Chapter 591 - 788 – Exposing the CP9 Agents

"How do you know all this? Who... who exactly are you?!"

Arton's words left Iceburg unable to remain seated. He abruptly rose from his chair and stared at Arton in shock.

Arton had even managed to reveal Franky's former name.

That alone proved he truly knew the Ancient Weapon blueprints were in Franky's possession.

As far as the World Government knew, Cutty Flam had already died.

That was precisely why they had failed to locate the Ancient Weapon blueprints after so many years.

The thought that the blueprints he had worked so hard to protect might soon be taken by Arton made Iceburg unbearably tense.

He wanted to call for his guards and have Arton arrested.

However, the moment he remembered Arton's strength, he hesitated.

How could the limited forces at his disposal possibly restrain a man powerful enough to trouble even the Marines and World Government's strongest fighters?

If they truly fought, he might only make an already terrible situation even worse.

The thought of how disastrous the future could become made Iceburg's body tremble.

"Relax, Mayor Iceburg. You don't need to worry that I'll do anything to you."

"You consider the Ancient Weapon blueprints a treasure, but I don't care about them."

"I came here for one simple reason: I want you to help me build a ship."

"A good one, of course. I'll pay the appropriate Berries."

Arton spoke calmly.

"Only to build a ship?"

Iceburg raised his head and stared at Arton, seemingly afraid to believe him.

That was understandable. In this world, hardly anyone could remain unmoved by an Ancient Weapon.

Even the most powerful pirates would covet one.

Iceburg's reaction had fallen entirely within Arton's expectations.

"Think about it carefully. If I truly wanted to steal the Ancient Weapon blueprints, I wouldn't have let Franky walk away right in front of me."

"I could have taken the blueprints from him without his noticing."

"You should know that I've fought Marine admirals before. Doing something like that wouldn't be difficult."

Arton explained.

Iceburg fell silent.

He did not know exactly how powerful a Marine admiral was, but he possessed enough imagination to understand.

The World Government agents hiding around him were already terrifyingly strong.

A Marine admiral would undoubtedly be far stronger.

Given Arton's ability to contend with admirals, perhaps he truly could steal the blueprints from Franky without Franky noticing.

"How can you prove that what you're saying is true, Arton?"

"If I build the ship for you, who can guarantee you won't turn against me afterward?"

Iceburg asked.

"That's a difficult question. I don't exactly carry evidence proving my good intentions."

Arton rubbed his chin.

He could not simply cut open his heart and show it to Iceburg.

"How about this? I'll tell you a secret related to you, and afterward, you help me build the ship."

"This secret concerns the World Government agents sent here to steal your blueprints."

Arton said.

"World Government agents?"

Iceburg frowned.

He believed the World Government might have planted people around him, but he could not understand how Arton knew.

Arton acted as though he knew the exact identities of those agents.

That left Iceburg conflicted.

Arton clearly had many dealings with the Marines and World Government.

How, then, could he know their secret intelligence?

Could Arton have captured World Government agents, interrogated them, and obtained the information that way?

"I'll be direct. Your secretary Kalifa, along with Rob Lucci and Kaku from the shipyard, are CP9 agents."

"Spandam placed them beside you to steal the Ancient Weapon blueprints."

Arton stated.

"Impossible!"

Iceburg denied it without thinking.

Kalifa, Kaku, and Rob Lucci had worked around him for many years.

All of them had always performed their duties with utmost seriousness.

Iceburg found it extremely difficult to believe they were CP9 agents.

Arton understood his reaction.

After all, Iceburg had responded exactly the same way in the anime.

When he first learned that Kalifa, Kaku, and Rob Lucci were World Government agents, he had refused to believe it.

Only after Kalifa personally used CP9's distinctive techniques against him did Iceburg finally accept the truth.

...

"I know you won't believe me. However, I can take you to meet several people."

"After you see them, you should trust my words a little more."

Arton spoke.

"Who are you planning to make me meet?"

Iceburg drew a deep breath and forced himself to calm down before asking.

"I'm going to let you meet several other CP9 agents. I've tied those guys up, and they're currently aboard my ship."

Arton smiled before continuing,

"Or perhaps a figure of your status as mayor is afraid to leave here with me?"

Iceburg stared deeply at Arton before finally nodding.

Arton was stronger than him.

Far stronger.

Under those circumstances, Iceburg did not believe he could escape if Arton intended to force him along.

Since refusing would be meaningless, he might as well listen honestly.

Besides, although Iceburg verbally claimed not to believe that Kalifa, Kaku, and Rob Lucci were CP9 agents, Arton's certainty had already planted a seed of doubt in his heart.

Unless he confirmed the truth for himself, Iceburg feared he would no longer be able to sleep peacefully.

This matter concerned the Ancient Weapon blueprints.

If those blueprints truly fell into the World Government's hands, Iceburg felt his master Tom would never forgive him.

"Since you've agreed, I'll head back first."

Arton spoke.

"Hm?"

Iceburg froze.

"You aren't taking me with you?"

Arton shook his head and smiled.

"Of course not. I know you still have work to handle."

"I'm not in a particular hurry, so I'll wait until you finish work and then come back."

"When the time comes, I'll have to trouble you to visit me personally."

After giving Iceburg the location of his ship, Arton turned and led Raki and Conis toward the window before leaping out.

"That man... he really left just like that?"

Iceburg stared blankly at the window.

Everything Arton had done so far had gone completely against his expectations.

For a moment, he found himself unable to grasp Arton's personality at all.

One thing, however, was certain: Arton's calm confidence made Iceburg trust him somewhat more.

"Mayor Iceburg, I'm back."

Kalifa's voice suddenly sounded from the doorway.

"Kalifa."

Iceburg jolted and hurriedly turned toward her.

"Hm?" Kalifa pushed up her glasses. "Mayor Iceburg, you weren't looking at erotic manga, were you? Why do you look so startled?"

...

"N-No, nothing like that. I was merely curious about Arton. Did you manage to find him?"

Iceburg tightly gripped the paper on which Arton had written his ship's location beneath the desk.

Although Arton's words might not necessarily be true, Iceburg did not want to take the risk.

What if Kalifa truly was a CP9 agent?

For the sake of caution, Iceburg decided not to reveal anything concerning Arton for the time being.

"So you're worried about Arton."

Kalifa nodded in understanding.

Arton was simply too powerful. His arrival in Water 7 could have consequences far beyond anything ordinary.

Even someone as calm as Iceburg being alarmed by the possibility was perfectly natural.

...

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