"Through certain past experiences, I've managed to learn some information about Imu, though it isn't much more than what you already know. First is his technique, 'Black Shift Domination'."
"You should have witnessed it back then. Imu's ability can transform others into demons. Not only is their consciousness manipulated for his use, but he can also strengthen and grant immortality to the transformed warriors."
Allen looked at Kaido and said, "Once a battle with Imu breaks out, there's a constant risk of having your faction switched by his ability. And he can control more than just one person—he can create a massive immortal army."
"Black Shift Domination? Immortal enhancement, and more than one...?"
Ace furrowed his brows in shock, muttering with a grave expression, "In other words, if we launch a massive assault on Mary Geoise, not only will we lose allies as we fight, but the enemy's numbers will continuously grow and become stronger..."
"More than one, huh..."
Kaido's gaze was equally profound.
His knowledge of Imu was still stuck on a brief encounter thirty-eight years ago. At that time, he hadn't even realized what Imu's existence truly meant.
He only knew the opponent was incredibly strong and could turn others into immortal warriors, an ability that even Rocks' Haki couldn't completely defend against.
If the opponent could control more than one person, it meant they couldn't win through sheer numbers. But in a one-on-one fight...
Even the combined forces of Rocks, Roger, and Garp back then couldn't defeat him.
Although he was extremely confident in his own strength, he wasn't arrogant enough to think he was stronger than those three combined.
"So, you're telling us this not just to let us know how strong Imu is, right?"
Kaido shifted his gaze to Allen. "I know you're strong, but I still don't think you can defeat him."
Whether it was CP0, the Holy Knights, or the Five Elders, none of them posed much of a threat in his eyes. At most, they were minor nuisances.
But that person standing above the Five Elders, the mastermind behind the entire World Government—Imu—was Kaido's only true fear.
Given that Allen brought this up publicly on an occasion like today, he must have some level of certainty. This couldn't help but pique Kaido's interest.
Under everyone's gaze, the corners of Allen's mouth curled up slightly as he said to Kaido, "Have you forgotten so quickly? What technique did I use to defeat you in an instant at the very end of our battle?"
As he spoke, Allen raised his hand. His five fingers curled slightly, and a mass of profound black mist surged forth, dancing on his palm like black flames.
"That thing again...!!"
"The Dark-Dark Fruit...!!"
Seeing this, both Kaido and Ace's eyes narrowed simultaneously!
Although Kaido didn't know exactly what this method was, looking back on it now, he could still clearly remember the feeling of being gripped by that hand of black mist.
At that moment, the Devil Fruit power within his body was completely suppressed and sealed, as if it had encountered something terrifying.
And Ace, naturally, needed no further explanation. He had personally fought a fierce battle against Teach in the past, and his Flame-Flame Fruit abilities had been completely countered by the power of darkness.
The moment he saw Allen unleash the power of darkness, he immediately understood and said thoughtfully, "I see. Using the power of the Dark-Dark Fruit to counter Imu's ability. That way, we indeed won't have to worry about being controlled."
"What do you mean? Can your ability also nullify the powers used by others?" Kaido asked with a heavy frown.
Even Seastone, the natural counter to ability users, only worked on the users themselves. Just like the sea, as long as an ability user touched it, they would lose their stamina.
After spending so many years in Wano Country, Kaido's understanding of Seastone was incredibly profound.
They even had techniques to dilute the density of Seastone here, creating handcuffs that only stripped an ability user of their combat strength while leaving them with enough energy to work.
But Kaido had never heard of anything that could absorb the abilities released by a user.
However, thinking carefully, Allen had indeed used a black mist vortex to absorb his Blast Breath earlier.
Did this mean that even if someone was controlled by Imu's Black Shift Domination, Allen could use the Dark-Dark Fruit's power to dispel the ability cast on them?
"Strictly speaking, it's not dispelling, but absorbing. However, I can indeed counter Imu's ability," Allen nodded in response.
The essence of the Dark-Dark Fruit was absorption, meaning it could absorb the ability constructs released by others, rather than dispelling their powers entirely.
