"Sigh... So this is what things have come to."
Iceburg let out a long sigh.
"What's wrong, Mayor Iceburg? Can't bear to watch them get taken down by my companion?"
"No, I just feel a little regretful."
Iceburg shook his head. Now that he knew Rob Lucci, Kaku, Kalifa, and the others were government agents, he naturally wasn't upset simply because they had been defeated. He merely regretted having trusted people who had never deserved that trust in the first place.
If he had known from the beginning that Rob Lucci and the others were CP9 agents planted beside him, he never would have treated Rob Lucci and Kaku as apprentices, nor would he have treated Kalifa so kindly.
Still, there was no point regretting it now. What mattered was properly entertaining Arton.
"Arton, thank you for helping me see the people around me for who they really are. If you have time, I'd like to treat you to a meal."
"Will there be pretty girls?"
"Huh?"
Iceburg froze, momentarily at a loss for words.
"Hahaha, I'm just kidding."
Arton laughed and patted him on the shoulder. He knew that despite Iceburg's high position, he was a true gentleman. If he said he wanted to treat Arton to a meal, then he genuinely meant nothing more than that.
"All right, I'll come with you."
Arton then looked toward Conis below.
"Conis, head back first. I'll come find you later. Actually, there's no need to return to the ship—just go straight to the hotel."
"Of course, Captain."
Conis smiled, naturally having no reason to refuse. Besides, going to the hotel with Arton for a date was something she was quite looking forward to.
She had already decided to bring Raki along this time. With the two of them working together, there was less chance of Arton defeating them too thoroughly. Having someone else share the pressure would let them last longer, and Arton would probably enjoy himself more as well.
"Come on, let's go eat. I've been here for quite a while, but I still haven't properly sampled Water 7's local specialties. I remember there's something here called water-water meat, right? Iceburg, you've got to take me to try it."
"Of course."
Arton was now an honored guest in Iceburg's eyes, so naturally he wouldn't refuse such a small request.
Hearing Arton mention water-water meat also made Iceburg crave some himself. His work as mayor kept him so busy that even when he wanted some, he rarely had time to visit a restaurant. Most of the time, he could only make do with whatever food had already been prepared in the cafeteria.
Chapter 811: They Only Fainted
"Captain has left... So, what should I do with you?"
Conis silently stared at Kalifa, who lay unconscious on the ground.
She knew Kalifa held a special place in Arton's heart. If Arton had no interest in her, Conis would never believe it.
That was precisely why Conis wasn't sure whether she should simply leave or find some way to help Kalifa and Arton end up together.
"Forget it. I'll take her with me. Maybe Raki can give me some advice."
Conis shook her head, hoisted Kalifa onto her back, and quickly headed toward the hotel.
Raki, who received her message along the way, naturally made her way there as well. By the time Conis arrived, Raki had already booked a room and was waiting inside.
...
"So that's what happened. That's why you brought Kalifa here. I thought Captain had already won her over and that she'd be joining our fight later, yet you knocked her out with lightning right from the start."
Raki looked at Kalifa, whom Conis had laid on the couch, with great interest.
"There was nothing else I could do. Captain doesn't know about the voyage diary copies, and Mayor Iceburg was watching from over there. I had no choice but to knock her out for the time being. If she accidentally revealed something she shouldn't, it might affect the relationship between Captain and Mayor Iceburg."
"That's true."
Raki folded her arms and nodded.
Arton was counting on Iceburg to build them a good ship, and she knew that perfectly well. If Conis allowed Kalifa to say something she shouldn't and made Iceburg suspicious of Arton, it could cause trouble.
If Raki had been in Conis's position, she believed she would have made the same choice: knock Kalifa unconscious first, then find an opportunity to talk things through properly afterward.
"Captain and Mayor Iceburg went to eat, so let's use this chance to have a proper talk with Kalifa. Conis, can you use your ability to wake her up?"
"Of course."
Conis raised a hand and released a tiny current of electricity into Kalifa's body.
Kalifa shuddered, then slowly opened her eyes.
"Where am I?"
She looked around in confusion, clearly not fully awake yet.
"You're awake, Miss Kalifa. I'm sorry for what I did to you earlier, but I had no choice."
"There's no need to rush to apologize to this woman. After all, she's someone who stands on the World Government and Marines' side."
Kalifa looked at Raki, then at Conis, and the scene from just before Conis knocked her unconscious quickly flashed through her mind.
"So that's it. You brought me here? Where are my CP9 companions?"
"Don't worry, Miss Kalifa. They're fine—they merely fainted. They're still where we fought earlier."
...
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