"Are you a shipwright too?" Luffy asked.
"Well, yeah. You can trust my skills."
While Nami landed a fist on Luffy's head from the side for his blunt question, Caterina answered without any sign of being bothered.
However, Nami did find it somewhat strange, or rather, very out of place, for a woman like Caterina to be working in a shipyard predominantly staffed by male craftsmen.
Since she had identified herself as being affiliated with Twilight, Nami wondered if her job was perhaps drawing blueprints or supervising.
"So, what's the job? Ship repairs? Or building a new ship?" Caterina inquired.
"I want you to fix my ship. I went somewhere else, but they said she couldn't sail anymore... She's an important ship. If there's even a slight chance, I want to bet on it," Luffy explained.
"Hmm. Then I'll have to take a look at the ship first... Where is she?"
"The Franky Family headquarters... Do you know where that is?" Nami asked.
"Franky's... then it's probably the warehouse under the bridge?"
"You know it?" Luffy asked.
"Of course."
Caterina had learned shipbuilding under the same master as Franky. Although Caterina was older, Franky had started learning earlier, making him her senior in terms of apprenticeship.
She knew the location they used as a warehouse, of course, and was also well aware of his skills, so if Franky said it was no good, there was probably nothing that could be done. However, she wanted to avoid making a judgment as a craftsman without seeing the actual ship.
Caterina, placing a hand on her chin, decided to first ask how much the three in front of her understood.
"...Did Franky tell you what parts are broken?"
"He said something about the 'keel' being broken," Nami replied.
"Ah, the keel, huh..." Caterina sighed.
"...Is it really that difficult?" Usopp asked, his shoulders slumping.
He had been told by Franky that it was no good, and had come here because he couldn't fully believe it... but was it still no good?
"Yes," Caterina affirmed.
"The keel is the foundation of the ship. Once the foundational part is broken, it can no longer sail as a ship."
Even without seeing the actual ship, she could answer the basics as a shipwright.
This was an undeniable fact.
However, it wasn't good to make a judgment without seeing the ship.
"Either way, it's probably best to see the ship once, right? Unfortunately, I have an engagement today. I can't go directly, but I'll dispatch a trustworthy craftsman."
"...Yeah, please do," Usopp said.
No matter how slim the chances, Usopp couldn't help but cling to hope.
Perhaps understanding his attachment to things, Caterina offered a gentle smile.
"You cherish your ship that much. The ship that had you all as its crew must be content."
Once that part of the conversation was settled, Luffy asked Caterina a question.
"By the way, how did you know about me?"
"Of course, I know. That straw hat of yours, it's Shanks's, isn't it? I'm also the craftsman who made Shanks's prosthetic arm! I've heard a lot about you!"
Shanks had lost his left arm protecting Luffy.
If one asked about the reason for losing his arm, Luffy's name would naturally come up.
Even otherwise, she was fairly good friends with Robin. Their journey with Luffy and his crew had begun with the Alabasta incident, and their subsequent travels had consistently led them to places connected to Twilight.
Information about Luffy and his crew had reached her ears even without her consciously seeking it.
"Wow! You made Shanks's arm...? I wonder if Shanks is doing well."
"He's doing great. Though his occasional overindulgence in alcohol is a flaw," Caterina chuckled.
As the two were talking cheerfully, a voice called out to Caterina from inside Dock 1.
Turning around and raising a hand to indicate her presence, two figures approached Caterina.
"There you are. I was looking for you," one said.
"Are the preparations ready, Iceburg-kun?" Caterina asked.
It was a man in a suit with slicked-back hair. For some reason, there was a mouse in his breast pocket.
Beside him stood a woman with blonde hair tied in a bun, holding several documents in her hand.
"And who are they?" Iceburg inquired.
"Oh, they're the Straw Hat crew. Pirates. We have a bit of a connection."
"Hmm... Kalifa?"
"Investigation complete," Kalifa replied.
Starting with the captain, "Straw Hat" Luffy, then "Pirate Hunter" Zoro, Nico Robin, Pedro, and Zepo. While only five had bounties, three of them were over 100 million.
Their total bounty was an astonishing 900 million plus, unheard of for a recently formed small pirate crew.
