Chapter 146: It's Time for This Swordsman to Get a Good Look
"Achoo!"
Shane, who was sitting under the parasol, suddenly sneezed, spilling the coffee in his hand all over the floor.
"Smoker!" he immediately shouted.
"On it," Smoker, who was at the helm, immediately responded.
Swish, swish!
A cloud of smoke swept over the floor, instantly cleaning it.
Professionalism and efficiency.
Shane then rubbed his nose and looked up at the distant horizon, puzzled. Under the fiery sunset clouds, the silhouette of Water 7 was already visible.
Who's thinking about me now?
The last time he sneezed, Garp showed up two days later.
Could it be that this time… Kaido was close?
…
An hour later, The Curtain Call finally sailed into Water 7.
As night fell, the lights came on one by one, reflecting on the winding canals.
This city of waterways had countless entrances, and ships could dock almost anywhere along the outskirts of the island.
Shane specifically chose a more remote spot to dock, so as not to cause too much of a commotion. When the anchor was dropped and the ship was secure, the four of them, and the wolf, all disembarked.
Of course, they didn't forget the treasure chests.
In the past, Gin would have had to pull the chests.
And Gin would have usually been reluctant, feeling that it was beneath the dignity of a wolf king. He would have had to be prodded and kicked in the butt by Shane before he would grudgingly act like a sled dog.
But now, they had a more professional porter.
Jack made full use of his physique. With a single sweep of his massive arms, he easily hoisted a dozen or so treasure chests onto his shoulders, piling them high.
As he walked, he clanked like a mobile fortress, and the residents he encountered all hastily moved out of his way.
A few groups of hooligans were instantly drawn to the treasure chests, their eyes greedy.
But when they saw Jack's intimidating size and his fierce face, they shrank back, not daring to act.
Shane watched all of this with amusement.
Being fierce has its advantages. Even with a bounty of zero, he has the deterrent power of a billion Berries.
After renting a few Bulls, the group headed for the upper city.
The bank and the Vivre Card shop were both there.
Getting to the upper city from the outer districts was usually a hassle, with all the winding canals.
But…
Water 7 had elevators.
They were called "Aqua Laguna Elevators," and with their enclosed locks, they could lift ships or passengers on Bulls from a low water level to a high water level in just a dozen seconds.
It was a bit like the Panama Canal locks from Shane's memories.
The group rode the Bulls into the elevator, and with a whoosh, they were in the upper city.
"Huh, that's strange," Shane said, looking around. He couldn't see Kuina and the others anywhere.
They had agreed on the phone to meet at the entrance to the upper city in the evening.
"I'll try calling them again," Smoker said, taking out his Transponder Snail.
"Mmm," Shane nodded, not worried.
It was dinnertime now. Nami was probably just being a glutton and holding everyone else up.
Purupurupuru~
The Transponder Snail rang for a long time, but there was no answer.
"What's going on?" Smoker frowned, hung up, and then dialed Robin's number.
Still no answer.
He tried Kuina, and it was the same.
Shane, who had been admiring the beautiful fountain, finally turned around.
"Boss, something's not right…" Smoker said, a cigar between his teeth, his eyes narrowed slightly.
It was normal for Nami's phone to be off.
After all, the girl was notoriously unreliable. Her Transponder Snail might have fallen out of her pocket and into a toilet for all he knew.
But for both Kuina's and Robin's phones to be off was definitely not normal.
"Big brother! Big brother!"
Just then, a little girl with pigtails came skipping over.
She stood on her tiptoes and held up a crumpled piece of paper to Shane. "Here! Someone asked me to give this to you!"
Shane took the paper and opened it. His comrades also gathered around to take a look.
On it was written:
Your sisters are tied up in the station warehouse. If you want them to live, send your subordinates to save them immediately.
You, come to the Galley-La Company headquarters alone and wait for me downstairs. I have a deal I want to discuss with you. Remember, you must come alone. Otherwise, I won't show myself.
"Hey! Wait! Don't go yet!"
Smoker subconsciously reached out to stop the little girl, who was about to run away. His fierce appearance, with the cigar in his mouth, scared the little girl, and her eyes instantly turned red.
"Sorry, sorry, little sister," Smoker quickly crouched down and, in as gentle a voice as he could manage, he offered her a few mints. "I didn't mean to be so loud. I just wanted to ask you, who gave you this note?"
"Candy!"
The little girl's eyes lit up. She happily took the candy and immediately decided that Smoker was a good person. She began to spill the beans. "I don't know him. It was a strange man in a mask. He gave me a hundred Berries to deliver it. He was very tall and thin… hmm, that's all I know."
