Chapter 147

"Ah-choo!"

Siano, sitting under the parasol, suddenly sneezed, spilling the coffee he was holding all over the floor.

"Smoker!"

He immediately turned around and shouted.

"Understood."

Smoker, who was at the helm, immediately responded.

Whoosh!

The smoke and mist swept past, instantly washing the floor clean.

All about professionalism and efficiency.

Siano then rubbed his nose, puzzled, and looked up into the distance; beneath the wildly swirling fire clouds, the outline of Water 7 was already visible in the distance.

Who's thinking of me again?

Last time I sneezed, Garp showed up at my door within two days.

Could it be... that Kaido is coming this time?

One hour later.

The Curtain Call finally sailed into Water 7.

Night gradually deepened, lights came on one after another, casting the winding waterways with shimmering ripples.

This city, with its developed waterways, has countless entrances; around the island's perimeter, almost everywhere allows boats to dock.

Siano deliberately chose a relatively secluded spot to moor, so as not to cause too much disturbance; after dropping anchor and stabilizing, the four of them and the wolf all disembarked.

Of course, he didn't forget to bring those treasure chests.

In the past.

This treasure chest would have had to be pulled by Gin.

Gin often wasn't willing, feeling it damaged the Wolf King's dignity, always having to lie on the ground twisting and turning for a while, until Siano kicked its butt, only then would it grudgingly act as a sled dog.

But now it's different; there's a more professional mover on board.

Jack fully utilized his physique, sweeping his arms wide, easily hoisting over a dozen treasure chests onto his shoulders, piled high.

Along the way, clanging like a moving fortress, residents hurriedly made way wherever he passed.

Several gangs, their greedy eyes instantly drawn to the treasure chests.

But upon noticing Jack's intimidating physique and that fierce face, they shrank their necks, too scared to act.

Siano watched all this, quite amused.

Looking fierce also has its advantages; even with a zero bounty, he still possesses the deterrent power of a billion beli.

After renting a few blue birds, the group headed straight for the upper city.

Banks and Life Card shops are located here.

From the outer districts to the upper city, due to the terrain, one originally had to make many turns on the waterways, requiring great effort.

But...

Water 7 has elevators.

Officially called the "Water Lock Elevator," through sealed water locks, it only takes a dozen seconds to vertically lift ships or passengers riding blue birds from low-water areas to high-water areas.

Somewhat similar to the Panama Canal locks in Siano's impression.

The group rode the blue birds into the elevator, whoosh, and just like that arrived at the upper city.

"Huh, strange."

Siano looked around, but couldn't find Sister Guyina and her group.

Clearly, we had agreed earlier on the phone to meet here at the upper city entrance tonight.

"I'll call to urge them." Smoker pulled out a den den mushi.

"Yeah."

Siano nodded, also not paying much attention.

This time is exactly mealtime; perhaps it's because Nami is too gluttonous, causing the others to also delay the meeting time.

Blue bird blue bird~

The den den mushi rang for a long time, but no response came.

"What's going on?" Smoker frowned, hung up directly, then called Robin.

Still no answer.

Calling Sister Guyina again, same result.

Siano, who had been looking up at the fountain scenery, finally turned his head.

"Boss, something seems off..." Smoker clenched his cigar, eyes slightly narrowed.

Nami's phone being unreachable is normal.

After all, this girl is careless and unreliable; maybe she dropped the den den mushi into a hole while using the toilet.

But even being unable to reach Sister Guyina and Robin's phones clearly indicates an abnormal situation.

"Big brother, big brother!"

At that moment, a little girl with twin tails came running over, hopping and skipping.

She stood on her tiptoes, holding up a wrinkled piece of paper high, handing it to Siano: "Here, take this; someone asked me to give it to you!"

Siano casually opened it; his companions also gathered around to look.

Written clearly on it was the following passage:

Your sisters are all tied up in the station warehouse; if you want them to live, have your subordinates go rescue them immediately.

