Bellamy came back much stronger post TS and gave Luffy a long fight IIRC? So there is hope for both Croco-boy and Lucci too.
I don't think Oda gave Croc such a huge bounty without good reason, I mean it was 1.9 Billion or something right? Thats much higher than even the Yonko Vice Captains/1st commanders we've seen?! Almost 2 blllion and not that far from Blackbeards previous 2.2 Billion bounty too!
I think Oda is trying to have Lucci be the top dog (or cat even, Top Cat lmao) of CP0 too and since Lucci and Kaku are so beloved characters too, he will hype them up as well?
I dont see Lucci not wanting to get stronger after his defeat by Luffy and having to run from the WG/Marines for his life previously, after that defeat too. CP9 also appeared before Haki was fully established and a while ago, it was even being said Rokushiki is linked to Haki because of something Oda said then and was misinterpreted to be haki related then apparently?
This is Odas chance to give Lucci and Kaku haki on-screen, to buff them that way at least and Lucci should have an awakening honestly too. We've barely seen any awakened Zoans, not even Kaido himself! (Not confirmed anyway..) How are the only awakened Zoans we've seen, those damn animal guards from Impel Down and Luffy himself?!
I dont know if we're gonna get any big fights this arc but I hope so for CP0, especially as redemption for their awful portrayal so far. Would be dope if Lucci gets a post TS Bellamy treatment and gets a hype fight, even if its not super long or so. I just hope they arent sacrificed for a stupid gag moment or plot convenience, like wasted hype/bait or something.