Chapter 185: Strike First And Ask Questions Later!
The scenery of Water 7 was not much different from his memory. As an ancient city with a long history, it did not change with the times like emerging cities. Instead, it held onto the timeless beauty accumulated over the years.
Dock No. 1,
The workers who had been busy all day walked home in twos and threes under the setting sun.
“Hey, did you hear? That Black Prince is here again.”
“Black Prince?…… Ah! A Seven Warlord? What would such a big shot be doing here?”
“Who knows! Probably buying a ship! We don’t have any other specialties in Water Seven besides ships. He’s not here just to eat Watery Meat, is he? Hahaha!”
“Don’t underestimate Watery Meat, you bastard.”
The conversation, which started with the Black Prince, then shifted to Watery Meat, and as usual, quickly devolved into vulgar jokes.
Lucci blended in with the crowd.
His persona was one of stoic seriousness, and he was well-respected among the shipwrights, so he didn’t need to force himself to tell vulgar jokes. However, not speaking didn’t mean he wouldn’t listen. He heard every word about the Black Prince and wondered what scheme the Black Prince was up to this time.
Was his repeated visits to Water 7 meaningful?
Let the overlord of the New World go back to the New World to throw his weight around! Why come to Water 7 to scare people…… The infiltration work was already difficult enough, and with the Black Prince visiting Water 7 from time to time, he couldn’t help but worry about their disguises being exposed by the Black Prince, which would render five years of hard work to waste.
If it were just a wasted effort, that would be one thing.
He was more worried that the Black Prince was after the Pluton Blueprint.
This was not worrying about nothing. As the most outstanding agent of CP9, suspicion was already an instinct.
“Lucci, want to grab a drink?”
Kaku, the long-nosed man, led a group of people as they walked over.
This man, nicknamed ‘Mountain Wind,’ was like Lucci, one of the foremen at Dock No. 1. However, unlike the stoic Lucci, Kaku, besides his strange verbal tic of referring to himself as “this old man,” was quite popular among the shipwrights and had friends wherever he went.
Lucci did not make a sound.
The pigeon on his shoulder tilted its head and looked at Kaku.
“Let’s go, let’s go to Bruno’s Bar, we have to drink to our heart’s content today!!!”
Kaku raised his arms and called out. A group of bachelors who were also drinkers roared in agreement and bustled towards Bruno’s Bar in the commercial street. This was a place shipwrights frequented; the alcohol was reasonably priced and not too far from the docks. The boss, Bruno, even sold them food like fried rice.
Lucci, as usual, lagged behind the group at a leisurely pace.
The group soon arrived at the commercial street.
Bruno’s Bar was already open for business.
There weren’t many customers at this time of day. After dinner, more people would come out looking for entertainment, and places like bars would truly liven up. However, Bruno’s Bar didn’t have to wait until after dinner ended. A boisterous group of burly men rushed in, and the previously quiet bar instantly turned into a wild party.
After drinking with everyone for a round, Kaku excused himself to use the restroom and slipped away from the table.
He turned a corner in the corridor and entered the bar’s storage room. Someone was already waiting by a small card table.
“You’re too slow, Kaku.”
The golden-haired beauty in a tight dress adjusted her glasses and reprimanded Kaku coldly as he entered.
“Barry and the others were clinging too tightly……”
Kaku explained.
“Kalifa, stop wasting time. Tell us why the Black Prince is in Water 7,” Lucci interrupted Kalifa and Kaku’s pointless conversation.
“It’s hard to say. I don’t know if what he said was true.”
Kalifa’s expression was grave.
“The Black Prince himself said he was just passing through Water 7 and was preparing to hunt the Silver Fox Pirates……”
“Silver Fox Pirates? I’ve never heard that name before,”
Kaku said with suspicion.
This was the first time he had heard the name. The powerful pirate crews he knew did not include this name.
“It’s a new pirate crew from South Blue, not particularly strong. However, the captain of this crew, ‘Silver Fox,’ is a user of the Slow-Slow Fruit, which is on the High-Risk Ability List. Perhaps the Black Prince intends to recruit this person…… Of course, this is just my guess.”
