Chapter 192: The Water 7 Incident Comes To A Close
Water 7.
Backstreet, Franky House.
On the open ground in front of the dilapidated house, two forces were facing off—no, more accurately, the CP0 agents wearing masks, white suits, and white trench coats were looking at the Revolutionary Army that had appeared before them with utmost vigilance.
“This time we wanted to fish for a few big shots, but we never imagined we’d hook a dragon.”
Double entendre.
They had truly hooked a fierce dragon—the leader of the Revolutionary Army, Monkey D. Dragon, had appeared before them.
“Pluton Blueprint…… Does the Revolutionary Army want it that badly?”
“Whether that thing is real or fake is hard to say, but compared to letting you take it away, I think…… it’s better to leave it in our custody.”
“Damn it!”
The CP0 leader felt so much sweat on his hands that he could barely grip the hilt.
Why would a BOSS like Monkey D. Dragon suddenly appear in a place like this? He was just an ordinary leader in CP0, at best able to fight Vice Admiral-level opponents. For a super BOSS like Dragon, probably only someone at the total captain level would be useful!
To make matters worse, recently because of the Whitebeard Pirates incident, many big shots from above had gone to the New World. The remaining people had to guard the Holy Land and protect the Celestial Dragons who liked to run around wildly…… He had sent several distress reports recently, but only a few substitute members were sent.
“Ahh! I really want to punch those idiots above! What use are substitute members at a time like this!”
The atmosphere was extremely tense.
However,
At this moment,
Someone lying on the ground became restless again,
Franky, who was only wearing a pair of underpants, had been lying on the ground for half a day. He had been knocked down by the CP0 leader, with several bones broken. He couldn’t even stand up now…… He had been holding in a bellyful of anger. “Hey hey, I say, everyone from the Revolutionary Army, hurry up and make your move! I’m in so much pain I’m about to die.”
This shout came out,
The expression under the CP0 leader’s mask changed drastically.
This tone…… Why does it sound like he’s acquainted with the Revolutionary Army?
In that case, doesn’t this mean they’ve fallen into a trap?
“Bad, retreat……” Before he could finish speaking, the Observation Haki that the leader mister had released detected several powerful auras ambushed on the sea and in the alleyways. He was certain these people hadn’t been there three minutes ago.
They’ve been tricked!
He realized that Monkey D. Dragon’s delay in making a move seemed like he wanted them to retreat without fighting, but in reality, he was waiting for the encirclement to form. In other words, the opponent planned to wipe them all out in one fell swoop.
“Break out immediately.”
The leader mister made the decision.
Staying to fight head-on offered no hope. Given a little time, Monkey D. Dragon alone could slaughter their entire group. Including himself, there were three official CP0 members, five substitute members, and Lucci and Kaku from CP9…… These two were just extras. They hadn’t even mastered Haki, and their combat power wasn’t worth counting.
“Lucci, Kaku, you two stay behind to cover the retreat.”
“What?”
Kaku was stunned.
Cover the retreat? Have him and Lucci cover the retreat…… What’s the difference from sending them to their deaths?
Forget just the two of them—even if the entire CP9 were here, they probably wouldn’t be enough to stuff the gaps in Dragon’s teeth. What’s more, CP9 had suffered repeated heavy blows recently. Starting from Bruno, Jabura, Kumadori, Kalifa had disappeared one after another. Excluding Fukurou who was still at Enies Lobby, the current CP9 only had him and Lucci left.
“This is an order.”
He threw down these icy cold words.
The CP0 experts wearing white suits, white dress hats, and white capes had already vanished from before them. The group broke toward the interior of Water 7. At this point, they couldn’t care about appearances anymore. The Revolutionary Army rarely harmed civilians when causing trouble, so if they could grab a few civilians as hostages, there might be a chance to escape alive.
In the blink of an eye,
The open ground in front of Franky House returned to its usual desolate state.
