What Is Next For Lucci And Kaku?

Few of the One Piece series’ assassins have left as lasting an impression as Rob Lucci and Kaku. The two assassins were elite agents of Cipher Pol 9 (CP9) and later Cipher Pol Aigis 0 (CP0) and had been executing the World Government’s will.

Their loyalty, skill, and ruthlessness made them one of the most feared duos in the series, but the recent events on Egghead Island have shaken their once-solid standing. In the wake of the Egghead betrayal and the failure of their mission, Lucci and Kaku might need to redefine their purpose because they have to decide their fates in One Piece.

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What Will Lucci Do Next?

Lucci And His Obsession With The Straw Hat Pirates

When Lucci is introduced in One Piece, he is the most powerful member of Cipher Pol 9 (CP9), an elite group of government assassins who specialize in undercover missions. The CP9 disguised as shipwrights in the Water 7 arc so they can find the blueprints for Pluton, one of the ancient weapons. Afterward, the real Lucci emerged in the final act of Water 7. His battle with Luffy in Enies Lobby is one of the most intense in the series.

While Monkey D. Luffy fought for his friends and their freedom, Lucci fought because he enjoyed hurting people and showing loyalty to the World Government. However, despite his overwhelming power, Enies Lobby was the first real defeat Lucci ever experienced. The World Government abandoned CP9 after their failure, and yet, Lucci never questioned his loyalty. Instead of resenting the government for discarding him, he worked even harder and fought his way back into the government’s favor. He later became a high-ranking member of CP0, the most powerful and secret intelligence group in the world.

By the time Lucci is introduced on Egghead Island, he is even stronger than before, and he can withstand a fight against Luffy’s Gear 5, even if only for a short time. For Lucci, it was his time to settle the score with Luffy. Unfortunately for him, he was only able to have a long and arduous fight against the Straw Hats swordsman, Roronoa Zoro, instead of Luffy in the Egghead arc. Lucci failed the government at Enies Lobby when Luffy left him on the brink of death. But the failure on Egghead Island is different.

Egghead wasn’t just another mission. It was a chance for Lucci to prove himself as one of the strongest agents of the government. Yet, instead of succeeding, he failed to eliminate Dr Vegapunk; he was overpowered by Luffy (again) and forced to work with the Straw Hats at a point to survive. Also, in the end, the five elders did not care about his survival in the tumultuous event that permeates the Island. With the way Egghead has unfolded, Lucci’s future could go in a few different directions, each with its own consequences.

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Desire To Go Back To CP0

Lucci might refuse to accept his fate as a failure and fight to prove his worth to the World Government once again. He could justify their defeat by describing the betrayal of Stussy, an undercover ally of Dr Vegapunk. The World Government don’t see Lucci as a useful tool anymore; if anything, he’s a loose end. Even someone as mighty as St. Garcia Saturn, one of the five elders, was killed because he failed his mission. This means Lucci is the least of the people the government can discard. The final war is coming, and the strongest soldiers of the World Government, the holy knights, have been deployed. This means the war is bigger than Lucci as the holy knights are levels above the admirals. Whichever way you look at it, going back to the World Government is a means to no end.

The Last Hunt For The Straw Hat Captain

Lucci’s ego was already bruised when Luffy defeated him at Enies Lobby. Their rematch at Egghead only solidified what viewers already knew; Lucci is no longer in Luffy’s league. However, the Straw Hat captain has taken a lot from him twice, and he might never want to let it go. Lucci’s pride has taken multiple hits now, and if he refuses to adapt, he may spiral into obsession. Instead of fighting for the government, Lucci may start hunting Luffy purely for personal reasons. Hence, this wouldn’t be about duty anymore; it would be about proving to himself that he isn’t weak. If he goes rogue, he could become a dangerous and recurring threat, someone who doesn’t answer to anyone but his own vendetta.

What Is Next For Kaku After Egghead Island?

Kaku Is A Survivalist

Unlike Lucci, who is driven by a ruthless belief in justice, his underling, Kaku, is far more pragmatic. He does his job and enjoys work, but he’s not bound to the same ideological extremes as Lucci. He follows orders, and his adaptability keeps him alive after the fall of the CP9 in Enies Lobby. It is what allowed him to thrive in CP0. However, Egghead changed everything and Stussy’s betrayal was personal for Kaku. It is not just about Stussy’s attack on them but the violation of trust. Also, in the Egghead arc, Kaku seemed less hostile toward the Straw Hats compared to Lucci. He even begrudgingly cooperated with Zoro when the Seraphim turned on them. Hence, his adaptability could define his future. However, for Lucci, who will either break or become more extreme with his obsession with the Straw Hat captain, Kaku might decide to walk away from the World Government altogether.

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The Mercenary Route

With the events on Egghead Island, it shows Kaku is not a rigid character, and he actually feels remorse and empathy for Stussy after her betrayal. In other words, with his group’s failure, Kaku could take the mercenary route to use his skills to survive and thrive outside the World Government’s grasp. His disdain for pirates would still be there, so he could be a bounty hunter because he would fit more in that role. He could easily become a top-tier mercenary, hunting down pirates or revolutionaries. In this way, Kaku could use his skills to survive and thrive outside the World Government’s grasp.

While Kaku’s future is uncertain, his story is far from over, and what will happen next will depend on how he reacts to the aftermath of the Egghead event.

• If he tries to regain favor with the World Government, he’s likely walking into a death trap because he has failed them twice.
• If he goes rogue, he becomes one of the most wanted men in the world.
• His story will take a completely unexpected turn if he somehow aligns with an unlikely faction like the Cross Guild.

Eiichiro Oda does not keep characters relevant for no reason. Their survival at Egghead means they still have a role to play in the grand scheme of things. Whether they become relentless pursuers of Luffy or unpredictable wild cards in the final war, one thing is sure; this isn’t the last viewers will see Rob Lucci and Kaku.