Chapter 317: Change of Camp

"This..."

Kalifa's fists were clenched, her slender fingers clicking.

"I want to... protect... his safety??"

Kalifa confirmed again.

"Yes, even if we die in battle, he cannot die."

Rob Lucci gave a clear answer, with no expression on his face.

"He is an important scientific research personnel. That kind of bomb is very magical and very suitable for us to use in missions."

Blueno had tried to dismantle the alchemy bomb; he clearly understood how terrifying the alchemy bomb was.

"The superior's order is absolute."

Kaku patted Kalifa on the shoulder to show comfort.

"I..." Kalifa lowered her head, her shoulders trembling.

"Mission is above everything."

Rob Lucci looked sideways at Kalifa. Kalifa took a deep breath and adjusted her mindset.

"Yes, mission is above everything."

Kalifa tried hard to wipe away the dissatisfaction in her heart, but recalling the various events from before, a strong sense of shame emerged.

"Mission is above everything," Kalifa whispered again.

"Byakuya, please help Kalifa remove the bomb. We are colleagues now."

Rob Lucci wasn't using an imperative tone; Su Xiao was now at the same level as him.

"Okay."

Su Xiao jumped off the wooden crates and walked to Kalifa's side, pressing one hand on Kalifa's chest.

Kalifa said through gritted teeth: "Watch where your hand is."

"Don't mind this degree of touch; after all, we have had 'in-depth exchanges' before."

While speaking, Su Xiao had already

"Cough." Rob Lucci gave a light cough.

"Is this to disarm the bomb?"

"Yes. I could also soften the bomb inside her stomach, but the explosive components are highly toxic and would seep into her stomach lining. She wouldn't last half a month before dying."

Rob Lucci looked at Blueno, who nodded. That type of bomb was indeed very difficult to disarm.

"Let's head out first."

Rob Lucci led the three of them out of the warehouse to stand guard outside.

Su Xiao unfastened Kalifa's clothing and used his fingers to make direct contact with her skin. Planting a bomb was simple, but disarming one was not.

He hadn't expected such a bizarre turn of events earlier, so he had only hastily disarmed the first bomb.

Things were different now; he had become a member of CP0. If Kalifa were to die abnormally in the near future, the CP department would come looking for trouble with him.

As his fingers lightly touched Kalifa's delicate skin, Su Xiao's pure mana seeped into her body, beginning to examine the specific condition of the alchemical bomb.

After a long while, Su Xiao opened his eyes and signaled for Kalifa to lie flat on the ground.

"Take off all the clothing on the front of your body."

The corner of Kalifa's eye twitched.

"Even the underwear?"

"What do you think? The first alchemical bomb is already corroding your stomach. If you don't want to die, take it off."

Kalifa took a deep breath and removed all her upper garments. Once she thought about how this was to save her life, her expression returned to normal.

Su Xiao pressed his finger ten centimeters above Kalifa's navel, and a large amount of mana seeped into her body.

"This cool energy..."

"Don't make a sound. Slow your breathing. No, hold your breath."

Su Xiao closed his eyes and focused. Placing an alchemical bomb was easy, but disarming one had its difficulties.

Half an hour passed. Rob Lucci and the others waited outside the warehouse the entire time. Strange sounds occasionally drifted from inside, leaving the three of them speechless.

A few minutes later, the warehouse door opened. Kalifa walked out looking exhausted, her clothes still somewhat disheveled.

"Give me food."

Just after saying this, Kalifa collapsed to the ground. Kaku was about to step forward to help her up, but was stopped by Rob Lucci.

"Bai Ye, I'll leave Kalifa in your care. Our current identities cannot be exposed yet."

After saying this, Rob Lucci looked at Kalifa.

"Tell Bai Ye our plan. I mean that temporary plan for tomorrow."

The goal of the four agents was originally to steal the blueprints for the Ancient Weapon, Pluton. They had been lurking for five full years for this mission.

Just three days ago, the members of CP9 received a temporary mission: to capture Nico Luo Bin, who was hiding within the Straw Hat Pirates.

Nico Luo Bin's appearance had greatly alarmed the World Government, which issued a kill order: even if they couldn't obtain the Pluton blueprints, they had to capture Nico Luo Bin.

The reason the World Government tolerated the Pluton blueprints being kept in Water 7 was that the text on them was ancient. Very few people in the world could recognize it, which is why the World Government had left the blueprints out there, only sending people to steal them in recent years.

Nico Luo Bin's sudden appearance changed the significance of the situation. If someone obtained the Pluton blueprints and captured Nico Luo Bin, that person would have the hope of resurrecting the Ancient Weapon, Pluton.

Although the probability of successfully building it was low, the World Government would not tolerate even a one-in-ten-thousand chance.

The World Government was furious and issued a direct kill order: Nico Luo Bin must be captured at all costs.

The beautiful Luo Bin was also inadvertently courting death. If there was one place in the world Luo Bin shouldn't go, it was Water 7, and she was currently on her way there.

The plan Lucci had Kalifa relay to Su Xiao was to capture Nico Luo Bin; the matter of Pluton would likely not be revealed for the time being.

Kalifa crawled up from the ground, looking very weak.

"I... I can handle it myself."

After she looked up, she found that Rob Lucci and the others had already walked far away.

"Tell me about your plan. I know a good restaurant nearby."

Su Xiao walked out of the warehouse. Upon seeing him, Kalifa subconsciously took two steps back. One had to remember that Kalifa was an agent; it was unknown what she had experienced in the warehouse to have such a reaction.

Su Xiao took Kalifa to the medicinal cuisine old man's restaurant boat. The old man welcomed them enthusiastically, his attitude toward Kalifa being very warm—or, to be precise, the old man was very warm toward all beautiful female guests.

After a full meal, Su Xiao and Kalifa arrived at a deserted beach. Although their public relationship was ambiguous, they were definitely not there for a hookup.

"Tell me about your plan."

Although Su Xiao was clear on the four agents' plan, he still needed to go through the motions, otherwise, it would arouse suspicion.

Kalifa told Su Xiao the general plan for capturing Nico Luo Bin. Just after hearing her brief introduction, a prompt from Reincarnation Paradise appeared.

【Hunter has triggered a side mission: Arrest Nico Luo Bin.】

Side Mission: Arrest Nico Luo Bin

Difficulty Level: Lv. 6

Mission Brief: Escort Nico Luo Bin to Enies Lobby.

Mission Info: If Nico Luo Bin dies during this period, the mission will fail.

Mission Duration: Three days.

Mission Reward: 5,000 Paradise Coins.

Mission Penalty: World Government Faction Reputation -700 (After reputation drops by 700, you will be in a hostile state).

Su Xiao accepted the mission; these 5,000 Paradise Coins were practically a free gift.

After Su Xiao accepted the mission, Kalifa said, "When executing the mission, you just need to hide. Otherwise, you'll just cause trouble."

"What?"

Su Xiao looked at Kalifa with a burning gaze. Kalifa's physical state had recovered after eating enough food, and there was now a clear sense of provocation in her demeanor.

"I haven't fought you yet. I can also experience the role of the Six Powers in combat while I'm at it."

Su Xiao drew the Checking Zhan Long Shan from his waist and held it in a reverse grip, with the back of the blade facing outward.

Kalifa's face lit up with joy; she finally had a chance to teach Su Xiao a lesson.