089 Justice Island, Shock and Awe, Part 2

The next day, after clearing the pirates from the entire city of water, Xuan Ye could barely wait to fly to Enies Lobby, because there, he might obtain the news he wanted.

With the birth of all things and the dawn brushing over the sea, a colossal warship rocked gently to a stop at the harbor.

“Aokiji, take them back to Marine Headquarters. As for Enies Lobby, just Monkey and I will do.” Standing on the shore, Xuan Ye looked at Aokiji. Ever since Saul’s death, Xuan Ye had kept him company on the sea for three days and nights, drinking himself into a stupor each day. Without that, he would have reached Water Seven three days earlier.

“Pakas, once you get back, do whatever needs doing. If anything comes up, go to Aokiji; he’ll handle it for you.” After speaking to Aokiji, Xuan Ye gave Pakas a few more instructions.

“Vice Admiral, can I go with you? These guys won’t slack off in training.” Pakas was a little anxious, because he wanted to stay at Xuan Ye’s side.

“Not now. Don’t worry, there’ll be another chance later.” Xuan Ye shook his head and declined Pakas’s request.

“Yes, sir.” Pakas lowered his head, a little dejected.

“Then I’ll leave everything to you. Buck up—you’re a Marine lieutenant admiral now.” At last, Xuan Ye patted Aokiji on the shoulder and smiled.

“I’m not that fragile.” Aokiji gave a wry smile. He had already grown used to Xuan Ye’s habit of tossing responsibilities aside.

“Then that’s that. I’m off.” With a final nod, Xuan Ye transformed into a great bird, lifting Monkey in his claws, and vanished into the sky in the blink of an eye.

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Enies Lobby, also known as the Island That Never Sleeps, was an institution established by the World Government, a place for judging the guilty, much like a courthouse.

Here, anyone who set foot inside was deemed guilty, and such people were ultimately sent through a cold, enormous iron gate known as the Gates of Justice. Once they passed through that gate, they would never appear again.

For beyond it lay the world’s greatest prison: Impel Down.

And since this institution was founded, no one had ever dared to offend it, which was why it was hailed as a place that could never be breached.

Perhaps that claim was a bit exaggerated, but in some sense, it was true.

That day, beneath a sky bright as noon, a streak of fire came tearing through the horizon with a shrill sonic boom.

At the far end of Enies Lobby’s main island, a chasm spanned the two shores, and beyond it stood a castle, luxurious and majestic. On either side, there was only the unassailable despair of the cascading falls.

Inside the castle, in the highest building, was the office of Enies Lobby’s top authority.

“Not good, sir—there’s a streak of fire coming in fast from the horizon.” In the lavish office, several figures stood in place. One of them lowered his telescope, visibly tense.

“Hmph. With my father here, who would dare act recklessly on Enies Lobby?”

On the sofa, a purple-haired youth spoke with utter contempt.

“Spandam, how many times have I told you to mind your manners?” Behind the desk, a middle-aged man wore a dark expression.

“Yes, Father.” The boy of fifteen or sixteen answered respectfully.

Behind him stood several other boys and girls of similar age.

“Lucci, prepare to welcome a Marine Headquarters lieutenant admiral—Sky Bird Xuan Ye Tang.” The middle-aged man frowned and set down the Den Den Mushi.

“Yes.” Behind the purple-haired youth stood a boy with black curly hair, expressionless, a carrier pigeon perched on his shoulder. He replied in a calm voice.

“Who is Sky Bird Xuan Ye Tang?” the purple-haired youth muttered. As the son of a powerful official, he was more than capable of doing whatever he pleased on this island.

At that moment, the wall was pierced. Dust and debris flew everywhere, and in the same spot, two figures appeared silently.

“Who is Spandain?”

As the dust settled, the eyes of everyone caught sight of two silhouettes: one man and one monkey.

After a full day of travel, they had finally reached Enies Lobby.

“Who are you calling a nameless rabble? Do you think you’re worthy of speaking my father’s name?” Spandain did not answer; instead, the purple-haired youth stepped forward arrogantly.

A flicker of fire light.

A beam of light shot forward at blinding speed.

“Shave.”

A phantom image flashed. A figure appeared before the beam and kicked out swiftly.

“Storm Leg!”

A blue-white crescent, five meters long, flashed past.

Bang.

Sand and stone burst upward, and violent shockwaves spread through the entire hall.

“I don’t want to ask a second time.” With a dark expression, Xuan Ye regarded the several solemn youths and the middle-aged man across from him with cold eyes.

