Issho's mastery of Observation Haki was the strongest among them, allowing him to sense more than anyone else.
Right now, he had already pinpointed the exact positions of the remaining CP9 agents—they had drawn close enough to reach El's quarters.
Earlier, El had already discussed the plan with his crew: once he dealt with Blueno, or whoever else CP9 sent to attack him, the other officers were to stand ready to provide support. Their main task was simple: make sure none of the remaining agents escaped.
Now, the "rats" had wandered right into their range.
Under normal circumstances, the presence of just one Warlord of the Sea was enough to give the World Government and the Marines pause.
Even an elite unit like CP9 needed time to prepare before confronting such powerful figures. But this time, they had no such luxury.
Still, after what happened to Blueno, Lucci had ordered the rest of the team to proceed with extreme caution.
They moved forward inch by inch, advancing only after confirming that an area was completely safe and free of ambush.
Even so, they had made one critical oversight.
With Issho now part of the crew, the El Pirates had gained the ability to take to the skies.
Using his Gravity Fruit, Issho could easily lift a large boulder into the air—enough to serve as a hidden platform for the senior officers.
Combined with their powerful Observation Haki, they could track CP9's every move without ever revealing themselves.
And since Issho had remained unknown until now, no one could have guessed that the El Pirates now counted a powerful fighter with the ability to fly among their ranks.
Even in this world where Devil Fruit users numbered in the thousands, the ability to fly was something to be envied.
Throughout history, very few users had ever gained the power to move freely through the air—let alone lift others up and carry them along, as Issho could.
The reason the world had entered the Great Pirate Era rather than the Great Age of Aeronautics was precisely because no one had ever truly controlled the skies.
What Issho could do with his Gravity Fruit gave him a massive, overwhelming advantage over anyone who lacked flight.
That included Lucci and his team. Though they were the finest agents the World Government had to offer, they remained completely unaware of the threat hovering above them.
"…When do we strike?" Doflamingo could clearly see the figures of CP9 below.
"Wait until they come closer," Issho replied, calm and steady. He spoke with the confidence of someone fully assured of his own strength.
"Let them draw near enough that escape becomes impossible. Only then will we take them all down in one go."
Hancock agreed wholeheartedly. "Every single one of these dogs of the World Government must be caught. If even one slips away, it will bring nothing but disaster."
"Better to wait until they are all gathered in one place and finish them off at once," she added, speaking through gritted teeth.
Even someone who did not know her past could hear the deep hatred in her voice—there was clearly no love lost between her and the World Government.
After all, the entire system of the world had been built upon the rules set down by the Celestial Dragons.
Crocodile said nothing, but he did not object. As a Logia-type user, he already held the advantage against most opponents.
Once he transformed into his element, he became nearly untouchable. And as far as he knew, none of the CP9 agents below possessed a Logia ability.
"Let them come closer," Crocodile said.
"Captain El is waiting ahead, and we are positioned both behind and above them. No matter how skilled or how many tricks they have, they will never escape this net."
He was right. When the senior officers of the El Pirates moved together, even the elite forces of Marine Headquarters would struggle to deal with them.
How could a handful of intelligence agents—no matter how skilled in hand-to-hand combat or how talented their own abilities—hope to slip through such a carefully laid trap?
Lucci and his team crept closer and closer, nearly within sight of El's quarters.
"Something is wrong!" Lucci suddenly stopped. His caution ran deep.
"We have come this far, yet there is still no sign of reaction from El or his crew. That cannot be right!"
When Blueno had gone in, they had kept watch over the other officers. But in their rush to learn what had become of Blueno, they had lost track of the rest of the crew for quite some time.
Users of Zoan-type Devil Fruits often possessed a special instinct—an ability to sense danger before it struck, especially when it threatened their own well-being.
Their heightened animalistic senses gave them a sharp, intuitive awareness that ordinary people lacked.
And right now, Rob Lucci was experiencing that very sensation.
We have walked straight into a trap.
The thought flashed through his mind. Immediately, he raised a hand and flashed a signal to his companions—the agreed-upon code meaning: Something has gone wrong; retreat at once.
Agents of the World Government relied on a complex system of secret signals and codes.
They often spent weeks lying in wait or infiltrating enemy organizations, unable to speak openly. Silent gestures and hidden cues were the only way to communicate safely.
The moment they saw Lucci's signal, the other CP9 operatives tensed. This was the highest-level emergency order—scatter in different directions and get out of the area immediately.
What is happening? they wondered. I feel nothing out of the ordinary… Has his Zoan instinct detected something we cannot?
There was no time to ask questions. The commands of their leader were absolute.
The true mark of these elite assassins and spies was not just their incredible strength, but their unwavering discipline.
Once an order was given, they followed it without hesitation or doubt.
Lucci did not have time to explain his unease.
He only knew that this area felt increasingly dangerous, as if the air itself was crawling with menace.
They were so close—only a few minutes more and they would have reached the building to investigate Blueno's fate.
But the moment Lucci's signal was given, everything changed.
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