Water Seven: A Quiet Tavern in the Back Streets.
A "CLOSED" sign hung on the door. Inside, the only light was the dim moon filtering through a transom window. Behind the bar, the bull-horned Blueno expressionlessly wiped a glass.
Creak.
The back door opened. Kaku, wearing his white flat cap and sporting his signature long nose, slipped inside. The cheerful "shipwright" persona was gone, replaced by the cold severity of a professional assassin.
"The black market timber merchants were shaking today," Kaku said, taking a glass of liquor from Blueno. "A group carrying mountains of gold and Berries bought out every scrap of Adam Wood in the city. They didn't even blink. That kind of spending is rare even for the Grand Line syndicates."
"Was their identity verified?"
The voice came from a dark booth at the end of the bar. Rob Lucci sat there, his white pigeon, Hattori, perched on his shoulder. In the light of day, he was a silent genius shipwright; here, he was the strongest humanoid weapon in CP9's 800-year history.
Kalifa, the blonde secretary, adjusted her glasses as she walked down the stairs with a stack of wanted posters.
"Verified through our informants. The buyers were 'Fire Dragon' Sabo (530 million Berries) and the thief Carina (23 million Berries). While Portgas D. Ace (770 million Berries) hasn't been spotted, it's confirmed: the Eclipse Pirates have arrived in Water Seven."
"Should we warn them off?" Blueno asked. "If they cause a scene, it might compromise our mission with Mayor Iceburg."
For two years, they had walked on thin ice to find the Pluton blueprints. Now, a group of rookies who had spit in the World Government's face had crashed into their territory.
Lucci teased his pigeon, his eyes cold. "Ignore them. As long as they don't approach Iceburg or hinder our search, we don't need complications. Ace is a monster who nearly killed Zephyr in a frontal fight. We can't eliminate them silently. If a war breaks out, the Five Elders' mission to find Pluton fails."
Lucci stood up, his lean frame hiding enough power to tear apart sea kings. "Let them build their ship and get off this island as fast as possible."
The Emergency Call.
Brrr-ring, brrr-ring...
A white, anti-eavesdropping Den Den Mushi, disguised as a liquor barrel, rang violently. Lucci froze. This line was only for S-class emergencies. Blueno handed him the receiver.
"This is CP9, Rob Lucci."
"Lucci! Report! Is Portgas D. Ace and his trash crew in Water Seven right now?!"
It was Spandam, his voice cracking with a mix of panic and neurotic excitement.
"Yes. They are at Scrapyard Island purchasing materials," Lucci stated calmly.
"I don't care why they're there!" Spandam screamed. "Pin them to the island! Even if they grow wings, don't let a single bird fly away!"
Lucci frowned. "Chief Spandam, our priority is Pluton. Forcing a fight with 700-million-class monsters during an infiltration mission is contrary to the principles of assassination."
"Don't lecture me on rules! Lucci, this is a Purge Order from the Five Elders in Mary Geoise!" Spandam lowered his voice, but it trembled with fanaticism.
"They robbed the Heavenly Tribute meant for the Creators. They wounded a Marine legend. And now they dare to buy resources in a public city? They have touched the 'Reverse Scale' of the Celestial Dragons. The Government has decided to bring down divine punishment before this spark becomes a wildfire."
"The World Government's supreme shield—the Chiefs of CP0—have already arrived by air! They will seal the docks before midnight!"
The Descent of the Shield.
Even Lucci's eye twitched. Kalifa and Kaku were stunned.
CP0 (Cipher Pol Aigis Zero). They were the "invincible" legends of the espionage system, the direct subordinates of the World Nobles. Where CP9 did the dirty work, CP0 was the ultimate authority. Every member was a master of both types of Haki and the Six Powers.
"The mission has changed," Spandam commanded. "Notify every agent in Water Seven. Before midnight, use any means to intercept and isolate the Eclipse crew. Do not let them regroup at their ship! Wait for the CP0 lords to arrive and deal with Ace. Their heads will be my ticket to a promotion! Do you understand, Lucci!"
Click. The line went dead.
After a suffocating silence, Lucci unbuttoned his shipwright's shirt and tossed it aside. A wild, predatory bloodlust filled his eyes. Two years of acting like a common laborer were over.
"Tear off the masks, Kaku," Lucci said, taking a white tie from Blueno. "The World Government is purging these thorns tonight. Get ready for a bloodbath."
The Calm Before the Storm.
Outside a bustling alley, Ace walked out of a seafood stall, carrying a bag of fresh catch. The night wind was cool and carried a strange weight.
He looked up, watching a flock of white pigeons drifting through the city's shadows. In his mind, Carina's intercepted intel was already playing.
There was no retreat. Ace's lips curled into a smile that blended predatory focus with pure excitement. After six months of grinding at ten thousand meters, he was in dire need of a touchstone.
The night was about to host the most brutal collision of flesh and blood Water Seven had ever seen.