You came alone to the headquarters of Karera Company, waiting downstairs for me. I have a deal I want to discuss with you. Remember, only one person is allowed to come; otherwise, I won't show up.

Hey! Wait, don't leave yet!

Smoker instinctively reached out to stop the little girl who wanted to run away; his fierce appearance with a cigar in his mouth frightened the little girl so much she shuddered, and her eye sockets instantly turned red.

Sorry, sorry, little sister.

Smoker quickly crouched down, tried to soften his voice, and also took out a few menthol candies from his pocket and handed them over:

It's my fault for not paying attention to my tone; big brother, I just wanted to ask you, who told you to bring this note to us?

It's candy!

The little girl's eyes lit up, she happily took the candy and immediately felt Smoker was indeed a good person, and she poured out everything she knew like pouring beans from a bamboo tube.

I don't know him either; it was a masked weirdo who gave me a hundred Berries and told me to deliver this. He was very tall and very thin... uh, I don't know anything else.

And I didn't forget to add one more thing: the big brother I was shouting for refers to that handsome black-haired big brother; you calling yourself big brother is too shameless, white-haired old man.

Old man??

Hey, you're really getting full of yourself!

Smoker had black lines appear on his forehead, watched the unfortunate child leave, then reluctantly stood up and said: What do everyone think of the content on this note?

Of course it's made up.

Jepull crossed his arms over his chest and snorted:

The one who wrote this note must be a remnant partner of those CP9 agents; this old trick is only good enough to fool three-year-old kids—no sane person would believe it.

Huh? Jack, who had been looking anxious and angry, suddenly froze: So it's fake?

He had been building up momentum, waiting for Siano's big brother's order to rush to the station immediately to save people!

Oh, there really is a three-year-old kid! Smoker jumped up and slapped his knee, baring his fangs in anger.

Why, why can't the phone get through? Jack scratched his head in confusion.

Idiot, after all, it's the government's special intelligence department; having means to shield communication signals is quite normal.

Smoker coldly snorted, but this approach... hum, they're really a bunch of frog-in-the-well ignoramuses with no experience; don't they know how terrifying the Observation Haki of the strong can be?

Everyone's gaze unconsciously turned toward Siano.

As Smoker said, at this moment Siano stood in front of the railing, facing the vast city below, arms spread, eyes slightly closed.

——The powerful Observation Haki was fully activated, sweeping across the entire island like a tidal wave, howling as it passed.

In such a densely populated metropolis, finding someone is actually not easy.

But Siano was extremely familiar with Nami and Nojiko's auras; after scanning back and forth twice, he precisely located them.

Siano opened his eyes and turned around.

They're in the east; if I'm not mistaken, that's the area where the bank is located?

Siano shrugged and said: Probably also received the fake message sent via children, thinking the meeting place had been changed to the bank.

So I'm not the only one who got tricked! Jack immediately chuckled foolishly.

What are you getting happy about? This is completely different, you idiot!

Smoker couldn't hold back and kicked him: The fake message they received didn't have such exaggerated content!

One was kidnapped, the other just had the meeting place changed.

Moreover, in the original schedule, the first thing after the two parties met was to go to the bank to exchange cash, so the latter's credibility is indeed high and very reasonable.

Going through all this trouble is nothing more than wanting to lure us away so they can meet Siano big brother alone, right? Smoker exhaled a smoke ring, looking at Siano: Big brother, what do you say?

You guys go directly to the bank, follow the original schedule, and by the way, tell Guyina and them about this.

Siano looked toward the direction of Karera Company headquarters, stretched lazily, and said somewhat indifferently: Since the person behind the scenes wants so badly to meet me alone, I'll just go fulfill his wish.

Understood.

Then we'll go to the bank first, big brother.

Everyone nodded and headed straight toward the bank area.

No one had any objections, and no one worried about Siano's safety.

The reason is very simple.

They have unparalleled trust in their captain's strength!

In the face of absolute power...

All conspiracies and tricks, all careful calculations, are nothing but jokes.

————

Karera Company headquarters.