It could be considered an exceptional amount for pirates in the first half of the Grand Line.
Despite Luffy and his crew having only just arrived on this island, Kalifa's ability to investigate them so thoroughly was also remarkable.
"I see. Welcome. I'm the boss of this island, Iceburg."
"He's the president of this Galley-La Company, and also the mayor of Water 7. Well, he's a bit eccentric, but he's an amazing person," Caterina explained.
"Nmaa, I wouldn't want to be called eccentric by you," Iceburg retorted.
"Eh, really?"
As Kalifa, who stood beside them, began to discuss the upcoming schedule, cutting into their lighthearted conversation.
"In ten minutes, there's a dinner meeting with the executives of the Glass Factory at the Chiza Hotel. After that, once you've finished your lecture at Liguria Plaza, you have a meeting with Mayor Bimine of Pucci, the Town of Gourmet Food. You will also be interviewed by the newspaper company on the spot. As soon as that's finished, please return to headquarters and look over some documents."
"No way!!"
"Then I will cancel everything."
"Huh!? Is that okay!? I even wore a suit!!"
"It's fine. I'm a man of power, after all."
It was clearly an abuse of authority, but Iceburg stood there confidently, showing no sign of concern. Caterina also looked exasperated.
He sometimes acted erratically, and Kalifa affirmed everything, so there was no one to act as a brake. It was quite troublesome.
Caterina had planned to attend the dinner, lecture, and meeting with Iceburg, so if Iceburg canceled, Caterina's schedule would inevitably be canceled as well.
Caterina grumbled, but she personally disliked stuffy attire like suits, so she shrugged it off with a "Well, it can't be helped."
"What's canceled is canceled. While I'm at it, I'll go see Franky and check out the ship... Though if the keel is really done for, you shouldn't get your hopes up."
"...Even so, please," Usopp pleaded.
"Leave it to me!"
Caterina walked into the shipyard to change her clothes and get her tools.
Iceburg and Luffy watched her go, and Iceburg suddenly asked a question.
"Did you come to get your ship appraised?"
"Yeah. The ryu-kotsu? Apparently, that's broken, but she's an important ship. I really want to get her fixed."
"Nmaa. It's good to cherish your ship, but you should prioritize your own safety. If you're a captain, don't forget you're responsible for the lives of your crew."
"...Yeah. I understand."
"You're honest. ...By the way, is there a woman named Nico Robin on your ship?"
"Yeah, she's here. She's smart."
"...I see."
As they were chatting in front of the gate of Dock 1, Caterina quickly returned.
Unlike her previous suit, her hair was now tied back at the nape of her neck for ease of work, and her clothes had changed to work attire.
And there was an additional person.
"Hey, sorry I'm late!" Caterina called out.
"Well, that's fine, but... who's that?" Luffy asked.
"My bodyguard."
Caterina held a relatively high position within Twilight, so one bodyguard was always assigned to her for protection.
Given her position, she often had contact with both pirates and the government, so she had to be careful about her safety.
Black hair and golden eyes. She was a girl, about Luffy's age, whom one could call a young woman.
The girl stood silently behind Caterina, her white hood pulled down low over her eyes.
"Bodyguard? ...Oba-chan, are you maybe pretty important?" Luffy wondered.
"Ahaha, don't worry about it. I just do this kind of thing because I like it!"
The bodyguard girl shrugged at Caterina's words. Nami, sensing that she was probably having a hard time, was about to comment when Iceburg spoke up.
"Nmaa... If Caterina's going, I guess I'll go too. I'm bored anyway."
"I wouldn't think those were the words of a man who just canceled all his appointments..." Kalifa muttered.
"Want to come along? I don't mind. It's Franky's workshop, though," Caterina offered.
"His place, huh," Iceburg said.
It wasn't that they were on bad terms, but Iceburg made a slightly disgusted face.
Still, for some reason, he seemed intent on going, but Kalifa stopped him.
"Please wait, Iceburg-san."
The men who entered Iceburg's field of vision as he turned around asking "What is it?" were dressed in black suits.
They were World Government officials.
