"Kalifa, it seems you truly hoped I'd hesitate over Iceberg's life, afraid to make a move."
Shirogai sat casually in his chair, smiling faintly as his eyes glinted with amusement. His tone carried not an ounce of concern, as if Iceberg's fate meant little to him.
"But unfortunately for you, Iceberg is nothing more than a disposable piece to me. His life or death doesn't matter," he said calmly, his words cold and deliberate. "Just like yours—it wouldn't make any difference whether you live or die."
Kalifa's seductive eyes hardened, a flicker of doubt flashing behind them. Is he bluffing… or is he really that indifferent?
"Fine then," she hissed, pressing her dagger closer to Iceberg's throat. "If the World Government can't have what it wants, then no one will!"
Iceberg, the man now held at knifepoint, remained eerily calm. "Kalifa, as a member of CP-9, you must have spent years preparing for this mission, haven't you?"
Her expression wavered slightly. "I've been your secretary for five years," she admitted softly.
"What a day," Iceberg sighed, his tone laced with irony. "I never imagined there was a CP-9, hidden beyond CP-1 through CP-8."
He paused, then glanced toward her with keen insight. "There must be others, right? You exposed yourself intentionally—to protect the rest of your unit."
Kalifa froze. For the first time, she truly understood how sharp Iceberg's mind was. He wasn't just a skilled shipwright or a respected leader—he was a man whose perception could pierce through deception itself.
No wonder CP-9 had failed to obtain what they wanted for so long.
"Heh, as expected," Shirogai said with a faint grin. "If the World Government only sent one CP-9 agent to you, that would've been an insult to your intelligence, Iceberg San."
Barry's eyes widened. "A traitor… among us?" His voice shook. "Who is it? Tell me!"
"Hmm?" Shirogai tilted his head, his grin widening. "You sure you can handle the truth?"
He leaned forward slightly, his voice low and deliberate. "Blueno."
Barry's face twisted in shock. "That drunk who sells wine? He's with the World Government too?!"
Shirogai gave a small nod. "That's right."
Iceberg's expression didn't change, but deep inside, unease rippled through him. If Blueno is with them, that means Franky…
His heart sank. He's already in CP-9's sights.
"And there's more," Shirogai continued, his voice calm but cutting. "One of your five foremen—Kaku."
"Even Kaku?" Iceberg inhaled sharply, his voice filled with quiet disbelief. "The World Government's influence runs deeper than I imagined."
"Impossible!" Barry's voice cracked as his composure shattered. "Kaku would never betray us! He's been my partner for years!"
"Kalifa! Tell me he's lying! Say something!" Barry's desperate plea echoed in the room.
Kalifa said nothing. Her silence was answer enough.
Shirogai chuckled softly. "Funny, isn't it? What truly breaks people isn't betrayal itself—it's realizing how fake the bonds they cherished were."
Barry's shoulders trembled.
"Oh, and one more thing," Shirogai added smoothly. "Lucci. He's not only a CP-9 member—he's their leader."
The color drained from Barry's face. His entire body shook, as if the foundation of everything he believed in had collapsed.
His friends. His comrades. His brothers. All of them had been assassins wearing smiles.
Shirogai patted Barry's shoulder with a smirk. "Good. Let that anger grow. Go on—take it"
"What—!?"
Before Barry could react, Shirogai pushed him forward. Barry stumbled into a sudden, pitch-black cubic void that had appeared midair—and vanished.
The [Dark Seclusion Chamber].
"What is that?! Shirogai! What have you done to him?!" Kalifa shouted, shielding Iceberg as she stepped back cautiously.
But when she blinked, Shirogai was gone.
Her heart skipped a beat—until a whisper brushed her ear from behind.
"Sleep for a while."
Her world went dark instantly. Kalifa collapsed, unconscious, her dagger slipping soundlessly from her hand before vanishing as if it had never been there.
Shirogai caught her effortlessly and smiled faintly. "You're quite heavy, Kalifa."
He turned to the Mayor. "Iceberg, would you like to see what's inside?"
Iceberg's gaze locked on the eerie black cube floating before him. "What is that…"
"This?" Shirogai replied with a smirk. "This is your future."
"My… future?" Iceberg repeated, confusion in his voice.
"A fitting description," Shirogai murmured. "You'll understand soon enough."
The Mayor hesitated, then sighed. "With your strength, you have no reason to lie. Very well… I'll trust you."
"A wise choice," Shirogai said, stepping into the [Dark Seclusion Chamber] while carrying the unconscious Kalifa.
Iceberg followed, his figure swallowed by the void.
The room fell silent once more.
Only the black cube remained, devouring every flicker of light, radiating a haunting, tranquil power.
Ten seconds later—
A man tumbled out of the cube, coughing violently.
"Cough, cough—air! Finally, air!"
He staggered to his feet, laughter bubbling out uncontrollably. "Hahahaha! I'm out! I'm finally out of that nightmare!"
It was Barry—the first one Shirogai had sent inside.
"Fruit! Fresh fruit!" Barry's crazed eyes darted to a bowl nearby. He reached out, and the fruits were drawn into his hands by invisible threads.
"Hahaha! After ten years, I can finally taste something again!"
He devoured them hungrily, greedily glancing around the room. "That place… I never want to go back there! Shirogai, you devil! You tricked me!"
Just the thought of that calm, confident smile sent a shiver down his spine.
"I only agreed to stay five years, and that bastard dragged it out to ten!" Barry cursed, still trembling.
He recalled how, on the verge of madness, Shirogai would somehow pull him back—reviving his sanity again and again through strange, godlike methods.
"Shirogai… even devils in hell would call you 'senpai,'" Barry muttered, half in awe, half in fear.
But as he flexed his fingers, thin, invisible threads spread through the air like a spider's web—covering the room before fading from sight.
A cold glint flashed in his eyes.
"This Fruit… it really suits me," Barry whispered. "CP-9… we're going to have a little talk."
_______
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