One Piece: I will become stronger by checking in

"S...Sugoi! What a massive fountain!" Luffy exclaimed in awe, gazing at the sprawling Water 7.

"Seriously, this place looks amazing. It really lives up to its name as an industrial city!" Nami said, taking in the impressive view.

"Hey, what's with the numbers on the walls?" Usopp wondered aloud.

Everyone chatted excitedly, marveling at the city's vibrant atmosphere.

Nami pulled out the map Granny Kokoro had given them. "Thankfully, we stopped by that station first—it's saved us a lot of trouble! Let me figure out how to find this 'Iceburg' person."

However, her cheerful expression quickly turned sour. She tossed the map onto the deck in frustration.

"Who's supposed to understand this mess?"

Chopper picked up the map, squinting at the crude drawing. "This art is... uh... kind of on Luffy's level."

Curious, the rest of the crew leaned in to look. A collective sigh followed as they realized the map was nearly incomprehensible, its markings closer to a child's doodles than useful directions.

"Oi! Pirate ships can't just sail in like you own the place!"

An old man fishing by the dock called out to them. He pointed toward a side canal. "If you're coming in, head around the back street."

"Got it! Thanks!" Nami called back.

As the Going Merry glided into the city's waterways, a familiar voice echoed in Kai's mind.

[Ding! Congratulations on entering Water 7. Observation Haki upgraded to Advanced Level!]

Kai's senses expanded in an instant, stretching farther than ever before. The range of his perception doubled, and his ability to glimpse into the future became sharper and clearer.

Testing his new ability, he peered into possible futures. A faint smirk crossed his lips as he glanced at Zoro and Luffy. His gaze lingered on Luffy for a moment.

This next part? Totally not his fault. Luffy just happened to figure it out on his own.

The Merry passed through Water 7's canals, with everyone mesmerized by the unique cityscape.

"This place is incredible!" Luffy marveled. "It's like the whole city's floating on water! Even the houses are on water foundations!"

Sanji nodded. "It's really something else. A city built entirely around water—it's got a kind of elegance to it."

Zoro, however, frowned. "Hey, have you noticed something weird about this place?"

"Huh? Weird how?" Luffy tilted his head, genuinely curious.

"You know... people's reactions," Zoro said flatly. "No one's scared of us. Not even a little. Pirates show up, and they're acting like it's nothing."

"Maybe they're just used to seeing all kinds of people here," Usopp suggested. "This is supposed to be a major trade hub, after all."

"Or maybe there's someone—or something—here that makes them feel safe," Kai added, glancing discreetly toward a nearby alleyway.

Hidden in the shadows of the alley, two masked figures in white suits watched the crew intently.

"Did he just look this way?" one of them muttered.

"Must've. That guy's got a 2 billion berry bounty for a reason—his Observation Haki's insane."

"Should we act now?"

"You idiot! It's just the two of us! Against him?!"

Before the argument could continue, an immense wave of Conqueror's Haki washed over them, crushing their spirits and forcing their knees to buckle.

"W-What the hell…?!" one whispered through gritted teeth, sweat pouring down his face.

The pressure finally lifted, leaving the two spies gasping for air.

"Just his Haki alone…"

"...Let's report back. This is way out of our league."

Meanwhile, back on the Merry, Kai leaned against the railing, his brow furrowed in thought.

"CP0… What are they doing here?" he mused silently. Their presence was unexpected, and though they posed no threat to him, their appearance signaled trouble.

For now, though, he decided to focus on their task at hand. Whatever came next, he'd deal with it when it arrived.

As the crew neared a cape for docking, Luffy raised his fists in excitement. "Let's exchange the gold!"

"Alright!" Usopp cheered. "Gold means treasure! Treasure means food!"

After some discussion, the group split up. Nami, Luffy, and Usopp would exchange the gold, Sanji would scout the markets for fresh ingredients, and Kai would explore the city with Robin and Chopper.

As for Zoro? Naturally, he stayed behind to guard the ship.

At the entrance to the city, they passed a sign for a "Bull Rental Shop."

"Bull? What's that?" Nami wondered.

Before anyone could answer, Luffy darted ahead, dragging the gold behind him.

"Hey! Can we rent a bull here?"

(ノಠ益ಠ)ノ彡┻━┻

"FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS FIRST!!!"