The mayor of Water 7 and also the president of Karera Company, Bingshan, was currently frowning, pacing back and forth in his office.

Strange... where did Kalifa and Kaku go?

He stopped walking, muttered softly, his fingers lightly tapping the desk: Clearly we had agreed, tonight we were supposed to organize all the shipyard order forms together...

They've been missing since this afternoon; in the blink of an eye, both have disappeared for half a day.

As for Kaku, it's fine; maybe he was lured by that guy Bari to the tavern to drink and forgot about this.

But his usually diligent secretary Kalifa, even when she had a cold and fever, still insisted on coming to work, sticking to him without ever leaving—there's never been such a precedent of unjustified absenteeism.

Really giving me a headache...

Bingshan lay back in his office chair, wearing a bitter expression, and unseemly picked his nose: Only I'm left here; where would I get the motivation?

He is indeed a lazy mayor, used to slacking off; to make him work seriously, subordinates must push him from behind.

Squeak~

Just then, the office door was pushed open.

"Finally here? What are you doing, Kalifa? I thought you'd forgotten..."

Bingshan hastily smeared the booger he'd picked out onto the underside of the table, looked up in surprise, and saw the person walking in—dressed in a black suit and wearing a black hat...

"Lucci?"

Bingshan blinked slightly.

"How is it you? Where's Kalifa? You weren't supposed to be working overtime at Dock One tonight, repairing that merchant ship, were you? How did you end up here—"

Before he could finish, his voice cut off abruptly.

Because Lucci had not responded the entire time, merely walking expressionlessly to the sofa, sitting down, crossing his legs, slowly lifting his head—those usually gentle eyes now cold as blades.

"What is this..."

Bingshan's face showed hesitation, and he involuntarily retreated half a step.

The situation seemed a bit off...

Having known Lucci for over a year, this young man, though usually quiet and sparing with words, had been diligent and reliable at work, often uttering witty remarks and using ventriloquism to make him laugh heartily.

But now.

The man before him, radiating dangerous aura, made him feel utterly unfamiliar.

"Sorry, Mayor Bingshan."

Lucci casually brushed dust off his pant leg, finally speaking, his voice low and hoarse:

"Thank you for your care over this period, but unfortunately... tonight, I am not here to see you as a shipworker."

"Eh, what does that mean?"

Bingshan scratched his head, forcing a laugh, "What kind of act is this, Lucci... haha, first time hearing you speak with your mouth—I'm not used to the sound, hey, where's Hadley? Why didn't it follow you?"

Hadley was the name of Lucci's pigeon.

Lucci did not answer, merely lifting his index finger slightly.

Whoosh—!

Two flying finger guns shot out, instantly piercing Bingshan's knees, spraying a large amount of blood.

Bingshan also collapsed helplessly to the ground, clutching his wound, staring at Lucci in disbelief.

"Now you can't run, so let me reintroduce myself properly."

Lucci's gaze was calm: "I am Rob Lucci, a member of CP9, the World Government's direct intelligence agency, and also the captain of this Water 7 operation."

——What???

Bingshan's eyes widened, his face instantly turning pale.

CP9?

That most secretive agent organization of the World Government?!

When did Lucci become a government man?

No, wrong—should say this guy was originally a government agent, merely posing as a shipworker, hiding in Dock One?

Wait, captain? Then there must be other members...

Kalifa and Kaku... seem to have joined the company around the same time as Lucci, right? Could they be too?

"Unfortunately, as you thought, yes."

Lucci seemed to see through Bingshan's thoughts, speaking lightly: "But the two of them are currently occupied and can't come here, so I can only come in their place to say goodbye to you."

Really now!

Damn it, Kalifa, Kaku...

"You... what exactly do you want?" Bingshan suppressed his inner shock, though his voice still trembled slightly.

Lucci did not answer directly, but rose and walked slowly to the window, gazing down at the night scene of Water 7.

In his field of vision.

The little girl he had instructed beforehand was now tiptoeing, handing a note to that group.

