Chapter 305: Chapter 6: Cowboy
The issues with Iceberg don’t stop there. More importantly, even at the end of the plot, Luffy and the others didn’t go for the kill on Iceberg. Otherwise, Iceberg would have surely died. This is because the World Government didn’t want Iceberg dead. Even though the blueprints of the Netherworld King had been destroyed, the World Government still didn’t want Iceberg to die and continued to let him control the City of Seven Seas.
Iceberg is currently: running an illegal business (helping Pirates build and repair ships), holding a legitimate position (mayor), and making a lot of money quietly (Galley-La Company).
For a person like that, if someone said he was a warm-hearted man of justice, Su Xiao would never believe it. Moreover, Galley-La Company doesn’t reject anyone in their external recruitment.
Thinking about this, Su Xiao already had some preliminary plans in mind, with Iceberg playing an important role in them.
Iceberg removed his blindfold and looked at the doorway.
"Ah, is it Angus? What’s the matter?"
Angus immediately bowed, placing his right hand on his chest.
"Mr. Iceberg, this is the new employee, Bai Ye."
"Oh." Iceberg continued to lie down, seemingly wanting to take another nap.
"Bai Ye can roughly handle Pirates with bounties ranging from 50 million to 100 million Belli."
Iceberg, who was about to lie down, sat up straight, scraped the sleep from his eyes, and sized up Su Xiao.
"Bai Ye..." Iceberg pondered for a moment, then looked toward Angus.
Angus quickly stepped forward and whispered something in Iceberg’s ear. Finally, Iceberg nodded slightly.
Su Xiao stood somewhat bored at the door, starting to think about the subsequent events.
The City of Seven Seas might just be a transition point; the ultimate goal of the main mission should be related to Enies Lobby.
Currently, joining a faction is just to get a ’ticket’; only with a ticket can one participate in the Enies Lobby event.
Thinking about Enies Lobby, Su Xiao couldn’t help but feel a burning excitement. Although dangerous, there are definitely many good things, such as Rokushiki and Devil fruits, that make people envious.
Su Xiao was particularly interested in the Shave among the Rokushiki, a technique for quickly closing in on enemies, which was exactly what he lacked.
After thinking for a long time, Iceberg’s voice interrupted Su Xiao’s thoughts.
"Hello, Bai Ye, I am the president of Galley-La Company, Iceberg."
Iceberg stood up, walked forward to shake hands with Su Xiao. It seemed that after Angus’s introduction, Iceberg also valued Su Xiao. Such ’wild’ strong individuals were rare.
"Hello."
When their hands met, Su Xiao immediately judged that Iceberg was not a man of violence, just a shipwright. Of course, this lack of forcefulness was relative.
"I’ve understood your situation. But, Galley-La is a shipbuilding company. If you don’t know shipbuilding, it would be difficult..."
Iceberg hesitated, seemingly considering whether to employ Su Xiao. Su Xiao was not worried at all, believing that the other party was very likely to hire him.
"How about this, these days you first be responsible for the security of No.1 Dock. We often entertain Pirates, and although shipwrights can maintain order, it greatly affects work efficiency. I was already considering whether to hire security personnel."
"Alright."
Su Xiao agreed readily. He just needed to join a faction; of course, it would be best to have a little say within that faction.
"That’s the best. Galley-La Company welcomes you onboard. Angus, help Bai Ye with the onboarding process. Both of you come together for the celebration tonight."
"Yes, Mr. Iceberg."
Angus took Su Xiao out of the office, showing an obviously enthusiastic attitude and even boasting about how charming the women in the City of Seven Seas were and that he had six mistresses, etc.
Su Xiao completed the onboarding process at the municipal building, which was very simple, requiring just the signing of a document.
Upon noticing the content of the document, Su Xiao’s pupils narrowed—the Galley-La Company turned out to be a subsidiary of the World Government and was autonomous; considering it’s the World Government’s royal shipyard, such status was not exaggerated.
