Saint Earth Mary Geoise, World Government Headquarters
CP9 Supreme Director's Office
A middle-aged man sat rigidly at his desk, staring at the transponder snail before him, his expression graver than ever.
Spandine, though not personally powerful, had clawed his way up through political schemes and ruthless purges to become CP9's Supreme Director. Yet he coveted a seat in the Room of Power even more. To secure that prize, he needed allies, especially within the Marine Headquarters, that unstoppable war machine.
Thus he'd cooperated with the Marines for years, even accompanying Sakasuki and Kuzan to Ohara four years ago. From Sengoku he'd acquired the Golden Transponder Snail and then used the "Eradication Order" to wipe Ohara from the maps. He expected to climb higher upon his return, but instead, he'd sat at CP9's helm ever since, stirring in him thoughts of destroying CP9 itself. Only by dismantling this shadowy spy force could he break free.
Before he could hatch a perfect plan, his Marine moles and recruited officers began severing ties with him one by one. At first he paid it no mind, but when the trickle became a flood, he was forced to investigate Elio in secret.
When the dossier landed on his desk, even his scheming heart froze in dread. It revealed that at least half the officers above Lieutenant Commander rank in Marine Headquarters shared deep bonds with Elio. Former collaborators were now not only cutting him off but threatening to expose him unless he backed off.
Furious that his network lay in ruins, he showed his findings to Financial Warlord Iznabaron V. Nasshro. Iznabaron promptly ordered Judicial Island to gather evidence, and even succeeded in having Elio imprisoned for trial. Yet just as Elio was about to be sent to Judicial Island for execution, he sparked a mutiny, and in a single night, seized the Fleet Admiral's seat.
Spandine had never imagined such a turn, and neither had the Five Elders in the Room of Power. A revolt itself was one thing, but completing a flawless transition of command, toppling the three Admirals and winning over countless Marine elders, was unthinkable.
"Supreme Director!"
Suddenly, the office door was flung open. A burly man with half his face in a leather mask burst in, panic in his eyes.
"Terrible news!" he gasped. "That damned Elio has staged a mutiny and claimed the Marine Headquarters' Fleet Admiral seat! If he learns that our coup trial was our doing, he'll never forgive us!"
This was Spandam, Spandine's big oaf of a nephew, acting as CP9's public face in his uncle's stead. Spandine's brow creased as he replied calmly, "Spandam, I've told you: stay calm. No problem is unsolvable. You panic over a single crisis, how will you ever lead CP9?"
"Uncle!" Spandam pounded the desk. "Can't you see? Mary Geoise is frozen solid. They're afraid of Elio's control over the Marines. This isn't about one man's betrayal, it's about an entire Marine force!"
Silence fell. Spandine knew this was more than a mere revolt. If the Marines broke away from the World Government, they would become its greatest threat.
Their only choice now was concession: negotiate some accord with Elio, recognize him as legitimate Fleet Admiral, and keep the Marines serving the World Government. But someone would have to bear the blame, and it would have to be them, Spandine and his faction.
Just then, Spandam's eyes flew to the window. "Uncle, look!"
Spandine turned, and his pupils constricted in shock. Several figures hurtled across the sky in blazing arcs, plummeting toward Pangea Square below.
BOOOOOM-BOOOOOM-BOOOOOM!
Deafening explosions rocked the square, black smoke rising in thick columns. The alarm bells wailed across Mary Geoise as cloaked figures swarmed the plaza.
"They're attacking Mary Geoise!" Spandam cried, and sprinted away.
"Spandam!" Spandine shouted, but after a curse he gave chase.
When they reached Pangea Square, the smoke had cleared. The fallen plaza was ringed by wary guards; the chokepoints still held firm.
Cough… cough…
A rasping cough drew their eyes to one of the five pits gouged in the cobblestones. A figure emerged, dusting herself off, it was Gunko, one of the six "God's Knights" who'd been blasted away by Elio's Conqueror's Haki.