And then, she couldn't resist adding a final jab. "The 'big brother' I was talking about was the handsome black-haired big brother. It's a little shameless for you to call yourself 'big brother,' you white-haired old man."
Old man??
Hey, you're really pushing it, you little brat!
A black line appeared on Smoker's forehead. After watching the unlucky kid run off, he reluctantly stood up. "What do you all think of this note?"
"It's obviously a fake," Zeff said, his arms crossed, and sneered. "The person who wrote this must be one of those CP9 agents' cronies. It's an old trick that would only fool a three-year-old. Who would believe it?"
"Huh??" Jack, who had been looking anxious and angry, was suddenly taken aback. "So it's fake?"
He had been ready to charge to the station to save them at a moment's notice!
"So there really is a three-year-old here!" Smoker said, slapping him on the knee and roaring.
"Th-Then why can't we get through to them on the phone?" Jack asked, scratching his head in confusion.
"You idiot! They're a special government intelligence agency! It's normal for them to have a way to block communication signals," Smoker sneered. "But this… hmph, what a bunch of clueless fools. Don't they know how terrifying a powerhouse's Observation Haki is?"
Everyone's gaze instinctively turned to Shane.
As Smoker had said, Shane was now standing at the railing, facing the massive city below, his arms spread wide, his eyes slightly closed.
—His powerful Observation Haki was fully activated, and it instantly swept over the entire island like a tide!
It wasn't easy to find people in such a densely populated city.
But Shane was all too familiar with Nami's and Nojiko's auras. After a couple of sweeps, he had precisely located them.
Shane opened his eyes and turned around.
"They're on the east side. If I'm not mistaken, that's where the bank is, right?" Shane said with a shrug. "They probably also received a fake message from a child, thinking that the meeting place had been changed to the bank."
"So I'm not the only one who was fooled," Jack said with a goofy grin.
"What are you so proud of?! It's not the same thing at all, you idiot!" Smoker couldn't help but kick him again. "The fake message they received didn't have such an exaggerated content!"
One was a kidnapping, and the other was just a change of meeting place.
And in their original plan, the first thing they were going to do after meeting up was to go to the bank to exchange the cash. So the latter was much more believable.
"So after all that, they just want to split us up and meet with Boss Shane alone?" Smoker said, blowing a smoke ring and looking at Shane. "So, what do we do, boss?"
"You guys go straight to the bank. Follow the original plan. And tell Kuina and the others what's going on,"
Shane said, looking toward the Galley-La Company headquarters. He stretched and said nonchalantly, "Since the person behind this wants to see me alone so badly, then I'll just grant their wish."
"Understood."
"Then we'll head to the bank, boss."
They all nodded and headed for the banking district.
No one objected, and no one was worried about Shane's safety.
The reason was simple.
They had absolute faith in their captain's strength!
In the face of absolute power…
All schemes and plots were just a joke.
————
Galley-La Company Headquarters.
The mayor of Water 7 and the president of the Galley-La Company, Iceburg, was pacing back and forth in his office, a frown on his face.
"That's strange… where are Kalifa and Kaku?" he muttered to himself, his fingers tapping on the desk. "We were supposed to go over all the shipyard orders tonight…"
They had been gone since the afternoon, for over half a day now.
Kaku, he could understand. He might have been dragged off to a tavern by that guy, Paulie, and forgotten.
But his ever-diligent secretary, Kalifa, who would insist on coming to work even when she was sick, and who never left his side, had never been absent without a reason before.
"What a headache…"
Iceburg slumped into his office chair, his face a mask of frustration. He shamelessly picked his nose. "With just me here, I have no motivation."
He was a very lazy mayor. He was used to slacking off. If he wanted to get any serious work done, he needed his subordinates to push him.
Squeak~
Just then, the office door was pushed open.
"You're finally here! What's the deal, Kalifa?! I thought you forgot…"
Iceburg quickly wiped the booger he had just picked under his desk and looked up with a smile. But the person who had walked in was in a black suit, wearing a black top hat…
"Lucci?"
Iceburg was taken aback.
"What are you doing here? Where's Kalifa? Weren't you supposed to be on overtime at Dock One tonight, inspecting that merchant ship? Why are you here—"
His words were cut short.
Lucci hadn't responded. He had just walked to the sofa, sat down, crossed his legs, and slowly looked up, his usually gentle eyes now as cold as a blade.
"What's this…"
Iceburg hesitated, subconsciously taking a step back.
Something was not right…
He had known Lucci for over a year. The young man, though quiet, was a diligent and reliable worker, and he often made him laugh with his witty ventriloquism.
