Due to the Aqua Laguna storm, the sewer system of Water 7 was extremely complex.
Even with the clones launching a full-scale assault, it was difficult to block all the entrances.
Soon, a gang member, relying on his familiarity with the sewers, managed to escape the pursuit of the clones.
This gang member, clutching a seven or eight-year-old child under his right arm, fled the sewers in panic. When he saw the blue sky and white clouds again, tears welled up in his eyes.
But the next moment, a monster with a crocodile head and a humanoid lower body silently caught up to him.
The gang member's face turned pale, and he continued to flee in panic toward the city.
"Monster!"
"That monster is back!"
"Run for your lives!"
The Gene Beast followed Reddy's orders without the slightest deviation, its target fixed solely on the child in the gang member's grasp, completely ignoring the panicked crowd around it.
However, the chaotic crowd severely hindered its speed.
Seeing that he was about to escape into the bustling city, the gang member felt ecstatic, and new strength surged through his body.
As long as he blended into the crowd, relying on his familiarity with Water 7, how could he not escape this monster's pursuit?
Of course he could!
The gang member was very confident.
Unexpectedly, the little girl he was clutching under his arm was a tough one.
From the moment she was captured until now, the little girl had remained silent, and after the Gene Beast appeared, she became even quieter.
Because she recognized the Gene Beast.
"Doctor Reddy is here to save us!"
The little girl tried hard to suppress her joy, seized the opportunity, and bit down hard on the gang member's soft waist, refusing to let go no matter what.
"Ah!"
The gang member screamed, his voice cracking, and instinctively tried to shake her off.
But the little girl clung tightly to his flesh, and under the force of gravity, the tearing pain intensified.
The gang member grew furious, grabbed the little girl's clothes with his left hand to lift her up, and raised his right hand to slap her.
At that moment, a tiger's paw clamped down on his wrist.
The Gene Beast was a clone created based on Bill's prototype. Though its appearance was non-human, its individual intelligence was not low.
A tiger's paw was better suited for attacking than gripping.
So it switched tactics, unsheathing the claws on its other paw and slicing across the gang member's left wrist.
"Ah!"
The gang member screamed as his left hand was severed at the wrist.
As the little girl fell, the tiger's paw deftly caught her body.
The Gene Beast secured the little girl, who immediately let go.
The next moment!
The Gene Beast casually flung the one-handed gang member away.
The gang member let out a drawn-out scream as he soared through the air like a shooting star, landing far out at sea with a small splash.
"Doctor Reddy, thank you for saving me."
The little girl climbed along the Gene Beast's arm to its shoulder, hugging its neck affectionately and nuzzling against it.
The Gene Beast was ugly, but to her, it felt familiar.
After all, it was Doctor Reddy's pet.
Having completed its mission, the Gene Beast turned and walked back into the sewers.
News of the monster's appearance quickly spread throughout the city.
At the shipyard.
Kaku hurriedly found Rob Lucci, who was working, and reported in a low voice, "That monster has appeared again, and I've obtained some incredible intel... Doctor Reddy might be in Water 7."
Rob Lucci's expression turned grave.
During the battle in Water 7 over a year ago, he had been knocked unconscious without any chance to fight back, a humiliation he considered the greatest of his life.
Later, Reddy became the director of the Punk Hazard research facility, and more information reached Rob Lucci's ears, forcing him to remain vigilant.
"Blueno is still searching for traces of him. Jabra and the other two are on standby."
This time, seven CP9 members, plus the pigeon Hattori, had come to Water 7 for their mission. Among them, Rob Lucci and Kaku had infiltrated the Galley-La Company and, relying on their skills, won Iceburg's trust, becoming foremen.
Kalifa, with her outstanding abilities, had become Iceburg's secretary.
Jabra, Kumadori, and Fukurou served as mobile forces, ready to support Rob Lucci and the others at any time.
Rob Lucci fell into deep thought.
Frankly, he very much wanted to take this opportunity to capture Reddy.
However, making a move would undoubtedly arouse Iceburg's suspicions, which contradicted their mission.
Should he act?
Seeing Rob Lucci lost in thought, Kaku understood that his proud and ambitious captain was truly tempted.
Officially, they were members of the covert organization CP9, and their mission had to take top priority.
But personally, he hoped his captain could overcome this shadow.
Kaku hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back.
"Rob Lucci, Kaku, it's good that you're both here."
Iceburg, accompanied by Kalifa, hurried over from a distance. Seeing both Rob Lucci and Kaku present, his usually expressionless face showed rare relief.
The pressure was too great!
The monster that had appeared over a year ago had returned to Water 7, causing massive chaos.
To unite the shipwrights of Water 7, Iceburg had done much over the past year, reorganizing the local order with the help of foremen like Rob Lucci.
As a result, Water 7 had become more prosperous than before.
The Galley-La Company had also gained increasing trust from the local residents.
But this monster was not easy to deal with.
Reddy's existence was a top-secret matter for the World Government and had not been publicly disclosed.
Iceburg didn't know the monster was created by Reddy, but from various clues, he was shocked to realize the monster was likely connected to that small island near Water 7's coastal waters from over a year ago.
That island had now become a new hotspot for tourists visiting Water 7.
Many sightseers specifically came to Water 7 to explore the island.
Seeing Iceburg arrive, Rob Lucci and Kaku feigned ignorance in perfect sync, looking at him with puzzled expressions.
"That monster has appeared again."
Iceburg said gravely, "It's caused quite a commotion in the city. I hope you can come with me to quell this chaos."
A crisis was also an opportunity.
Iceburg had exceptional management skills, and even if they might encounter a terrifyingly strong opponent, he still wanted to seize this chance to boost the Galley-La Company's influence.
"Then let's go!"
Kaku stepped forward, punching his left palm excitedly.
Rob Lucci glanced at him, fully aware that Kaku was deliberately giving him an out.
Since Iceburg was making the request himself, there was no conflict with their mission.
"That monster might be backed by an incredibly powerful figure."
Iceburg was pleased he hadn't misjudged them—they truly stepped up when needed—but he also honestly shared his suspicions.
If there was one person who had become the most famous figure worldwide over the past year,
the first name that came to mind was the infamous scientist Doctor Reddy, with his 3 billion berry bounty.
"The infamous scientist Doctor Reddy, with a 3 billion berry bounty?"
Kaku's acting was superb, his tone and expression perfectly conveying shock upon hearing the bounty.
Iceburg nodded. "You don't have to go."
Rob Lucci and Kaku were skilled and hardworking, excelling at their jobs and possessing outstanding shipbuilding skills, which was why he had promoted them to foremen.
He didn't want to hide the truth and risk creating a rift between himself and them.
Kaku wiped the sweat from his forehead and forced a strained smile. "I heard that guy uses humans for experiments. I can't just stand by and watch the locals become his test subjects."
Rob Lucci glanced at him again.
This statement was purely meant to mislead Iceburg.
Iceburg, unsuspecting, grew visibly upset, unable to tolerate the idea of Water 7's residents becoming someone else's lab rats.
"We have to stop that bastard!"