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--xLOVEx--
Inside the room, Robin and Iceburg began a tense conversation. Iceburg's voice was weak but mustered up all the conviction as he began to speak about the weight of history he knew wrong. He spoke of the ancient weapons, mentioning Pluton by name, a ship capable of mass destruction. His words were filled with the heavy knowledge that such power could never fall into the wrong hands. But the most dangerous thing in the world was a confident ignorant. Knowing wrong, yet having strong conviction was lethal.
Robin's expression remained stoic as Iceburg talked, though she knew he considered her a threat to the world. His view was black and white—she was someone who shouldn't even be allowed to live. To Iceburg, Robin represented the dangerous potential of ancient history, knowledge that could bring the world to its knees if wielded by the wrong person.
Robin explained her perspective, her voice steady as she spoke of the true history that had been hidden for centuries. She talked of the void century, the lost era that the World Government had tried to erase from existence, and the ancient texts that spoke of a time before the current world order. She knew that history held truths that could reshape the world, and that was why she had sought it out.
But her words fell on deaf ears. Iceburg wasn't interested in the intricacies of the past or the motivations that drove Robin. To him, the only thing that mattered was that she was a threat—a ticking time bomb that could bring devastation upon the world if left unchecked. The ancient weapon Pluton was just one piece of the puzzle, a symbol of the kind of destruction that could be unleashed if the wrong people gained access to forbidden knowledge.
The conversation continued, with Iceburg growing weaker as the minutes passed. He knew his time was running out, but his resolve didn't waver. Even as blood seeped from his wounds, staining the sheets beneath him, he maintained that Robin's existence was too dangerous. The world couldn't afford to let her live.
Robin listened to his words, knowing full well that Iceburg's judgment was shaped by fear—a fear of the unknown, a fear of the power that history held. She didn't argue with him, didn't try to convince him otherwise. There was no point. Iceburg had already made up his mind about her, and nothing she said would change that.
In the adjacent room, Paulie managed to retrieve the blueprints from a hidden safe, thinking he kept them secure. But just as he clutched the papers, two masked men burst into the room. They moved swiftly. They didn't give him a chance to react. In one fluid motion, the leader of the pair struck Paulie hard across the face, sending him sprawling to the ground.. The lead man grabbed the blueprints, scanning them quickly. His eyes narrowed as he realized the truth.
"These are fake," he stated, his voice flat.
The other masked man peered over his shoulder, confirming the observation. They didn't waste any time; Paulie was already incapacitated, bloodied and struggling to stay conscious on the floor.
Suddenly, the wall was struck by a force, and Luffy came crashing through, half of his body embedded in the wall. He wriggled, trying to free himself but only managed to stay stuck, his legs kicking outside the room.
The masked men paused, watching the bizarre scene unfold. Luffy, noticing Paulie's condition, asked "Rope guy, are you okay?"
Paulie, bloodied and bruised, looked up weakly at Luffy's sudden appearance. "Should you really worry about me?" he muttered, barely audible over the commotion.
The masked men turned their attention to Luffy. One of them quickly sized up the situation, recognizing the opportunity before them. "Are you here to take the blame? Perfect timing," he said, more to his partner than to Luffy.
Without wasting a second, they launched an attack on Luffy, who finally managed to free himself from the wall. But before Luffy could fully regain his balance, they overpowered him, forcing him to the ground with thick iron restraints. The same fate befell Paulie, who was already too weakened to resist. The two masked men moved with the efficiency of seasoned operatives, pinning both Luffy and Paulie to the floor. Luffy struggled against the metal bindings, but they were too strong even for him.
Satisfied that their targets were secure, the two masked men left the room, moving quickly through the building to relay the information about the fake blueprints. Their movements were efficient, showing no wasted effort or hesitation as they regrouped with their comrades in Iceburg's room.
As they entered, the group removed their masks, revealing their true identities to a shocked Iceburg. His eyes widened in disbelief as he recognized the faces before him—Lucci, Kaku, Kalifa, and Blueno, all of whom had been working with him for years. The realization hit him hard, the betrayal cutting deep.
"Lucci, Kaku, Kalifa and... Blueno..." His voice trembled with disbelief.
Lucci's cold gaze locked onto Iceburg, devoid of any compassion as he stepped forward, his presence looming over the injured man. There was no need for pleasantries anymore—Iceburg knew who they were and what they were after. Lucci's voice was as sharp as a blade, cutting straight to the point.
"CP9's mission has always been clear," Lucci began. "The World Government wants the blueprints of Pluton, an ancient weapon capable of mass destruction. The very existence of such a weapon is a threat to the balance of power in this world. You, Iceburg, have been holding onto those blueprints for years, knowing full well the consequences if they were to fall into the wrong hands."
Iceburg's breath came in ragged gasps, the pain from his injuries making it difficult to focus. But he listened intently, knowing this was likely the last conversation he would ever have.
Lucci continued, his eyes narrowing slightly as he observed Iceburg's struggle. "You should have handed them over when we first approached you. Instead, you chose to drag this out, thinking you could protect the world by keeping them hidden. Perhaps if you had cooperated, you might have been able to keep your life. But now, it's too late."
Lucci's words were merciless, each one driving the weight of the situation deeper into Iceburg's mind. There was no room for negotiation or mercy. CP9 had been patient, biding their time as they integrated themselves into Water 7, all with the sole purpose of acquiring the blueprints. And now, with the mission nearing its completion, Lucci would make sure there were no loose ends.
"Your mentor, Tom, was a legendary shipwright, known for his skill and ingenuity," Lucci continued, his tone clinical. "But he knew the danger that came with the knowledge he possessed. Before his death, he passed the blueprints to one of his apprentices—either you or Cutty Flam. But when Cutty Flam, in his idiocy, tried to stop the Sea Train on the day Tom was taken to Enies Lobby, he vanished from the world. That left only you."
Iceburg's eyes flickered with pain and realization as he listened. He knew what was coming next—Lucci was leading up to something, a revelation that would seal his fate.
"CP9 infiltrated Water 7, getting close to you, learning everything we could," Lucci said, his voice growing colder, if that were even possible. "But there was one detail that nagged at me. Four years ago, a man no one had ever seen before came to Water 7, wanting to meet with you. He used the very same name... Cutty Flam."
Lucci's gaze remained fixed on Iceburg as he continued. "That name, Cutty Flam, didn't appear again after that day. We dismissed it, thinking it irrelevant. You didn't even accept the meeting request, so it seemed insignificant at the time."
He paused, letting his words sink in. The atmosphere in the room was heavy, each second stretching out as Iceburg struggled to stay focused despite the pain wracking his body.
"But," Lucci resumed, his tone sharpening, "recent developments have forced us to reconsider that encounter. When we discovered the blueprints you provided were fakes, we revisited that day. It became clear that Cutty Flam, the man presumed dead, was none other than the delinquent known as Franky."
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