Chapter 22: Water 7
Year 1516 - Water 7, The City of Water
Water 7 rose from the ocean like a monument to human ingenuity.
The city was built on multiple tiers, connected by a vast network of waterways called "aqua roads" where gondola-like bulls—massive creatures called Yagara Bulls—pulled passengers through canals. Buildings rose in spirals, following the natural flow of water, creating a vertical city that seemed to defy gravity itself.
"It's beautiful," Kiara breathed as the Hakusetsu approached the harbor. "I've never seen architecture like this."
"It's also one of the world's premier shipbuilding centers," Robin added, standing beside Aiko at the bow. "Every major shipwright company has operations here. Galley-La Company, in particular, is famous for their craftsmanship. And somewhere in this city..." She pulled out her notes. "...are the blueprints for Pluton, passed down through generations of shipwrights."
"How do we even begin looking for them?" Isra asked. "We can't just announce we're searching for Ancient Weapon blueprints—that'll bring every intelligence agency down on us."
"We start with information gathering," Aiko decided. "Water 7 has a thriving underworld. Shipwrights, smugglers, pirates all pass through here. Someone will know something about Tom's legacy."
"Tom?" Yuki asked.
"Tom the Fishman," Robin explained. "Greatest shipwright of his generation. He built the Oro Jackson—Gold Roger's ship—which is why the World Government executed him for 'crimes against humanity.' But before his death, he trained apprentices. If the Pluton blueprints still exist, those apprentices would know."
As they docked, a harbormaster approached—a squat man with a calculating expression.
"Berthing fee is 100,000 berries per day. Plus inspection fee. Plus water tax. Plus—" He stopped, squinting at Aiko. "Wait. You're the Snow Admiral. The one with the 800 million berry bounty."
Tension rippled through the crew.
"Relax," the harbormaster said quickly. "Water 7 has... complicated relationships with the World Government. We're technically under their jurisdiction, but in practice?" He grinned. "We look the other way for anyone with coin. Your money's as good as anyone's."
"Even for fugitives?"
"Especially for fugitives. They spend more freely." He gestured to the city. "Welcome to Water 7, Snow Admiral. Try not to freeze our waterways—it's bad for business."
The crew split into investigation teams. Aiko, Robin, and Sadi headed for Galley-La Company—the legitimate route. Isra, Aria, and Koji investigated the underworld—the shadier path. The rest maintained the ship and gathered supplies.
Galley-La's headquarters dominated the city's upper tier—a massive structure that was part office, part shipyard, part fortress. Inside, hundreds of shipwrights worked on vessels ranging from small fishing boats to Marine battleships.
"Can I help you?" A receptionist asked, eyeing them warily.
"We'd like to commission a ship," Aiko said smoothly. "Something specialized. We heard Galley-La employs the best craftsmen."
"We do. But commissions take time, and our rates are—" She glanced at a wanted poster on her desk, then at Aiko. "You're him. The Marine traitor."
"Former Marine," Aiko corrected. "And I have money. Lots of it, from captured pirate bounties. Does Galley-La have a problem with my money?"
The receptionist considered, then shrugged. "The bosses decide client eligibility. Wait here."
Ten minutes later, they were escorted to an office on the top floor. Behind a massive desk sat a man in his late twenties, blonde hair slicked back, wearing an expensive suit. His eyes were sharp, calculating—the look of someone who assessed value instinctively.
"Iceburg," he introduced himself. "CEO of Galley-La Company. I understand you're interested in a commission, Mister..." He smiled slightly. "Should I call you Commodore? Or do you prefer Snow Admiral?"
"Aiko is fine."
"Very well, Aiko. What kind of ship are you looking for?" Iceburg pulled out design papers. "We offer everything from standard sloops to custom battleships. Though I should mention—we don't typically work for fugitives. Bad for our reputation with the World Government."
"Even fugitives who pay triple your normal rates?" Aiko countered.
That got Iceburg's attention. "Triple?"