Devil Fruit abilities varied in strength and hierarchy.
The World Government, after eight hundred years, had a special way of classifying Devil Fruits.
It wasn’t the so-called Paramecia, Logia, Zoan classification…… but rather a division based on the danger of the Devil Fruit’s ability, and a ‘High-Risk Ability List’ was compiled. When corresponding ability users appeared on the Sea, they needed to be paid extra attention.
The Slow-Slow Fruit,
was on that list.
Also on the list were the Time-Time Fruit, Memory-Memory Fruit, Tremor-Tremor Fruit…… and so on.
“The Slow-Slow Fruit?”
Lucci frowned. If it was a user of the Slow-Slow Fruit, that would attract the Black Prince…… He still felt that this reason was not very reliable. With the Black Prince’s power and status, there was no need for him to personally intervene for a mere user of the Slow-Slow Fruit.
“I’m not sure if the Black Prince just happened to pass through Water 7, but the way he spoke to Mayor Iceberg suggested he was genuinely targeting the Silver Fox Pirates,” Kalifa hesitated for a moment before sharing her observations.
“A user of the Slow-Slow Fruit? It has such great appeal that even this old man wants to meet them,” Kaku chimed in with admiration.
“Silver Fox is a man, and… very ugly!”
Kalifa adjusted her glasses.
“……”
Hearing such an answer, Kaku opened his mouth, wanting to explain that he didn’t mean that, but felt that the more he explained, the less clear it would become, so he silently closed his mouth again.
Lucci ignored the minor friction between colleagues. He frowned and pondered for a moment, finally making a decision, “It doesn’t matter if it’s just a passing visit to Water 7. In any case, Kalifa, you should keep a close eye on the Black Prince’s actions as much as possible. If there are any unexpected events… if necessary, it’s okay to reveal your identity.”
“But, haven’t the whereabouts of the Pluton Blueprint been figured out yet?”
Kalifa frowned.
She had been lurking around Iceberg for nearly five years and hadn’t found any clues related to the Pluton Blueprint. The only certainty was that the Pluton Blueprint did exist and was not a fabricated lie.
“If there’s no other choice, arrest Iceberg and Franky. There’s a high probability the blueprint is on one of them,” Lucci said expressionlessly. Their five years of lurking in Water 7 were not spent in vain.
Franky,
or rather Cutty Flam, Fish-Man Tom’s junior disciple, the mayor of Iceberg City’s junior disciple, this guy who was long presumed dead is still alive, and is doing very well in Water 7. When his true identity was discovered, Lucci, who was always calm and composed, showed a rare hint of surprise.
I’ve never seen such a foolish guy. Since he managed to survive, why didn’t he find a place to hide? He insisted on staying in Water 7, truly underestimating CP9 as waste!
After the surprise,
came the joy of seeing the dawn of mission completion.
If it weren’t for the uncertainty of whose possession the Pluton Blueprint was in between Iceberg and Franky, and the fear of hiding it somewhere they didn’t know, or alarming them, they would have captured the two long ago.
But now,
Lucci also felt a sense of urgency.
While proceeding slowly as they are now might increase the chance of mission completion, it would definitely require a considerable amount of time. Yet, the Black Prince, a monster they couldn’t resist, had visited Water 7 multiple times, which made Lucci, who was accustomed to controlling everything, very uneasy.
Perhaps… taking some risk is also acceptable.
“That’s how it will be, Kalifa. Once the Black Prince leaves, make your move… Assassinate Iceberg, let him ‘die by assassination’. Bruno will help you; his abilities are very convenient,” Lucci said rapidly, his decision clearly made.
After nearly five years, he could not tolerate any mistakes at this final stage.
It’s time to cast the net when it’s time to cast the net.
Bruno stood at the door of the storage room, silent as a wooden man. After Lucci spoke, he glanced at Kalifa and nodded slightly, indicating his cooperation with Kalifa’s actions.
“Kaku, go find a group of pirates and make them take responsibility.”
Lucci hadn’t forgotten to find someone to take the blame.
