"Look! Didn't you just say that no matter what you hear, you'd listen to the end? Now you can't stand it after only three sentences?"
Finn shook his head slightly, teasing.
"..."
Ace Bagu's face turned red with embarrassment as he gritted his teeth, "Go on!"
"You don't need to worry about Franky. I'm not interested in him or the Pluton battleship. If I wanted it, I'd just threaten your life, and Franky would hand over the blueprints. Don't you agree?"
Finn's tone was calm, but his words carried a terrifying weight.
Ace Bagu had to admit the truth in what the boy in front of him was saying.
"You..."
Ace Bagu's throat tightened. He couldn't believe this person was just a teenager. His young age and old soul were completely at odds—it was frightening!
"Then what do you want?" Ace Bagu asked.
"Hmmm..."
Hearing the question, Finn rubbed his chin, a mischievous grin forming. "Your secretary from earlier seemed pretty good. How about you transfer her to me?"
"? ? ?"
Ace Bagu was stunned.
What? Weren't they just talking about the Pluton battleship? How did the conversation jump to his secretary? The leap in logic was dizzying.
"Wait… are you serious?" Ace Bagu asked, still unsure whether Finn was joking or not.
"Do I look like I'm joking?"
"No... not at all." Ace Bagu shook his head, taking a deep breath to calm his swirling thoughts. "But Master Finn, if you really want my secretary, I think it's unfair to her."
"It would be like betraying Kalifa just to protect my brother. I, Ace Bagu, couldn't live with that."
He wasn't being hypocritical; this was genuinely how he felt.
Finn, knowing Ace Bagu was an upright person, couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Hahaha!"
"Master Finn, why are you laughing?" Ace Bagu was confused by the sudden outburst.
Finn pointed at him, still chuckling. "Kalifa betrays you every day, and you feel guilty about betraying your conscience once?"
"What??"
Ace Bagu's eyes widened as he stared at Finn. "What do you mean? Kalifa betrays me every day?"
"Yeah. She's an undercover agent for CP9, sent by the World Government to spy on you and investigate the Pluton blueprints."
"Impossible! Kalifa was recruited through an audition. I chose her because she was the most qualified. How could she be a CP9 agent?"
Ace Bagu was in disbelief. It couldn't be a coincidence that she was chosen from among so many applicants.
Finn placed a hand on his shoulder. "Why not? Just like you didn't know I already had information about the Pluton blueprints."
"And think about it. The World Government hasn't found the blueprints yet, but they've made no big moves to search for them. Doesn't that seem odd?"
Ace Bagu's forehead broke out in a cold sweat.
When his master, Tom, entrusted him with the blueprints, he warned Ace Bagu about the government's relentless pursuit of the Pluton design. But after Tom's death, the World Government didn't launch any major search operations. Ace Bagu had thought they gave up after Tom died.
But now, hearing Finn's words, it all made sense.
Would the World Government really give up on a weapon as powerful as the Pluton battleship? Of course not!
"She... is she really a CP9 agent?" Ace Bagu struggled to accept the harsh truth.
"Not just her," Finn continued, "your boatmen Rob Lucci, Kaku, and even Blueno from the Blueno Bar are all CP9 agents. Lucci is their leader."
Finn's calm delivery made Ace Bagu's shock even greater.
These people... These were his most trusted colleagues. To find out they were working against him all along felt like learning all his friends were ghosts, and he was the only living person among them.
Ace Bagu wiped his sweaty brow and nervously asked, "Can you prove it?"
"I'm not doubting you," he added quickly. "I just need some solid evidence—anything."
"That's why I suggested transferring Kalifa's contract to me. They haven't found the Pluton blueprints yet, so they won't act right away. But if you transfer Kalifa to me, it'll definitely raise their suspicions. They'll meet to discuss it, and you'll hear everything you need."
Finn's plan was simple but effective.
Ace Bagu frowned. "But how will we overhear their conversation?"
"I have my ways. First, transfer Kalifa to me, call her in, and hand her the contract. We'll wait and see how they react."
"Uh, okay..."
Ace Bagu, panicking, followed Finn's suggestion. He retrieved Kalifa's contract from his bookshelf and signed the job transfer papers with Finn.
Not long after, Kalifa arrived in the office at Ace Bagu's request.
"Kalifa," Ace Bagu began, "this is Master Finn, the grandson of Marine Vice Admiral Garp. He's taken notice of your talents and, after discussing with me, would like you to become his secretary. I think it's a good idea, and we've already signed the transfer contract. Here's your copy."
Kalifa blinked, momentarily confused, then glanced at Finn.
Garp's grandson? This young man?
"From now on, you'll be my secretary," Finn said, flashing her a playful wink.
Kalifa frowned. "Is this harassment?"
"Don't mind her, Master Finn. It's just a figure of speech," Ace Bagu explained with a nervous smile.
"It's fine. I like a secretary with personality," Finn grinned, curious to see how Kalifa would handle the situation.
Most people would accept such a transfer without question, but Kalifa was different. She had her doubts, though her expression remained calm.
"Thank you, Chief," Kalifa said, nodding to Ace Bagu. She then turned to Finn. "Master Finn, please wait a moment. I'll go pack my things and report to you shortly."
"Of course," Finn replied, signaling for her to leave.