Avoiding a Guilty Conscience

The pink Blue Bull swam slowly in the water, while Huayue, leaning against the main seat, seemed to be half asleep.

Water 7 was still bustling with activity at night, with the waterways packed with people. Seeing a group of his kind huddled together ahead, Pink Bull glanced back and silently turned back the way he came.

Suddenly, he felt a sudden increase in weight. Pink Bull turned around and realized that a blonde woman had somehow gotten onto his back.

"How leisurely, Uchiha Huayue. This is the confidence of Four Emperors. Even near Enies Lobby, he has no fear of the World Government's jurisdiction?"

He opened his eyes listlessly. Unlike the tone he heard at the City Hall this morning, the woman behind him spoke with a hint of cold arrogance.

"What brings Iceburg's secretary to me? Could it be that he's here specifically to declare war? That's not in Water 7's interest..."

With a leap, Pink Bull felt a weight on its head as a pair of high heels stepped on it.

"Indeed, as the secretary of Water 7, I would not risk meeting you, the most dangerous being on the sea..."

"But what if I were still a CP9 agent, sent by the World Government to investigate the secrets behind the Iceburg?"

Beneath the mask, a glint of surprise flashed in the fox demon's eyes. Huayue glanced at Kalifa with a half-smile, her expression unusually subtle.

Her legs were straight and long, her figure was curvaceous, and her pure black high heels under her black fishnet stockings were spotless.

At this moment, Kalifa's hair reached her waist, and her eyes sparkled with an inexplicable light. Although she tried to appear relaxed, her involuntary tension revealed her nervousness.

"CP9, huh? Then your opponents should be the Revolutionary Army. What are you doing looking for someone like me who has never considered himself a pirate, yet you've given him the title of one of the Four Emperors?"

Her tone was languid, and anyone could hear the nonchalance in her words. Huayue's actions startled Kalifa for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure.

"Aren't you curious? What secrets are hidden behind the Iceburg? Why would the World Government have me secretly monitoring the Iceburg?"

"No, the only things that can pique my curiosity are those that pose a threat to me."

"The only knowledge I am worth pursuing is the truth that countless people have tried their best to cover up, and the changes brought about by this history. Obviously, everything you know is not of interest to me."

This simple and straightforward answer clearly shattered all of Kalifa's preparations, and even her self-revelation of her identity failed to pique her interest.

"Then, what can I do to get your help to escape the clutches of the World Government?"

Tears streamed down her face through her tinted glasses. Kalifa, her eyes blurred with tears, collapsed helplessly onto Pink Bull's head as if grasping at a last straw.

At this moment, Pink Bull had one big eye and one small eye, and it glared fiercely at Kalifa was standing on its head.

If it could speak human language, it would be cursing her entire family right now. Doesn't Bull have any dignity?

"Oh? What do you mean?"

"In reality, when I was little, my father sold me to human traffickers for a bottle of wine. My mother was seriously ill when I left home, and my younger sister was too young to understand..."

For the next minute and thirty seconds, Kalifa recounts the tragic childhood of a naive little girl.

In short, it's about an alcoholic father, a seriously ill mother, a sensible younger sister, a broken home, and the arduous training of CP9 interspersed throughout...

"So, what are you trying to say?"

Seeing that the man before her remained unmoved and unmoved by her tragic past, Kalifa pretended to wipe away her tears with a handkerchief, her tone gradually turning cold.

"What a cold-blooded man! Don't you have even a shred of protectiveness towards vulnerable women? Don't you have the slightest compassion for the weak?"

"Huh? Why should I show mercy because of someone's tragic past? Every enemy I face has a tragic past, but what does that have to do with me? I created their tragedy?"

"If it's reasonable to say that whoever is the most miserable in this world is right, then the world should be ruled not by the World Government, but by those miserable beings..."

"Alright, you've already wasted one minute and fifty seconds of my time. If you don't tell me your purpose now, you'll never have to feel sadness again in your life. Make your choice."

His sharp gaze, like swords, sent chills down Kalifa's spine.

This man is incredibly dangerous; he could take my life at any moment. He doesn't even care about the tricks I'm playing.

"Then I'll just say it straight: CP9 is too dangerous. Not only do they frequently carry out dangerous missions, but they are also always at risk of danger."

"Therefore, I need a layer of protection to ensure that I can survive even if the mission fails, and that I will not be targeted by the World Government even if I betray them."

Only at this moment did Huayue nod slightly, but her eyes remained cold.

What can I get in return?

"Everything I've gained in CP9 over the years, including the training methods of the Six Powers, the secrets behind the Iceburg, and the information you will receive from the World Government in the future."

Without the slightest hesitation, Kalifa immediately offered the biggest bargaining chip she could muster, but Huayue's prolonged silence made her somewhat angry.

What an insatiable fellow! With so many chips, he wasn't even a little tempted.

What do you want?

Seeing that they were getting down to business, Kalifa snorted and silently put her hair up in a bun.

"I want a relationship, a relationship that won't take my life even if the World Government discovers it..."

He stomped hard, and in pain, Bull suddenly ran towards a secluded corner of Water 7, arriving at a quiet, deserted alley.

Bull, who was about to shout angrily, was blindfolded by a piece of black cloth at some point, and his urgent and fervent suppressed voice was confined to the alley.

In the dead of night, a silver moon hangs high in the sky.

After Pink Bull had gone far away, Kalifa, her legs trembling, remained expressionless and quietly made her way to Blueno's bar.

Near the city center square, Pink Bull, who had been grumbling, felt his head go numb again. Before he could even look up, a charming voice rang out.

"Is this really a good idea? Giving your genetic information to the World Government might lead to them using it for some evil purposes!"

The sight of her shapely legs and white fishnet stockings made Huayue's eyes deep and she looked at the incredibly familiar figure with a smile.

"Some things always need to be done by others, so as to avoid that little bit of unease deep in one's conscience, right?"