Whether Franky, that scoundrel, disappeared or died, besides his band of ruffians, probably no one would care. But Iceberg, as the mayor of Water 7, not only had deep popularity among the citizens but also, in his capacity as mayor, was a bureaucrat within the World Government system.
However, unlike ordinary bureaucrats, the mayor of Water 7 has always been elected, and the World Government has no say in his appointment or dismissal.
In short, Iceberg can be dealt with, but it’s crucial to find the right scapegoat. CP9 is a secret intelligence agency of the World Government, and if their whereabouts were leaked… Lucci, hailed as the strongest CP9 on Enies Lobby in 800 years, could not afford to lose such face!
The joint meeting ended very quickly,
Kaku hitched up his pants, swaggered back to the table, raised his wine glass, and continued to drink heartily. Lucci sat in a corner, drinking alone. Bruno turned and went to the wine cellar to check the stored alcohol. Kalifa hurried out through the back door of the bar…
A hotel named “White Oak” on the Commercial Street was booked out today.
The twelve-story hotel was considered first-class in Water 7. The guest who booked the entire hotel was entertaining distinguished guests in the restaurant on the top floor.
“Is CP9’s secretary useful?”
“… Hooo! I didn’t expect Kalifa to be part of CP9 too… The World Government’s reach is truly long.” Iceberg looked through his telescope, gazing at his familiar secretary’s ship sailing through the alley, and only put down the telescope when she completely disappeared from his sight.
Without realizing it, the back of his clothes was soaked with cold sweat.
He was filled with a sense of lingering fear. If he hadn’t handed over the Pluton Blueprint to Franky early on, CP9 might have succeeded years ago.
“Prince Elus, when did you realize Kalifa was part of CP9?”
Iceberg turned his head to look at Elus.
It was Elus who had booked the entire hotel tonight. As the tallest building closest to Bruno’s Bar on the Commercial Street, standing on the top floor with a telescope, he could easily monitor the comings and goings of people at Bruno’s Bar. He had specifically hosted this banquet to remind Iceberg to be wary of CP9.
Now that Robin and the Revolutionary Army had long since joined forces, and Crocodile had been driven out of Alabasta… he wasn’t sure if Iceberg would be rescued by the Straw Hat Pirates in the future.
It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Water 7 is now an important ally of the Eckmond Kingdom, and one-third of the Eckmond Kingdom Navy’s warships come from Water 7.
If anything happened to Iceberg, Elus would also suffer unnecessary losses.
“I noticed there were quite a few interesting individuals hiding in this city when I first arrived. Later, I discovered they were CP9 agents. I don’t know why they are targeting Mayor Iceberg, but given our alliance, I don’t want our cooperation to encounter any man-made troubles…”
Elus lied earnestly, “I’m passing by this time to remind you, don’t fall into their trap, otherwise, I’ll have a lot of trouble figuring out where to buy a ship.”
“…I was too lax.”
Iceberg’s face showed a cold expression. “The World Government… I didn’t expect them to be watching me all along. I thought my position as mayor of Water 7 would offer some protection… but it seems I was naive.” He took a deep breath and turned to Elus.
“What? Do you need something from me?”
Elus met Iceberg’s gaze and asked with a smile.
“Indeed, I have some trouble.” Iceberg nodded. “May I ask Your Highness to lend me one or two capable individuals? To my shame, I don’t have many subordinates skilled in fighting others, and… there are likely CP9 members within the Galley-La Company as well. If I don’t properly clean house, I won’t know who to trust.”
He frankly admitted his intention to eliminate CP9.
He wasn’t worried about the Seven Warlord before him turning on him and handing him over to the World Government for rewards. He understood that while this Black Prince was different from other Seven Warlords in that he wasn’t a pirate, it didn’t mean he was a loyal subject of the World Government.
On the contrary,
the man standing before him was the truly ambitious schemer.
However, that was perfect.
Iceberg hadn’t forgotten his master’s death. If he hadn’t been lacking in strength, did they really think he would have let go of his past hatred?
How could that be!
He still frequently dreamed of those happiest past times in his sleep, waking up with a wet pillow.
