That morning was quite hectic.
The Franky Family headquarters wasn't always staffed, but with Luffy and his crew keeping their ship there, several people were coming and going.
One of them—Zambai, who was in charge of coordinating things—rushed in with a flustered look and showed the morning paper to Luffy and the others, who were eating breakfast.
Nami, suspicious of Zambai's unusual demeanor, took the paper and her face paled as she quickly scanned it.
"What's written in it?" Luffy asked.
"...'Water 7 Mayor, Iceburg-shi. Assassin's Evil Hand Reaches Out.'"
"Assassination!? Was that old man killed!?"
"He's not dead! But according to the paper, it was a close call..."
The group let out a collective sigh of relief, at least knowing he wasn't dead.
However, Zambai opened his mouth with a very troubled expression.
"Sorry, but you guys stay here for a while. Iceburg-san is pretty well-liked on this island, so the whole town's on edge... You might get suspected just for being pirates."
"That's... a problem," Nami said.
"But we want to talk about the ship and stuff, what should we do?" Luffy asked.
"Ah, about that, I'll call Aniki, so talk to him."
Zambai, being just a craftsman, said he couldn't discuss such detailed matters.
Of course, if it was about the interior or exterior, that was fine, but when money was involved, he couldn't say anything without going through Franky, the boss.
"So, basically, it's better not to leave here today..." Usopp sighed.
"It might be boring, but think of it as irreplaceable for your safety," Zambai urged.
Luffy and his crew didn't want to be suspected either.
Understanding that moving around in this situation could lead to trouble, they showed their dissatisfaction but reluctantly agreed.
Just as they were about to settle down, thinking it couldn't be helped, Franky appeared.
He was in his usual swim trunks, aloha shirt, and sunglasses, but there was a somewhat tense atmosphere about him today.
"Ah, Aniki! How's that person's condition?" Zambai asked.
"Ou, Zambai, his life's not in danger, apparently. Caterina's treating him, and if she says so, he should be fine."
"That's good..."
"Caterina is the woman who looked at our ship yesterday, right? Wasn't she a shipwright?" Nami inquired.
"She calls herself a 'Universal Genius.' Architecture, medicine, she can do anything," Franky explained.
Though self-proclaimed, considering her actual achievements in various fields, it could be said to be a title recognized by herself and others.
It was precisely because she was such a talented individual that Kanata had ordered her to always have guards.
"And Caterina has nominated you. Lend me your ear for a bit, 'Straw Hat' Luffy."
"Me?"
Luffy, munching on a breakfast sandwich, tilted his head, not quite understanding the situation.
***
At the same time, Galley-La Company Headquarters.
Iceburg's private room was on the upper floor of the headquarters, and those involved had gathered near Iceburg, who was sleeping in bed.
Sitting beside the bed was Caterina. Perhaps due to treating him throughout the night, her face showed signs of fatigue.
Paulie, one of the foremen, asked about Iceburg's condition, which everyone was concerned about.
"Caterina-san. How is Iceburg-san?"
"He's past the critical stage, and his condition is stable. I don't know if it was intentional, but the bullet missed his vital organs, so his life isn't in danger."
"I see... Well, as long as he's alive, that's good."
As Paulie let out a sigh of relief, the surrounding foremen and Kalifa, who had been listening, also patted their chests in relief.
In Water 7, many admired Iceburg. Lulu, one of the foremen, left the room to explain to the media, both to reassure them and to stabilize the somewhat dysfunctional city.
Since Caterina had rushed over immediately after he was shot in the middle of the night, the investigation of the scene was also underway, but... so far, no evidence had emerged, and they couldn't even guess who the culprit was.
They had thought it was a troublesome situation—but when Iceburg, whose anesthesia had worn off, woke up and testified that he had "seen the culprit," the situation changed completely.
"It was a pair. But both were wearing masks, so I didn't see their faces..."
"I see... But even just knowing there were multiple culprits is valuable evidence."
"Right, that's good then... I want to talk to Caterina. Can you leave us alone?"
Asking Kalifa to deliver his testimony to the police, Iceburg was left alone with Caterina in his private room. Though, with Caterina's guard by the wall, it wasn't exactly completely alone.
In any case.
While the foremen, fired up to arrest the culprit, scattered to various locations to issue instructions, Iceburg's private room alone was eerily quiet.
"...You saved me this time. Thanks to you, my life was spared."
"Fufu, well, I am a genius, after all. I was a little worried since I'd been drinking, though."
