Chapter 140: Necessary Evil and Chaotic Good.
The Paper-Paper Fruit in Pirates
In the backstreets of Water 7, in an empty warehouse.
"Well done, Nico Robin."
In this dark warehouse, two people sat opposite each other at a round table, with a tall figure standing beside them.
"Such a small matter, it was a piece of cake."
Nico Robin, dressed in black leather, flipped through the newspaper in her hand. On the front page were three wanted posters: her own, Luffy's, and Zoro's.
"The Murderer of the City's Hero, Mr. Iceburg!!"
Under the bold and terrifying headline, there was a huge bounty offered by Water 7, fifty million Berries per person!
Of course, even without the bounty, the city's anger was already uncontrollable. Countless shipwrights, armed with axes, saws, and muskets, had organized themselves to search for the murderer.
And the real murderer was calmly discussing another assassination of their mayor here.
"Tonight is the most important!"
The man sitting opposite Robin, his entire body hidden in the shadows, spoke in a steady voice that echoed in the warehouse.
"We will enter Mr. Iceburg's room again,"
"No matter how much he pretends to be crazy, we must get that thing!"
After speaking, the man opposite looked up at Robin,
"Remember,"
"What we are doing is a righteous cause!"
There was no doubt that the actions of the two CP9 members in the room, who belonged to the government, were indeed 'righteous'.
Under the government's authorization, they carried out dark deeds in the name of justice. As long as they obtained the blueprints to rebuild 'Pluton' and even mass-produce it, they could end the Great Pirate Era. Ordinary people's 'peaceful' lives would also arrive...
Of course, by then, the World Government, holding Pluton, would reasonably raise the Heavenly Tribute 'a little bit', after all, the Celestial Dragons also need to eat.
Not to mention the many vested interests attached to the government!
"Let's go."
After the discussion ended, the three of them simultaneously stood up and took the cloaks and masks hanging beside them. — On this island, it happened to be the 'Mask Carnival' celebration, so this disguise was actually the 'normal' attire.
The three of them walked out of the warehouse together, and just as they reached the door, something strange happened! They disappeared into the air one by one, as if there was a door connecting to another place.
Empty.
After a while, a seagull flapped its wings and landed in the warehouse, cooing as it walked around, pecking at the ground, and then its head suddenly rotated 180 degrees!
In the eerie seagull's 'eyes', there were lines of text on the back of the wooden table.
...
"That woman is not honest,"
In an empty alley, two figures appeared out of thin air. The tall man in a checkered cloak and bear headgear walking behind reported to the man in a white trench coat and bull headgear beside him.
"She left a message under the table."
"Ignore her."
The man in the bull headgear calmly shook his head.
"Her ability has no effect on any of us, and once she is harnessed by emotions, the troublesome 'Ohara Demon' can only obediently become a pawn."
As he spoke, the man took off the bull headgear, removed his trench coat, and handed it to the man in the bear headgear beside him. At the same time, a pigeon flew over and landed on his shoulder.
"Get ready, tonight we will—"
"This place hasn't been checked yet—"
Amidst a series of hurried footsteps, a group of shipwrights armed with weapons rushed into the alley! But they immediately lowered their weapons obediently because there was a man in a black top hat and white vest standing in the alley.
"Foreman Lucci, what are you doing here?"
The man they respectfully called 'Foreman Lucci' was a stern man, wearing suspenders and shipwright pants, with a pigeon perched on his shoulder. Facing the shipwrights' questions, the man kept a straight face, but the pigeon on his shoulder flapped its wings angrily.
"Coo coo coo, Mr. Iceburg was attacked, do you think you're the only ones investigating this matter!"
"Lucci is also very angry, you can tell by looking at his face, right?"
Ah, Foreman Lucci's expression...
Oh well,
"So it turns out that Foreman Lucci is also investigating this matter," the shipwrights nodded and turned away. The foreman's meticulousness, seriousness, and strength were well-known. With him patrolling this area, they weren't needed at all.
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'I won't be returning to you all,'
'Let's say our goodbyes in this city.'
