CIPHER POL NO. 9

The scene opens with two masked intruders shown in close-up panels. On the left, a woman with dark hair wearing a black mask over her eyes and a white hood looks forward with a cold, serious expression. On the right, a figure wearing a round, smiling panda mask with a beaded necklace grins menacingly. Below, a large crowd of armed shipwrights and townspeople has surrounded them in the courtyard of the Galley-La headquarters. They shout, "WE HAVE YOU SURROUNDED, PIRATES!!!" and "SURRENDER! THERE'S NOWHERE TO RUN!" One of the shipwrights remarks, "YOU SURE HAVE GUTS CHARGING IN WITH ALL OF US HERE." The panda-masked figure stands silently with a "....." speech bubble. In the bottom panels, the shipwrights prepare to attack, pointing their guns and weapons. One shouts, "SHOW YOUR FACES AND... PUT YOUR HANDS UP!" Another yells, "HE'S UP TO NO GOOD! FIRE!!" as the panda-masked figure stands calmly, saying "HMPH."

The shipwrights open fire with a massive volley of gunshots, shouting "SWISH!!!" and "DODON!!!" as smoke and explosions erupt where the two intruders stood. However, as the smoke clears with a "SHUWWWW..." sound, the intruders are nowhere to be seen. The shipwrights look on in utter shock, their guns still smoking. One panel shows a close-up of a smoking gun barrel. In the bottom panel, the shipwrights look around the empty courtyard in confusion, reacting with ".........." and "!!?". One of them mutters, "...THEY... DISAPPEARED..." as they look up at the walls and sky, unable to comprehend how their targets vanished into thin air.

Suddenly, a massive crash echoes from the main building of the Galley-La Company headquarters. The sound effect "CRASH!!" and "GOOOO..." accompany the destruction as debris flies from the upper floors. People outside scream, "WAA AAAA AH!!!" Inside, shipwrights are sent flying through the air amidst shattered wood and dust. One shipwright with a striped shirt and "STREET" written on his back crashes headfirst into the floor. Other shipwrights rush to his side, shouting, "HEY! ARE YOU OKAY!?" and "WHAT HAPPENED?" The injured shipwright, coughing and struggling to speak, gasps out, "THE WHIP USER... HE... CAN... WALK... ON THE... AIR..." Another shipwright reacts in disbelief, "...!! TOO... STRONG...!!!"

"WALK!? ON THE AIR?" the shipwrights exclaim in disbelief. High above, the skull-masked figure looks down coldly, saying, "---I TOLD YOU... YOU SHOULD JUST GIVE UP." Below him, shipwrights yell, "DAMN YOU!!" and "HE JUMPED...!!" as they watch him leap through the air. The skull-masked figure uses a technique, kicking the air with a "HOP" and "BUN!!" sound, creating a crescent-shaped shockwave. He calls out his technique: "GEPPOU." He flies through the air, leaving the shipwrights below staring up in absolute shock and confusion ("!?").

"HE'S JUMPING AROUND IN MIDAIR AGAIN!!" the shipwrights scream as they watch the skull-masked figure leap effortlessly across the sky with "BAW!!" sounds. He spins in midair, wielding his whips/ropes, and unleashes a devastating attack: "THORN ROAD." A flurry of sharp, thorn-like rope strikes rains down on the crowd of shipwrights below, slashing them and sending them flying in all directions with screams of "UWA AAA AAA!" and "!?". The skull-masked figure lands gracefully on a high ledge, his ropes trailing behind him.

The skull-masked figure disappears into the building, prompting the shipwrights outside to yell, "HE WENT TO THE COURTYARD!! GO AFTER HIM!" Inside, a door is shown slightly ajar in a quiet hallway. Suddenly, Tilestone, a massive shipwright with sunglasses and a beard, yells in anger and confusion, "WHO ARE YOU!? WHERE DID YOU COME FROM!?" He is confronting two figures standing in the doorway. The figures are the bull-masked giant and the skull-masked figure. The bull-masked figure speaks in a deep, calm voice: "WE'VE COME... FROM THE DARKNESS... AS FOR OUR ALIGNMENT... WE REPRESENT JUSTICE."

The bull-masked figure introduces their group: "ANYAKU-SAKAN. CIPHER POL NO. 9." Tilestone stands shocked in the president's office, where Iceburg's bed is visible in the background. The bull-masked figure continues, "...REGARDLESS OF HOW YOU GOT IN... YOU SHOULD'VE RUN INTO OUR CARPENTERS..." Tilestone, sweating and holding a cigar, replies, "..... I HAVE NO RECOLLECTION OF MEETING ONE......!!" In the background, several defeated shipwrights lie unconscious on the floor, including Lulu. The skull-masked figure, with blood dripping from his mask, remarks, "MAYBE WE DID... MAYBE WE DIDN'T..."

