The massive Black Ship sailed to the island next to the towering walls of Water Seven. As it docked, the restless pirates jumped off one by one and rushed toward the town on the small island.
The buildings on the small island looked impoverished at a glance and were not their target. It was within the city walls that they ought to loot.
A thousand or so people charged toward the city gate, immediately causing panic among the residents of the city.
"To the shipyard! Follow me to the shipyard!"
Renedia twisted the Mechanical Hammer, extending it into a long hammer, and headed straight for the shipyard with her crew.
She had long coveted Water Seven's famous shipyard, and now that she found the opportunity, she certainly wouldn't let it pass by.
But there wasn't much time for conversation, so the best method was to seize the blueprints, grab the maintenance records, and ship designs to see if she could expand her technological capabilities.
Marika, on the other hand, led her group to a chosen direction, looting while looking for potential local specialties.
Lily led her crew toward the highest point in Water Seven. Naturally, the city had civilians, but they were not the targets. Only the highest point, near that large fountain, was where the wealthy lived.
As for the Carrera Company, Doflamingo's intelligence detailed that it was formed from the merger of seven shipyards, controlled by the local mayor, Iceburg. Besides him, the other shareholders of the six shipyards were also there!
There were other related industries, based on government business, that were also hosted up there by wealthy individuals.
The higher you lived, the better you could avoid the Water Gods. Tsunamis couldn't reach that high, so it was absolutely safe up there.
In such a prosperous place, the safer an area, the more wealthy people lived there!
"Pirates!"
"No way! We won't let you through!"
"To think they'd intrude while Mayor Iceburg is injured, it's despicable! Take them down!"
Though Water Seven didn't have the Navy, it still had plenty of burly shipbuilders. These people weren't unfamiliar with pirates who, instead of paying for repairs, wanted to rob them afterward.
They didn't fear the invading pirates; instead, they picked up their tools and charged head-on.
"Lightning Waltz!"
A bolt of lightning shot out quickly, darting through the crowd that came to resist. In just a moment, all the boatmen spewed blood from their mouths and fell back, each with a cut marking across their bodies.
"Time is limited,"
Lily stood in the center of the fallen crowd, swiping the White Thunder downward as she coldly said, "We must finish the looting before Sage returns, don't get tangled up with these people."
The boatmen certainly weren't lacking in physical strength, comparable to her crew. However, they lacked some exceptional skills, not just before Lily, but also against Pearl and others.
The heist went smoothly, and the pirates charged to the top of Water Seven, breaking into the mansions and estates, retrieving a large amount of treasure.
The surrounding boutique stores were also stripped bare. In just two hours, the looting was complete.
Renedia stepped over the shipbuilders she had knocked down, emerging from the half-destroyed shipyard, shaking the blueprints in her hand with disdain: "Well, it's not that impressive. The technology may not surpass mine, but there's research value."
Turning her head, she saw her men carrying equipment, blueprints, and records, and shouted, "Hurry up, don't waste my time!"
"Yes, Lady Renedia!"
Pearl, leading the way with several large boxes, shouted in response and quickened his pace.
The Treasure Tree Adam wasn't encountered, but that didn't matter, Sage said he could buy it for her.
Nevertheless, the ship dismantling and repair, as well as shipbuilding blueprints and records, were fruitful.
As for the others who split up for the looting, they each brought back considerable spoils.
Full boxes of Belly, gold, silver, and jewels were all carried to the city gate by the pirates from above.
Marika also arrived at the gate position with some food supplies and goods looted from the shops.
"Ah, not bad at all,"
Marika smiled as she said to Lily, who had arrived first, "I found some excellent ingredients."
The goods in the shops weren't plentiful, mainly fulfilling the crew's personal desires for a unique trophy of their own. The real treasures were like waterflowing meat, bouncy and smooth, and large quantities of salt gathered in cloth bags.
"Water meat, a specialty of Water Seven, an interesting feature that can make many dishes. Of course, the biggest catch was last night's tsunami."
Marika laughed, "After the tide receded, there were plenty of salt deposits on the rooftops. Unfortunately, the time was too short, so not much dried out. But with this, tastier dishes can be made; Sage will love it."
Lily nodded: "Take note of it. When we enter the New World, we can trade ingredients from here and satisfy Sage's needs."
She scanned the area, seeing everyone had gathered, offered a slight smile, and said, "Let's go, we'll head toward the railway and wait for Sage. Once we're picked up, we can leave."
This was their first independent heist without Sage's command, yet it went quite smoothly.
It represented that, to some extent, they could stand on their own. As Navigator and command on the ship, Lily felt quite pleased with this.
This way, when she saw Sage, she could proudly report back to him.
As the group exited the gate, they reached the lower island and walked to where their ship was docked.
Just as they were about to board, Lily and Renedia sudden hairt stopped, their eyes revealing a red dot, unable to believe what they saw on the ship.
"Hmm?"
Marika paused a little late but also felt something unusual, her usually gentle smile momentarily frozen.
Hawkins had already climbed up to the gangplank, nearly reaching the deck. Seeing them stop, he turned his head and asked, "What happened?"
Bam!
In the next moment, a giant fist smashed against him, blasting him off the gangplank, creating a small crater in the ground.
But soon, Hawkins stood up again, dusted off his clothes, as a smoking Straw Doll fell off his body.
At the same time, within Water Seven's city, a shipbuilder, who had been unconscious after a scuffle and just regained consciousness, shuddered all over, being knocked away fiercely.
"To think someone is still waiting here, truly surprising..."
Hawkins casually remarked, as he looked up, his formerly calm face instantly transformed, pupils shrinking, sweat trickling down from his temple.
Lily instinctively gripped her sword hilt tightly, Marika opened her smiley eyes wide, and Renedia extended the Mechanical Hammer, shouting:
"Hey! Why are you here! You old geezer were you supposed to have left already!"
Standing atop the gangplank was a robust old man, wearing a white suit and a matching white Navy cape.
He gripped his fist and laughed out loud: "Hohohoho! That's my ship that left, not me!"
Garp!
"Would even the Navy Hero plan something like this?" Lily said in a serious tone, "This indeed was unexpected."
"I just didn't want to go to Enies Lobby, that Buster Call stuff is quite a nuisance."
Garp nonchalantly picked his nose, "So I let Bogard lead the men, and I stayed around here, then I saw your ship... Hohohoho, you were too spread out, so I waited right here. By the way, it's a very nice ship!"
Shing!
Lily drew the White Thunder, aiming it at Garp, "So, you won't let us pass, right?"
Garp flicked his fingers, shooting away the nose debris, baring his teeth in a grin: "I'm a Navy man, capturing pirates is what we naturally do! That brat Sage has stirred up too much trouble; if we don't catch you all, the Navy will lose face..."