But now, the man before him, who was exuding a dangerous aura, was a complete stranger.
"I'm sorry, Mayor Iceburg,"
Lucci said, casually brushing the dust from his pants, his voice low and raspy. "Thank you for taking care of us all this time. But unfortunately… I am not here tonight as a shipwright."
"Huh, what do you mean?"
Iceburg scratched his head and forced a laugh. "What's going on, Lucci… haha, it's the first time I've heard you speak with your own mouth. It's a little strange. Hey, where's Hattori? Why isn't he with you?"
Hattori was the name of Lucci's pigeon.
Lucci didn't answer. He just gently raised his index finger.
SWISH, SWISH—!
Two Flying Finger Pistols shot out, and Iceburg's knees were instantly pierced, a gush of blood spraying out.
Iceburg fell to his knees, clutching his wounds, a look of disbelief on his face as he looked at Lucci.
"Now you can't run. I'll reintroduce myself,"
Lucci said, his gaze calm. "I am Rob Lucci, a member of the World Government's direct intelligence agency, CP9, and the leader of this Water 7 mission."
—WHAT???!
Iceburg's eyes widened, and his face instantly went pale.
CP9?
The World Government's most secret agent organization?!
Lucci, when did he become a government agent?
No, that's not right. He must have been a government agent all along, just pretending to be a shipwright, undercover at Galley-La?
Wait, a leader? So there are other members…
Kalifa and Kaku… they joined the company around the same time as Lucci, didn't they? Could they be…?
"I'm afraid so,"
Lucci said calmly, as if he could read Iceburg's mind. "But they're both busy at the moment and can't be here. So, I will have to say goodbye to you on their behalf."
So it's true!
Dammit, Kalifa, Kaku…
"What… what do you want?" Iceburg asked, forcing down his shock, but his voice was still trembling.
Lucci didn't answer directly. He stood up and walked slowly to the window, looking down at Water 7 in the night.
In his field of vision, the little girl he had instructed earlier was now handing the note to the group.
Are you coming, Tachi Swordsman, Shane?
Lucci let out a soft breath, a hidden excitement in his eyes.
To be honest, he had been undercover in Water 7 for almost a year now, and he was sick of that idiot, Spandam, telling him not to rush things and to plan slowly.
He was almost certain that Tom's blueprints were on Iceburg. Why didn't they just make a move? Why did they have to continue to play the role of shipwrights and waste their time here?
How much longer did he have to wait?
Six months? A year??
As the strongest genius in the 800-year history of CP9, why should he have to waste so much time on such a boring mission?!
Thank goodness that Shane had come.
He had given him a chance to get out of this mission.
And in the meantime, before the fight, he could just pay a visit to Iceburg.
If he won, he would have the head of a billion-Berry pirate and could return to Enies Lobby in glory. And he could also just kidnap Iceburg and take him back with him. A win-win.
And if he lost…
Although that was unlikely.
But in that case, they would all die. So, at least before he died, he could have a showdown with Iceburg and vent his frustrations on this idiot mayor who really thought he was his superior.
Kaku and Kalifa seemed to have grown fond of this guy, and even the atmosphere of this place.
But he was different. He had no attachment to this city or this company.
"Iceburg,"
Lucci said, his back to him, his voice calm. "Since you asked, I'll just be frank. The blueprints for the ancient weapon, Pluton… you know about them, right?"
Iceburg's breath hitched.
So that's what it is…
They're after this!
"Pluton?"
He forced himself to remain calm and said in a low voice, "I don't know what you're talking about. Pluton is a legendary weapon. How could an ordinary person like me, who came from a shipwright's background, have access to that—"
"A lie,"
Lucci said, turning and glancing at him with a sneer.
"Our director, Spandam, has already investigated thoroughly. The reason we were sent to infiltrate Galley-La was because of you."
He walked toward Iceburg, his voice growing colder. "After all, Tom's other apprentice, Franky, is dead. You're the only one left. Where else could the Pluton blueprints be but in your hands?"
Hearing that name, Iceburg's fists clenched.
Spandam…
A few years ago, the head of CP5 who had been pestering their workshop.
Tom, his teacher, had already been acquitted, but because of this guy's frame-up, he had been executed by the World Government!
And his fellow apprentice, Franky, had also gone missing and was presumed dead!
"I don't know anything! Tom-san never told me anything about that!"
A cold sweat broke out on Iceburg's forehead, but he still gritted his teeth and insisted, "What Pluton blueprints? I've never seen them… even CP9 has to follow the rules, right? An accusation without evidence is just your imagination!"
