The first half of the Grand Line. Seven Water Island. Water 7.
On the third day of Pain and his group's arrival at Water 7, Konan and Roux finally investigated all the conditions on the island and found the residence of Mayor Iceberg.
That day, two people suddenly appeared in Iceberg's office, where he was engrossed in reading documents. Iceberg noticed the anomaly and looked up.
The newcomers were a man and a woman, dressed in black robes with red clouds covering their entire bodies. The man was handsome and dashing, and the woman was as beautiful as a flower, but their aura was cold, like Yama, who could take one's life at any moment.
The newcomers were none other than Roux and Konan. After Konan and Roux, under Pain's guidance, clearly investigated Iceberg's residence, Roux took Konan and directly flashed into Iceberg's office, appearing before him.
Iceberg understood that these two should be members of the Akatsuki Organization that Lucci mentioned, but Iceberg feigned ignorance and asked, "Who are you? Why did you suddenly appear in my office?"
Only Iceberg was in the office; Nero, disguised as a bodyguard, stood outside the door.
Nero possessed the Space Fruit and was very sensitive to spatial fluctuations. After Nero detected spatial fluctuations in Iceberg's office, he rushed directly into the office without hesitation, assuming a battle stance.
Roux and Konan looked back at the newcomer but did not recognize him as a member of CP0. They thought he was Iceberg's bodyguard and chose to ignore Nero's presence.
"I am Akatsuki Organization's Azure Dragon, Roux. She is Akatsuki Organization's White Tiger, Konan."
"We have come to see Mr. Iceberg with no ill intentions; we wish to discuss a collaboration with you."
After Roux and Konan ignored Nero, Roux introduced himself.
"I am just an ordinary person. What collaboration do you wish to discuss with me?" Iceberg asked with a slight hint of confusion.
"The collaboration we wish to discuss with you is of great importance. Please ask any extraneous personnel to leave, Mr. Iceberg." Roux looked at Nero, who was standing there in a battle stance, implying that he was the extraneous personnel.
Hearing Roux's words, Iceberg also wanted to understand the Akatsuki Organization's purpose, so he gave Nero a look, signaling him to leave.
Nero also understood that the other party would certainly say nothing if he remained, so he tacitly withdrew from the room and closed the door.
"The person has left. You can now tell me what collaboration you wish to discuss." Iceberg said calmly.
Iceberg was not worried about what the Akatsuki Organization would do to him. Since they were discussing collaboration, it meant they had a use for him.
"Our organization hopes that the shipyard of Mr. Iceberg's company will build the ancient weapon 'Pluton'." Roux answered Iceberg's question very calmly.
But Iceberg seemed to be petrified by these words, looking at the two in front of him with a shocked expression.
As if he hadn't heard Roux clearly, Iceberg asked again, his face full of shock, "What did you say? The construction of the ancient weapon 'Pluton'?"
"Ah, the construction of the pluton battleship. Can you manage it?" This time, it was Konan, not Roux, who answered Iceberg.
After receiving the confirmed reply, Iceberg tried hard to calm his shocked emotions. Iceberg didn't know what was going on with the people of this organization. "Don't they know that the design blueprint of 'Pluton' has been destroyed?"
Iceberg thought of this possibility and said directly, "Our company indeed had the design blueprint for the pluton battleship before, but the blueprint was destroyed two years ago. Without the blueprint, our company has no way to start work."
Roux and Konan had heard Iceberg's implication: if there were a blueprint, it wouldn't be impossible.
"We have the blueprint, so there's no need to worry about that. The Materials for building the battleship will also be borne by our organization, and we will pay you every cent of your due remuneration."
"However, our organization hopes that the construction of the battleship will be carried out in secret."
"If the secret is leaked... then Mr. Iceberg and everyone in your company will face a catastrophe."
Roux understood Iceberg's concerns were not about money, but he still thoughtfully clarified issues like remuneration.
Iceberg was truly shocked and momentarily lost in thought, his mind racing.
"They have the blueprint?... Why would they still have the blueprint?"