"Plus materials costs. Plus discretion fees. Plus a bonus for rush work." Aiko leaned forward. "I need a ship that can handle anything—Grand Line storms, Marine pursuit, potential combat with Yonko forces. A ship built by someone who understands what the world's greatest vessels require. Someone trained by, say, a legendary shipwright."
Iceburg's expression didn't change, but Aiko's Observation Haki detected a spike of tension.
"We have many skilled craftsmen," Iceburg said carefully. "Perhaps you'd like to meet some? I could arrange tours, introductions—"
"I want to meet the one who trained under Tom," Aiko said bluntly.
Silence.
Iceburg set down his pen. "Tom is dead. Executed by the World Government years ago."
"I know. But his apprentices survived. One of them works for you—I can feel his presence in the shipyard below. And the other..." Aiko gestured toward the waterfront visible through the window. "Lives somewhere in the city, probably running a ship dismantling business as cover."
"You're well-informed," Iceburg said coldly. "Too well-informed. Which makes me wonder—are you a client, or a CP agent testing how much I know?"
"If I were CP, you'd already be arrested. Tom's apprentices are wanted for possessing knowledge of Pluton." Aiko met his eyes directly. "I'm here because I need that knowledge. Not the weapon—the proof it exists. Evidence that the World Government has been hiding ancient technology for centuries."
"Why?"
"Because I'm trying to expose eight hundred years of lies. The Void Century. The real history of the world. The conspiracy that the World Government built itself on." Aiko gestured to Robin. "This is Nico Robin. The only person alive who can read Poneglyphs. We're gathering evidence to delegitimize the World Government's authority."
Iceburg stared at them for a long moment. Then he laughed—a genuine sound.
"That's the most insane thing I've heard all year. And I've heard a lot of insane things." He stood, walking to the window. "Even if what you're saying is true, even if you're genuinely trying to fight the World Government, what makes you think Tom's apprentices would help? The government killed their master for building Roger's ship. They have every reason to want nothing to do with conspiracies or ancient weapons."
"Because they're shipwrights," Robin said quietly. "And shipwrights build things that last. Tom built the Oro Jackson knowing it might get him killed, because he believed in creating something magnificent. His apprentices inherited that belief. They'd understand that some knowledge is too important to hide forever."
Iceburg was quiet for a long time. Finally: "I'm one of Tom's apprentices. I know what you're talking about. And my answer is no."
"No?"
"The Pluton blueprints are... they exist. But they're not mine to share. Another of Tom's students has them, and he's protective of them for good reason. If the World Government found them, if pirates found them, if anyone with violent intentions found them—that weapon could destroy the world."
"Then help us ensure that doesn't happen," Aiko argued. "We don't want to build Pluton. We want to prove the World Government has been lying about ancient technology. There's a difference."
"Is there? Because once you prove ancient weapons exist, everyone will start searching for them. You'll have started an arms race that makes the current power balance look peaceful." Iceburg shook his head. "I admire what you're trying to do, Snow Admiral. Standing against corruption, protecting innocents, exposing lies. But this particular truth is too dangerous."
"All truth is dangerous," Robin interjected. "That's why people hide it. But danger doesn't make it less true, or less important to reveal."
Before Iceburg could respond, an explosion rocked the building.
Everyone rushed to the windows. Below, in the shipyard, fires were erupting. And through the smoke, figures in black suits and white masks moved with lethal efficiency.
"Cipher Pol," Aiko breathed. "They're here."
"They're attacking the shipyard," Iceburg said, shock evident. "Why would CP attack Galley-La?"
"Because they know we're here," Robin said grimly. "And they've probably been watching Water 7 for years, waiting for someone to investigate Tom's legacy. We just gave them an excuse to strike."
Aiko's mind raced. CP agents below, his crew scattered across the city, and civilians in the crossfire.
"Iceburg," he said urgently. "Where's the other apprentice? If CP is attacking, they'll go after him next."
"Franky runs a ship dismantling business on the western shore. Franky House. But—"
"Get your people to safety. Now." Aiko was already moving toward the door. "Robin, with me. Sadi, alert the crew—we have CP in the city and civilians in danger."
