Seven Water Island. Water 7. Blueno's Bar.
"So that's the situation. What do we do next?"
After Nero returned to the bar, he told Lucci the information he had overheard at Iceberg's Mansion, asking for their next course of action.
Lucci and the others had already infiltrated Dock One, but Nero's urgent call summoned them back to the bar. Hearing the information Nero had overheard, they too were shocked.
Although Lucci and the others knew that Kozuki Oden possessed many secrets, they never expected that Kozuki Oden would even have the complete design blueprints for the Pluton battleship.
Now everyone was certain of the Akatsuki Organization's objective. Under normal circumstances, they should immediately report to Akainu, and Akainu would decide the next step.
However, Lucci and the others knew that once they reported truthfully, there would certainly be nothing for them to do, and they would likely be sidelined.
Lucci and the others had only received the mission to infiltrate and investigate the Akatsuki Organization's objective and were unaware that Akainu had already laid a dragnet for the Akatsuki Organization.
The situation was now clear, and the Akatsuki Organization's objective was known. What Lucci and the others needed to consider now was how to report the information in a way that would allow everyone to participate in the upcoming actions, rather than being sidelined.
Lucci pondered the possibilities of reporting the intelligence.
First possibility: Akainu would swiftly take down Kozuki Oden and gain control, sparing no expense, and then secretly manipulate the Water 7 shipyard to build the Pluton battleship.
Second possibility: Akainu would send people to secretly monitor the Akatsuki Organization, allowing the Akatsuki Organization to secretly build the Pluton battleship. Once it was completed, he would directly kill everyone in the Akatsuki Organization, including Kozuki Oden.
Lucci believed these two possibilities were the most likely. Regardless of which possibility, Lucci and the others would not be able to participate, which was not what Lucci wanted.
Lucci hoped to introduce some variables into these possibilities, variables that would allow CP0 to participate, atone for their sins, and have a chance at revenge.
Lucci currently only thought of two methods: one was to temporarily conceal the information, withdraw CP0 from the dock, and secretly observe the Akatsuki Organization's next moves.
The second method was to exchange the information with Akainu for the opportunity for CP0 to participate in the mission. While this would allow them to participate in the upcoming actions as desired, it would incur Akainu's displeasure, and CP0 would no longer receive Akainu's favor afterward.
While Lucci and the others were undecided, Iceberg called. Iceberg, as planned, informed Lucci and the others of some information, but Iceberg was unaware that Lucci and the others already knew everything.
Lucci also pretended to be ignorant, perfunctorily responding to Iceberg a few times before hanging up the phone, having already made up his mind.
Above Water 7. Floating Island, Akatsuki Organization's Aerial Headquarters.
Pain and the others had finished their tasks and all returned to the Floating Island.
Oden and Golden Lion had already searched all the shipyards on the island for Materials and confirmed that the Materials in the shipyards on Seven Water Island were sufficient to support the construction of the Pluton.
However, Oden and Golden Lion did not bring back the Materials but temporarily "stored" them in these shipyards, to be retrieved when needed.
In the Floating Island's conference area, everyone sat together for an action meeting.
Pain, through his Rain Tiger at Will Technique, had already sensed the undercurrents on Seven Water Island. The World Government's actions on the island had not escaped Pain's perception.
The secret evacuation of ordinary citizens, the covert deployment of Marine auxiliary defense teams, and other actions as if facing a formidable enemy, all indicated that the Marine already knew of Pain and the others' arrival.
In Pain's perception, some forces no less powerful than the Marine had also quietly arrived in Water 7. These people varied in strength, but without exception, they were all coming for Pain and the others.
"This trip to Water 7 will be a huge challenge for our organization."
"Succeed... and our fame will spread far and wide, and no force will dare to provoke us easily in the future."
"Fail... and we return to the darkness, lurking and waiting for another opportunity."
"I have sensed the undercurrents on the island through a secret technique; various forces are already on the move."
"The information that we want to build the Pluton will eventually be known by these forces, but there is nothing to worry about. These forces will all become stepping stones for our organization to reach the pinnacle."
"Now, regarding the subsequent actions, everyone, please share your thoughts. How can we maximize our benefits?"
Pain spoke first, making a pre-battle mobilization after everyone was seated.
"My existence, I believe the World Government will help conceal, but once our organization begins the construction of the battleship or goes to war with the World Government..."
"Then all secrets will cease to be secrets, because the fluctuations of a major war will be enough to attract the attention of various forces around the world, and the secrets will spread like wildfire."
"At that time, what we face will no longer be just the World Government as an enemy."
Oden was the first to express his views after Pain spoke, informing everyone of the major problem they were about to face.
"The news released by the World Government is that we have control over the information of the Alabasta poneglyph, the purpose of which is to attract the attention of other forces to our organization."
"Now that the World Government's objective has been achieved, I propose that we first clear out the other forces on the island to prevent information leakage."
Golden Lion also picked up on Oden's words, offering an effective suggestion.
"I largely agree with what Shiki said. The advantage of doing this is to prevent these forces from fishing in troubled waters when our organization goes to war with the World Government."
"At the same time, while preventing information leakage, it also indirectly warns these forces that we are not to be trifled with."
Oden was the first to express his support for Golden Lion's view.
Reno participated in the meeting with a learning attitude. Unless asked directly, Reno generally did not express opinions.
"The current situation is that the World Government's secret agency, CP0, has already infiltrated Iceberg's side. If we don't clear them out first, it will be impossible to secretly build the battleship."
"And clearing out CP0 will inevitably lead to an early war with the World Government. Therefore, I suggest we temporarily refrain from rash actions."
"Pain, how many forces have appeared within your sensory range?"
Konan, synthesizing the understood situation and everyone's opinions, expressed her own views.
"Within sensory range, besides the World Government's people, there are at least four other forces."
"The pirate flag moored on the East Coast includes three frowning skulls."
"One looks left, one looks forward, and one looks right. Behind them, in addition to the classic crossbones, there are also crossed bones."
"The pirate flag moored on the West Coast is a skull surrounded by nine smiling venomous snakes."
"The one on the North Coast is somewhat special: a small boat, with only one person. He carries a large cross-shaped sword on his back."
"The one on the South Coast has a tree in its flag, and an X-shaped skeleton of a female skull is made of candy."
Pain told everyone about the ship flags he had sensed. Pain was unaware of the meaning of these pirate flags, thinking them insignificant, so Konan did not ask, and he did not say.
But after Pain finished his introduction, everyone's expressions completely changed: surprise, solemnity, frowning, all at once.
"Pain, the enemies we face this time are not simple. I never expected that the information released by the World Government would attract such powerful foes."
It was Oden who spoke. Pain frowned, looking at Oden, waiting for Oden to explain. Oden did not speak, his face full of solemnity. Golden Lion interjected.
"The flag you saw on the East Coast belongs to the Four Emperors Blackbeard Pirates."
"The West Coast is the flag of the Kuja Pirates, one of the Shichibukai."
"The North Coast is Hawkeye Mihawk, one of the Shichibukai. He is accustomed to acting alone, but his strength is indeed no less than Oden's."
"The South Coast is the flag of the Four Emperors Charlotte Linlin, known as Mama."
"Although the people who came are not necessarily the Four Emperors themselves, the subordinates of these Four Emperors are all very strong characters."
"But well, I like it. Gahahahahaha..."
After Golden Lion finished speaking, he did not have Oden's solemnity, but rather some anticipation... To be continued...