan to make Kalifa your secretary?"

Finn's smile faded slightly, his amusement replaced by irritation. "And who the hell are you to care? Since when do I need permission to hire a secretary?"

The atmosphere thickened as Finn's words hung in the air. Blueno stepped forward, his face dark with intent, but Lucci halted him with a raised hand.

"We are CP9 agents, a special division of the World Government," Lucci revealed, his voice icy. "Kalifa is also part of CP9, and she's on a mission. Now, do you understand?"

Normally, Lucci wouldn't reveal his identity so easily, but Finn was no ordinary civilian. Lucci was well aware of Finn's connection to Garp, and killing him would bring massive repercussions. Even for someone as cold-blooded as Lucci, the mission came first, and Garp's rage could derail everything.

"CP9, huh?" Finn smirked, a mocking glint in his eyes. "You say you're from CP9, but anyone could claim that. Hell, I could say I'm the chief of CP9, and you all would have to kneel before me!"

Lucci's face darkened. He was a killer who had slain 500 Marines in cold blood, yet here he was, being ridiculed by some brat. He would've killed Finn on the spot if not for Garp's looming shadow over the capital of the seven waters.

Finn, unfazed by Lucci's growing hostility, continued with a bored expression. "Now, unless you have actual proof, I'm not buying it."

Lucci's patience snapped, his murderous intent filling the room. His icy glare pierced through Finn. "Do you think we're joking?"

The air chilled as Lucci's killing intent radiated, but Finn remained relaxed. In an instant, Finn grabbed a nearby teacup and hurled it at Lucci, his voice dripping with defiance.

"I don't care what joke you're playing! No one tells me who I can hire! Especially not you!"

The teacup shattered in midair, crushed by a single finger from Lucci. He'd used his Finger Pistol technique effortlessly, not even moving from his spot.

"Impressive," Finn said with a smirk, though there was no fear in his eyes.

Lucci's patience was gone. "You leave us no choice," he said coldly, vanishing from his spot in an instant, using Soru to close the distance between them.

Kaku shook his head, already feeling sorry for Finn. "This kid doesn't know what's coming," he muttered. "He'll learn soon enough."

Boom!

The next thing they knew, the entire ceiling caved in with a deafening crash. Kaku's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Nani?!"

There, embedded in the ceiling, was Lucci, dazed and confused.

What just happened?

Lucci blinked, his mind reeling. A second ago, he had been about to land a punch on Finn. But then, something hit him, and he found himself slammed into the ceiling. If it weren't for the roof, he would've flown another ten meters.

Kaku and Blueno stood frozen, unable to comprehend the scene before them. They were trained agents, masters of combat, and yet their comrade had been sent flying like a ragdoll.

Kaku was the first to recover. "Blueno!" he shouted, his feet moving swiftly as he stomped the ground multiple times. Soru! In a flash, he charged toward Finn.

Blueno, already understanding Kaku's intention, squatted down and pulled at the floor. A door appeared out of thin air, and he quickly dove into it, disappearing from sight.

Meanwhile, Kaku's kick aimed squarely for Finn's chest, but before it could land, Finn countered with a swift kick of his own, catching Kaku right under the chin.

Boom!

Kaku was sent flying upward, colliding with the already damaged ceiling. Now, two bodies were embedded in it, Lucci and Kaku side by side, both dazed and disoriented.

Blueno, observing the scene from his hidden dimension, was in disbelief. How had Finn managed to overpower them so easily?

Lucci, shaking off the dizziness, glanced at Kaku beside him. He suddenly understood what had just happened.

"..." He remained silent, the realization dawning on him: this Monkey D. Finn was far more dangerous than they had anticipated.