Malphegor
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HGBW: Ch. 94
🕑 Added 2025-03-11 23:11:02 +0000 UTC"Damn it! So you guys were sent by Doflamingo!"
"If he could send Vergo to infiltrate the Marine, then of course he could send you as well."
Rosinante's eyes lit up the moment he heard an opportunity to falsely accuse his own brother. He immediately seized the chance and coordinated with Tanaka, successfully shifting all the blame onto Doflamingo—sealing it so tightly that there was no way out.
"Just like Vergo."
"She's one of Doflamingo's people."
With Rosinante bringing up Vergo as an example who was a notorious case of undercover infiltration, plus Kalifa's own admission, the Marine soldiers who had previously surrounded Tanaka looked visibly shaken.
One by one, they backed off, opening a path.
Not long ago, thanks to Tanaka's maneuvering, Vergo's true identity had already been exposed, causing a massive uproar within Marine Headquarters.
Given that precedent, blaming Doflamingo again seemed only natural, and the soldiers instinctively believed it.
"You all, return to the ship immediately. I will personally report this matter to Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
"First, it was Vergo, and now there are four more. Doflamingo is completely lawless."
As long as it involved taking down his brother, Rosinante spared no effort.
He had no choice.
Doflamingo had personally executed their father right in front of him.
For the Marine.
He had to make Doflamingo suffer, even if CP9 had to take the blame.
"Yes, Rear Admiral Rosinante."
Having been repeatedly deceived and played with, the Marine soldiers who once saw Kalifa as a goddess, now walked away with heavy steps toward the warship, their illusions shattered.
"I think the truly lawless ones aren't Doflamingo—but you two."
"Tanaka."
"Rosinante."
As the Marine troops withdrew, Kalifa finally dropped her act. Her icy expression was as sharp as a blade as she coldly rebuked them.
"With the World Government's blade at my throat, was I supposed to just sit there and wait for death?" Tanaka let out a cold laugh.
"That's what you get for overestimating yourself and trying to get your hands on the Op-Op Fruit."
"So what you're saying is, if the World Government ever put a blade to your throat, you'd just sit there and wait to die?" Tanaka wasn't angry.
"Something like that would never happen to me." Kalifa sneered.
She had no idea that, in the future, after the Enies Lobby incident, the World Government would indeed attempt to wipe out CP9.
And back then, they too had chosen to resist.
"Then tell me, why don't any of you know how to use Haki?"
"Why is it that even the common Marines in the New World know how to use Armament Haki, yet none of you in CP9 do?"
Tanaka asked with great interest.
"You—"
Kalifa's expression remained cold, but behind her glasses, her eyes flickered with uncertainty.
Compared to the other members of CP9, she paid more attention to the subtle details that others might overlook.
For instance—Haki.
Logically speaking, an organization like CP9 should have access to Haki training methods.
Even Lucci didn't know how to use Haki before joining CP0.
"Because you are nothing more than a blade. A blade specifically used by the World Government to carry out dirty and disgraceful deeds."
"And once a blade has been used, it is naturally meant to be broken."
"But if the blade is too hard, too sharp, then breaking it becomes dangerous—it might even injure the wielder."
Tanaka moved in front of Kalifa, shifting from a back-to-back stance to face-to-face.
Their eyes locked.
"Say whatever you want. In the end, winners rule and losers fall. Since I failed my mission and ended up in your hands, death is my only outcome."
After meeting Tanaka's gaze for a brief moment, Kalifa turned her head away.
She knew that what Tanaka said might be true, but at this point, it no longer mattered.
The moment she failed her mission and was captured by the enemy—her future was already gone.
"What do you plan to do with them?" Rosinante asked.
"You should head back first, Rosinante. We won't be able to keep this hidden for long."
"When the truth comes out, remember to cut ties with me completely. Just say that you were fooled by me, that you saw through my deception too late."
Tanaka didn't directly answer but instead gave Rosinante a warning.
"What do you take me for? I'm done with this. This Marine uniform—I just won't wear it anymore."
Rosinante was a bit displeased.
If he was willing to risk his life for Law, he was naturally willing to do the same for Tanaka, whom he considered a friend.
"But Law is still in the Marine Academy" Tanaka shook his head.
In this pirate world, he only had two real friends. That was why he didn't want to see Rosinante or Law get caught up in his troubles.
"This…"
The moment Law was mentioned, Rosinante fell silent.
That was when he suddenly realized—he was no longer the same who had once been all alone.
Now, he had a foster father in Sengoku, a boy he saw as a son in Law, and a close friend in Tanaka.
"Keeping this Marine identity might not be a bad thing after all. At least until Law grows up, this Marine uniform will serve as protection—for both you and him," Tanaka advised Rosinante not to act recklessly.
"But what about you? This time CP9 failed—next time, it could be CP0. Or even an admiral."
Rosinante's face was filled with unconcealed worry.
"It's fine. Back then, I was all alone. I didn't even have the Op-Op Fruit, yet I could still fight."
"Don't worry, the World Government can't do anything to me."
Tanaka was completely confident.
For one, the pirate world was vast, with endless seas. Even a massive power like the World Government would struggle to track him down.
And even if they did find him, with the ability to traverse dimensions, he could come and go as he pleased.
From the very start, he had never been in a losing position.
Besides, this time he had obtained Haki training methods—and even the Rokushiki techniques were within his grasp.
In the future, as long as he grew stronger, he would undoubtedly stand at the top of the world.
By then, it was uncertain whether the World Government would be hunting him down—or if he would be hunting them.
On the other hand, if Rosinante left the Marines, he would lose its protection. Not even Sengoku would be able to shield him or Law.
Just like Garp.
Unless Ace chose to become a Marine, even a hero like Garp was powerless to protect him.
