Chapter 321: Chapter 22: Capture
Walking on the path in front of the houses of the City of Seven Seas, the waterway beside was filled with small boats carried by Bull.
A new day begins, and the residents of the City of Seven Seas start to get busy.
Today is a bit different from usual because the ’Gods of Water’ are coming soon.
The so-called Gods of Water are actually a great tsunami that will sweep across the entire City of Seven Seas.
This was originally a disaster, but under human intelligence, the Gods of Water became a kind of wealth.
The massive tsunami will sweep the entire City of Seven Seas, at which time the residents will choose to either hide in the shelters on the back streets or take the Sea Train to leave the City of Seven Seas.
When the tsunami hits, the entire City of Seven Seas will be washed thoroughly. The streets will be spotless, and the houses will be cleaned, significantly improving the city’s sanitation conditions and greatly reducing the chances of disease outbreaks.
Moreover, this washing happens once a year, so the City of Seven Seas rarely has large-scale infectious disease outbreaks.
Not only that, but the tsunami also brings fish from other seas, making the City of Seven Seas’s fishing resources very abundant, and more than thirty percent of the civilians in the City of Seven Seas make a living by fishing.
The Gods of Water bring other benefits, which is why the civilians of the City of Seven Seas have not abandoned this constantly sinking island because the resources here are too rich.
According to professional meteorological detection, the Gods of Water will appear tomorrow or the day after, the latest being the day after.
The Gods of Water have extraordinary significance for the residents of the City of Seven Seas, so every year before the Gods of Water strike, the City of Seven Seas holds a celebration.
People put on gorgeous clothes, masks, and headgear, fully covering their bodies before heading to the city center.
Every year in the city center, there is a celebration similar to a masquerade ball, where civilians come to pray, asking the Water God to bless them.
This year is the same, with large Bulls occasionally swimming in the waterways; on the boats pulled by Bull, residents dressed in gorgeous clothes and wearing wooden masks are seated.
The gathering in the city center has some sacrificial elements, so the styles of the masks are relatively solemn since it is a sacrifice to the gods.
Su Xiao arrived at a tavern near Center Street and pushed open the tavern’s door, finding it full of guests.
This surprised Su Xiao, and after exiting the tavern, he checked his map again. Yes, this was the place.
The wooden placard next to the tavern’s door caught Su Xiao’s attention.
’Gods of Water Celebration Day, wine half price.’
So that’s it. Su Xiao was wondering why the tavern had so many guests.
Entering the tavern, he headed to the bar where CP9’s agent Bruno was busy behind the bar, looking every bit the bartender.
"Another glass, Brother Bruno."
A drunkard knocked the empty glass against the bar impatiently.
Bruno took the wine glass and refilled it for the drunkard, and when he handed the glass back to the drunkard, he happened to see Su Xiao sitting at the bar.
"Guest, what would you like to drink?"
"Rum."
Bruno nodded and handed over a glass of rum.
After a while, Bruno knocked on the bar, attracting all the guests’ attention.
"It’s already half-past nine, almost time for the celebration. The tavern will temporarily suspend business."
Hearing Bruno’s words, the guests inside the tavern were visibly a bit displeased.
"Close a little later, we’re just getting into it."
"Yeah, you stingy guy, at half price, we haven’t finished the wine cellar yet."
Laughter erupted in the tavern, and Bruno also smiled.
Though somewhat reluctant, the guests gradually left after settling their bills, while Bruno began to clean up the now chaotic tavern.
"You won’t... really come back here anymore, is that necessary?"
Su Xiao sipped his drink at the bar, but Bruno said nothing, continuing to tidy up the tavern.
Until the tavern was spotless and all glasses were wiped clean, Bruno went behind the bar, removed his jacket, folded it neatly, and placed it on the bar.
Bruno placed his hands on the clothes, closed his eyes, and pondered. When he opened his eyes, there was no longer much emotional fluctuation in them; he again became a special agent from a bartender. He had been at this tavern for five years and had even... grown accustomed to this life.
"Follow me, we can’t directly expose ourselves to others’ sight. Many people in the City of Seven Seas recognize me."
Walking into a room at the back of the tavern, two sets of celebration clothes were laid out on a wooden table, with masks and headgear complete.
Su Xiao picked up a mask from the table. It was a completely white mask, with holes and graffiti only around the eyes, while the rest was all pale.
The clothes were very luxurious, yet similarly restrictive, but this brightly colored robe could well disguise one’s shape and all distinguishing characteristics.
"We just wait here. All the entrances of the City of Seven Seas are already filled with scouts. As soon as the Straw Hat Pirates land on the island, we will receive the message immediately."
Su Xiao nodded, found a chair to sit down, and upon seeing the kind of attire Bruno had prepared, he inferred the subsequent plan: wait for the Straw Hat Pirates to land, then capture Nico Robin.
The wait was somewhat long; over two hours passed with no news arriving.
Su Xiao leaned back in his chair, playing a puzzle game on his tablet.
"Polulu, Polulu, Polulu..."
The Telephone Worm in Bruno’s arms rang, and he answered, the Telephone Worm uttering a string of numbers.
"Understood."
Bruno hung up the Telephone Worm, decoding what those numbers represented.
"The Straw Hat Pirates have landed on the island, positioned in the back street direction, and Nico Robin has already disembarked, currently strolling with a blue-nosed reindeer."
"No other people around?"
"There are a few suspicious individuals. Other forces should have also found Nico Robin."
Su Xiao said nothing more, dressing in the celebratory attire properly.
"Your dog."
Bruno looked at Bubute Ni.
"No problem, it can follow from a distance."
Bubute Ni barked twice. When it comes to fighting, Bubute Ni is not very skilled, but when it comes to hiding, Su Xiao can’t find it once it hides. It always manages to hide in inconceivable places.
In cave crevices, inside old ship crates, Bubute Ni even pretended to be a statue once. In short, only the enemy can’t think of a hiding place, there isn’t a place it can’t hide.
Bruno said nothing more, as Su Xiao’s rank was higher than his. He had no authority to command or order Su Xiao and was tasked with protecting Su Xiao’s safety throughout the mission. Even now, Bruno didn’t understand why Su Xiao was involved in this mission.
Leaving the tavern, the two headed straight for the back street direction, and during this time, Bruno’s Telephone Worm rang a few more times.
When they arrived at a path in the back street, Bruno’s steps stopped.
"According to the estimates of Nico Robin’s route, she is bound to pass through here."
Su Xiao looked around, the mask on his face somewhat hindering his vision. The path was bustling with people passing through.
Soon, a combination of a person and a deer appeared within sight—it was Robin and Chopper.
Su Xiao and Bruno walked towards them.
PS: (Caught a cold, too weak for a four-Chapter release.)