As far as he knew, the Dark-Dark Fruit couldn't undo Hancock's petrification, for example.
But the essence of Imu's ability was a demonic aura with various functions. Even the targets controlled by Black Shift Domination were coated in a layer of this demonic aura.
As long as the power of the Dark-Dark Fruit was used to absorb the demonic aura, the Black Shift Domination would naturally be lifted.
Another method to counter Black Shift Domination was to use Haki to form an invisible shield for defense.
Strictly speaking, it wasn't that Rocks' Haki wasn't strong enough to resist Imu's power, but rather that his mind was disturbed by Imu, allowing the demonic aura to breach his defenses.
Haki was a power within the human body, condensed by willpower. When the mind was disturbed and willpower wavered, it naturally affected the strength of the Haki.
Allen briefly explained his thoughts on dealing with Imu to Kaido and Ace.
From initial indifference, Kaido and Ace gradually grew interested in the proposal to unite against the World Government as they listened to Allen's words.
Simply because they realized that overthrowing the World Government was actually something they could achieve!
Meanwhile, in an attic across from the banquet hall.
Listening to the voices continuously coming from the eavesdropping equipment, Lucci and the others fell into silence. The dim, cramped room was terrifyingly quiet.
A long time passed.
"What a shocking plan..."
"If the things discussed here today spread across the sea, it will inevitably cause massive turmoil."
"The Revolutionary Army will probably take advantage of the situation to create endless chaos. Just thinking about it is terrifying..."
Kaku and Blueno sighed consecutively.
However, Lucci and Stussy had their brows tightly furrowed, a hint of worry seemingly flowing deep in their eyes.
After a moment of silence, Lucci suddenly spoke in a low voice, "Did you record the eavesdropped content..."
"..."
Stussy nodded, but hesitation flickered in her eyes.
Kaku and Blueno looked at them in confusion. Before they could ask, Stussy continued, "Should we take this recording back...?"
"Huh? What do you mean, Stussy?"
Kaku paused, his tone filled with confusion. "We went through a lot of trouble to infiltrate and eavesdrop on their plan. Of course, such an important recording..."
"You don't understand what I mean, Kaku. The important thing right now isn't their plan, but the information that shouldn't be known by anyone else—including us."
Stussy suddenly interrupted, turning to look at him seriously. "If the Five Elders find out what we heard here, do you know what will happen to us?"
"This... Are you saying..."
Kaku swallowed hard, somewhat frightened by her words.
He turned to look at Lucci and found that the other man's face was equally dark and gloomy.
Only then did Kaku realize the implications in hindsight. A cold sweat broke out on his back as the terrifying realization set in.
Imu's existence, his abilities, and the methods to counter him...
"Come to think of it, these are things we absolutely shouldn't know."
Kaku held his head in his hands, his expression panicked. "How could the Five Elders and the person on the Empty Throne let us run around executing missions with these secrets?"
At this moment, although Blueno felt worried and afraid, his expression remained relatively calm.
He looked at Lucci and said deeply, "In other words, if we go back and report the mission, we might be executed because of this?"
"What else can we do if we don't go back? Defect? But if we do that, Kalifa, Fukurou, and the others..."
Blueno's voice trailed off, the implication self-evident.
Right now, the Levely was taking place. Aside from the four of them who came here because of the war between the Emperors, the rest of CP0 remained in Mary Geoise as guards.
If they didn't return, it was highly likely that Kalifa and the others, who had also been promoted from CP9, would be implicated because of them.
"Perhaps we have another choice."
At this moment.
Lucci suddenly spoke up, his gaze sweeping over the people in the room. "Besides CP0, known as the 'Strongest Shield of the Celestial Dragons', don't forget there is another military organization in the Holy Land—the ultimate sword, the 'Holy Knights'!"
"Although most members of the Holy Knights come from the nineteen Celestial Dragon families, as far as I know, some are also selected from the lower realm."
Saying this, Lucci glanced down at the eavesdropping equipment on the table and continued, "Remember what we just heard? The Holy Knights are branded with the Abyssal Mark by Imu, granting them greater strength and immortality."
