Just the next morning after the Straw Hats had arrived, Gojo, as usual, woke up early and made his way to the hotel's dining area. The faint clatter of utensils and low chatter filled the room as he sat down, calmly eating his breakfast with a cup of tea beside him. He sipped occasionally, flipping through the morning newspaper.
Then, his eyes paused.
A headline caught his attention.
It clearly stated that the Mayor of Water 7 and the President of the Galley-La Company, Iceberg, had been assassinated by the Straw Hats—and that his life was still hanging in the balance as he received treatment.
Gojo's hand stilled slightly over the paper, the steam from his tea curling upward unnoticed. Assassinated…?
He didn't care about who had attacked Iceberg. That part was irrelevant to him.
What mattered was something else entirely.
Iceberg was the one who was supposed to build his ship.
If Iceberg had truly been assassinated—or if his condition was critical—then that directly affected Gojo. The status of his ship, its construction, everything depended on Iceberg or the Galley-La Company.
His gaze hardened slightly as he lowered the newspaper.
I need to confirm this myself.
Whether it meant meeting Iceberg personally or speaking to someone from the Galley-La Company, he had to be sure. He needed to know the exact status of his ship's construction—no assumptions, no delays.
With that thought, his appetite vanished.
Without finishing his breakfast, Gojo stood up abruptly, the chair scraping lightly against the floor. He left the dining area without another glance, stepping out into the morning air.
Moments later, he secured a small boat and pushed off into the water, heading straight toward the Galley-La Company.
…
As soon as he reached the Galley-La Company, the sound of shipwrights at work—hammers striking wood, ropes creaking under tension—filled the air. Workers moved with urgency, a subtle tension lingering beneath the usual rhythm.
Kaku was the first to spot Gojo.
And almost at the same time, Gojo noticed him as well.
Without wasting a moment, Gojo immediately walked toward him, his steps steady and direct. Kaku, upon recognizing Gojo, paused what he was doing and waited, standing in place as Gojo approached.
The moment Gojo stopped in front of him, he didn't waste time on pleasantries.
Looking straight at Kaku, he said, "I heard that your President was assassinated. I would like to meet your President."
Kaku shook his head calmly, though there was a slight heaviness in his expression. "Currently, it is not possible for you to meet our President. He is not in a condition to meet anyone right now," he replied. Then, after a brief pause, he added, "But I can arrange a meeting with our Vice-President. He is handling everything at the moment."
Gojo listened, then gave a small nod. That's fine… as long as I get answers.
Under Kaku's guidance, he followed him deeper into the premises, passing by several workers and ongoing constructions. The usual liveliness of Galley-La was still there, but something about it felt restrained, as if everyone was holding back a layer of concern.
Soon, they arrived where Paulie stood.
Paulie was in the middle of speaking with a few merchants—likely clients of the Galley-La Company. His tone was firm, but his expression carried clear signs of fatigue. After finishing the conversation, he sent them away, turning slightly—
—and then he saw Gojo approaching.
Paulie exhaled slowly, a faint sigh escaping him as his shoulders dropped just a little.
I knew he'd come.
After all, it was only natural. Someone like Gojo wouldn't ignore news like that—especially when it directly concerned his ship.
And just as expected, he was here.
Paulie, the moment he looked at Gojo, spoke before Gojo could even ask anything.
"Currently, our President is injured due to the assassination attempt. Although he has been saved and is out of danger, it will still take time before he can resume work on your ship." He paused briefly, his expression tightening. "So, I'm sorry to say this, but the construction of your ship will be delayed."
Gojo listened without interrupting, his gaze steady on Paulie. Then he said, "Although I don't want to sound heartless or anything… how long will it take? Or how much delay should I expect?"
Paulie exhaled lightly, running a hand through his hair before answering. "Your ship only requires about a day's worth of work. If we really push it, even less," he admitted. "But considering the situation… it will take around two to three days for our President to recover enough to at least guide the work."
He looked directly at Gojo as he continued, "So at the very least, you should expect a delay of around three to four days."
Gojo remained silent for a brief moment, processing it. Three to four days… manageable.
Then he nodded.
"Very well. I will check on your President again after three days."
Paulie gave a small nod in return, relief faintly visible on his face.
With that, Gojo turned and left the Galley-La Company.
There was little he could do anyway.
He had no choice but to wait for Iceberg's recovery. As long as Iceberg recovered, his ship would be completed—there was no doubt about that.
Stepping out of the shipyard, the sounds of the docks followed him—waves lapping against wood, distant voices echoing across the canals. The city was alive as always, yet something felt slightly off beneath the surface.
As he walked along the path, his eyes caught a familiar scene ahead.
Luffy and Nami.
They were running—no, being chased.
A group of Water 7 citizens trailed behind them, shouting angrily, their footsteps echoing loudly through the streets. Some held tools, others simply pointed and yelled, their faces filled with frustration and anger.
Clearly, the news had spread.
The Straw Hats were now wanted for the attempted assassination of Water 7's mayor.
Gojo watched the scene unfold, his expression unchanged. Not surprising.
The people of Water 7 admired their mayor deeply. It was only natural that they would react like this upon hearing such news.
So seeing them chase after Luffy and Nami… wasn't surprising at all.
But as far as his memory served, Gojo could tell one thing much— the Straw Hats would not attack Iceberg without reason, certainly not unless Iceberg had made the first move against them.
And from his brief meeting with Iceberg, Gojo had already understood the kind of person he was.
Iceberg was someone who preferred to stay away from unnecessary trouble, especially anything that could escalate into something bigger. He was cautious, composed, and deliberate.
Not the type to provoke a fight.
So it didn't make sense.
There was no reason for Iceberg to target the Straw Hats, and no reason for the Straw Hats to suddenly attack him either.
Which only meant one thing.
There was foul play involved.
Gojo's eyes narrowed slightly as the thought passed through his mind—but just as quickly, he let it go.
It didn't concern him.
What mattered to him was simple.
His ship.
He wanted his ship completed as soon as possible. That was all. Whether the Straw Hats had truly attempted to assassinate Iceberg or not… it had nothing to do with him.
With that, Gojo returned to his hotel and spent the rest of his day as usual.
But as evening slowly approached, something began to change.
The streets grew more crowded, and a steady flow of people started moving toward the higher parts of the city. Gojo noticed it from the hotel windows—the faint murmur of hurried voices, footsteps echoing against stone pathways.
Soon, he heard the reason.
Aqua Laguna.
A massive annual high tide that would submerge nearly half of Water 7.
The news spread quickly, and before long, the hotel began to fill with both citizens and tourists from the lower areas, seeking safety for the night. The once calm atmosphere turned lively, almost crowded, with the sounds of people settling in, talking, and preparing.
Fortunately, Gojo's hotel was located in a higher area.
There was no need for him to move or make any arrangements.
Good. Less trouble.
As night finally settled over the city, the distant roar of rising waters could almost be felt in the air.
Following his usual routine, Gojo had his dinner without rush and then returned to his room. The noise from outside faded behind closed doors as he lay down, his expression calm as ever.
Within moments, he drifted into sleep.
While Gojo rested quietly in his hotel room, far removed from the chaos unfolding elsewhere, the Straw Hats were facing something entirely different.
They were engaged in a fierce confrontation with CP9.
Tension ran high, and alongside the battle, a heavier concern weighed on them—Robin.
They needed answers.
Had she truly left their crew?
Had she betrayed them?
Those questions lingered, unresolved, pressing heavily on their minds even as they fought.
But Gojo… knew none of this.
Far away from it all, untouched by the conflict, he simply slept.
----
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