“Borrowing people? That’s easy.”
Elus readily agreed.
He was worried Iceberg might be soft-hearted, or perhaps worried about retaliation from the World Government. It seemed he lived up to his reputation as the man who built Water 7’s largest shipbuilding company, Galley-La, from nothing. Beneath his refined and gentle exterior lay an icy, hard will.
He was even worried Iceberg might go too far.
It wouldn’t be fun to truly fall out with the World Government then.
“Fran.”
The red-haired maid hurried over.
“Mayor Iceberg, this is my most trusted subordinate. While she’s not as famous as Dillon or Eschbach, her strength is absolutely guaranteed. Forget CP9, she can even help you deal with CP0 agents. I’ll have her stay to help you handle that trouble, but… it would be best if the World Government ends up speechless.”
with no way to voice their suffering.
Otherwise, if the World Government got serious… Iceberg couldn’t handle it.
“If that’s the case, I’m afraid we’ll need someone to take the blame,” Iceberg frowned.
“That’s not difficult either. Fran, bring Mr. 2 here.”
Elus smiled gleefully.
By this point, his subordinates were truly a gathering of talents.
Mr. 2 Bon Clay, whose real name was Bentham, the okama, was summoned. He was still in his swan attire. As he approached, Iceberg noticed his face had taken on Iceberg’s appearance.
“What is this?”
Iceberg’s face showed horror.
Even though he had dealt with ability users many times, seeing this ability to arbitrarily change one’s appearance sent a chill down his spine. As expected, ability users were dangerous individuals, and such a bizarre ability… was truly impossible to defend against.
“This is also my subordinate, an ability user of the Clone-Clone Fruit. Through him, we can send the blame to others, for example… the Revolutionary Army.”
“Won’t doing this provoke the Revolutionary Army?” Iceberg was somewhat worried.
“It’s fine. The Revolutionary Army has taken the blame for others before.”
Elus said dismissively.
“Besides, other than the Revolutionary Army, even the Four Emperors wouldn’t travel all the way to Water 7 just to eliminate World Government agents. Only the Revolutionary Army would do something with no benefit.”
“…”
Iceberg was speechless.
If that was the case, it seemed the Revolutionary Army would have to take the blame?
Hopefully… the Revolutionary Army wouldn’t come to settle the score with him. Iceberg could only pray in his heart.
“Right, how about this: before I leave, I’ll help you resolve one piece of trouble. After I’m gone, have Fran and the others take action against the rest… so it doesn’t look like I intentionally distanced myself after leaving, lest the blame fall on me, which wouldn’t be good.”
Elus stared at Bruno’s Bar below, still feeling that it would be more secure to get his hands on the Door-Door Fruit as soon as possible.
“Your Highness, are you planning to leave tomorrow?”
“That’s right, I’ll depart early to prevent that Silver Fox from escaping.”
“Does that mean… we’ll act tonight?”
Iceberg was surprised.
“Exactly. There’s no time like the present. Let’s have a good start tonight.” Elus took the dark green hooded windbreaker handed to him by Fran. Although this wasn’t standard Revolutionary Army attire, most members had such an outfit because their leader wore one!
The subordinates followed suit; this was the essence of “those above set an example.”
Elus found it convenient to use it as well.
“Mr. 2, put on Sabo’s face. You don’t need to fight, just show yourself. Remember, CP9 members must see your face.”
“I understand, Your Highness. Please rest assured, I will complete the mission.”
As he spoke, Mr. 2’s face had already transformed into Sabo’s, complete with golden wavy curly hair and a scar below his left eye. As for his missing arm, it was not difficult to imitate… the real Sabo had regenerated his lost arm before the new year.
Doctor Hogback + Miss Bakkin + Caesar = Limb Regeneration Technology.
After all, they had created artificial humans; regenerating an arm was nothing.
“Let’s wait a bit longer. We’ll act when it’s almost time to wrap up,” Elus said, looking at the crowded people on the commercial street below. It wasn’t time to act yet; there were too many people, making it easy to accidentally harm innocent passersby.
