Exploring the Possibility of One Piece’s Iconic Villain Rob Lucci Turning into a Hero

Rob Lucci is a formidable fighter and iconic villain in One Piece. Portrayed as a sadistic, emotionless, and almost sociopathic individual, Lucci strictly enforces Absolute Justice, believing that anyone or anything opposing the World Government and the Celestial Dragons must be eliminated. He possesses a deep disdain for the weak and equates weakness with criminality.

From his initial appearance in Water Seven and Enies Lobby to his return in Egghead, Lucci is depicted as a ruthless killer, establishing himself as one of the most purely evil characters in One Piece. His acts of malevolence are driven more by his bloodthirst than any particular motive. Consequently, fans were quite taken aback by the recent chapters of One Piece that unveiled an unexpected side to Lucci’s character.

When Saint Mars approached Egghead’s laboratory with hostile intentions, Lucci implored him to spare and, if possible, rescue his colleague Kaku, who found himself in the same precarious situation. Despite being immobilized due to the injuries inflicted by Roronoa Zoro, Lucci’s concern for Kaku hinted that he was not entirely heartless. This incident is not the sole moment suggesting Lucci’s previously unimaginable potential for redemption.

Disclaimer: This article contains major spoilers from the One Piece manga up to chapter 1128.

One Piece May Be Setting the Stage for Lucci and Kaku’s Surprising Heel-Face Turn

The Comradeship Between the Two CP0 Elites

Kaku and Rob Lucci as seen in One Piece (Image via Toei Animation)

In One Piece, Lucci was introduced as a superhuman killing machine. Joining the World Government to satisfy his murderous instincts, he rarely showcased genuine human emotion—arrogance being the exception. The moment Lucci expressed concern for Kaku’s welfare marked the first instance of genuine empathy towards another individual in his narrative.

Kaku is arguably the closest individual Lucci has to a friend. Since their days as CP9 agents, Kaku has harbored respect for Lucci, acting as his right-hand man. Following the time skip, Lucci and Kaku emerged as the only two former CP9 agents deemed powerful enough to ascend to CP0, the elite organization of the World Government. The others were consigned to regular unmasked agent status. Notably, Kaku was the only former CP9 member who achieved Devil Fruit Awakening, similar to Lucci.

Lucci only holds respect for strength. Kaku, a devoted comrade, is the sole individual who can, to some extent, match Lucci’s ever-increasing power, which explains Lucci’s soft spot for him. Eventually, Lucci and Kaku joined forces with Stussy, another CP0 masked agent. The World Government assigned the trio to Egghead with orders to eliminate Dr. Vegapunk.

Lucci, Kaku, and Stussy’s Storyline on Egghead

Lucci injures Stussy in One Piece chapter 1091 (Image via Shueisha)

As the Egghead Incident unfolded, it resulted in the CP0 trio becoming fractured. Critically injured during his confrontation with Roronoa Zoro, Lucci lay incapacitated outside Egghead’s laboratory. Meanwhile, Kaku remained inside the laboratory with Stussy, whose severe injury from Lucci had mysteriously been treated.

Moments prior, Lucci had viciously attacked Stussy in retaliation for her earlier act of betrayal. During Kaku’s fight with Zoro, Stussy had revealed her true intentions, taking down Kaku with a sudden vampire-like bite that rendered him unconscious.

This act of treachery left Lucci bewildered. Shocked, angered, and disoriented by her betrayal, he retaliated against Stussy. He didn’t activate his Zoan powers or even his Awakened form; instead, he charged at her in a blind rage. Stussy capitalized on this, skillfully evading Lucci’s assault and catching him off guard with her Seastone lipstick.

Kaku and Stussy’s conversation in One Piece chapter 1119 (Image via Shueisha)

Upon contact with Seastone, which counters the powers of all Devil Fruit users, Lucci instantly lost all of his strength. Consequently, Stussy incapacitated him with her vampire-like bite, mirroring what she had done to Kaku. She subsequently contacted Dr. Vegapunk, informing him that she had neutralized her CP0 comrades.

Stussy, a mole within CP0, had been created by Vegapunk as a clone of the former Rocks Pirate member Miss Buckingham Stussy. Since the CP0 elites were dispatched to eliminate Vegapunk, Stussy had awaited the opportune moment to enact her betrayal.

Later, Lucci attacked Vegapunk as part of his primary mission. Stussy attempted to protect the scientist but was unable to prevent Lucci’s assault. All she could do was act as a human shield, sustaining a grievous injury as a result.

While Sanji utilized Vegapunk’s specialized gun to encase Kaku in a large bubble, Zoro intervened to halt Lucci’s destructive rampage. The two engaged in a whirlwind battle that ultimately led to Lucci’s overwhelming defeat.