Except for Franky lying on the ground, only Lucci and Kaku remained standing in place. The Revolutionary Army leader, who they were supposed to delay even at the cost of their lives, had disappeared from before their eyes at a speed they couldn’t even clearly see.
It seemed they felt Lucci and Kaku weren’t worth attacking and simply ignored them.
“Hey, Lucci, what the hell is going on?”
Kaku looked world-weary.
He never imagined a perfectly fine mission would turn out like this. Not only had the operation to seize the Pluton Blueprint failed, but the plan to scheme against the Revolutionary Army had also been ruined by the opponent’s unreasonable all-in strategy. They, who should have been the protagonists of the incident, had now been reduced to insignificant side characters that the enemy didn’t even bother with.
It had only been two months since Bruno disappeared!
How did it turn out like this.
Was this the so-called…… unpredictability of the world?
“Deal with this underpants pervert first.”
Lucci’s face was ashen. He never imagined that one day he would be treated as a pawn to be sacrificed, an unbearable humiliation for the proud and arrogant Lucci. Yet he had nowhere to vent his rage—outmatched in strength, he could only hold it in.
Fortunately, there was still prey right in front of him.
“Hey hey, what do you guys want? Let me tell you, I’ve drunk with Dragon mister at the same table. If you dare mess around, I guarantee you won’t get off easy…… Someone! Quick, someone come!” Seeing Lucci approach, Franky immediately started yelling loudly.
“The Revolutionary Army all went to chase those bastards. No one’s coming to save you.”
Lucci was also stubborn.
Instead of thinking about retreating at this time, he clashed with Franky, kicking viciously toward Franky’s abdomen. Then the intense pain from his toes made his face twist instantly.
“Haha! My body is as hard as steel!”
The stubborn one wasn’t just Lucci.
Clearly powerless to resist, Franky still laughed and mocked Lucci, who had taken the loss.
Earlier, Lucci had seen the CP0 leader easily break Franky’s hands and feet, thinking Franky was just an ordinary pervert thug. He hadn’t expected this guy’s body to be so tough. If he’d known, he’d have used Tempest Kick, but it wasn’t too late to use it now.
Seeing Franky laughing until tears fell, Lucci was about to kick a second time.
“Don’t go overboard. This Franky…… mister is Mayor Iceberg’s junior disciple. If he dies here, it won’t help maintain our alliance with Water 7.” Majestic Sword Qi flew in from the sea. Lucci’s pupils contracted sharply as he used ‘Shave’ to swiftly leave Franky’s side like lightning.
The Sword Qi sliced through rock and soil, plowing a deep furrow past Franky’s hands and feet. Franky House, already on the verge of collapse, wasn’t directly hit by the Sword Qi, but the shock from the Sword Qi shattering the land delivered the final blow to it.
Water 7’s infamous thug hangout,
Collapsed.
“Ah!! Damn it! What did you do? My house!!”
Franky shouted.
He didn’t care at all about the Sword Qi that had just grazed past him. If it had been one centimeter off, it could have ground him into meat paste and iron scraps…… His eyes were only on his own house. He truly had a unique way of thinking—not for nothing was he Water 7’s notorious underpants pervert.
On the sea,
A speedboat was racing toward the shore at high speed. The woman standing at the ship’s bow made a sheathing sword pose.
That Sword Qi from earlier seemed to have been done by this orange-haired woman.
However…… the voice from before seemed to come from overhead in the sky. Lucci looked up at the sky. Golden-red flames streaked across his vision, then a pained shout came from not far away. It sounded familiar……
He whipped his head around to look,
Kaku had fallen to the ground.
“Kaku!”
Lucci’s eyes widened.
“Please be quiet, Lucci mister.”
As he heard this, a fist as beautiful as the finest white jade appeared in Lucci’s vision, occupying most of it with lightning speed. Finally, his vision went black, and excruciating pain like his brain was exploding surged into his mind. His consciousness…… hit the pause button.
“Already taken care of?”
