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Taking the Den Den Mushi from Kalifa’s hand, Xuanye remained expressionless, his tone indifferent. "Spandine, you nearly wasted my time..."

"I... I am deeply sorry, Vice Admiral. We have found the person you were looking for."

On the other end of the line, Spandine was drenched in sweat. Every conversation with Xuanye felt like an eternity; the suffocating sensation that he could die at any moment made it difficult for him to even draw breath.

He had once contemplated avenging his severed arm, but when comparing his own worth to that of a Marine headquarters Vice Admiral—or even someone with the combat prowess of an Admiral—the difference was like a grain of sand to the bright moon. Unless he was an idiot, the choice was clear. Thus, after struggling in vain, Spandine had abandoned that unrealistic idea. Sometimes, he could only console himself with the thought that this bastard wouldn't stay forever; once he left, this place would be his domain again. It was precisely this sense of wishful thinking that had kept Spandine alive until now.

To be honest, if killing Spandine wouldn't invite unnecessary trouble, Xuanye would have finished off this trash long ago. Though Xuanye was rational, there were times when he couldn't help but apply perspectives from his past life to this world. Take Akainu, for instance. Honestly, in his previous life, Xuanye had admired the man. Unfortunately, Xiao Xi despised him, and this was a living, breathing reality where everyone was real. Furthermore, since the man had provoked him time and again, the final outcome was predictable.

If there was anyone to blame, it was the world itself. Xuanye never harbored resentment for any injustice or humiliation; he simply viewed those who bullied him as enemies, and the only result was their death—even if that enemy were the world itself.

In his past life, there were intact laws and rules. Yet, in another sense, it was still a world where the strong preyed upon the weak. The only difference was that this world was perhaps more rampant and unscrupulous. Here, capital was power; with power, one could live better and act with greater impunity. Compared to his past life, this world was arguably fairer, for as long as one was willing to endure hardship, they could possess power—and there were shortcuts, like Devil Fruits. In his previous life, even with hard work, the rewards were not always what one imagined, and in some cases, the situation could even turn worse.

Some say that among honest people and crazy people, the crazy ones are the most terrifying. But is that really true? Under fair conditions, yes, the crazy are more terrifying because honest people only want to live a peaceful life. However, because of this, the crazy can bully the honest at will. One must realize that even the most honest person has a bottom line. Perhaps under the rules, they won't lash out, but in a different world, that suppressed resentment might unleash energy far more terrifying than any madman. Therefore, one should never underestimate a simple or honest person; such people either do not resist, or when they do, they do so with the intent of mutual destruction.

Although Xuanye was never considered an "honest man" in his past life—having relied solely on his younger sister since childhood—he understood all too well how unfair the world was beneath its surface rules. He had suppressed himself, living only for his sister. But now, in this more unscrupulous, predatory world, the darkness within his heart had finally erupted. He no longer wanted to be powerless, nor did he want to be a lamb for the slaughter. He would stop at nothing, using any means necessary to grow stronger—not just for himself, but for the only person who mattered in his heart. In a way, this predatory world was an ideal place for the "honest," because every starting point held the potential for anything.

"Where is he?" Still expressionless, Xuanye didn't even look at the Den Den Mushi, his brow furrowed in thought over other matters.

"Reporting, sir. An hour ago, Weevil appeared near Long Ring Long Land. Based on his trajectory, his final destination should be the island," Spandine said cautiously.

"Long Ring Long Land?" Xuanye frowned, having no idea where that was. "Where is that?"

"In the Grand Line, the route is..."

"Fine. Wait for my return." With a *click*, he hung up. Xuanye still had no clue where the place was.

"Is Lord Xuanye returning to Enies Lobby?" Kalifa asked from the side.

"I need to go back. I need a Log Pose and the route," Xuanye nodded slightly.

"Are we leaving?" Just then, a boom echoed in the sky as Lucci descended rapidly through the air.

"Prepare yourselves. We are returning to Enies Lobby."

*Whoosh—whoosh—* Three figures vanished in the blink of an eye. Shortly after, the sea exploded; the towering flames roared like a hurricane, and amidst a thunderous blast, their ship shot away like an arrow, disappearing from the horizon in an instant.

Several hours later, a day’s journey had been cut short by several hours.

The center of Enies Lobby was eerily quiet. Spandine and the others stood there, trembling, as Xuanye’s expression remained terrifyingly calm. Knowing they had delayed him by a full month, Spandine feared Xuanye was about to cause trouble.

"The Log Pose and the route—have them ready. Restock the ship with supplies. I depart in half an hour." After a moment of silence, Xuanye looked directly at Spandine, then vanished.

"Whew..." The moment Xuanye disappeared, everyone let out a long breath. The pressure had been so suffocating they could barely breathe.

"What are you all standing around for? Did you not hear the Vice Admiral?" Spandine roared at the CP9 members.

"Yes..."

"Lucci, Kalifa, have you been training all this time?" Seeing the others leave, Spandine turned his gaze to Lucci and Kalifa.

"Yeah." Lucci grunted faintly, his face expressionless. He didn't hold Spandine in any regard at all. In the past, he might have humored him, but now, he didn't even want to bother—this guy, just like his useless son, was nothing but social garbage.

"If there’s nothing else, we’re leaving." The two were exhausted; they hadn't had a proper hot bath in ages, and Kalifa was dying to wash up. Without waiting for Spandine’s reaction, they vanished from the room.

Spandine’s face turned grim, his teeth gritted in a feral display of rage, but a moment later, he could only sigh, filled with a sense of utter powerlessness. Ever since Xuanye arrived, he seemed to have taken a liking to keeping Lucci and Kalifa by his side, which left Spandine helpless. Had he not feared Xuanye going mad, he would have reported them to his superiors long ago. As for any conspiracy between them, it didn't exist—the higher-ups had been monitoring them for a long time and found nothing useful. In fact, the higher-ups were even happy to see Xuanye getting close to Kalifa; any man understood the implications of that. As for Lucci, they simply ignored him.