[Hunter has joined ’Galley-La Company,’ Main Mission: Choice of Faction (Completed).]
[Complete Main Mission: Choice of Faction, Yes/No.]
Su Xiao chose to complete it, and a new mission appeared.
[Main Mission: Gaining Recognition]
Difficulty Level: Lv.9
Mission Brief: Gain a certain reputation within Galley-La Company.
Mission Info: Current Reputation: Neutral 70/400 (This level of reputation allows you to move freely in the City of Seven Seas.)
Mission Deadline: 15 days.
Mission Reward: Rewards will be given based on reputation.
Mission Penalty: None
...
The derivative world has entered the buffering phase from the initial phase, giving Su Xiao time for free actions. During this time, he could explore missions or eliminate powerful enemies in the City of Seven Seas.
Su Xiao was secretly pleased; the City of Seven Seas has a prosperous economy and a large population, offering plenty of exploration potential.
His goals in the Pirate World include several things: famous swords, Rokushiki, and Devil fruits.
The possibility of obtaining a Devil fruit was small, but once obtained it would mean a huge fortune.
Determined inwardly, Su Xiao walked towards the exit of the municipal building with Bubute Ni. Just as he reached the entrance, a man with a cigar in his mouth approached.
The man, about thirty years old, had a cigar in his mouth, a full beard, a cowboy hat, and a revolver holster at his waist, resembling a Western cowboy.
Su Xiao halted his steps, and the cowboy stopped too.
The other was a Contractor, Su Xiao was sure, and he was extremely powerful!
The situation was tense, the cowboy stood at the entrance, Su Xiao inside the city hall, with a few meters between them.
After about a minute of stalemate, Su Xiao smiled, placing his hand on the hilt of his sword and slowly moving forward.
The other should be a long-range enemy, unlikely to let him approach easily.
As expected, the cowboy put his hand on his revolver and gradually backed away.
This scene caught the attention of the city hall staff, all of whom watched Su Xiao and the cowboy.
The cowboy exited the city hall, Su Xiao followed through the main door, neither speaking, Su Xiao gradually walked further away.
The cowboy spat out the cigar and fixed his gaze on Su Xiao’s back.
...
Su Xiao walked briskly through the City of Seven Seas, scanning his surroundings as if searching for something.
Having walked a good distance, he found a sparsely populated open space. It was an abandoned shipyard, now used for placing old ships, becoming a ship graveyard.
The nearby canal carried the sound of rushing water; Su Xiao signaled Bubute Ni, who immediately hid inside an old ship.
"Having followed for so long, come out."
Su Xiao slowly drew Dragon Slash, his gaze directed towards a residential house.
A figure stepped from behind the house, it was the cowboy from before.
"So, are you planning to kill me to get a Scarlet Card?"
The other had been following him, so Su Xiao decisively chose a sparsely populated location for the battlefield; evading battle was not his style.
The cowboy did not draw his gun but instead gradually approached Su Xiao.
"Did you kill Carl?"
The cowboy spoke, and Su Xiao frowned, Carl? Phantom Troupe!
Examining the cowboy’s attire, Su Xiao noticed the revolver at the cowboy’s waist, recalling something Carl had said during their fight: ’I haven’t seen anyone else in the troupe besides Number Seven Left Wheel,’
The cowboy before him was most likely the Left Wheel Carl had mentioned, ranked seventh in the Phantom Troupe.
Realizing this, Su Xiao’s heart sank; Carl, who was ranked 11th, was so strong, and now Number Seven would definitely be stronger.
"Afraid to admit it? Among the troupe numbers, we have mutual perception; having killed someone in the troupe, this perception won’t fade across several worlds."
The cowboy looked at Su Xiao, seemingly without hatred.
"If you mean the one playing Tarot Cards, then yeah, that’s correct."
Blue Steel Shadow activated, today might be a fight to the death.
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