Currently, five warships are stationed along the shores of Water 7. Over five thousand Marines have locked down every entry and exit port of the city, maintaining a tight perimeter. Meanwhile, the actual "dirty work" inside the city is being handled by government agents dispatched directly from Enies Lobby.

Their primary objective: secure Iceburg. Capturing Aranea and Robin is secondary.

Clink, clink, clink...

A strange sound echoed across the sea. At the southern port of Water 7, Vice Admiral Momonga, who was overseeing the defense, looked out toward the water. He saw a tall man pedaling a small bicycle, one that seemed entirely too small for his frame, straight toward the docks. Everywhere the bicycle’s tires touched, a thin layer of ice instantly spread across the sea’s surface.

"Admiral Aokiji!"

The Marines, including Momonga, snapped to attention and saluted.

"Arara... no need to be so formal."

Aokiji hopped off his bike and asked Momonga, "What’s the situation?"

"Currently, nearly ten thousand government troops from Enies Lobby have entered the city. On the Immortal Pirates’ side, we have ’Female Dragon Knight’ Aranea Highwind and the ’Devil Child’ Nico Robin. Though, I’m not sure why Nico Robin, who was rumored to have joined the Straw Hats, is now operating with the Immortal Pirates..." Momonga trailed off, a look of confusion on his face.

"The Immortals are leagues above the Straw Hats in terms of strength. That woman has survived this long by jumping from one protector to another; what’s there to be surprised about?"

Aokiji began walking into the city, asking, "According to your report, Alucard is still only on his way, correct?"

"Yes, but due to insufficient intelligence, we can’t pinpoint exactly when he’ll arrive," Momonga replied, following behind.

Hearing this, Aokiji scratched his curly hair. "Arara, honestly... if I’d known, I would have waited until he showed up to leave home."

Momonga rolled his eyes. He knew Aokiji’s personality; the Admiral wouldn’t actually shirk his duties, and he would always step up when it truly mattered.

"One last thing. Why is the Government so obsessed with this? They deployed the entire force of Enies Lobby on a whim. Is it just because Iceburg is the president of their preferred shipbuilding company?"

Aokiji asked the question that bothered him most. Iceburg’s status was high, but was it high enough for the Government to make such a scene, deploying thirty thousand men? Even Alucard was personally making a move.

"About that... I heard it was because of..." Momonga whispered a piece of intel he had just received.

"Pluton?"

Aokiji’s expression shifted instantly.

...

Near the Galley-La Company shipyard in Water 7, Aranea soared through the sky. From time to time, she dove down, using the custom-made gun-lance in her hand to blast government agents into pieces.

Between her dragon-like aerial combat style and her expert use of the knightly gun-lance, it was no wonder she carried her title. On the other side, Robin was doing her best simply to avoid capture, not focusing on actually defeating the enemy.

"Strange. Even the government forces in the first half of the Grand Line have this kind of power?"

Aranea watched a group of government soldiers get back on their feet below, feeling curious. She had seen the might of the World Government’s military in the New World and on Sky Island, and they were certainly formidable. But for a garrison in the first half of the Grand Line to be this resilient was odd.

"Enies Lobby shares a special current with Marineford and Mariejois. Surely you haven’t forgotten that, Aranea!"

Suddenly, a blade swept across Aranea’s waist, slicing a trail of blood across the small patch of skin not covered by her armor.

To be able to harm a Logia user... that was Armament Haki!

Aranea wiped the blood away and adjusted her flight armor, turning with a smile. "Long time no see, Vice Admiral Yako."

The newcomer wore armor somewhat similar to Aranea’s, though it was less comprehensive and bore a resemblance to the flight shoes of the Vinsmoke Family.

It was the Vice Admiral of the Air Force, one of the three branches, and Aranea’s former superior, Yako.

Soon, a dozen more members of the Air Force surrounded Aranea in mid-air, their expressions hostile.

"Even the Air Force has been mobilized. It seems the Government is determined to get the blueprints for Pluton," Aranea noted, looking around.

"I used to think you were just cynical. I never expected you to fall so low as to become a pirate."

Yako brandished two tantō blades. "I’ll be sending you to Impel Down to repent!"

Aranea smirked. "I might hate work, but I’m not bored enough to spend my free time in a prison cell!"

The two sides clashed in the sky.

On the ground, Robin used her Flower-Flower Fruit powers to temporarily repel a wave of enemies. She wondered if she should take this chance to escape. But as soon as the thought formed, she shook her head vehemently. No, not only would the Immortal Pirates surely retaliate, but in this chaos, it was doubtful she could even make it out of Water 7 safely.

Meanwhile, inside the Galley-La Company office, Iceburg had been restrained by government agents. However, Kalifa and the others were still posing as his employees, not yet revealing their CP9 identities, as the situation hadn’t required it yet.

On the other side of the coast, the Franky Family was currently under Marine surveillance. Since they were known as bounty hunters rather than pirates, Vice Admiral Dalmatian didn’t make things difficult for them, provided they didn’t cause trouble.

Franky, the leader of the family, watched the massive gathering of Marines and pirates. He knew that this was almost certainly about the Pluton blueprints his senior, Iceburg, had entrusted to him.

Iceburg was likely already under government control. He had to do something.

"Vice Admiral Dalmatian! At the eleven o’clock position on the horizon, something is approaching fast!" a scout reported.

"Hmm?"

As a user of the Dog-Dog Fruit, Dalmatian’s hearing was exceptional, even sharper than his Observation Haki. Hearing the report, his ears twitched. He could hear a massive presence closing in on their location.

"All units, battle stations!!"

Dalmatian entered his hybrid form and muttered to himself, "Nine out of ten... it’s that guy."