Seven Water Island. Water 7.
After Pain and the others arrived at Seven Water Island, they chose to enter Water 7 discreetly.
Pain and his group chose to walk from an offshore island outside Seven Water Island, allowing Golden Lion to raise the Floating Island to a certain height to serve as an aerial headquarters, hovering over Water 7.
Pain didn't want the massive Floating Island to fly over Water 7 and attract the attention of various factions, but what Pain didn't know was that due to the World Government's wanted poster, the Floating Island was already under close scrutiny by all major forces.
Especially the Marine, who would report any movements of the Floating Island to their superiors, who would then report to Marine Headquarters.
It was precisely because of the low-altitude flight over the White Sea previously that Akainu initiated a series of actions.
On the Floating Island, Pain only left behind a group of miscellaneous workers; the main group disembarked and grandly walked towards Water 7, the inner city of Seven Water Island.
They claimed to be discreet, but Pain and his group's attire made it impossible to be inconspicuous; their uniform black robes with red clouds and their intimidating Aura clearly set them apart.
Pain activated the Rain Tiger at Will Technique, and a fine, misty rain instantly enveloped Water Seven, with a flood of information from the island pouring into Pain's senses.
Pain's purpose in coming to Water 7 was very simple.
First: To collect all the Materials for building the Pluton battleship.
Second: To utilize Water 7's superb dock forging technology to build the Pluton.
Third: To attract all forces daring to challenge the Akatsuki Organization here, achieve a decisive victory, and ensure that all forces would not dare to act rashly against the Akatsuki Organization in the future.
Pain had made ample preparations for this inevitable major battle. On the way to Water Seven, Pain arranged for Reno to annihilate a small, unknown pirate crew.
Among these pirates, he found a suitable pirate corpse, which he used to manifest the Asura Path, who then consumed the gluttony-gluttony fruit.
Pain plans to use the gluttony-gluttony fruit to change the current appearance of the Asura Path once a suitable candidate is found in the future.
As of now, only the Animal Path has not been manifested by Pain, and the Asura Path, due to the Fusion with the gluttony-gluttony fruit, is also incredibly powerful.
The Asura Path's abilities are similar to those of an android; his body is mechanical, allowing him to carry a large number of weapons internally. Now, with the gluttony-gluttony fruit's ability, he can swallow anything and release it as a weapon.
The Asura Path originally had three ultimate techniques: "Asura, King's Fist" is a powerful offensive skill. In his previous life, during the battle against Jiraiya, he used a Body Flicker Technique to appear behind Jiraiya for a sneak attack, using this move to cripple Jiraiya's left arm and send him flying dozens of meters.
The second technique, "Asura Form," allows his body to transform into three heads and six arms, with a blade-like tail at his waist that can also extend at will for attack.
The third technique, "Bizarre Arm Rocket," allows him to fire rockets from his upper arms for missile bombardment and to summon weapons that do not exist in this world for attack.
His five fingers can also launch missiles for attack.
Pain had been exploring the abilities of the gluttony-gluttony fruit all along and now understood that the gluttony-gluttony fruit is indeed very powerful; it can transform into anything it swallows, and Devil Fruit abilities are no exception.
This means that any Devil Fruit Pain collects in the future can be consumed by the Asura Path. The only question is whether it will be too much energy and cause the Asura Path to explode.
Pain felt indifferent to this question. With the Naraka Path, there was room for experimentation. If it exploded, it could be repaired using the Naraka Path's "Reincarnation: Repair Technique," at most wasting one Devil Fruit.
Pain plans to find some Devil Fruits with moderate abilities for experiments later on.
Pain arranged for Konan and Reno to go ahead as a team, their purpose being to collect all data on Water 7's shipbuilding docks and to find Iceberg, the mayor of Water 7, to discuss cooperation matters.
He then assigned Oden and Golden Lion to search the island for the main Materials needed to build the Pluton battleship. If they could buy them, they should; if not, they should simply plunder them.
The design blueprints for the Pluton battleship were originally in Franky's hands but were later burned. However, Oden was a living blueprint, so he knew exactly what Materials the Pluton needed.
Seven Water Island is also a treasure trove of all the Materials required for building battleships, so Oden was not worried about failing to collect the Materials needed for the Pluton.