The scene shifts to the interior of Iceburg's spacious office. The bull-masked and skull-masked figures stand near the double doors. The skull-masked figure says, "GOING THIS FAR TONIGHT... MAKES LAST NIGHT'S ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT LOOK LIKE CHILD'S PLAY..." Tilestone stands defiantly, sweating as he faces them. The skull-masked figure demands, "IN ANY CASE, JUST HAND OVER MR. ICEBERG'S TREASURE... ALONG WITH..." Tilestone remains silent, sweating profusely ("....."). The bull-masked figure adds, "WE NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT THAT... YOUR LIFE..." The panel zooms in on the dark, menacing eyes of the bull-masked figure as he concludes, "SINCE YOU NOW KNOW TOO MUCH."

Outside, the shipwrights are still searching frantically, shouting, "THE TWO THAT VANISHED AREN'T IN THE BACK?", "WHAT ABOUT INSIDE THE BUILDING?", "WE NAILED ALL THE DOORS AND WINDOWS SHUT!", "THEY SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET IN...", and "WATCH OUT FOR THAT GUY WITH THE WHIP!!" Meanwhile, inside a quiet hallway, the panda-masked figure and the hooded masked woman stand before a solid wall. The panda-masked figure says, "HE SHOULD BE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS WALL." The hooded woman replies, "...ALL RIGHT." The panda-masked figure asks, "PUSH ME." With a "CLICK" sound, he touches the wall, and it physically transforms, opening like a door with a "GUT..." sound. The hooded woman watches as they step right through the solid wall, which creaks open with a "KII..." sound. On the other side, they enter Iceburg's bedroom, where Iceburg is lying in bed, looking up in shock ("!").

The door created in the wall closes behind them with a "PATAN..." sound, leaving the wall completely solid once more. Iceburg stares in disbelief from his bed, sweating. The panda-masked figure and the hooded woman walk calmly into the room with "STA STA" footsteps. Iceburg gasps, "...AMAZING... EVEN THOUGH I KNEW YOU WOULD COME AGAIN... I NEVER IMAGINED THAT YOU WOULD COME THROUGH THERE. DID YOU DO THE SAME THING LAST NIGHT? THERE SHOULDN'T BE A DOOR THERE..." The panda-masked figure holds up a pistol, pointing it directly at Iceburg with a "CLICK" sound. He explains, "IT'S THE DOA DOA FRUIT. ANY WALL I TOUCH WILL BECOME A DOOR, NO MATTER HOW STRONG THE WALL IS. I CAN GO THROUGH ANY DOOR FREELY."

Suddenly, a loud gunshot ("DON!!") rings out as the panda-masked figure shoots Iceburg in the shoulder. Iceburg screams in pain, "UGH!!" and "WUH!!" as blood splatters onto his pillow. The hooded woman looks on with a cold, serious expression, asking, "WHY DID YOU DO THAT? WE DIDN'T GET THE SIGNAL YET." The panda-masked figure lowers his gun, replying calmly, "HE COULD STILL SPEAK, SO HE'S NOT AS WEAK AS HE SHOULD BE... A GOOD COOK IS NEVER LAZY IN HIS PREPARATION." He looks down at the bleeding Iceburg, who is clutching his shoulder in agony ("........!!"). The panda-masked figure adds, "EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT TIME, IN ORDER TO PREVENT ANY COMPLICATION IN THE FUTURE... PRECAUTIONS MUST BE TAKEN. THAT IS THE WAY OF A PROFESSIONAL KILLER."

Iceburg, grimacing in pain, looks up at the hooded woman. He gasps, "THAT SOUNDS LIKE...!!! THE CP9...!!" The hooded woman reacts with a quiet "!" as she pulls back her hood slightly, revealing her face. The panda-masked figure looks at Iceburg and says, "..... YOU SEEM TO KNOW A LOT. BUT YOU ARE CORRECT." Iceburg, bleeding on the floor now, chuckles weakly, "HEH... THE STRAW HATS... THEY ARE INNOCENT AFTER ALL..." The hooded woman looks down at him, her face filled with a mix of sadness and resolve. She says, "I WRONGED... YOU DID NOTHING WRONG. IT'S TRUE THAT YOU SAW ME LAST NIGHT." Iceburg asks, "IT'S ALL... PART OF YOUR PLAN...?"

The panda-masked figure stands over Iceburg, explaining their scheme: "YES. WE ALLOWED YOU TO LIVE SO WE COULD FRAME THOSE PIRATES. ALSO, IF WE HAD KILLED YOU THEN... OUR MAIN OBJECTIVE, THE BLUEPRINTS FOR THAT SHIP, WOULD'VE REMAINED HIDDEN." Iceburg lies on the floor, listening in shock. The panda-masked figure continues, "FROM ONE CARPENTER TO ANOTHER, THAT THING... IS A SECRET TREASURE PASSED DOWN THROUGH GENERATIONS. WHEN YOU FEEL THAT YOUR LIFE IS THREATENED... YOU WILL NO DOUBT PASS IT DOWN TO SOMEONE ELSE." Iceburg realizes the truth, sweating as he mutters, "..... SO THEN... I PLAYED RIGHT INTO YOUR HANDS..." The panda-masked figure reveals, "THE PERSON YOU CHOSE IS CHIEF MECHANIC, PAULIE. RIGHT NOW, TWO OF MY COMRADES ARE DEALING WITH HIM."

