Water 7 – Iceburg's Office
Kalifa adjusted her glasses slowly, her index finger pressing the metal frame against the bridge of her nose. The scent of polished wood filled the office, mingling with the distant aroma of oil from the nearby docks.
"Mr. Iceburg, your afternoon appointments are all confirmed."
Iceburg looked up from his papers, his expression as neutral as ever.
"Excellent, Kalifa. If you can, arrange that meeting with the engineers for tomorrow morning."
She nodded, a faint smile that didn't reach her eyes.
'Organizing meetings… if you only knew what I'm really doing here, Iceburg.'
The gold bracelet on her left wrist vibrated faintly, reminding her of the message received minutes ago. Spandam's words echoed in her mind.
"Infiltrate his group. Uncover his intentions. Seduction, disguise, or force—use everything."
Her smile didn't waver, but her throat tightened for a second.
'Use my body… that worm Spandam really thinks it's easy to say that…'
Kalifa tucked a blonde strand behind her ear, taking a deep breath, her composure returning with professional precision.
'I'm a CP9 agent. My body is just a tool, a weapon like any other.'
Her eyes returned to the documents. The meticulous handwriting and perfect numbers aligned like disciplined soldiers on the white pages.
'Riser Phenex… you chose Water 7 right now. I don't believe in coincidences.'
She tapped her lower lip with the tip of her pen, thoughtful.
'Spandam was clear. If I need to seduce, I will. I don't have the luxury of refusing orders.'
Her fingers slid across the smooth wooden desk, the cool varnish comforting in the illusion of normalcy that surrounded her life.
"Mr. Iceburg, I'll personally head to the docks to review the maintenance contracts."
Iceburg gave a curt nod, already focused back on his blueprints.
Kalifa grabbed her coat from the chair, draping it over her shoulders with the cold elegance everyone expected of her. Her heels echoed against the marble floor as she walked, steady and determined, leaving the office behind.
'If you're here, Riser… I'll find you. And when I do, it'll just be a matter of strategy.'
She smiled inwardly, feeling adrenaline build slowly, pulsing like a silent melody.
'I don't have to like it. I just have to complete my mission.'
Bar
The bar's door opened gently. A discreet bell jingled, alerting Blueno, who was wiping down the timeworn wooden counter.
"Welcome," Blueno muttered, his voice low and calm, his eyes quickly scanning the two women entering. One blonde, with a provocative smile, and the other brunette, with eyes as cold as blades.
Mikita twirled her umbrella, resting it on her shoulder with a playful grin.
"Nice place… looks cozy."
Blueno dried his hands on his apron with a slow motion.
"It's a simple bar, but it serves its customers well."
Zala sat calmly on one of the stools, crossing her legs with elegance, her gaze locked directly on his.
"A Dry Martini. You, Mikita?"
"I think I'll go for something sweet. Something that… makes me feel light."
Blueno nodded slowly, his eyes narrowing slightly as he began preparing the drinks.
"What brings you two to Water 7?"
Mikita leaned her elbows on the counter, inching closer.
"Just passing through. Looking for someone we heard might be here."
Blueno poured the clear liquid into a chilled glass with a fluid, practiced motion.
"Is that so? Mind if I ask who you're looking for?"
Zala smiled faintly, her sharp gaze hidden behind the hair falling slightly over her face.
"An agent named Blueno."
His movement froze for a fraction of a second. Almost imperceptible, but there.
"The name doesn't ring a bell."
Mikita laughed softly, her eyes glinting with restrained mischief.
"You sure? The description fits you perfectly. Tall, strong, quiet… almost like I described you."
He finished the Martini, sliding it calmly toward Zala.
"Maybe you got it wrong. There are plenty of guys like that around here."
Zala held the glass with elegance, swirling the liquid gently, her eyes never leaving his.
"No, we didn't get it wrong. We're quite sure who we're looking for."
Blueno sighed softly, placing his hands on the counter with studied calm.
"And if you found this so-called agent… what would you do?"
Zala took a slow sip from the glass.
"Kill him, obviously."
The silence grew heavier than the night air.
Blueno didn't blink. Only a faint, ironic smile curved the corner of his mouth.