“Lucci, Kaku, Bruno... kill him for me!” The purple-haired youth’s face twisted viciously, bloodless with rage as he glared at the man and the monkey.

“You’d better not waste my time.” Seeing that display, Xuan Ye’s eyes turned gold-red.

“Shave.”

Seven figures launched out in succession before the middle-aged man had time to react.

“Damn it!” The middle-aged man’s face changed drastically, because on his desk lay a complete dossier on Xuan Ye.

“Seeking death.” Xuan Ye erupted in fury. He did not believe these people could possibly be ignorant of his identity. If they still dared waste his time, then they could all die.

“Kill them all.” Cold and merciless, Xuan Ye gave the order to Monkey. Then fire blazed out, and in an instant the world fell silent, wrapped in a chilling aura of slaughter.

“Squeak... leave it to me.” Monkey cried out excitedly, his body transforming into golden light and vanishing in the blink of an eye.

“Infinite Arrows.”

Flames roared. Countless blades, spears, swords, and halberds appeared like a mirage, then, amid everyone’s terror, fell like a meteor shower.

Thud. Thud.

Dense and relentless, impossible for any human force to withstand. In mere moments, several people were ruthlessly pinned to the ground.

Only one person had managed to evade the assault, and by now he was locked in fierce combat with a monkey.

“Finger Pistol.”

Phantom images flickered. The fellow called Lucci appeared behind Monkey, a single finger piercing out with chilling sharpness.

“Squeak... among you, only you have any real skill.”

Without even using Haki, Monkey simply shifted his body aside and lashed out with a leg that split the air, meeting the attack head-on.

Boom.

The floor cracked. Lucci’s face filled with disbelief as his body was sent flying backward.

Whoosh.

Golden light flashed again as Monkey appeared above Lucci, a fist blazing with brilliance driving straight down.

“Iron Body!”

Bang.

The sound was like metal striking metal. Lucci slammed into the ground, blood spilling from his mouth.

Whoosh.

At the same moment, a spear of flame pierced clean through Lucci’s shoulder and pinned him in place.

The fight had lasted only an instant. Everyone in the room was utterly helpless, all of them impaled by flaming weapons and crying out in agony.

“Who is Spandain? I don’t want to ask a third time.” Expressionless, Xuan Ye ignored their fear and screams with contempt.

“Lieutenant Admiral Sky Bird, I... I am...” On the ground, the middle-aged man was drained of color, his shoulder pinned through so tightly that he could not move.

Stepping forward, Xuan Ye planted a foot directly on the man’s chest and said coldly, “I don’t want to say this twice. You must have already received the orders. Since you knew the orders and still dared delay me, it seems you’ve got quite a bit of nerve.”

Firelight flared. Under everyone’s terror, one arm withered instantly and dropped to the floor.

“Ah... ah...” The middle-aged man wailed pitifully, tears streaming down his face.

“You bastard! If you dare hurt us, you’re making an enemy of the World Government. You’re dead!” At that moment, the purple-haired youth from earlier rolled on the ground, tears and mucus streaming down his face. The searing pain twisted his features grotesquely. He swore he would make this man pay. He would torment him. He would make him suffer beyond endurance.

“Oh? An ant.” Raising a hand, fire curled around Xuan Ye’s index finger, as though a beam of light would be fired in the next instant.

“Lieutenant Admiral, please spare my son! Aren’t you here for the Golden Lion’s files and information? I’ll take you to the archives right now.” The middle-aged man turned pale, pleading in desperate haste.

“Break both his legs.” The fire at Xuan Ye’s fingertips vanished, and he glanced at Monkey.

“Squeak... why should I take orders from you?” Monkey puffed out his cheeks, clearly unwilling. But accompanied by a few crackling sounds and screams, he clapped his hands and declared proudly, “Done!”

“Ah... ah... ah...” The purple-haired youth shrieked like a slaughtered pig, leaving the others silent.

“CP9 is still too young.” Turning away, Xuan Ye swept out a hand, and the flaming blades pinning everyone in place all turned into fire and vanished into thin air.

Among them was a blonde girl of fifteen or sixteen, wearing a revealing short skirt. The sheer black stockings on her legs only made her long, slender limbs appear even more perfect in the air.

Together with the bloodied, mangled wound on her shoulder, she possessed a strange, almost morbid beauty.

Unconsciously, Xuan Ye looked at her a little longer.

It had to be said, this world contained all manner of things, utterly defying the laws of nature. Who could have imagined that a girl of fifteen or sixteen could look as alluring as a woman in her twenties, her whole body overflowing with temptation?