The speedboat docked, and Isca walked over carrying her long sword.
“CP9 has no real threats. The real trouble is CP0, but that’s been left to Dragon mister to handle. Luckily, our job got easier!” Fran lightly patted non-existent dust from her hands. “Right, where did that Farrug guy go?”
“He’s floating on the sea! His guard area is farther out, so it might take some time for him to get here.”
“Then ignore him. Now…… it’s about time to report the mission progress to Your Highness.” Fran glanced at the two unconscious on the ground. Including these two, aside from that Fukurou guy still hiding at Enies Lobby, it seemed the rest of CP9 had all been captured.
A fierce wind blew from the distant alleyways.
Monkey D. Dragon, wearing a deep green coat, appeared again.
“Ah! Dragon mister, already taken care of?”
“Not a single one left, all cleaned up.”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“No trouble at all.” Dragon waved his hand, his gaze turning to Franky lying helplessly on the ground. “So, I’ll take this kid along with the Pluton Blueprint?”
“Please do as you like. Your Highness has instructed that as long as Franky mister’s safety is ensured, that’s fine. But Mayor Iceberg there…… I think you can discuss it with him personally. I’m sure the Revolutionary Army could use Water 7’s warships.”
Fran politely dealt with this leader of the Revolutionary Army.
“Speaking of which…… What has Prince Elus been up to lately?”
“Your Highness has been staying in Alabasta recently, seemingly exploring some ruins. I’m not too clear on the details.”
“Still in Alabasta? I thought after the Whitebeard Pirates incident, he’d head back to the New World! Hasn’t he been in Paradise for over a year now? Is it okay not going back? Beasts and BIG·MOM have been making small moves lately, and the World Government and Navy seem to be plotting something this time too……”
“Many CP0 experts have infiltrated the New World. Tell your house’s prince to be careful. The World Government might have already noticed the connection between us.”
“I’ll relay your words to Your Highness exactly.”
Fran bowed her head slightly in thanks.
“Haha! But maybe you don’t need to relay it. I’m heading back to East Blue anyway. I might run into him when passing through Alabasta.”
“Back to East Blue?”
“That’s right. The village chief chewed me out over Den Den Mushi, saying my idiot son seems to have gone out to sea to become a pirate. Pirate King…… truly has far-reaching influence!” Dragon burst out laughing, seemingly unconcerned at all about his son becoming a pirate.
Fran’s eyes widened, her mouth twitching.
If she remembered correctly,
Dragon mister’s father was that Navy hero ‘Iron Fist’ Garp Vice Admiral, so Dragon mister’s son…… was that vice admiral’s grandson?
This, what is this?
Father is the Revolutionary Army leader, grandfather is a Navy Hero…… and the third generation went to become a pirate?
Three generations of grandfather, father, and son, each completely different.
“I see! That must be…… tough.”
Fran stammered, unsure what attitude to take. Should she express regret now? But Dragon was laughing so happily, so maybe she should congratulate him? But…… it just felt off somehow?
“Alright, I won’t disturb you anymore. I’ll take this underpants guy. You all do what you need to!”
“Wish you a smooth journey.”
Dragon didn’t even mention the unconscious Lucci and Kaku on the ground.
He reached out and picked up Franky the underpants pervert. Facing the world’s most dangerous criminal, Franky unusually fell silent, not even daring to breathe. Suddenly, a gale howled across the flat ground. By the time the wind faded into the distance, Dragon and Franky’s shadows were gone.
————
Holy Land, Marineford.
Chamber of Power, the Five Elders were not in a pleasant mood.
“……The CP0 dispatched to Water 7 was completely wiped out, and CP9, which had been lurking in Water 7 for years, was entirely sacrificed. Now CP9 has only Spandam’s son and one official member left alive…… What a bunch of waste. That Lucci, I thought he was good seedling material for CP0, but in the end……”
The baldy elder with a birthmark on his forehead spoke harshly, his eight-character whiskers trembling with his anger.
