"Isn't this Kalifa? Mr. Ace Bagu said you went back to your hometown to get married. When did you return to Water City? Why didn't you notify anyone in advance?"
Even with her tight mask, Barry, the boatman, recognized her instantly. They had worked together for four years in the same company.
"Did you come back this time to invite us to the wedding? Don't worry—I may be poor, but I'll find the money for you. Even if I have to borrow it at exorbitant interest, I'll make it work!"
Kalifa:
Since returning to Water City, the moment she had dreaded most had finally arrived. She had met the person she least wanted to see.
"You've got the wrong person—I'm not the Kalifa you mean!" Kalifa whispered, trying one last desperate escape.
"Hey?"
The boat captain's suspicion lingered.
After a moment, realization struck.
"Ohhhh, I get it now! So your fiancé is here too. You didn't want your fiancé to misunderstand, that's why you said that!"
Barry, the master boatman, glanced toward Sugisawa Yuuto, who was wearing the same mask as Kalifa, hiding in the shade of a nearby tree.
"Hey, bro, I'm Kalifa's former colleague, definitely not her fiancé, don't get me wrong!" Barry shouted.
"Barry, shut up!" Kalifa's panic was complete.
"Hahaha, let's leave it here—they're chasing you!" Barry ran off wildly again.
"It really is you, Miss Kalifa!" The female shopkeeper from the stocking store nodded with certainty.
"I told you, it's unmistakable! That scent of perfume, it's clearly Miss Kalifa—and those high-quality silks you're wearing were bought from my store!"
Kalifa:
By now, she had given up struggling. No amount of reasoning could save her.
"Hey, Kalifa, are you really familiar with Mizuno?" Sugisawa Yuuto stepped forward.
"President, I—"
Before Kalifa could speak, Sugisawa Yuuto interrupted.
"You must be Miss Kalifa's fiancé. Mr. Barry said so earlier. Come on, join us. Miss Kalifa used to be a regular at our shop. Why not pick out some new styles for her?"
Businessmen never wasted a chance to make money. And men in love, especially engaged ones, were the most willing to spend. The shopkeeper instinctively launched her sales pitch directly at Sugisawa Yuuto, bypassing Kalifa entirely.
Kalifa expected Sugisawa Yuuto to refuse, but to her surprise…
After a moment's hesitation, he nodded.
The shopkeeper was about to continue her pitch when Sugisawa Yuuto waved her off.
"Forget it. Pack everything in your store," he said decisively. "We'll pick it up later and settle the balance then!"
"Yes! Yes! Yes!" The shopkeeper rubbed her hands together eagerly.
"Miss Kalifa is lucky. She's found a fiancé who loves her so much—she'll be very happy!"
Listening to the flattery, Kalifa could no longer hold back and bolted from the shop.
After a while, she finally calmed down.
"President, I'm sorry…I hid something," she admitted weakly.
"So…are you ready to confess now?" Sugisawa Yuuto asked with a smile.
"Um," Kalifa nodded.
"Well, let's sit at a bar and talk." Sugisawa Yuuto led the way.
Soon, they arrived at a small, secluded bar.
"The place looks nice. Nothing fancy, just right," Sugisawa Yuuto said with satisfaction, pushing the door open.
Kalifa froze at the sign: Bluenobar.
What the hell! Out of all the bars in Water City, why here? Her heart raced, but she had no choice but to follow.
Jingle~
Kalifa followed Sugisawa Yuuto inside.
"Welcome, Light—" The shopkeeper started, then choked mid-sentence.
Kalifa quickly winked. Blueno, her CP9 comrade who had trained with her, instantly understood the situation.
Time seemed to pause. A shock washed over him, consuming his mind.
"President, what would you like to drink? I'll order for you!" Kalifa's voice snapped Blueno back to reality.
"A glass of rum," Sugisawa Yuuto said casually.
"Yes, then I'll ask the shopkeeper if there are any clues about Bruce!" Kalifa added, approaching the bar and gesturing in encrypted signals only CP agents could read.
"Although I haven't seen Bruce, I'll keep an eye out," Blueno responded with his own discreet gestures.
Sugisawa Yuuto observed everything but didn't interfere.
"Then thank the owner," Kalifa said, returning with two glasses of wine.
"President, I actually worked as Mr. Ace Bagu's secretary at Carrera Corporation in Water City for four years," she confessed.
"Oh? So why did you leave? And why join Fairy Tail?" Sugisawa Yuuto asked.
"Because Fairy Tail once saved my hometown…" Kalifa said, borrowing a story template from Vivi. Though fabricated, it was seamless. Fairy Tail had indeed completed a commission resembling her hometown's plight.