"Could it be..., no... impossible..."
The possibility Iceberg considered was that Franky had secretly copied the blueprint and given it to this mysterious organization. But Iceberg quickly dismissed this possibility.
"The other party demands the secret construction of the Battleship Pluto... A leaked secret means total disaster, so what about CP0?"
"CP0 is already lurking in Dock One, it's impossible to hide it from them."
"Should I tell this organization about CP0's lurking?"
At this moment, Iceberg was engaged in an intense ideological struggle, cold sweat pouring down his body. Iceberg finally understood that this was the disaster that Water 7 was about to face.
Both the World Government and this mysterious organization, Akatsuki, were entities Iceberg could not afford to provoke. Iceberg was momentarily caught in a dilemma, completely unsure how to handle this issue.
Seeing Iceberg's unusual expression, Konan and Roux knew he was in a difficult situation. As early as when CP0's Lucci and others appeared in Pain's rain curtain, Pain had already detected their presence.
Although Lucci and the others were holding umbrellas, they were still slightly touched by the rain when they closed them, allowing Pain to sense their whereabouts.
Iceberg's mansion was found by Pain based on the movements of Lucci and others. Konan and Roux had spent three days collecting information related to Water 7's shipyards.
They knew that all the shipyards in Water 7 were under Iceberg's control, which is why it took them three days to find Iceberg.
Iceberg's current dilemma was within Konan and Roux's expectations. It all depended on Iceberg's attitude. If Iceberg chose to conceal the fact that CP0 had approached him, Konan and Roux would take another course of action.
"Mr. Iceberg, is there something troubling you?"
"You don't look well. Are you feeling unwell?"
Roux asked, feigning ignorance.
"No... no..., I'm just... just thinking about some issues."
Iceberg wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and answered, feigning composure. But the actual difficulty could be felt from Iceberg's words.
Iceberg knew that dragging this out was not a solution. No matter what, he had to give the other party the answer they wanted now.
After all, the other party had told him such an important secret. If he couldn't give them a satisfactory answer, the final outcome would probably not be pleasant for anyone.
Thinking of this, Iceberg made a difficult decision.
"Actually, what troubles me is not Your Excellency's request, but rather my knowledge of the conflict between your esteemed organization and the World Government."
"And the World Government's secret agency is lurking beside me. I think secretly building a battleship is impossible because my every move is under their surveillance."
"Unless... you can solve this problem."
Iceberg truthfully told Konan and Roux about CP0's lurking.
Iceberg's plan was simple: to sit back and watch the tigers fight. Iceberg intended to tell Lucci and the others later that the Akatsuki Organization had approached him, but he would withhold the information about the secret construction of the battleship.
This way, Iceberg could avoid offending either side. Even if the World Government wanted to press for answers, they would have to follow the rules.
The most practical concern Iceberg had was that the Akatsuki Organization might resort to unscrupulous means, but the World Government would not.
Iceberg's company was, after all, the World Government's official shipyard. With this relationship, Iceberg was not worried that the World Government would make things too difficult for him.
Iceberg believed that the conflict between the World Government and the Akatsuki Organization would eventually have a resolution. Until that resolution, no one would touch him; this was Iceberg's perceived guarantee.
In fact, Iceberg's considerations were very correct and perfectly aligned with his current interests. This way, he could both protect himself and avoid offending either side, a truly well-played calculation.
Konan and Roux were not surprised by Iceberg's answer; they felt only admiration. This was a choice that only someone with a strong strategic vision could make.
While Iceberg's words didn't necessarily mean he believed his organization could defeat the World Government, from this answer, Iceberg had indeed temporarily preserved himself.
"We are aware of your choice. You don't need to worry about what happens next. Please just wait for us to resolve the issue."
"Well then, Mr. Iceberg, we'll be taking our leave... Sorry for the disturbance."
After Roux finished speaking, the two disappeared.
Iceberg felt relieved when the two left. But Nero, who was secretly listening in the spatial rift, was shocked and dazed. After regaining his composure, he quietly left... To be continued...