Under Pain's arrangements, everyone departed to carry out their orders. Pain, meanwhile, strolled through the rain with the Preta Path, Human Path, Asura Path, and Naraka Path, as if admiring the scenery along the way.
In reality, Pain was using the Rain Tiger at Will Technique to filter useful information and investigate whether there were any hidden strong individuals on the island. If any strong individual was touched by the rain curtain, Pain would naturally know immediately.
Inside Water 7's inner city, at Blueno's former bar, Lucci and the others were surprised to receive a superior's mission, requiring them to infiltrate and investigate the Akatsuki Organization's purpose in coming to Water 7.
Their original plan for a personal, covert revenge was temporarily abandoned due to Akainu's orders, and Lucci's intention to temporarily avoid contact with Iceberg's situation also changed as a result.
On this day, Lucci and the others walked out of the bar, looking thoughtful at the misty drizzle falling from the sky.
The group, holding umbrellas, arrived at Iceberg's Mansion and were received by Iceberg. In Iceberg's office, after everyone had taken their seats according to their status, Chief Lucci was the first to speak.
"Mr. Iceberg, after two years apart, you remain as distinguished as ever." Lucci and Iceberg were accustomed to communicating through Hattori the pigeon, so this time too, Hattori spoke to convey Lucci's meaning.
"Chief Lucci of CP0, I'm glad you accepted my invitation."
"There's no need for pleasantries between us; let's get straight to the point."
Iceberg used to value Lucci and Kaku greatly, and they had developed a strong bond over many years of working together.
However, after being deceived and realizing everything was a lie, Iceberg spoke directly to Lucci, devoid of any emotion.
"I invited you here to Water 7 because I want to understand what secret you and the new Akatsuki Organization fought over regarding the Pluton, so I can assess whether it poses a threat to Water 7."
"But I know Chief Lucci arrived in Water 7 a long time ago. Why did you choose to see me only today?"
Iceberg went straight to the point, while also anticipating Lucci's answer.
"Mr. Iceberg's first question will soon have an answer; I believe the Akatsuki Organization will come to Water 7 to find you very soon."
"As for why we chose to see you now, it's because we weren't sure if the Akatsuki Organization would appear here. If they didn't, our meeting or not meeting would be equally meaningless."
Hattori spoke on behalf of Lucci, conveying Lucci's meaning very clearly.
Iceberg processed Lucci's reply. The key information he got from Lucci was confirmation that the Akatsuki Organization would come and would seek him out, though Lucci and the others didn't know why specifically.
"In that case, what is Chief Lucci's main purpose in seeing me today?"
"Is there something you need my help with?"
Iceberg knew the saying 'no business, no visit.' Since Lucci and his group had come calling, it was definitely not as simple as just accepting an invitation; Lucci and his group must have had their own objectives.
"We came to Mr. Iceberg to protect him, and at the same time, we hope Mr. Iceberg can make arrangements for us to infiltrate Dock One to investigate the Akatsuki Organization's purpose. I think this would benefit everyone."
Lucci's meaning was simple: since everyone wanted to know the answer, they should cooperate. If there was danger, Lucci and the others could step in to handle it.
After all, Iceberg is the mayor of Water 7, and his shipbuilding company is currently the World Government's designated dock, so protecting Iceberg is also one of the duties the World Government should fulfill.
Iceberg truly wanted to understand the Akatsuki Organization's purpose. If, as Lucci said, the Akatsuki Organization would come knocking, then Iceberg would eventually get his answer.
However, Lucci's proposal was also something Iceberg had to consider. After all, Iceberg was unsure whether the Akatsuki Organization was good or bad, and since the World Government's CP0 was willing to actively protect him, Iceberg felt there was no harm in it.
"In that case, I can temporarily reinstate you to your former foreman positions to infiltrate Dock One. I don't need anyone by my side."
Iceberg replied after much consideration. Iceberg did not want to be monitored every move.
"That might not be possible, Mr. Iceberg. You want to know the answer, and so do we."
"One of us must remain by your side, not to monitor Mr. Iceberg, but to ascertain the Akatsuki Organization's objective and to protect you."
Seeing this, Iceberg realized that not having someone by his side was not an option. Finally, after negotiation, Nero disguised himself as a bodyguard and infiltrated Iceberg's side.
Lucci, Kaku, and Jabra disguised themselves and went to infiltrate Dock One.
To be continued...