The World Government had prearranged things to ensure everything played out convincingly.
"I was afraid you'd dismiss what I said outright, so I had to hide the truth. I'm sorry!" Kalifa bowed her head nervously.
"All right, all right," Sugisawa Yuuto said, stretching out a large hand to comfort her. "As long as you're honest, you're a good girl. Anything else to say?"
"No… nothing more!" Kalifa shook her head.
"Let's rest for now and continue later," Sugisawa Yuuto said, standing up. Kalifa followed.
Three hours flew by.
"No! Found it!" Kalifa exclaimed. By tracing the little lost blue swordfish, they confirmed it was indeed the one the client's daughter sought.
Blue had been missing for several days. It wasn't luck but the silent support of Sugisawa Yuuto and his allies that led to its recovery.
"Phew, the assessment task is complete," Kaku, CP9 agent and master craftsman at Carrera, sighed.
"The man…Five Emperor Sugisawa Yuuto is terrifying!" Blueno muttered, shocked.
"Return! Return!" Rob Lucci's pigeon signaled.
Lucci and Kaku had thought they wouldn't see Sugisawa Yuuto again soon. But Barry's news of Ace Bagu hosting a banquet changed everything.
Carrera Corporation, Banquet Hall.
Ace Bagu arranged the feast. Guests, including Sugisawa Yuuto and Kalifa, were in place. Kalifa, still dazed from her mission, wanted nothing more than to leave after completing the Swordfish Blue commission.
Yet, by chance, encountering Barry again forced her attendance.
"Hahaha, let's toast, my friends. You're Kalifa's former colleagues, and you can't pretend otherwise. Show us your fiancé!" Barry cheered.
"Really want to see him?" Sugisawa Yuuto asked.
"Of course! Kalifa never liked anyone in our company…let's see who this extraordinary man is!" the shipbuilders exclaimed.
Sugisawa Yuuto casually removed his mask.
The moment his face was revealed, Barry and the others went rigid.
"Fairy Tail President Sugisawa Yuuto is Kalifa's fiancé?" Ace Bagu's jaw dropped.
"Kalifa, your fiancé is the president of Fairy Tail!" Barry added. "You said you were marrying in your hometown—how can this be?"
Kalifa opened her mouth but said nothing.
"Oh, I see," Barry muttered, connecting the dots. "You didn't return to your hometown. You resigned and came here because you fell in love with Sugisawa Yuuto at first sight!"
"Yes…yes," Kalifa admitted, defeated.
Sugisawa Yuuto laughed.
"Kalifa has contributed greatly to the guild these days, and her work is excellent thanks to her Carrera experience. But enough talk, everyone—eat before it gets cold!"
"Yes! Cheers to President Sugisawa Yuuto!" everyone shouted, relaxing and enjoying themselves.
By 3 PM, Sugisawa Yuuto and Kalifa bid farewell and prepared to return to Fairy Tail.
"President, thank you so much for today!" Kalifa said, sitting awkwardly beside him.
"Don't mention it," Sugisawa Yuuto smiled, lifting her chin gently.
"President, don't—"
Kalifa tried to pull away, but Sugisawa Yuuto's embrace was firm.
"Didn't you tell everyone I was your fiancé?" he asked with a smile.
"I…!" Kalifa closed her eyes nervously, surrendering.
Yet Sugisawa Yuuto stopped, sensing her hesitation.
"Why?" she asked, a flicker of disappointment in her eyes.
"You drank too much earlier—rest for now," he said casually.
Kalifa thought: uncomfortable or not, I have to endure.
Two days later, Sugisawa Yuuto and Kalifa returned to Fairy Tail.
Mirajane and Perona had completed the 10 billion Berry handover. Although there were some obstacles, Gion and Erza had thwarted every would-be thief.
Another week passed, and Erza's and Wendy's teams returned.
The first half of the Grand Line Paradise had ended. Fairy Tail prepared to enter the New World.
Five days later, the Sabaody Archipelago loomed.
Looking at the colorful Madara Island in the distance, Sugisawa Yuuto reflected.
As a seasoned traveler, there were two tasks upon arriving at Sabaody:
Visit the Rip-off Bar at Red Tree No. 13 to meet Shakky, former Empress of Nine Snakes, and Pluton Rayleigh, legendary pirate.
Deal with the Celestial Dragons—nobles of Shigui. Taking down a few fat-headed Celestial Dragons was almost a rite of passage for experienced travelers.
As Sugisawa Yuuto pondered, Fairy Tail drew closer to Sabaody and landed.
And so, the commission to "teach a lesson" to the Celestial Dragons began, right on schedule.