Chapter 54: Not so undercover

On the way to the Carrera Company, Nami took out the map drawn by Grandma Cocoro. After examining it carefully, she tossed it away with a deadpan expression. "It's just a bad drawing! Who can understand it?" she thought, frustration evident.

Closing her eyes, Nami used her Observation Haki, enhanced by the Thunder Fruit, to cover almost the entire City of Water 7, quickly pinpointing the location of the Carrera Company. When they arrived, the scene was chaotic.

"Thank you very much for repairing our ship so well, but we don't plan to pay you," the captain of a pirate group sneered at the shipwrights. The surrounding boatmen remained unfazed, continuing their work.

"Hey, you bastards, didn't you hear me? I'm not going to pay!" The pirate captain's anger flared as he was ignored.

A man in a suit with a striped beard and an expressionless face like an iceberg emerged, accompanied by a sexy woman with blonde hair and glasses, dressed in business attire.

"What's happening, Kalifa?" the man asked coldly.

"Mr. Iceburg, this is Shipyard No. 1. A customer who had their ship repaired doesn't want to pay. This is harassment," Kalifa replied, adjusting her glasses.

"Well, it's considered harassment," Iceburg, the boss of Carrera Company and the mayor of Water 7, stated flatly.

"If you disturb the boatmen, the consequences will not be good, sir," said a blond man wearing a blue denim jacket, smoking a cigar, with orange goggles and a ring of beard. He continued his work as he spoke. This was Barry, one of the five foremen of Carrera Company.

"Huh? I want to see what the consequences will be!" The pirate captain laughed uproariously, joined by his crew.

A piece of wood suddenly swung towards his head with a loud "boom!" The captain collapsed, rolling his eyes.

"Hey! What did you do to our boss?!" the pirates yelled.

A rope shot out from Barry's sleeve, tying up a pirate and slamming him to the ground. Another man with a leopard-print beard and a cold expression appeared, kicking several pirates into unconsciousness. This was Rob Lucci, known as the strongest CP9 agent in eight hundred years.

Another man with a long rectangular nose and two ship-repairing knives emerged, cutting down a group of pirates. This was Kaku, also a CP9 agent disguised as a foreman.

"The foremen are taking action!" the boatmen cheered, and soon all the pirates were subdued.

"In the craftsmen's territory, we can't let you do whatever you want, pirates!" Barry declared, acting like the head foreman. Kaku and Lucci ignored him, focusing on the approaching figures.

"Captain of the Entei Pirates, Portgas D. Ace!" Kaku and Lucci thought silently.

"It seems there were pirates causing trouble here, and they were knocked down by the boatmen," Nami observed through her Observation Haki. "But those two just now... their moves looked like the Six Powers technique, 'Shave.'"

"Let's see how this company that handles pirates fares in ship repairs," Ace said, a slight smile on his lips, as he walked inside.

"You can't go inside the factory. If you have anything to say, talk outside," Kaku said with a smile, stepping in front of Ace and his crew, following Lucci's subtle signal.

"Are you an employee of this shipyard? We want to speak to your boss, Mr. Iceburg," Nami said, handing over a letter of introduction from Grandma Cocoro while her Observation Haki enveloped Kaku. She was certain he had used the 'Shave' technique.

"Oh, you were introduced by Grandma Cocoro," Kaku said, relaxing slightly as he read the letter. "What on earth is Blueno doing? He was supposed to contact Nico Robin, but we haven't received any response," he thought, suppressing his emotions.

"You're in luck; Mr. Iceburg happens to be here," Kaku said, smiling.

On the way to Carrera Company, Vivi couldn't help but express her surprise. "Hey? Isn't Mr. Iceburg the boss here? Isn't he usually around?" she wondered aloud.

"Hahaha, Mr. Iceburg isn't just the boss here; he's also the mayor of Water 7 City," Kaku explained with a smile, calling out to the dock.

"Mr. Iceburg! Grandma Cocoro recommended us for ship repairs!" Kaku's voice carried across the dock, catching Iceburg's attention. Kalifa, by his side, glanced at the approaching Portgas D. Ace, noting his commanding presence and the enigmatic Nico Robin aboard his ship.

"Kalifa," Iceburg addressed her, casting a glance at Ace's group with his usual calm demeanor.

"Yes, Mr. Iceburg, we've already investigated," Kalifa responded, sizing up Ace and his crew.

"Captain of the Entei Pirates, Portgas D. Ace, with a bounty of 150 million beli. Entei Pirates' Navigator, Nami, with a bounty of 13 million beli, known as the 'Little Thief Cat,'" Kalifa reported, her gaze shifting to Vivi, who stood expectantly.

"Where's the unidentified person?" Kalifa adjusted her glasses, prompting a defensive reaction from Vivi.

"You're looking at her!" Vivi retorted, her irritation clear. She was determined to assert her identity as a member of the Entei Pirates, wielder of the Sand-Sand Fruit, and a valued combatant under Ace.

"A bounty of 150 million beli? Grandma Cocoro truly recommended us to an impressive client," Iceburg remarked impassively as he accepted the letter of introduction from Kekoluo. But upon noticing a lipstick mark at the bottom, even Iceburg, usually stoic, twitched slightly.

"Rip!"

"Well, it certainly bears Cocoro's personal touch," Iceburg remarked as he tore the letter into shreds.