Lucci and Kaku as seen in One Piece chapter 1125 (Image via Shueisha)

After Stussy received treatment for her injuries, she freed Kaku from the bubble while expressing regret for having deceived him and Lucci. With tears in her eyes, she confessed that she had come to view them as true friends. Even though Kaku denied their friendship, he too was in tears. He urged Stussy to flee, warning her that he would be unable to prevent Lucci from killing her due to her betrayal.

Eventually, after the Egghead Incident concluded, Kaku and Lucci returned to the World Government vessels without Stussy. When questioned about Stussy’s fate, Lucci nonchalantly stated he had killed her. This statement suggested that, upon regaining the ability to move, Lucci went to the laboratory and executed Stussy, just as Kaku had predicted.

However, that scenario might not be accurate. Had it occurred, the act would have been vividly depicted. The absence of a corpse implies that no death has taken place. Lucci killing Stussy while Kaku barely restrained his emotions would be a monumental scene, yet it was conspicuously unillustrated.

Lucci and Kaku’s Potential Redemption in One Piece

Lucci’s words in One Piece chapter 1125 (Image via Shueisha)

As Stussy confided in Kaku, her life is now devoid of meaning. Her betrayal fractured their camaraderie, especially following Vegapunk’s demise. It’s likely that Lucci opted to let Stussy escape, enabling her to ponder her choices. Subsequently, he misrepresented her fate to prevent the World Government from pursuing her for treason and defection.

Perhaps Lucci, although initially reluctant to spare Stussy, honored Kaku’s wish out of respect. It’s plausible to visualize Lucci telling Stussy that she was dead to him while allowing her to leave under the condition they would never cross paths again, warning he would kill her if they did.

Of course, it remains possible that Kaku facilitated Stussy’s escape and later informed Lucci that he had killed her. It’s also conceivable that Lucci genuinely believes he was responsible for her death due to Kaku’s description of her dying from the wound Lucci inflicted while she was trying to shield Vegapunk.

Lucci worries for Kaku in One Piece chapter 1111 (Image via Shueisha)

Assuming Lucci did experience a change of heart, it likely stemmed from his conversation with Saint Mars. When Lucci beseeched Mars to spare Kaku, the Gorosei replied that he couldn’t differentiate a single insect amidst the annihilation of multitudes.

This revelation may have impressed upon Lucci that, despite their elevated status as CP0 elites, they are merely pawns in the eyes of the Celestial Dragons. Mars’s words resonate as a wake-up call for Lucci, urging him to reassess his life choices.

Kaku, on the other hand, is not inherently malevolent, even if he does work as an assassin. Unlike Lucci, he has historically restrained himself to mission objectives without harboring personal grudges or undertaking unnecessary cruelty.

Lucci speaks with Mars in One Piece chapter 1111 (Image via Shueisha)

Away from his duties, Kaku is sociable and endearing. He has exhibited ruthlessness occasionally and has openly supported the Celestial Dragons, viewing them as divine beings entitled to seize whatever they desire from humanity.

Lucci and Kaku are acutely aware of the World Government’s principles and the abhorrent nature of the Celestial Dragons. Yet, they have spent years believing they were aligned with righteousness. However, the events on Egghead appear to signify a pivotal moment in their narrative.

While Lucci may have accepted his role as a pawn, permitting him to indulge his murder spree without consequence, he has now comprehended that the World Government views him and Kaku as little more than worthless insects.

Although Lucci has exhibited pure sociopathy since his childhood, the World Government has brainwashed him to wield this attitude in their favor. While he is unlikely to become a cheerful ally to Luffy and his crew, Lucci has the chance to redeem himself by realizing he cannot continue as a mere puppet of the Celestial Dragons.

Lucci having a change of heart would be a great development (Image via Toei Animation)

Lucci is not unfamiliar with questioning the World Government’s demeanor. When he, Kaku, and Stussy were dispatched to Egghead, Lucci openly scrutinized their orders to eliminate Vegapunk. Over time, he and his ally, Kaku, might evolve into morally ambiguous characters. Though no longer antagonistic, they would remain far from entirely virtuous.

This evolution may not manifest as a complete redemption but rather as a natural progression of their character arcs. Should circumstances warrant, they could intermittently support the Straw Hats. After all, they previously allied with Luffy and Zoro to combat the Seraphim cyborgs.

The former CP9 agents—Blueno, Fukuro, Jabra, Kalifa, and Kumadori—may appear to be minor figures at this juncture, but a similar scenario could apply to them. When the World Government threatened to hold them accountable for the Enies Lobby incident, they rallied resources for Lucci’s medical expenses.

This possibly elucidates why Lucci reacted so strongly when Stussy turned against him and Kaku. Remembering his comrades’ loyalty during his time of need, he believed that while people could betray him, his friends would always remain steadfast, which ultimately holds significant weight.

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