'Everything I did in the past was true...'
'Last night, I also broke into Mr. Iceburg's room to assassinate him.'
'The situation will continue to worsen, and you will bear the blame while I take the opportunity to escape.'
'Although we haven't been together for long, you have always treated me well. Thank you. Finally—goodbye.'
A line of text appeared on the white paper on the table, making the Straw Hat crew fall silent.
"When Robin said the situation would continue to worsen, does she mean—"
Zoro looked at Roman, who had projected the text from the back of the round table in the abandoned warehouse using his ability.
"Probably the 'real' assassination of Mayor Iceburg."
Nami picked up the conversation. In fact, the Straw Hat crew were not only not stupid but also very clever. They were just usually overshadowed by their antics and jokes. Once they got serious, they quickly analyzed a lot of useful information from Robin's words.
"So, if we guard the mayor's house tonight."
Sanji lit a cigarette.
"We'll be able to see Robin."
"Then we can ask Robin what her troubles are!"
Chopper concluded happily.
"Don't be so optimistic," Zoro calmly pointed out another possibility.
"Maybe this is a trap!"
"Robin knows our abilities well and also knows that Roman always keeps scouting birds on alert. So, this could be a deliberate attempt to mislead us."
"If we show up at the mayor's house tonight, it will confirm that we are the 'assassins'!"
After the analysis, everyone looked at Luffy and Roman.
One was the decision-maker, the other was the planner.
---
"Emergency report, emergency report!"
"The giant tsunami 'Aqua Laguna' will arrive tonight!"
"All citizens, please evacuate to the shipyard, I repeat, all citizens, please evacuate to the shipyard..."
???
"This is—"
"This is a unique natural phenomenon of this island. Every year, this city gets flooded by a giant tsunami, and at this time, the residents take refuge in the shipyard's shelter."
"At the same time, after the tsunami hits Water 7, it leaves high concentrations of sea salt on the rooftops, which the locals use to cook."
After Roman finished relaying the information the paper birds had heard, he sighed.
"When it rains, it pours..."
Robin and the government's assassination agency are entangled, Usopp and the Merry have left the crew, and a giant tsunami is about to hit...
"So, Luffy, what do you think?"
"Whether it's CP or a tsunami," Luffy looked at the citizens outside who were starting to evacuate with their families, and the armed shipwrights guarding the headquarters of the Galley-La Company not far away, his expression remained unchanged.
"I need to find Robin and ask her a question!"
"She already left a message telling us to—"
"Why should I listen to her!"
Luffy's response made Roman shrug. With a slight shake, the words on the paper in his hand disappeared.
"Well then, everyone rest up, there's a tough battle waiting for you tonight!"
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Dock 6 of Water 7,
Under the bridge, in the warehouse.
"You're still not giving up, little brother?"
This warehouse belonged to Franky's secret base, now 'borrowed' by Usopp to park the Going Merry.
"Indeed, to give birth to a 'ship shipirit', it seems you really consider this ship a companion. But—"
Watching Usopp still hammering and repairing the ship, Franky couldn't help but advise him again.
"Let it go, little brother."
"Your ship... it's time for it to rest."
"You're just forcing the ship to do things beyond its capacity, and in the end—"
Franky, like a perverted uncle, sat on a worn-out sofa, his hands resting seriously in front of him.
"It will break apart on the next voyage, sinking into the sea with the regret of not being able to bring the crew to shore!"
Clang,
The hammer fell from his hand, nails rolled on the ground, and Usopp sat on the ground with a face full of desolation.
"Yeah, I've already given up on myself."
"Why am I still forcing the Merry?"
I wonder how Luffy and the others are doing? Why did they get involved in the mayor's assassination out of nowhere? I should do something—
What am I thinking, I'm not part of the Straw Hat crew anymore. And there's Roman, Zoro, and the others...
The wind howled, dark clouds pressed down on the city,
Layers of waves surged towards Water 7, like the shadows surging secretly in this city.
In the shadows, the strong with their own thoughts were wiping their swords and guns, preparing their weapons, just waiting for the night to come!
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