if it wasn't such an important DF i don't understand why the CP9 protected it, why a really effective and powerful agent was sent to jail because he lost it, and why the plot point about the gomu gomu no being stoled reappears now.
why they’re protecting it:
they’re planning on giving it to another CP9/CP0/navy. Devil fruits are expensive, losing on costs the WG a lot of money. More than even pacifistas and remember how Sentomaru was complaining about them getting defeated despite their cost.
Why go to prison:
Wasn’t Lucci and then also nearly imprisoned for failure? CP9 is designed to be a secret organization that is allowed free reign. Failure in their tasks can reveal CP9. It’s like the World governments suicide squad.