Is it coming, Sword God Siano?

Lucci exhaled softly, his eyes betraying uncontainable excitement.

To be honest.

Having lurked in Water 7 for nearly a year, that idiot Spandam kept telling them not to startle the snake, to plan slowly, and he'd had enough.

Clearly, they could already basically confirm that Tom's blueprints were on Bingshan, so why not just move on him directly, instead of making them keep playing shipworkers here, wasting time?

How much longer does he have to wait?

Six months? A year??

As CP9's strongest genius in eight hundred years, why should he waste so much time on this boring task!

Fortunately, Siano came.

Giving him a chance to escape this mission.

Taking advantage of the lull before battle with the opponent, it was a good time to come see Bingshan.

Win, and he could not only take the head of the billion-belly pirate and return in glory to Judicial Island, but also kidnap Bingshan along the way—double win.

As for losing...

Though that possibility is small.

But if that happened, their entire group would be doomed to die, so at least, before death, they could lay bare the truth to Bingshan, letting him vent his resentment toward this idiot mayor who truly thought of him as a superior.

Kaku and Kalifa seem to quite like this guy, even developing a bit of fondness for the atmosphere here.

But he is different—he has no lingering attachment to this city or this company whatsoever.

"Bingshan."

Lucci turned his back to Bingshan, voice calm: "Since you asked, I'll lay it all out—regarding the blueprints for the ancient weapon Pluton... you should know about them, right?"

Bingshan's breath caught.

Indeed...

Indeed, you came for this!

"Pluton?"

He forced himself to stay calm, speaking in a deep voice: "I don't know what you're talking about. Pluton is a legendary weapon, after all. I'm just an ordinary shipwright—how could I possibly come into contact with something like that—"

"Lies."

Lucci turned around, casting him a cold, sneering glance.

"Our commander Spandam has already investigated this thoroughly, which is why we were sent to infiltrate Water 7—it's all because of you."

He stepped closer to Bingshan, his voice growing colder: "After all, Tom's other disciple, Franky, is already dead, leaving only you as his disciple. Where else could the Pluton blueprints be, if not in your hands?"

Hearing that name, Bingshan's fists clenched tightly.

Spandam...

A few years ago, that CP5 leader who kept harassing their workshop.

Tom, his teacher, had clearly been acquitted—yet it was because of this man's framing that the World Government executed him!

And his junior disciple, Franky, met the same fate—his whereabouts unknown to this day!

"I don't know anything about it! Tom never mentioned anything like that to me!"

Cold sweat beaded on Bingshan's forehead, but he gritted his teeth and persisted:

"What Pluton blueprints? I've never seen them... Even if you're CP9, you should follow procedure when doing your work. Accusations without evidence are just your imagination!"

"Under normal circumstances, yes, we should indeed follow procedure."

Seeing that Bingshan had no intention of speaking, Lucci finally lost his patience: "Too bad I have to go downstairs soon to meet someone—I really have no interest in staying to watch you finish this act."

Swish!

His figure vanished from the spot, reappearing in front of Bingshan the next second, and he kicked hard at the other's chest.

Bingshan spat out a large mouthful of black blood, his upper body flung backward, his vision swimming—but he gritted his teeth and endured the kick, not losing consciousness.

Tom's disciple, unexpectedly resilient to blows.

Lucci gave Bingshan a cold glance, then ordered:

"Knock him out, tie him up, put him in a sack, Bruno."

"Those officers from the swordmaster's ship are also troublesome. Once I deal with Siano, don't engage them—just commandeer the sea train, take these two guys, and rush to Judicial Island overnight."

"Yes, Lucci."

A burly figure stepped out of the shadows—Bruno, expression indifferent, silent, his large hand reaching for Bingshan.

"Bruno of the tavern, so you're one of them too..." Bingshan blinked in surprise, then gave a wry smile, struggling to speak: "It seems my surroundings have already been completely surrounded by your people."

"And I didn't notice a single clue? I really am too slow..."

