Hearing what Carl said, a solemn look fell upon everyone's faces.
It seemed their arrival in the capital of Water Seven had caused quite a stir. It wasn't difficult to surmise that the tens of billions of Berry in gold had become the target of many.
Nami clenched her fists, a fierce glint in her eyes. "Those guys! Why should they come and snatch our gold? If they're capable, they should find their own!"
Usopp couldn't help but pipe up, "But Nami, pirates fighting over treasure is kind of their thing."
"I don't care!" Nami retorted, her voice sharp. "If they dare lay a hand on my money, I won't let them get away with it! Luffy, Carl-sensei, beat down anyone who comes! Don't you dare show them any mercy!"
Witnessing Nami's sudden ferocity, the others were momentarily speechless.
This was the same girl who couldn't help but tremble at the mention of the Four Emperors or a Marine Admiral. Now, the thought of her gold being coveted had turned her into a whirlwind of fury. One couldn't help but be slightly impressed, albeit a little frightened.
Luffy grinned, pressing down his straw hat. "Shishishi! Alright! Let them all come! We'll send them flying!"
The current Luffy wasn't just boasting; he genuinely possessed the power to back up his words.
Lost in his excitement, Luffy didn't dwell on the deeper implications, subconsciously leaving those considerations to Carl.
Carl remained unfazed. If Luffy wanted to fight, then let him. Even if Kaido and Big Mom appeared together, the Straw Hats, fighting seriously, wouldn't back down.
As for any schemes or tricks, they were meaningless in the face of their overwhelming strength.
The task of interrogating Jabra and Blueno fell to Law. These two CP9 agents were a tough nut to crack and a skilled liar, respectively. The Straw Hats weren't particularly adept at this kind of thing.
But Law was different.
With a flick of his Devil Fruit ability, Law extracted the hearts of the two agents on the spot, holding them in his hands as he began his questioning. A wrong answer would be met with a painful squeeze, enough to make even the most stoic individual break.
Nami, Usopp, and Chopper watched with wide, fearful eyes, a newfound apprehension towards Law settling within them.
They probably hadn't expected the usually reserved, cool, and handsome doctor to possess such ruthless methods. A quick mental inventory of past interactions with Law ensued, each trying to recall any potential offense.
Jabra and Blueno lived up to their reputation as secret agents, remaining tight-lipped despite the excruciating pain.
Left with no other option, the next step was to involve Jango and Mari.
Jango's Hypnosis-Hypnosis Fruit ability wasn't typically lethal, but it proved incredibly useful in this situation. While completely controlling these resolute agents was impossible, Mari's support made the task significantly easier.
Mari's superpowers were even more peculiar. With her increasing strength, her abilities seemed to have grown more potent as well.
Working in tandem, Jango and Mari managed to break Jabra.
Jabra, while cunning, lacked Blueno's sheer resilience. After enduring Law's heart-wrenching torture for an extended period, his willpower had been significantly eroded. The combined assault of Jango's hypnosis and Mari's powers proved to be the final straw.
Law personally conducted the interrogation, extracting a wealth of information.
"It's Spandam, the chief of CP9, who's after the Straw Hats' gold and also wants to capture Nico Robin.
Furthermore, it's said that Mayor Iceberg possesses the blueprints for Pluton, and Spandam intends to acquire them as well.
He believes that by achieving these goals, his career will flourish, and he'll successfully ascend to the higher echelons of the World Government.
Lucci and Kaku from Dock One of the Galley-La Company, and Kalifa, Mayor Iceberg's secretary, are all members of CP9.
Blueno has been operating the bar in Water Seven.
This Jabra only arrived last night.
There are also two others named Kumadori and Fukuro who are on the move."
Law summarized the interrogation results.
He then subconsciously glanced at Jango and Mari, a flicker of longing in his eyes.
His Heart Pirates were in dire need of such talents, yet both belonged to the Straw Hats. What frustrated him was that the Straw Hats didn't seem to fully utilize their abilities, relegating them to the role of second-rate fighters.
What a waste!
But what could he do? It was impossible for them to leave the Straw Hat crew to join his medical team.
Nami bared her teeth, growling, "So, it's that bastard Spandam who's coveting my gold! How dare he be so impatient! Luffy, remember to utterly destroy CP9 for me!"
Usopp exclaimed in shock, "Hey, hey! CP9 infiltrated the Galley-La Company that deeply?! Nami, isn't that Lucci the guy with the pigeon on his shoulder we met when we went to the docks to pay the bill today?! And Kaku, isn't he the long-nosed shipwright who's been repairing our ship?!"
Now, everyone's gaze instinctively shifted towards the Going Merry.
Because the Merry was undergoing a major overhaul, the Thousand Sunny wasn't anchored very close.
Fortunately, Kaku wasn't on deck at that moment, so he remained unaware of the situation unfolding on the submarine.
However, an uncomfortable atmosphere settled over everyone. They had unknowingly entrusted a World Government agent with the repair of their ship – hadn't they essentially invited a wolf into their den?
Then, all eyes turned to Carl.
It was Carl who had found Kaku!
Carl simply shrugged. "Everyone, there's no need to be so tense.
At the very least, Kaku has been diligent and skilled in overseeing and repairing the ship.
We have to admit, he's a very capable shipwright.
As for his true identity, until it's revealed, he's just a shipwright.
Being new here, it's only natural that we wouldn't know the local craftsmen."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Indeed, it seemed Lucci and Kaku had been lurking for a considerable time, undetected even by Mayor Iceberg, let alone the Straw Hats who had just arrived in Water Seven.
Moreover, Kaku had been working conscientiously as a shipbuilder, and there was no evidence of any immediate malicious intent.
"So, what should we do?" Chopper asked, his voice filled with confusion.
To be honest, Chopper didn't quite grasp the intricacies of the situation.
Carl spread his hands. "What else can we do? When the enemy comes, we fight. If we win, we hold a banquet.
Isn't that what we've always done? However, we should probably keep a closer eye on the Merry's repairs.
Now that Kaku knows we've captured Jabra and Blueno, he might try something."
Usopp immediately declared, puffing out his chest, "I'll keep a close watch myself! If he dares to attack the Merry, I'll take him down directly!"
Since Usopp had volunteered so confidently, no one raised any objections.
As for the rest, as Carl had said, they would face their enemies head-on when they arrived. With no clear indication of who would attack or when, any elaborate preparations could be futile. It was better to observe the situation and react accordingly.
With the Straw Hats' current strength, even if Kaido himself appeared, they should be able to handle it!
There was no doubt that Carl and Luffy were the anchors of everyone's confidence. As long as those two were present, no one felt genuine fear; at most, they anticipated a good fight.
Luffy grinned, adjusting his straw hat. "Yosh! Then let's have a banquet and wait for the enemy to come!"
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