Chapter 13: Probing
Looking at Kalifa, who was somewhat furious and embarrassed, Su Xiao made no comment. Acquiring the Six Styles technique "Shave" put him in a great mood.
"Don't get excited. They're just two bombs. You can try to find someone to remove them, but let me warn you: anyone other than me who touches those two bombs will trigger an explosion."
Su Xiao wasn't bluffing. Both alchemy bombs were in a semi-activated state. As long as he sensed anything wrong, he would detonate them immediately.
This was a precaution. There were a total of four spies lurking in Water Seven, three of them at Galley-La Company, and one who had opened a tavern in Water Seven, coordinating with the three from Galley-La.
The spy running the tavern was named Blueno, a master of physical combat. More importantly, Blueno was a Devil Fruit user: the Door-Door Fruit.
Door-Door Fruit: Paramecia type. It allows the user to create doors on any object they touch, including air, walls, human bodies, and even flames.
Su Xiao was worried about one thing: Kalifa going to Blueno, who would use the Door-Door Fruit to create a door on Kalifa's body, opening her stomach without injury to remove the alchemy bombs.
Su Xiao had naturally considered this possibility, so he had semi-activated the alchemy bombs, ready to detonate them at any sign of trouble.
If Blueno dared to try removing the bombs, he would likely be blown up along with Kalifa.
Kalifa had considered this very point, which was why she hadn't dared to act rashly. She could clearly sense something wrong with the bombs in her stomach, so she only dared to drink liquids and avoided eating solid food.
"Detonate them if you want. Don't expect to get any more Six Styles from me."
Kalifa's attitude was firm. Handing over the training method for Shave was already a violation of CP9's rules, but she had spent several years undercover in Water Seven and couldn't bear the thought of failing her mission.
"You've misunderstood one thing."
"What?" Kalifa looked at Su Xiao with confusion.
"Why are you hostile toward me? Think back carefully."
Su Xiao's words made Kalifa ponder. Right, how had the two of them become enemies? They had no connection before.
"Because... of that bottle of poison."
"Exactly. So I don't care whether you're a spy or anything else. I was shipwrecked at sea and drifted to Water Seven just to recuperate. You were the one who initiated the hostility. Don't complain about being forced to swallow a few bombs. I spared your life, which is already lenient."
Although Kalifa felt Su Xiao had a point, something still seemed off. She began recalling everything that had happened since meeting Su Xiao.
First, she had been entangled in a humiliating way by some kind of metal wire, then pinned to the ground and "rubbed" (with explosives). After being "rubbed," she regained her freedom, only to be blackmailed and molested at the banquet.
The more Kalifa thought about it, the more frustrated she became. She finally realized what was wrong: she had been playing the role of the victim the entire time.
"I won't believe your lies anymore, you deceitful liar."
Su Xiao ate large chunks of meat and drank heavily. The food in the pirate world was high in calories, and the stamina he had expended during the day's battles was gradually recovering.
"A liar, huh? Say what you want. But... are you really okay with the other two bombs in your stomach?"
The conversation returned to the bombs. Kalifa was deeply troubled. She felt that if she didn't give something up today, she wouldn't be able to get out of this.
Kalifa gritted her teeth and said, "State... your terms."
"Didn't I tell you before? One Six Styles technique for each bomb."
Su Xiao burped, lit a cigarette, and took a deep drag. A cigarette after a meal was very satisfying.
"Why are you so fixated on the Six Styles? Can't it be something else?"
It seemed Kalifa wouldn't hand over any more Six Styles techniques.
Sensing this, Su Xiao said half-jokingly, "Fine. Come warm my bed tonight."
"F... fine."
Su Xiao was stunned. Kalifa had actually agreed!
"Don't look at me like that. For the sake of completing the mission, I can pay this price. Rest assured, I'm clean."
Su Xiao waved his hand.
"I don't have the habit of forcing women into such things. If the Six Styles won't work... then how about a Great Grade Sword, Twenty-One Works?"
Great Grade Sword, Twenty-One Works: The twenty-one famous swords of the pirate world, each a legendary blade.
Weapons in the pirate world were divided into three grades: Skillful Grade, Fifty Works; Great Grade, Twenty-One Works; and Supreme Grade, Twelve Works.
Obtaining a Supreme Grade sword was unlikely. Su Xiao wanted a Great Grade sword, Twenty-One Works, but even that was extremely difficult.
"Are you joking?" Kalifa was dumbfounded by Su Xiao's request.
"What?"
"Each of the Great Grade swords, Twenty-One Works, is a rare treasure. I'm just a spy. There's no way I can get my hands on a famous sword like that. Compared to that request, warming your bed tonight is much more acceptable."
Su Xiao curled his lip. Letting a spy warm his bed at night was the height of idiocy. Although Kalifa was a sexy little secretary, she was also a highly poisonous rose.
"Since the Great Grade swords, Twenty-One Works, are out of the question... then Skillful Grade, Fifty Works."
Kalifa tried to bargain, but Su Xiao cut her off.
"Put a Skillful Grade sword, Fifty Works, in front of me within four days. Remember, a weapon of this size."
Su Xiao pointed at Dragon-Slaying Flash. After all, the pirate world didn't distinguish between swords and blades. It would be awkward if Kalifa went through all that trouble only to bring back a sword.
"What makes me believe you?"
"You have no choice."
"I'll... do my best."
Having received Kalifa's reply, Su Xiao stubbed out his cigarette. Not killing Kalifa earlier had indeed been the right choice. A living Kalifa was far more useful than a dead one.
"As a reward, you're allowed to eat today."
Su Xiao snapped his fingers, and the activity of the alchemy bombs decreased.
"Humiliation..."
Kalifa gritted her teeth and grabbed a plate of steak, chewing each bite with force, as if it were Su Xiao.
"Bastard."
Kalifa muttered under her breath.
"What?"
Su Xiao fixed his gaze on Kalifa.
"Nothing. I said you're handsome and charming."
Kalifa's conscience ached. She had said something extremely insincere.
"If I hear anything like that again, I'll treat you to another 'Tire-Bursting Meridian Pill' for free."
Kalifa fell silent. She didn't know what a "Tire-Bursting Meridian Pill" was, but she vaguely guessed it was a bomb.
What did it feel like to have a bomb in your stomach that could explode at any moment? The answer was very troubling. From today onward, Kalifa's least favorite color became white—the color of "chewing gum."
The banquet ended in a joyful atmosphere, at least as far as Su Xiao was concerned.
The drunken shipwrights sang loudly as they left the banquet hall. Su Xiao, full and satisfied, also departed.
Outside the banquet hall, Kalifa stood in a dark corner, waiting for her companion.
"What happened?"
A man's voice came from behind Kalifa, his tone somewhat unfriendly.
"I swallowed three bombs. I've dealt with one. The other two are still in my stomach."
Kalifa sighed.
"Can you cut open your stomach to remove them?"
"No... I'm not sure."
"Go find Blueno. He has a way."
The man never showed his face. He was Rob Lucci.