"Under normal circumstances, we would have to follow the rules,"
Lucci said, finally losing his patience when he saw that he had no intention of talking. "Unfortunately, I have to go downstairs and meet someone soon, and I have no interest in playing this game with you any longer."
SWISH!
His figure vanished and reappeared in front of Iceburg. He slammed a kick into his chest.
Iceburg coughed up a large mouthful of black blood and fell backward, the world spinning around him. But he gritted his teeth and endured the blow, not passing out.
Tom's apprentice is surprisingly tough.
Lucci glanced at Iceburg and said, "Tie him up and put him in a bag, Blueno."
"The officers on the Tachi Swordsman's ship are also a bit troublesome. When I'm done with Shane, don't get bogged down in a fight with them. Just commandeer the sea train and take these two to Enies Lobby tonight."
"Yes, Lucci,"
a burly figure emerged from the shadows. Blueno, his face impassive, reached for Iceburg.
"Blueno from the tavern, so you're one of them too…" Iceburg was taken aback for a moment, and then he gave a bitter smile. "So I was completely surrounded by your people?"
"And I didn't notice a thing. I'm so slow…"
Iceburg lowered his head in self-deprecation, then suddenly looked up at Lucci and laughed. "Take me to Enies Lobby? Do you think I'm afraid to die?"
Lucci frowned slightly.
"My teacher would rather die than hand over the blueprints," Iceburg's voice grew firm. "As his apprentice, how could I possibly dishonor his will?!"
"A forbidden weapon that can destroy the world like Pluton, I will never, ever let it be revived!"
"As for killing me?"
He suddenly pulled two pistols from his suit pocket and, his eyes burning with anger, he said, "Come and try, you dogs of the government!"
BANG! BANG!
Both pistols fired at the same time, the bullets whistling toward Lucci.
Lucci frowned slightly, his expression growing completely cold.
"A foolish act."
He stood his ground, not even moving, and let the bullets fly at him.
He had already activated his Iron Body. A soft bullet fired by an ordinary person, if it could get through, it would be a joke…
BOOM!!!
In that instant, the office window shattered!
A long tachi shot through the window and, colliding with the bullets' trajectory, it sliced them in two and, at the same time, shattered his Iron Body and pierced through his right side, pinning him to the wall.
It all happened so suddenly.
Blueno and Iceburg had no time to react. Even Lucci was stunned for a few seconds before he looked down at the wound in his side, which was gushing blood…
"Ara, ara, my apologies,"
a lazy voice said.
Lucci struggled to look up and saw a black-haired young man sitting casually on the windowsill, his legs dangling, a grin on his face. "I was waiting for you in the garden downstairs, but it was getting a little loud up here. I was worried you'd get angry and really kill Mr. Gin here, so I had no choice but to step in."
Gin?
Who?
Lucci was taken aback for a moment, not understanding what Shane meant.
But… that wasn't important!
He looked at the sword that was piercing through his side, and he nearly threw his head back and laughed.
Such a powerful force…
A sword thrown with just one hand, and it can pierce through his Iron Body!
So this is the swordsmanship of a great swordsman who is famous all over the seas?
But…
Pirates are such idiots!
The note he had given them had been a double-edged sword.
No matter if they saw through it or not, he was certain that a famous pirate like this would be overly confident in his own strength.
And the result was just as he had expected.
Not only did he care about his "dignity as a great pirate" and his "pirate's code of honor" and come alone, but he had also, without even needing Blueno to act, thrown his sword first to save someone!
Was he afraid that a sword slash would hit Iceburg?
In any case, it won't be so easy to get it back now.
The plan is going even more smoothly than I had expected!
"Blueno!" he suddenly roared, and he pulled the sword from his body.
"Understood!"
Blueno instantly understood. He took the bloody tachi and, with a swipe of his right hand, he said, "Human Door!"
A bizarre scene unfolded.
Lucci's body, as if it were a door being pushed open, split open, revealing a greenish, otherworldly space within.
Blueno didn't hesitate and leaped in with the tachi!
SWISH!
The opening instantly closed, and he and the sword were gone without a trace.
Hmm?
Shane was a little confused by this, not knowing what the two of them were up to.
"A complete success,"
Lucci licked the blood from the corner of his mouth. The wound in his abdomen was still gushing blood, but he didn't seem to notice.
In the moonlight, the CP9's strongest member's body swelled, and he immediately entered his half-beast form. His corded muscles bulged like steel, and his eyes burned with a fervent fighting spirit. "That sword of yours, it hurt a lot."
"But now…"
he said, sneering as he tore off the tattered remains of his shirt, revealing his powerful physique, "it's my turn. It's time for this swordsman to get a good look at the beauty of a body that has been trained to its peak!"
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