"You were treating me even though you'd been drinking!?"
"Shouting will affect your body," Caterina calmly chided.
Calming down Iceburg, who had inadvertently shouted, Caterina began again with, "Now then."
"You didn't keep me here just to say that, did you?"
"No──The pair who shot me were men in white clothes wearing masks... They're probably government intelligence agents."
"...I see."
"I've only seen them from a distance a few times, but they're probably CP-0. They said, 'This is a warning'... It seems they've finally resorted to forceful measures, targeting my belongings. My life is really in danger now."
Ignoring Iceburg's self-deprecating smile, Caterina thought with a serious expression.
CP-0 was special even among Cipher Pol.
They sometimes acted as agents of the Celestial Dragons, or as their guards, and were required to have the strength to fight head-on rather than just assassinate.
For them to have staged an assassination. And they had deliberately failed the first time.
Indeed, it was certainly fitting to call it a warning.
"For this to happen right after Korgi-kun arrived... they probably aren't communicating well with each other either."
Cipher Pol generally had a director placed for each number, who oversaw them. The lack of communication meant it was a sudden move.
Iceburg's belongings. The reason CP-0, agents of the Celestial Dragons, would make a move.
If it was such a sudden move, there must have been a very important trigger.
"Iceburg-kun. I don't know about your belongings, but I can make a rough guess. With that in mind, I want you to answer... Is what the government wants related to Ancient Weapons?"
"......It's difficult to keep secrets from you."
Caterina and Iceburg had known each other for quite some time.
She had come to learn shipbuilding through Kanata, they had built the Sea Train together, and even now, she was a precious friend with whom he could talk on a close level.
But, even so, she was, by position, a pirate. It was difficult for Iceburg to teach her.
The fact that he had managed to keep it hidden until now was merely because Caterina herself had been considerate enough not to pry too deeply.
"The shipwrights of Water 7 have a blueprint that has been passed down through generations──the blueprint for the Ancient Weapon, Pluton."
"Ancient Weapon, Pluton..."
"I don't know why they took forceful measures, but I was more wary of Nico Robin, who can read the Poneglyphs. It would be troublesome if an Ancient Weapon was revived just because she wanted to know history."
"...Kanata-san will take action before that happens. Probably."
The relationship between Robin and Kanata wasn't something to be spoken of lightly. Caterina could understand Iceburg's worries, and she wanted to reassure him, but this was information that would be extremely troublesome if leaked.
At the same time, she understood why Iceburg had suddenly canceled his plans yesterday and decided to accompany Luffy.
He had probably been trying to find out about Robin through Luffy.
"But, I see... In that case, it seems calling Luffy-kun wasn't a mistake after all."
"You called Straw Hat? Why?"
"Wouldn't it be better to gather those involved to grasp the situation? Everyone should be gathering soon, so let's talk then."
As Caterina said, those who had likely been summoned gathered in Iceburg's private room.
Franky and Luffy, along with Tom and Tom's secretary, Kokoro.
Tom, due to his achievement of building the Sea Train, was treated as a VIP by the government, and still had guards, disguised as escorts, so they had been asked to refrain.
"Tahahha... This has become quite a mess, Iceburg."
"Sorry for the trouble, Tom-san."
"Don't mention it. If I don't get out once in a while, my body gets stiff."
Tom, 75 years old, made a muscle as if to say he was still full of vigor. He was still involved in shipbuilding, but he mostly focused on guiding the younger generation.
Kokoro, Tom's secretary, shrugged, saying he was troublesome for someone his age.
In contrast to the cheerfully laughing pair, Franky didn't even try to hide his irritation, and Luffy was bewildered, not understanding why he had been called.
"Oi, Caterina! Tell me already why you called this guy!"
"Well, because he's not unrelated."
Franky, Tom, and Kokoro were all related to the shipbuilding company "Tom's Workers," which included Iceburg and Caterina. If the government was after Iceburg's belongings, it was understandable why they would be called.
But Franky couldn't understand why Caterina had called Luffy, and Caterina's words "he's not unrelated" only confused him further.
"I don't like it when you try to evade the question like that...! Just tell me already!"
"You're right. Iceburg-kun still needs to rest, and talking for too long isn't good."
However, in order to explain, she first looked at Iceburg, thinking they should share information first.
Iceburg seemed reluctant, but eventually nodded.
First, the reason Iceburg was targeted. It was likely the government's doing, aiming for his belongings.
Second, the belongings of Iceburg that were targeted were a certain blueprint.