"What? Your relationship with Grandma Cocoro doesn't seem too cordial, Iceburg," Vivi observed, eyeing the torn remnants of the letter with dismay.

"You disrespectful people!" Kalifa's frustration ignited, and in a swift move, her long legs transformed into a whip shadow, aiming at Ace and his crew.

"Snap!"

But before Kalifa's kick could connect, Ace's hand intercepted it effortlessly.

"You shouldn't expose your legs like that so easily, young lady," Ace remarked casually, holding Kalifa's leg firmly in his grip. His smirk widened slightly as he spoke, leaving Kaku and Lucci, observing from the sidelines, surprised by Ace's seemingly precognitive response.

"What just happened? Did Ace foresee her attack?" Kaku and Lucci exchanged glances, astonished by the sudden turn of events.

"Let go of me! Let go! This is harassment!" Kalifa protested, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment and anger as she struggled fruitlessly against Ace's grip.

"You're the one who attacked us without reason," Vivi countered sharply, still stung by Kalifa's earlier dismissal of her.

"Isn't it disrespectful to address one of the world's few master shipbuilders as 'you' and 'uncle'?" Vivi continued, her tone firm as she challenged Kalifa's behavior.

"Release me at once! You uncouth person!" Kalifa's attempts to regain her composure were futile as Ace maintained his hold, his comment about her leg strength only adding to her embarrassment.

"Moreover, your technique resembles the Tempest Kick from the World Government's Six-Style Secret Technique," Ace noted calmly, causing Kalifa's expression to tense noticeably at the mention.

The scene drew the attention of nearby boatmen, who watched with envy and curiosity at Kalifa's rare display of vulnerability.

"Uncle Iceburg, is she your secretary?" Ace inquired, his focus shifting to Iceburg.

"Yes, she is my secretary. Please release her," Iceburg responded calmly, urging Ace to let Kalifa go.

"A secretary? How intriguing. Such leg strength isn't something an ordinary secretary possesses," Ace remarked thoughtfully, his playful demeanor continuing to unsettle Kalifa further.

As Ace's observations sank in, Kalifa's pretty face mirrored a mix of embarrassment and chagrin, realizing her misstep in underestimating Ace and his crew.

Ace's casual remark about the combat techniques observed among Kaku and Lucci triggered an immediate reaction. Kaku's grip tightened involuntarily on his boat knife, while Lucci's eyes glinted dangerously, betraying an underlying tension.

"I don't understand what you're implying. They are simply my secretary and boatman. You were recommended by Kokoro to repair our ship, correct? Could you kindly release my secretary?" Iceburg's voice was deep and measured, though beneath his composed exterior, a sense of vigilance simmered.

Ace grinned at Iceburg's response and released Kalifa's leg with a light-hearted smile. He was keenly aware of the emotional shifts among Kalifa, Kaku, and Lucci, sensing the need to accelerate the unfolding events in Water 7.

"Kokoro and I are old drinking buddies, so I assure you, your boat will receive meticulous attention," Iceburg assured them, his smile widening slightly.

"Where is your ship docked? Let Kaku inspect it; he can navigate the city freely," Iceburg directed, pointing towards Kaku, whose face visibly paled.

Ace's mention of "the six moves" prompted a tense reaction from Kalifa and Kaku, who exchanged a quick glance before composing themselves. The mention of Ace's familiarity with such advanced techniques hinted at a deeper understanding of their identities and skills.

"Can you see this?" Ace pointed upwards playfully, as a graceful figure streaked across the sky, leaving shimmering ripples in its wake.

"Ace, here I come," Kaya's voice rang out as she descended gracefully, abandoning her Moonwalk technique.

Ace caught her effortlessly, his smile affectionate as he held her in a gentle embrace. Kaya's joyful expression reflected their close bond.

"Are you worried I wouldn't catch you?" Ace teased, earning a playful retort from Kaya, her smile radiant.

As Nojiko joined them, marveling at Kaya's speed, Ace's crew demonstrated remarkable abilities enhanced by their unique powers and Ace's leadership.

Iceburg observed these events with deepening concern, recognizing the familiar techniques employed by Kaku and others during their interactions with Ace's crew.

"Shave, Moonwalk!" Iceburg muttered under his breath, confirming his suspicions.

Kalifa and Kaku struggled to maintain composure, avoiding eye contact with Ace and focusing instead on the unfolding dynamics. Lucci, too, suppressed his growing unease, mindful of the delicate situation.

Ace, sensing the tension, continued to probe subtly, his Observation Haki attuned to the shifting emotions around him.

"Before arriving here, my crew encountered an intriguing situation," Ace remarked casually, his gaze settling on Kaku and Lucci with a hint of amusement.

In the distance, petals swirled as a silent figure, identified as Blueno, fell victim to unseen forces, shocking the onlookers.

"Blueno?!" Many boatmen exclaimed, recognizing the tavern owner.

Kaku and Kalifa's expressions betrayed their shock at Blueno's fate, while Lucci struggled to contain his mounting fury. Ace's actions seemed calculated to provoke a reaction, emphasizing his awareness of their identities and abilities.

"Nico Robin!" Iceburg's voice trembled slightly as he observed Robin's approach, acknowledging the repercussions of offending Ace and his crew.

"Captain, I've brought those who offended our Entei Pirates," Robin announced calmly, her smile bright.

Ace, stepping over Blueno's prone form, fixed his gaze on Kaku and Lucci, a deep intensity flashing in his eyes.