“No one could have predicted Monkey D. Dragon would make a move. The failure of CP0 and CP9 isn’t their fault. If we’re too harsh, there’ll be no one left to use…… Rather than pursuing the losers’ responsibility, the Pluton Blueprint…… that thing is now in the Revolutionary Army’s hands.”
The white long straight-haired elder with an equally long beard interrupted his companion.
Less than an hour after the Water 7 battle ended, the Five Elders high in the Holy Land had already received intelligence.
CP was an organization of enormous scale. In the eyes of many strong persons, they often only paid attention to CP9 and CP0, but the total numbers of these two branches were less than one percent of the entire CP department. CP0 was the shield of the Celestial Dragons, and CP9 was the World Government’s most commonly used dagger.
But for gathering intelligence,
It still depended on CP1—CP8. These eight departments were the main force for intelligence collection.
Besides CP0 and CP9 in Water 7, there were intelligence personnel from other departments stationed there. Fortunately, these people could only gather intel through peripherals and post-battle observations, without detailed battle conditions. Fran and the others hadn’t been exposed; only the scene of Dragon using the storm to annihilate the many CP0 members had been seen by many.
Or rather, Dragon was deliberately exposing himself.
Helping to cover the tracks of Prince Elus’s subordinates—this counted as mutual aid between allies. He was already covered in lice and didn’t care, debts piled up without worry. Whether or not it involved the Pluton Blueprint, the World Government wanted him dead anyway.
In short,
Dragon’s strategy was very successful.
The Five Elders’ attention had been drawn to the Revolutionary Army and the Pluton Blueprint.
“Pluton Blueprint! Who would’ve thought this thing was really passed down. It survived eight hundred years without being destroyed…… If the Revolutionary Army builds Pluto, it’ll be big trouble!” The golden-bearded, red-skinned elder furrowed his brows tightly.
Though they hadn’t seen with their own eyes Pluto’s might in destroying an island with one cannon, as the Five Elders—the rulers in the Holy Land second only to Im—they had the right to browse the Holy Land’s forbidden history and knew how terrifying and troublesome Pluto was.
“……Report to Im?”
The slim old man in white robes, carrying a long sword and wearing glasses, suggested.
“No need to alarm Im.” At this time, the old man wearing a black flat hat, with white curly hair and bushy whiskers, spoke up. “Don’t forget, even eight hundred years ago, with that…… kingdom’s technological power at the time, they only built one Pluto.”
“Eight hundred years have passed. Even Water 7’s shipwrights have long lost the ancient shipbuilding technology inheritance. So what if the Revolutionary Army gets the blueprint? Can they really recreate the ancient Pluto? If the Revolutionary Army truly spares no expense to build Pluto, maybe we won’t even need to intervene—they’ll bankrupt themselves first with that money pit.”
This analysis was logical and convincing.
The others thought about it—exactly right!
For humans of this era, the Pluton Blueprint was like giving the blueprint of a modern sail battleship to primitive humans who had just mastered fire preservation technology. Forget building a warship—even producing a qualified deck plank would be an unimaginable miracle!
Rather than worrying about the Revolutionary Army building Pluto to oppose the World Government, better to pray the Revolutionary Army was foolish enough to go all-in on building it.
“Then…… what about Water 7? That blueprint was preserved for eight hundred years…… Hmph!”
“Without the Pluton Blueprint, without ancient shipbuilding technology…… There’s no need to care about Water 7 anymore. Let them fend for themselves! They’ve provided plenty of warships to the Navy anyway—no need to weaken the Navy’s combat power at this time.”
“Indeed, dealing with the Whitebeard Pirates is the top priority. The Navy’s power is indispensable.”
The decision regarding Water 7,
Was thus settled.
Fortunately, the World Government was currently focused on tackling the Whitebeard BOSS and had no time for Water 7’s minor matters. For now, Water 7 could enjoy a period of peaceful days.
