Inside Blueno's bar—
"Five beers," Sora said with a smile as he sat at the bar, looking at Blueno, who was tending bar behind the counter.
By now, Sora, Reiju, and the others had once again changed their appearances using the Fantasy Rainbow Camouflage—no longer dressed as sharp business elites, but as casual out-of-town tourists.
Golden Week's palette ability continued to be incredibly effective, and Sora never passed up an opportunity to make use of it.
Of course, for baiting purposes, only he, Reiju, Anna, and Shalria had their appearances altered. Robin's look remained mostly unchanged—close inspection would still reveal her true identity.
"Right away. Please wait a moment," Blueno replied, setting down the glass he had just finished wiping and sneaking a subtle glance at Robin, his eyes narrowing slightly with suspicion.
He felt her face looked familiar, but he couldn't quite place it.
"Are those three the shipwrights from Galley-La Company—Barry, Lulu, and Tilestone?" Sora asked casually as he looked toward another table.
There were only a few others in the bar at this early afternoon hour—just those three from Galley-La Company besides Sora's group.
"What are you looking at?" Reiju asked, noticing Sora turn his head.
Robin, Anna, and Shalria also looked over to Barry's table.
"Whoa! Gorgeous ladies—four of them!" Lulu and Tilestone's eyes widened at the sight of Robin and the others.
"Stop staring, you indecent women!" Barry shouted, face turning red as he spouted his usual catchphrase.
Indecent?!
Reiju, Robin, and the others were momentarily confused—how were they indecent?
Sora burst out laughing at Barry's reaction. Reiju and Robin were wearing tight T-shirts and short shorts that showed off their curves and long legs. Anna and Shalria had on midriff-baring tops and knee-length shorts.
To the average person, it was a hot summer look. But to the overly conservative Barry, it might as well have been scandalous.
Still confused by Sora's laughter, the women exchanged puzzled glances.
"Sorry, Barry didn't mean it that way. We'll cover your drinks as an apology," Lulu and Tilestone said quickly, placing money on the table before dragging Barry away to avoid trouble.
"Here's your beer," Blueno said, placing five mugs in front of them, conveniently pulling attention back to the bar.
As Barry and his group left, Sora smiled and reached for the mug Blueno handed him.
Zzzzzzt!
Boom!
A sudden surge of high-voltage electricity exploded from Sora's hand, shattering the mug and electrocuting Blueno on the spot.
With the bar now empty, Sora no longer had to keep up appearances.
Click!
Reiju knelt beside the fallen Blueno and slapped a pair of sea prism stone handcuffs on him.
"What do you want? Robbery?" Blueno asked in a low voice, feigning ignorance despite feeling his strength draining.
Bound by sea prism stone, his only chance now was to continue pretending to be a bartender.
"Blueno. Agent of the World Government's CP9, sent to Water 7 to obtain the blueprints of the ancient weapon Pluton," Sora said casually. "Did I get that right?"
Robin's eyes widened in shock.
She had been hunted by CP9 for years. She had escaped death by the skin of her teeth more than once.
"You… you know who I am?!" Blueno looked at Sora in disbelief.
"Dispose of him," Sora ordered, not bothering to explain further.
Anna and Shalria leapt over the counter and dragged Blueno into the bar's kitchen.
One minute later—
『Ding! CP9 agent Blueno eliminated...』
After paying 500 million Berries' worth of gold, a new Devil Fruit materialized in Sora's hand—shaped like an archway.
The Door-Door Fruit. In Sora's eyes, its Air Door ability was extremely practical.
"Let's go."
As Anna and Shalria returned with bloodstained cuffs, Sora finished his beer, stored the Door-Door Fruit in his dimensional inventory, and walked out with Reiju in his arms.
After making sure they had no traces of blood, Anna and Shalria followed quickly.
Robin, standing at the doorway, used her Hana Hana no Mi powers to lock the bar from the inside and placed a "Closed" sign at the entrance.
Only then did she catch up with Sora and naturally wrap herself around his other arm.
After passing through a quiet alley, the group returned to their Five Seas Chamber of Commerce business attire.
Sora, accompanied by his four "secretaries," headed to the office of Mayor Iceburg.
As the president of the Five Seas Chamber, it was time for a "business meeting" with the Mayor of Water 7 and president of Galley-La Company.
...
Inside the Galley-La Company president's office—
Wearing secretary attire and glasses, Kalifa pushed open the door and said to Iceburg:
"Mr. Iceburg, the president of the Five Seas Chamber of Commerce is here to see you."
"Do you have time now?"
"Five Seas Chamber of Commerce?" Iceburg looked up, puzzled.
He had never heard of that group before.
Adjusting her glasses, Kalifa calmly explained:
"It's a new chamber recently established in the North Blue. They've made a name for themselves by defeating pirate crews."
"They've saved many merchant ships and civilians from pirates. They're highly respected in the North Blue."
Defeating pirate crews, huh... Iceburg paused in thought and then said,
"Send them in. I've got a little time."
"Understood."
Kalifa nodded, then walked out to the reception room where Sora and his group waited.
"Mr. Iceburg will see you now."
Sora gave her a once-over and smiled. "Got it."
Compared to her current modest secretary attire, Sora actually preferred her CP9 look with the black suit and fishnet stockings.
Still, he had to admit—Kalifa was stunning.
Adjusting her glasses again, Kalifa looked at Sora with a blank expression and said,
"Sir, please mind your behavior. What you just said could be considered sexual harassment."
Hearing her signature catchphrase, Sora's mouth twitched.
"Huh? You?" Reiju sneered, stepping in front of Kalifa with arms crossed, eyeing her up and down.
Kalifa narrowed her eyes and stared back. Beautiful women always had a natural sense of rivalry with other beautiful women.