"...You told her, Iceburg?" Franky asked.
"She pretty much figured it out. It's hard to keep secrets from her."
"Tahahha... Well, that can't be helped."
"Now, about the intelligence agents, presumably from the government, who are after it. All the locks were picked. The company entrance and the room where Iceburg-kun was shot can be locked from the inside, but there's no sign of forced entry."
"You mean they had a key?"
"That's right. The entrance aside, only a few people have the key to Iceburg-kun's room. So, Kalifa probably helped with this attack."
Hearing that his own secretary had assisted the culprit as if it were a matter of course, Iceburg's eyes widened.
The number of people who usually entered Iceburg's room was limited, and the number of people who had keys was even more so. It wasn't surprising at all that Iceburg's secretary, Kalifa, was a prime suspect.
In addition, Caterina had another reason to suspect Kalifa.
"Tobi."
"Yes?"
The girl, who had been quietly performing her guard duties like a wallflower until now, responded to Caterina's voice.
"You, can you name anyone in this town you find suspicious?"
"Iceburg-shi's secretary, Kalifa. Foreman Kaku. Foreman Lucci. Tavern owner Bruno. These four are presumed to possess strength unfitting of their positions."
"Wha──"
Two foremen and a secretary. Plus a tavern owner. At the names Tobi listed, everyone except Luffy and Caterina looked stunned.
Even Caterina, who had heard beforehand, hadn't expected them to have infiltrated this deeply.
With a bitter expression, yet feeling that someone had to say it.
"They are enemies. I have my thoughts on various things, but... If they were just quietly investigating, we wouldn't have had room to interfere, but now it's a different story."
"...What do you intend to do?" Tom asked.
"I called you all here, Tom-san, because I think the main attack will be tonight. It's easier to defend if you're all gathered in one place rather than scattered. I've called for reinforcements, but it's a gamble whether they'll make it in time."
There weren't many individuals with strength comparable to CP-0, even if Twilight had abundant talent.
Even Tobi, who was Caterina's guard, would likely only be able to buy time at best if the opponent was CP-0 class.
That was why Caterina had called Luffy, giving the reason that "he wasn't unrelated."
"Luffy-kun. Where is Robin now?"
"Dunno. She hasn't come back since yesterday."
"...I see. Just as I thought."
"Oi, Caterina! Stop figuring things out on your own and explain!!" Franky shouted, his arms crossed, perhaps having lost patience with Caterina's lengthy explanation.
Caterina, undaunted, stated concisely.
"The government probably captured Robin. Now that they have a prospect of securing an Ancient Weapon, they launched this incident to quickly secure the blueprints as well."
"...Do you have any proof?" Franky demanded.
"No. I don't, but that's the worst-case scenario."
If they obtained Robin and Pluton's blueprints, the government would likely try to end the Great Pirate Era using the power of the Ancient Weapons.
Though, it was hard to imagine that the use of power would end just there──.
In any case, with the possibility of obtaining the existing weapon, it was inconvenient for the government to leave the remaining blueprints, which were meant to counter it, as they were. Even if Plutons destroyed each other, it wouldn't benefit the government.
That was why they moved to secure the blueprints Iceburg likely possessed, and why they made the first attempt a warning.
If he handed them over obediently, all well and good. Otherwise──that was the implication.
"Just to be sure, you have no intention of handing them over, right?" Caterina asked Iceburg.
"Of course not. The blueprints were left behind to stop a rampaging weapon. I have no intention of aiding the government's tyranny."
"I see, then that's fine. If you were planning to hand them over, I would have had to stop you."
"But, if there's another attack today, what do we do? There aren't many who can fight properly against government intelligence agents," Tom worried.
"Awooo! Should I take 'em all down?" Franky offered.
"Even you can't do it. CP-0 is ridiculously strong, you know? Even Kanata-san is wary of them," Caterina said.
Kanata's wariness was largely due to their aspect as intelligence agents.
Still, there was no harm in being too cautious. Iceburg's and Tom's lives were at stake.
Setting up a surveillance network as a given, but it was also necessary to gather the Twilight members on this island and conduct a defensive battle.
Even then, their forces were insufficient, so Caterina turned her gaze to Luffy.
"The government intelligence agents who kidnapped Nico Robin will probably appear tonight. You guys have had a crewmate kidnapped too, so you have something to say, right?"
"Of course!" Luffy declared.
"Then, you guys come too. The more people, the better."
"Is that okay!?"