Thinking it might be troublesome if pirates like Luffy and his crew dealt with them, Caterina sighed softly and turned her whole body to face them.
The man at the front took off his hat and greeted them.
"Hello, Iceburg-kun. And Caterina-joshi."
"I don't like you, go home," Iceburg stated flatly.
"Are you a child!? Honestly..." Corgi muttered.
"It's been a while, Corgi-kun. How was the furniture I took your order for last time?" Caterina asked.
"Ah, that was very well received. The Celestial Dragons also seemed satisfied... They said they'd like you to come 'upstairs' if you're willing."
"Ahaha, unfortunately, I can't do that."
"You have no intention of quitting being a pirate and living a respectable life?" Corgi pressed.
"I intend to live respectably even now. Besides, I don't think Kanata-san would permit me to go 'upstairs'."
"...No matter how you live, the 'Witch' has no right to decide, does she?"
Glancing at the bodyguard girl, Corgi confirmed that force was impossible. Cursing her for being so shrewd at all times, he put his hat back on and turned his gaze towards Luffy and his crew.
It was a look filled with contempt and disgust, a look down upon them.
Perhaps out of consideration for Caterina, who was officially a pirate, he didn't say it out loud, but it was painfully obvious that he despised pirates like Luffy and his crew.
Caterina moved a step to the side, as if to block his line of sight.
"Sorry, but I have work to do now. Would you mind?"
"Pirates can wait. I've brought you a proposition that will benefit you. I'd like to discuss it somewhere private."
"I'll take this one. Caterina, I'll leave that to you," Iceburg interjected.
"Sorry, Iceburg-kun. I'm counting on you."
"Caterina-joshi, that is──" Corgi began.
"Officially, she's a pirate, and under the umbrella of one of the Seven Warlords... but she's Twilight, you know. I think it would be wiser not to do anything rash," Iceburg warned.
At Iceburg's words, Corgi stopped moving.
The Seven Warlords of the Sea were an organization directly under the World Government. As long as Kanata belonged to it, she had a certain obligation to comply with requests from the World Government.
However, angering Twilight could lead to troublesome consequences, so even the Five Elders refrained from prodding them carelessly. Twilight was far too massive an organization for a mere official like Corgi to poke.
Corgi, his face bitter, glared at Iceburg, but eventually, Corgi sighed and relented.
"...Very well. I shall consider it fortunate enough to be able to negotiate with you."
"So it seems, Caterina. I'll leave that side to you," Iceburg said.
"Thanks, Iceburg-kun! I'll treat you to some delicious coffee next time!"
Caterina, leading her bodyguard and Luffy's group, boarded the chartered Yagara Bull boat.
Leaving Corgi glaring resentfully at Luffy and his crew, they began to move towards the Franky Family's workshop.
***
"Was that okay? That old guy was glaring at us pretty hard," Luffy commented.
"It's fine. He's persistent, you know! I'll take on work, but I don't really like to talk about those kinds of negotiations. I don't have the authority either," Caterina replied.
In the negotiations with Iceburg, they seemed to be after a certain something he supposedly possessed, but regarding Caterina, they were after her person.
An artist, architect, craftsman, and researcher—she was a talent the World Government desperately wanted.
However, if she were taken "upstairs"—to Mariejois—she wouldn't be able to return, and it wasn't even certain if she would be treated as a human being.
Being treated as a Celestial Dragon's wife would be the better outcome; in the worst case, she could even be collared and treated as a slave. She had no desire to go willingly.
"You all should be very careful with the World Government too. Especially if Robin is among your crew."
"...Why does Robin come up here?" Nami asked.
"Well, she's an archaeologist the World Government is desperately trying to find. Basically, nothing good will come of her whereabouts being known."
Being able to read the Poneglyphs carried that much weight.
If they were under Twilight's protection, it might be different, but Luffy and his crew were just a fledgling pirate group that could be blown away with a puff of wind. If the government and the Navy came to capture them in earnest, resistance would likely be futile.
That was why Caterina warned them.
"Be careful. I don't like saying it like this, but you are currently being targeted by an incredibly huge enemy."
Caterina, who knew the tragedy that had occurred twenty years ago, could only pray that it would not be repeated.