"You've got guts. And you really know who I am?"
Mikita giggled, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
"Of course we do, Blueno of CP9. Did you really think we were just two girls looking for a good time?"
He took a deep breath, his hands slowly moving below the counter.
"That's exactly what I thought."
His body moved fast. His hands emerged with a hidden weapon, but his motion stopped abruptly.
It wasn't sound. It was pressure.
Zala moved her arm with lethal grace. A black blade, as thin as liquid shadow, glinted under the dim lamplight.
Blueno blinked. He felt the skin on his neck sting. A clean, shallow cut, but symbolic.
He leaped back instantly, activating Tekkai just in time.
Zala smiled, her teeth barely visible.
"You felt it. That already puts you above average."
Blueno took two steps back. Blood dripped slowly. He raised his hand and… twisted the air.
CLACK.
A door opened in the middle of the bottle-lined wall, like a secret tear in the world. Blueno crossed through with speed.
Mikita took a step, adjusting the umbrella on her shoulders.
"Useless door."
Zala tilted her chin, her eyes still dark as absolute pitch.
"He's just buying time."
The space beside them trembled.
Blueno reappeared near the ceiling, using Soru with mastery. His kick came down with force, his foot glowing with Haki and pure Rokushiki.
Zala spun backward, intercepting with her forearm.
BOOM!
The impact exploded the air like a drumbeat. The bar's bottles shattered. The wood creaked.
Mikita vanished in a blink.
Blueno dodged by instinct. The girl dropped from the ceiling like a bolt, her umbrella opening at the last second. She spun in the air, the impact of her landing cracking the floor.
"Rankyaku!"
Blueno spun his body, unleashing three cutting air blades in sequence. The slashing waves tore through the room. Tables split into pieces.
Zala slid to the side. The shadow under her feet expanded.
She vanished.
Blueno clenched his teeth.
'Kami-e…'
His body became fluid, muscles relaxing. The shadow blade passed inches from his abdomen, no contact.
He reappeared across the room. The Doa Doa no Mi activated again. A door appeared in the floor.
But before he could escape, the shadow grabbed his ankle.
Zala yanked him back with inhuman force. The sound of his body slamming into the wall made the glasses tremble.
Mikita appeared behind him, spinning in a spiral.
Her heel collided with Blueno's flank like a hammer.
Rokushiki saved his body from breaking—but not from bleeding.
Blood arced through the air.
He fell to his knees, gasping.
"The Government… needs to know about this…"
Zala stared at him. Her hands were black as coal. A dark aura grew around her, like serpents seeking a breach.
"You think this world still has time for warnings?"
Blueno stood again. His body trembled. His Tekkai vibrated, clashing with its own limits. He extended his hand.
Door.
On his own forehead.
He plunged his arm into his own skull. A desperate technique.
Zala advanced.
"No."
His arm vanished.
She appeared beside him, her fist wrapped in swirling darkness.
"The world has already changed."
Her punch struck the center of Blueno's chest with a dull thud.
The Rokushiki shattered.
The floor cracked.
Blueno vomited blood and collapsed backward.
Mikita crouched beside his body.
"He's not that weak."
Zala wiped the blood from her black blade.
"No."
She looked into his eyes. There was still breath. His breathing faltered, but it didn't stop.
"His death will be slow. Deserved."
Blueno tried to move his hand.
Zala stomped it with force, crushing the bones.
"You helped erase places like Ohara. Tried to capture Nico Robin."
His eyes grew dull.
Zala knelt slowly.
"And now you'll see what it's like to be erased from the world… with no chance to warn."
The shadow enveloped his body.
Mikita stepped back.
Zala touched Blueno's chest with her palm. The darkness flowed like molten ink. His soul was sucked inward. No scream. Just the sensation of vanishing.
She stood.
"Done."
Mikita twirled her umbrella.
"The rest of CP9 won't be this easy."
Zala looked out the bar's window, where the city pulsed with life, colorful, oblivious to the blood.
"Then we'd better enjoy the warm-up."
They left.
The bar's door closed behind them.
The bell jingled one last time.
Inside, Blueno lay as a grim reminder.
The darkness had won again—and it was far from finished.
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