"Yeah, yeah, it's fine. You'd probably come even if I said no, anyway."
Luffy didn't seem like the type to be persuaded by words. So, she decided to incorporate them into their forces since it was going to happen anyway.
Pedro and Zepo, in particular, with bounties exceeding 300 million, could be expected to be significant assets.
This was no time to shun them just because they were pirates.
Iceburg still looked unconvinced, with a dubious expression, but Tom, perhaps reminded of someone by Luffy's cheerful atmosphere, was smiling.
"Alright, then it's a defensive battle! If we can get through tonight's climax, we can expect reinforcements, so let's overcome this no matter what!"
"Oooh!!"
Luffy thrust his fist into the air, echoing Caterina.
Iceburg, Franky, and Kokoro were filled with a vague sense of unease.
***
Water 7, a certain cafe in the back town.
Due to a masked carnival being held on a nearby island, it wasn't strange to see people wearing masks on this island right now.
While it was convenient, thinking about what lay ahead made him feel somewhat troubled.
The man with a white-painted face—Guernica—sipped his coffee and read the morning paper.
Just then, a woman wearing a mask covering the upper half of her face—Stussy—sat down in the seat opposite him.
"You made quite a scene. I thought you'd do it more quietly, since the plan was to capture her without any other factions knowing."
"The blueprints need to be recovered, even if it means moving a bit flamboyantly. If CP-9 were a bit more capable, we wouldn't have had to go through this trouble."
"Are you sure they exist?"
"Who knows. If they're lost, that's fine too. If we can get our hands on the real thing, we won't be troubled even if it can't be built anymore."
However, as long as it couldn't be definitively said that they were lost, CP-0 had a duty to carry out the mission.
It would be good if they were found quickly, but otherwise, they would have to search endlessly. Considering the extra trouble, it was enough to make one want to complain about CP-9, who were currently on the mission, not finding them sooner.
Stussy chuckled, ordered a coffee for herself, and picked up a scone from the plate in front of Guernica.
"If you take too long, won't Twilight sniff you out? I don't think flamboyant actions are a good idea."
"If they knew about the blueprints, they would have moved more flamboyantly to protect Iceburg-shi. The fact that they aren't doing so means there's a difference in information between Iceburg-shi and Twilight."
"Hmm... Is there no possibility that the blueprints have fallen into Twilight's hands?"
"It's not zero, but I don't think so."
"And your basis for that?"
"Iceburg-shi and the 'Witch' have known each other for quite some time. Tom built one of Twilight's ships, so that's confirmed. On top of that, considering Iceburg-shi's personality and the 'Witch's' ideology, I can make a rough guess."
Currently, Iceburg was the most likely to possess the blueprints. Following him were his fellow apprentices Franky and Caterina, and their master, Tom.
However, if Caterina had them, it should be assumed they were in Twilight's hands, and if that were the case, there was nothing more to be done.
At the same time, Guernica thought it unlikely that Iceburg would hand them over to Caterina, considering his cautious nature.
No matter how noble-spirited she appeared, if she handed them to Caterina, there was a possibility they would fall into Twilight's hands. Even if he trusted Caterina herself, he understood that Kanata was not the type of person to hesitate to build and use weapons if necessary.
Cultural elements like radio were often highlighted, so it was easily overlooked, but Twilight manufactured many weapons and armaments.
They didn't sell them, but they made enough for their own use. It was understandable that not possessing power in this Great Pirate Era would only make them prey, but that also served as a reminder that they had no hesitation in exercising power.
And above all.
"If Twilight had obtained the blueprints, the Ancient Weapon would have been revived long ago. They have a rebellious streak against the World Government, and there are rumors they're close to Dragon, the 'Rebellious Dragon' of the Revolutionary Army."
"That's true. With an Ancient Weapon, overturning the world wouldn't seem so difficult."
Stussy accepted the ordered coffee, brought it to her lips, and enjoyed the aroma that tickled her nostrils and the bitterness on her tongue.
Guernica folded the newspaper and finally turned his gaze to Stussy.
"If the blueprints aren't found, that's fine too. A formal notification has been issued by the Five Elders──this island will be erased by a Buster Call. In conjunction with that, Iceburg-shi, Tom-shi, and Cutty Flam are scheduled to be taken to Enies Lobby. Departure is at 11 o'clock tonight. Be prepared."
Guernica implied that after taking them, they would be tortured or whatever to slowly extract information, and made Stussy understand that even if the actual blueprints remained on this island, they intended to erase them along with the island itself.