"Although the price is never being able to escape Imu's control, given our current situation, this price might actually become our death-exemption medallion."
As Lucci's words fell, the room fell silent once again.
"Exchanging complete control for their trust in us..."
"But..."
Kaku's eyes were hesitant. He paused before saying, "It goes without saying for you, Lucci, and Blueno might have a chance due to his special ability, but Stussy and I might not be worth that Imu granting us the Abyssal Mark."
Lucci didn't respond to this, but instead fell deep into thought.
As Awakened Zoan users, Kaku and Stussy's strength was naturally not lacking.
Coupled with their outstanding espionage skills, as long as they went back and pleaded their case, the chances were actually quite good.
But he wasn't entirely certain; after all, he knew better than anyone how aloof and ruthless the Five Elders were.
In the quiet room, only Stussy's expression flashed with a strange color.
"The longer we stay here, the greater the risk. Let's leave first and discuss the rest later."
Lucci suddenly said after a moment of thought, turning to look at Blueno.
"Understood."
Blueno nodded. He then activated his ability, swiping his hand in front of him to open a square door radiating a deep green light out of thin air.
Stussy stood up and packed the eavesdropping equipment on the table.
Just as they were about to jump into the spatial door together, she pushed the equipment she was holding toward Kaku and said, "I'm sorry, everyone, but I'm not planning to go back."
"What did you say?"
Hearing her words, Lucci and the others couldn't help but look shocked, turning to stare at her.
"Hey, stop joking around, Stussy. Whatever it is, let's leave here first," Kaku urged, his expression somewhat panicked.
For this to suddenly happen right when they were about to leave couldn't help but make him nervous, knowing they were currently in the dragon's den.
However.
Faced with his persuasion, Stussy remained completely unmoved, even making a shocking move under their gazes.
"I really can't accept being branded and controlled for the rest of my life. I'm sorry, Lucci, Kaku, Blueno. You guys should hurry up and leave."
Stussy's gaze was incredibly resolute. The next second.
Boom!!
Purple bat wings spread open behind her, and a formidable aura erupted from Stussy's body!
Lucci shouted angrily in a low voice, "Hey! What are you doing, Stussy?!"
"Even if you don't plan to return to Mary Geoise, you could at least leave here with us first!" Kaku yelled in disbelief.
Now they were truly panicking. They hadn't expected Stussy to inexplicably make such a move.
"If you just defect directly, it will be equally hard for you to explain to the Five Elders when you get back."
Stussy chuckled lightly. "I don't want to implicate you. When you go back, just say I was exposed during the infiltration and captured by the pirates."
"Alright, Lucci, hurry up and take them away, or it'll be too late."
Saying this, Stussy took off her fox mask, revealing her playful and cute face, and smiled slightly with the corners of her mouth raised.
And right at that moment.
Boom!!!
The wooden wall beside Stussy suddenly exploded!
Fierce flames surged in. Lucci and the others abruptly turned their heads, looking out through the hole in the wall to see a tall figure with wings on his back flying toward them at high speed!
"I was wondering where the bugs came from. So it's you!"
King shouted in a deep voice, a ruthless glint in his eyes beneath his pitch-black helmet.
Just now, when Stussy unleashed her aura, everyone in the banquet hall instantly sensed it. He rushed out immediately, not expecting to find CP0.
This meant that all their previous conversations had likely been eavesdropped on!
"You really are pervasive cockroaches! None of you are leaving today!"
King roared in a low voice, raging flames spontaneously igniting on his fist!
"Hurry up and go!!"
Stussy shouted, tapping her toes and instantly darting forward in a flash!
"Shave!!"
King violently threw his flaming fist at the empty space in front of him. In the next instant, Stussy indeed flashed and appeared right before him!
Bang!!
Stussy quickly raised her leg and kicked out, her hard red high heel striking King's fist like a sharp spear!
"Flame Emperor!!"
King shouted loudly, and a fierce blast of flames erupted from his fist, instantly sending Stussy flying!
The next instant.
The flames on King's back extinguished. His gaze swept over Lucci and the others, and his figure suddenly accelerated, charging forward!
"And you too!"