The panda-masked figure turns to leave, walking towards the door with "STA STA" footsteps. He says, "---TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE... I'M GOING OUTSIDE TO TAKE CARE OF THE CARPENTERS IN THE HALLWAY. I'M LEAVING HIM TO YOU, NICO ROBIN." Robin stands silently by the bed, her dark eyes staring coldly. The panda-masked figure continues, "ONCE THEY GET THE BLUEPRINT FROM PAULIE, THEY WILL SEND YOU A SIGNAL. WHEN THEY DO, KILL HIM." Iceburg grits his teeth in anger and despair, sweating profusely ("........!!!"). The panda-masked figure adds, "AFTER THAT, WE JUST NEED TO ELIMINATE PAULIE. AND THE STRAW HATS WILL TAKE THE BLAME. THEN, OUR MISSION WILL BE COMPLETE," as he stands by the exit.

Meanwhile, outside the Galley-La headquarters, Zoro, Nami, and Chopper are running through the streets, trying to figure out what to do. Chopper asks, "WHAT SHOULD WE DO? DO WE NEED TO SNEAK...!?" Nami wonders, "MAYBE ROBIN IS IN THE CROWD!" Zoro grumbles, "NO USE COMPLAINING NOW! WHY DOESN'T HE EVER LISTEN!!?" referring to Luffy, who has already charged ahead. They hear the distant shouting of the shipwrights: "ARR RGG GG---!!!" Nami analyzes the situation: "ACTUALLY... THIS MAY BE TO OUR ADVANTAGE. DO YOU THINK THAT LUFFY WOULD USE STEALTH TO ENTER THE BUILDING?" Zoro and Chopper reply in unison, "MOST LIKELY NOT" and "NOT! NOT!". Nami continues, "HE LIKELY FLEW OR CHARGED IN FROM THE FRONT. IT'S GOOD IF HE GOT IN, HE'S PROBABLY BEING CHASED AROUND BY THE SHIPWRIGHTS. SO, THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING SHOULD BE POORLY DEFENDED RIGHT NOW. EVERYONE WILL CHASE AFTER HIM, WHEN THE ENEMY'S BOSS APPEARS, WE CAN USE THIS CHANCE TO GET IN!" Zoro and Chopper agree, "AGREE! AGREE!" and "YEAH. I AGREE."

Zoro smiles, realizing the plan: "I SEE. SO LUFFY'S RECKLESSNESS GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY!!" Chopper agrees, "I AGREE! SO WE CAN JUST CHARGE IN THERE!" Nami points ahead, shouting, "JUMP OVER THAT WALL!!" They leap over the metal fence, shouting, "FOLLOW LUFFY!!" and "YEAH, LET'S GO!" However, as they land on the other side, they freeze in shock. A massive crowd of hundreds of angry shipwrights is standing right in front of the building, completely blocking the entrance. One of the shipwrights notices them, saying, "HEY, LOOK THERE." Zoro, Nami, and Chopper stare in absolute horror, their faces comically distorted with shock as they realize their plan has failed spectacularly. "THEY'RE ALL STILL THERE----!!!" they scream in unison.

The scene cuts to Luffy, who is hilariously stuck between two stone walls, unable to move. He is sweating and panting ("ZEE... ZEE..."), squeezing himself as he groans, "DAMN IT! I CAN'T GET OUT... I WAS GOING TO JUST JUMP INTO THE BUILDING... BUT I GOT STUCK!!!" He struggles to free himself, crying, "OUCH! OUCH! I HAVE TO HURRY...!" Meanwhile, inside the building, panic has erupted among the shipwrights. One shouts, "SOMEBODY HELP ME!!" and "COME TO THE PRESIDENT'S ROOM!!!" Another yells, "ALL THE GUARDS ON THE THIRD FLOOR ARE DOWN!!" A third shipwright runs up to Tilestone, shouting, "HOW!? KAKU AND LUCCHI ARE OVER THERE!!" Tilestone looks on in shock ("!?") as he hears the news. In the next panel, Tilestone looks into a room and gasps.

Tilestone stares in horror at the scene before him. Kaku is slumped in a chair, covered in blood, completely unconscious ("COO..."). Next to him, Rob Lucci lies face down on the floor in a pool of blood, his pet pigeon Hattori standing on his back, cooing sadly ("COO~~~", "SO~~~"). Tilestone screams in absolute anguish and disbelief, "KAKU!! LUCCHI!!!!" In the final panel, the panda-masked figure holds up a transponder snail (Den Den Mushi) and speaks into it, smiling menacingly. He says, "...OH DAMN... THERE'S NO END TO THEM OVER HERE. AREN'T THEY FINISHED YET?"

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