As they raced through Galley-La's corridors, avoiding panicking workers and searching for the CP agents' positions, Aiko's Observation Haki painted a clear picture:
Eight agents. All with Rokushiki training. Two with Devil Fruit powers. And their leader—a presence that radiated cold efficiency—was moving through the building with singular purpose.
Hunting Iceburg.
"They're not just attacking randomly," Aiko realized. "They're trying to assassinate Iceburg and frame someone else. Classic CP strategy—eliminate threats under cover of chaos."
"Then we stop them," Robin said, her arms already crossed in preparation for her Hana Hana no Mi powers. "I didn't survive twenty years running from CP just to watch them murder people."
They burst onto a corridor to find three CP agents cornering a group of shipwrights. The agents wore masks, making identification impossible, but their Rokushiki stances were unmistakable.
"Civilians," one agent said into a Den Den Mushi. "Should we eliminate?"
"Negative," a voice responded. "Mission is Iceburg only. Avoid unnecessary—"
Aiko's ice wall slammed between the agents and shipwrights, cutting off the conversation.
"Get out of here!" he shouted to the civilians. "Find exits! Now!"
The CP agents turned to face him, and even through their masks, surprise was evident.
"Snow Admiral," one said. "Unexpected. But convenient—we're authorized for your termination as well."
"Three versus one?" Aiko drew Yukikaze. "Hardly seems fair."
"For you," the agent agreed.
They attacked in perfect coordination—Soru to close distance, Shigan thrusts from three angles simultaneously, Rankyaku air blades cutting off escape routes. It was textbook Rokushiki assault, executed with the precision of agents who'd trained together for years.
Aiko blocked two Shigans with Yukikaze, became snow to avoid the third, and created an ice barrier against the Rankyaku. But they were already adapting, already flowing into the next assault pattern.
"Robin! Protect the civilians! I'll handle these three!"
"There are more than three," Robin warned, her Devil Fruit powers creating eyes across the building. "I count eight total, all moving toward Iceburg's position. And their leader..." Her expression tightened. "I recognize his presence. That's Rob Lucci."
Aiko's blood went cold. Lucci—the CP0 agent he'd defeated at Gecko Islands. The one who'd sworn vengeance. And now he was here, in Water 7, leading an assassination attempt.
"This isn't random," Aiko realized, blocking another coordinated assault. "They knew we'd come here. This is a trap."
"Obviously," one of the agents said. "Did you think CP doesn't monitor ancient weapon locations? We've been watching Water 7 for years. Watching Tom's apprentices. Waiting for someone stupid enough to investigate openly. And you..." The agent's Tekkai hardened his body to iron. "You walked right in."
The battle intensified. Three CP agents with Rokushiki versus Aiko in confined corridors, with civilians potentially in crossfire. He couldn't use his larger techniques without bringing the building down. Couldn't unleash his awakening without killing innocents.
He was fighting with both hands tied.
And somewhere above, Lucci was hunting Iceburg.
"Yuki no Mai: Hyōshō!" Snow Dance: Ice Crystal!
Aiko's technique created thousands of tiny ice shards that filled the corridor—too small to be lethal, but large enough to interfere with Soru by making the floor treacherous. The CP agents slipped, their coordination disrupted.
It bought seconds.
"Robin! Find Iceburg! Warn him about Lucci! I'll catch up!"
"But—"
"GO!"
Robin ran, her Devil Fruit powers letting her see around corners, through walls, finding the fastest route to Iceburg's position.
Leaving Aiko alone with three CP agents who were no longer holding back.
"Brave," one admitted. "Stupid, but brave. Dividing your forces against CP? That's how people die."
"Then let's see who dies today," Aiko replied, his Conqueror's Haki beginning to leak out. "Because I've fought CP0 before. And I'm still here."
The corridor exploded into violence as four combatants pushed their abilities to the limit, each knowing that somewhere above, an even more dangerous battle was about to begin.
Water 7's peaceful reputation was about to be shattered.
And the hunt for Pluton's blueprints had just become a fight for survival.
END OF CHAPTER 22
Next Chapter: "The Leopard Returns - Lucci's Revenge"