Bingshan lowered his head in self-mockery, then suddenly looked up and locked eyes with Lucci, splitting his mouth in a loud laugh: "Take me to Judicial Island? You think I'm afraid of death?"

Lucci's brows furrowed slightly.

"My teacher would rather die willingly than hand over the blueprints." Bingshan's voice grew firmer: "As his disciple, how could I possibly betray his will?"

"As for Pluton, that world-destroying forbidden object—I will absolutely never let it reappear in this world, no matter what."

"As for wanting to kill me?"

He suddenly drew two pistols from his inner coat pocket, gripping them in his hands, his eyes blazing with fury:

"Come on, then—let's see what you've got, government lapdogs!"

Bang! Bang!

The two pistols fired simultaneously, bullets screaming toward Lucci.

Lucci's eyebrows twitched slightly, his eyes turning completely cold.

"A foolish move."

He stood rooted in place, not moving an inch, letting the bullets fly toward him.

The iron mass had already been activated—these soft, ordinary-person bullets couldn't possibly pierce through, could they? That would be a joke...

Boom!!!

At that very instant, the office window shattered explosively!

A slender longsword broke through the window, perfectly colliding with the bullets' trajectory, slicing the two bullets in half while simultaneously shattering the iron mass, then piercing through Lucci's abdomen from the right, nailing him firmly to the wall.

This happened far too suddenly.

Bruno and Bingshan hadn't even reacted, and Lucci himself stared for two seconds before looking down at his waist, where blood was gushing from the wound...

"Ah la la, sorry about that."

A lazy voice rang out.

Lucci struggled to lift his head, only to see a black-haired teenager lounging casually on the windowsill, legs dangling and swinging, a cheerful smile on his face:

"I was originally down in the garden, waiting for you to finish your business, but the commotion upstairs was a bit loud—I was worried you'd get angry and really kill that Mr. Ginji, so I had no choice but to step in reluctantly."

Ginji?

Who?

Lucci blinked, not understanding Siano's meaning.

But... that doesn't matter!

He looked at the sword piercing his waist and abdomen, nearly bursting into laughter right then and there.

What powerful aura...

Just casually throwing out a sword, and it could pierce his iron mass!

Is this the swordsmanship of the renowned sea swordmaster?

But...

Pirates, they're all idiots indeed!

The note he gave was originally a blatant scheme.

Regardless of whether the other party saw through it or not, he was certain that pirates with such great fame had overly arrogant confidence in their own strength.

The result was as expected.

The other party not only cared about the so-called "demeanor of a great pirate" and "pirate's righteousness," but actually came alone to the door.

Moreover, he didn't even need Bruno to make a move; in order to save someone, he threw his sword over first himself!

Was he afraid the sword energy from his slash would affect Bingshan?

No matter what, trying to take it back now wouldn't be so easy.

The plan went even smoother than expected!

"Bruno!" he suddenly shouted sharply, forcibly pulling the sword out of his body.

"Understood!"

Bruno instantly understood, took the blood-stained katana, and slashed across Lucci's body with his right hand——

"Human Body Door!"

A strange scene appeared.

Lucci's body, like a door being pushed open, split open a square gap, revealing an inner eerie green otherworldly space.

Bruno hesitated not, hugging the katana as he leapt into it!

Swish!

The gap instantly closed, taking both person and sword away without a trace.

Hmm?

Siano was left somewhat puzzled by this scene, not knowing what these two were up to.

"It was a complete success."

Lucci licked the blood stain at the corner of his mouth; the wound on his abdomen was still gushing blood, yet he seemed completely unaware.

Under the moonlight, this strongest member of CP9's body swelled violently, immediately assuming a half-beastified posture, his muscles bulging like steel reels, his eyes burning with fervent fighting spirit:

"Your sword thrust hurt me terribly."

"But now..."

He tore apart his tattered upper garment with a feral grin, revealing his extraordinarily strong physique:

"Now it's my turn; it's time for you, this sword master, to witness the allure of body tempering cultivated to its peak!"

(End of Chapter)