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  --xLOVEx--

  When they arrived at the Galley-La headquarters, Luffy was the first to approach the entrance, eager to see what awaited them inside. But just as he was about to step through the fence, a tall, slender man with a long nose and a distinctive hat appeared in front of him, blog his path.

  "You guys are not workers here," the man said calmly, "so let's talk outside."

  Luffy blinked, looking at the man in fusion. "Oh, Usopp. How are you doing?" he asked, pletely vinced he was talking to his crewmate.

  Standing right o him, Usopp facepalmed. "It's not me, you idiot!"

  Nami quickly stepped forward, holding out the reendatioer from Kokoro. "We're here to meet with Iceburg," she expined, ign the mix-up.

  The man's eyes flicked to the letter before he took it from her. "Kokoro, huh?" he murmured, skimming over the tents.

  As the man dozed off, Luffy leaned in closer to Usopp, still baffled by the resembnce. "Are you sure that's not you?"

  Usopp groaned, shaking his head. "I'm positive! Just because he has a long nose doesn't mean he's me!"

  Nami nodded from the side. "Also, his nose is regur while Usopp's is round."

  The man paused for a moment, gng at Usopp's nose as if to firm it before tinuing. "You're here to see Iceburg, huh? He's the mayor of Water 7 and the president of Galley-La pany. He's a very busy man, so getting an audieh him isn't easy. But if you've got a letter from Kokoro, he will make time."

  Luffy, still curious about the stranger, leaned in closer. "So, who are you?"

  The man adjusted his hat, giving a small smile. "Name's Kaku. I'm the foreman of Dock #1 at Galley-La pany. You want your ship appraised, right? I'll take care of that."

  Before anyone could respond, Kaku crouched down, his muscles tensing. Then, with an incredible burst of speed, he unched himself into the air, leaping high above the buildings. The crew watched in shock as he soared through the sky, disappearing over the rooftops.

  Usopp's jaw dropped. "He fell!"

  Before they could panic, a calm voice spoke from behind them. "No worries. People iy call him 'Mountain Wind.' He's one of our best shipwrights—don't uimate the carpenters of Galley-La."

  The trio turo see a blue-haired man approag, apanied by a blonde woman with gsses and a stern expression. The man exuded authority, yet his demeanor was rexed as he walked toward the Straw Hat crew. This was Iceburg, the mayor of Water 7 and president of Galley-La pany.

  The woman, Kalifa, pushed her gsses up and looked at a clipboard she was holding. "Did you check them?" Iceburg asked without taking his eyes off the crew.

  Kalifa nodded, flipping through the pages. "It was iigated. Strairates. Straw Hat Luffy, 120 million, Coby the Copy Ninja, 100 million, Devil Child Nico Robin, 79 million, Pirate Hunter Zoro, 50 million, and Usopp the Great Liar..." Usopp, hearing his title, quickly chimed in with an indignant "Oi!" but romptly ignored.

  Kalifa tinued, unfazed by the interruption, "15 million berries. A total bounty of 364 million berries. They started i Blue and currently have eight members."

  Iceburg, seemingly unfazed by the crew's infamy, houghtfully. "I see. It must not have been easy to e all the way here from East Blue."

  Luffy, ever the straightforward oepped forward with a grin. "Yep, it was fun though!"

  Iceburg smiled at Luffy's enthusiasm before introdug himself. "I'm Iceburg, the mayor of this city."

  Kalifa started to list Iceburg's appois in a crisp, professional tone, but Iceburg cut her off, groaning. "Do I have to meet all these people? It's such a drag."

  Usopp, watg this iion whispered, "He doesn't seem very reliable?"

  Nami nodded, a smirk on her face. "No kidding. A mayor who doesn't want to meet people? That's rich."

  Luffy just ughed. "He's funny!"

  Kalifa's eyes narrowed at the disrespectful ents, and before anyone could react, she charged at the crew. Her leg shot up in a high kick aimed directly at Usopp, who yelped in surprise.

  But before her attack could nd, Coby stepped forward and grabbed her leg, stopping her cold. His grip was firm, unyielding. "I know you're ag out of loyalty to Iceburg, Ms. Kalifa," Coby said, his tone ridig. "But I'd reend not getting physical with people you don't know. Things might get ugly."

  As he spoke, Coby tilted his head slightly, lifting her leg just enough to g her exposed underwear. He smirked, "Lacy bck, good choice."

  Kalifa's eyes widened in shock, her usual calm demeanor shattered. Iceburg quickly stepped forward, trying to defuse the situation. "I apologize for Kalifa," he said, his voice smooth. "She's just very loyal. Please don't take offense."

  But Kalifa wasn't going to let it go. The moment entioned her underwear, her professionalism gave way to raw anger. She pulled her leg with all her strength, trying to break free from his grip. To her shock, it was as if her leg was caught in a vice—Coby didn't budge an inch.

  "Hmm, good strength for a secretary," Coby remarked, his smirk widening. "How odd."

  Kalifa's fury only intensified, but before she could react further, Iceburg pced a hand on her shoulder, a silent and to stand down. "That's enough, Kalifa."

  She gred at Coby for a moment longer before finally stepping back, her leg still in his grip until he released her. Her eyes burned with embarrassment and anger, but she forced herself to remain silent.

  Iceburg sighed, sensing the tension in the air. "Let's move on, shall we? You're here to get your ship appraised, right?"

  Luffy, who had been watg the exge with wide eyes, shook his head. "Not really. Our ship is in tip-top dition."

  Iceburg tilted his head, clearly puzzled. "Then why are you here?"

  Nami, passing her briefcase to Usopp, stepped forward with the letter of reendation from Kokoro, handing it to Iceburg. "Kokoro-san told us t this to you."

  Iceburg took the letter and quickly ope, his eyes sing the tents. The letter was short, with just two words: "Help them." A lipstick mark was smeared otht er. Iceburg's expression didn't ge, but without warning, he tore the letter in half, the sound of the ripping paper cutting through the air.

  The crew stared at him, surprised by the sudden a.

  "Why did you tear it up?" Nami asked, her tone carrying fusion and irritation.

  Iceburg shrugged casually. "Didn't like the lipstick mark," he said simply. "But I'll still help you. The problem is, if you're not here for ship repairs or a new ship, I'm not sure how I help."

  Luffy grinned widely, stepping forward with a proud look. "I want a shipwright to join my crew."

  Kalifa and Iceburg exged a brief g that not really expeg a pirate to ask them to hand one of the shipwrights over. Iceburg raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by the request. "You came all the way to Galley-La just to steal a shipwright?"

  "Yep!" Luffy firmed, noddihusiastically. "We need someone who take care of our ship, especially since I am going to bee King of the Pirates!"

  Iceburg leaned back slightly, sidering Luffy's request. "That's a tall order. The shipwrights here are some of the best in the world. I'm not sure any of them would be willing to leave and join a pirate crew."

  Luffy's expression didn't falter. "We'll see about that! I'm sure we'll find someone who's up for the challenge!"

  Before Iceburg could respond, Kaku returned from his appraisal of the Going Merry. He nded lightly on the ground and walked over to the group. "I've checked out your ship," he began, gng at Luffy and the others. "The Going Merry, right?"

  Luffy nodded. "That's right! How is she?"

  Kaku hesitated for a moment before speaking. "She's a fine ship, but… well, there are some serious problems."

  --

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