Clang!
A piercing metallic crash reverberated suddenly from the narrow alley.
The Dragon Flame Sword in Bai Yu's hand came slashing down onto Otonashi Owl's shoulder.
A violent spray of sparks burst forth upon impact.
Boom!
In the next instant, all the immense force behind the blade transferred directly into Otonashi Owl's body.
The CP9 agent, known for his Iron Body (Tekkai) technique, braced with both feet—but the ground beneath cracked with a deep thud.
The stone pavement shattered as Owl's legs sank into the earth.
Pfft!
Simultaneously, the Iron Body technique failed to withstand the sharp edge of the Dragon Flame Sword. With a distinct burst of pressure, the defensive technique collapsed entirely.
With a swift follow-through, Bai Yu's blade drew a deadly arc—slicing down diagonally from Otonashi Owl's left shoulder.
A deep, brutal gash split across the agent's torso.
Blood sprayed out in waves, painting the air crimson.
"How...how could this be...?"
Grievously wounded, Otonashi Owl looked at Bai Yu with disbelief clouding his vision.
Then, his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed with a muffled thump.
"Whatever your mission was..."
"I don't appreciate being shadowed."
Bai Yu sheathed his blade with a soft click and turned away, speaking to himself under his breath.
After a pause, he crouched beside the unconscious Owl and rifled through his belongings.
Before long, he pulled out a black Den Den Mushi—a secure line used for CP9's covert communications.
Dragging Owl's limp form into the shadows, Bai Yu hid him behind a pile of crates before stepping out onto the street, casually blending in as though nothing had occurred.
Beep beep. Beep beep.
As Bai Yu continued his investigations around Water 7, the Den Den Mushi he had taken from Owl suddenly rang.
Recognizing the source, Bai Yu ducked into a quieter alley with minimal foot traffic and answered the call.
"Status report. Have you uncovered Bai Yu's objective yet?"
A deep voice came through—cold and composed.
Bai Yu recognized it instantly: Blueno, CP9's Door-Door Fruit user.
The pieces were falling into place.
CP9—an elite cypher-pol unit operating under World Government command—was targeting him.
But why?
Bai Yu had never crossed CP9 before—he wasn't a pirate, nor a revolutionary. In fact, as a Marine officer, technically, they were on the same side.
What made him a target?
Blueno's voice resumed, impatient.
"Why the silence? Are you compromised?"
"You need to move faster in uncovering Bai Yu's intentions."
"Don't forget—the orders from the top are clear. That object must never fall into enemy hands."
With that, the line went dead.
Bai Yu stood in silence, the call still echoing in his mind.
He now understood what they were after—Pluton, the legendary ancient weapon.
From Blueno's tone, it was clear: the World Government suspected Bai Yu's arrival in Water 7 had ties to the lost battleship.
"I moved too recklessly," Bai Yu reflected.
"Coming to Water 7 openly was a mistake."
He realized the higher-ups must have already linked his activities and research to the Pluton rumors that surrounded this city.
If CP9 was on his trail, the government must've already launched internal surveillance on potential threats.
But perhaps, for now, it was only suspicion.
"I need to act fast—before they confirm anything."
Resolving to move swiftly, Bai Yu returned to the marketplace to continue his search for the exact location of Franky's ship dismantling house.
Thirty minutes later.
He returned to the designated meeting point.
Fortunately, there were no signs of pursuit or disturbances along the way.
Then again, Bai Yu had taken great care not to ask for directions overtly since learning CP9 was involved.
Subtlety limited his progress, but protected him from further exposure.
"Colonel Bai Yu!"
A familiar voice called out—Koby and Helmeppo arrived on the scene, slightly out of breath.
Bai Yu gave them a silent look, a subtle inquiry in his eyes.
Koby merely shook his head, apologetically.
Helmeppo, however, smirked confidently.
"You found it?" Bai Yu asked, his tone sharpening.
Helmeppo grinned wider.
"Didn't let you down, sir!"
"The shipbreaking house you described is tucked away in a deserted back-alley district."
"Had to buy the intel off a shady vendor, but he delivered."
Helmeppo handed Bai Yu a rolled-up piece of white parchment.
It was a roughly drawn map, hastily sketched with black ink—but surprisingly accurate.
A circle on the map marked the target location: Franky's shipbreaking hideout.
"Well done," Bai Yu nodded, pleased.
Helmeppo puffed up with pride and threw a sideways glance at Koby, who only chuckled.
"So what's next, Colonel?" Koby asked cautiously.
They didn't know the full plan, but both could sense this wasn't a routine task.
"For now, we rest," Bai Yu replied.
"You two are not involved in the next phase."
Daylight brought too many eyes, and his next actions required utmost discretion.
Better to keep the others out—for their safety and his secrecy.
They soon found an inn nearby.
Bai Yu took a single room.
Koby and Helmeppo bunked together.
Time passed, and the city fell into slumber.
Midnight.
In the darkness of his room, Bai Yu sat cross-legged with eyes closed—his breathing calm and steady.
He hadn't practiced sword swings that evening. No unnecessary noise, no reckless moves.
His focus was singular: preserve peak condition for what was to come.
At the right moment, his eyes opened sharply.
Kenbunshoku Haki—Observation Haki—flared silently to life.
Hummm...
He slowly opened the window.
Invisible waves of awareness spread out around the inn, feeling for signs of spies or observers.
To his surprise—no hostile presence.
Still, he didn't drop his guard.
With one foot on the windowsill, Bai Yu propelled himself into the air.
Fwoosh!
He landed silently atop a nearby rooftop.
The night sky concealed him well.
Without pause, he dashed across rooftops, heading out of the Water 7 central district.
His destination: the northern backstreet marked earlier.
Throughout his movement, he maintained Observation Haki—scanning constantly for any pursuers.
Even taking occasional detours to bait out hidden agents.
But none came.
Once he was certain no one followed, Bai Yu turned toward the shipbreaking site, heart steady, blade ready.
The real game was about to begin.