Chapter 631 - 868 – Kalifa, Your Thoughts Are Written All Over Your Face

"Water 7 truly lives up to its reputation."

"To think they could lay the keel for a ship of this scale in just one day."

Standing by the shore, Raki gazed at the ship's roughly completed foundation in amazement.

"This is a place that builds warships for the Marines, after all. Their shipbuilding expertise is naturally exceptional."

"And now that Iceburg himself has joined the work and has called in nearly every available shipwright, construction will naturally proceed even faster."

Kalifa stood beside Raki as she explained.

There was another reason Kalifa didn't mention.

Earlier, she had quietly spoken with Rob Lucci and Kaku, warning them to keep a close eye on the ship's construction.

Because of that, not only did Lucci and Kaku not dare sabotage the ship in any way, they were even working harder to make sure it was built properly.

It could be said that the ship's foundation had been completed so quickly thanks in no small part to their efforts.

What Kalifa didn't know was that Raki had seen and heard her entire conversation with Lucci and Kaku.

After all, this was a task Arton had entrusted to her.

Although Raki had allowed Kalifa to leave her side for a while, that didn't mean she had allowed Kalifa to leave her field of observation.

Fortunately, the mold Raki had obtained gave her eyesight far beyond that of an ordinary person.

Even from a considerable distance, she had been able to clearly see Kalifa talking with Lucci and Kaku.

"So, where are you planning to go next?"

Kalifa turned toward Raki, her eyes full of anticipation.

"I'm planning to stay here and keep an eye on the ship's foundation."

Raki answered without hesitation.

"Huh?" Kalifa froze. "If you're just keeping watch, couldn't you leave that to the shipyard employees? There shouldn't be any need for you to stay here personally."

"No." Raki shook her head. "Since Captain entrusted me with supervising this place, I won't allow even the slightest mistake. I've already decided to stay here for a long time, until the ship is finished."

Kalifa opened her mouth, momentarily unsure what to say.

Raki was so resolute that Kalifa felt there was probably no point trying to persuade her.

For a moment, Kalifa grew a little restless.

Raki studied her expression, then smiled. "Are you planning to go find Captain and have some fun, Kalifa?"

"Y-You knew?"

Kalifa was startled.

"Of course." Raki smiled and nodded. "Your thoughts are written all over your face."

"This is really..."

Kalifa sighed.

As a CP9 agent, she should have been able to conceal all her emotions perfectly.

Yet now she had actually let her feelings show on her face.

By CP9 standards, that alone was unacceptable.

No, it was worse than that.

But Kalifa couldn't help it. Now that night had fallen, she truly wanted to find Arton and have a long, intimate exchange with him.

...

"Raki, are you really not coming?"

Kalifa fixed her large, beautiful eyes on Raki. "Don't you want to go have some fun with Arton too?"

"Of course I do."

Raki nodded emphatically.

"Then leave the job of guarding the ship's foundation to the shipyard workers."

As far as Kalifa was concerned, all she needed was for Raki to agree. Then she could follow her to Arton and have a proper discussion about what exactly counted as fun.

Without Raki, however, Kalifa couldn't leave either.

She knew that even though the two of them got along well, Raki would never compromise when principles were involved.

"I'm sorry, Kalifa."

Raki shook her head. "I can't tolerate even the slightest possibility of the ship's foundation being damaged."

"And you don't need to worry about the two of us leaving."

"Rob Lucci, Kaku, and Blueno will come looking for us, won't they?"

"Aren't you worried they might damage the ship?"

Kalifa hesitated.

From what she knew about Lucci and the others, perhaps they really would do something like that.

"Actually, my eyes are telling me that Rob Lucci, Kaku, and Blueno are watching us right now."

Raki gazed toward the enormous smokestack of a distant building.

"Really?"

Kalifa was startled.

"I wouldn't lie about something like this."

A golden gleam flickered in Raki's eyes.

"There's nothing we can do about that, then."

Kalifa sighed.

Although Lucci and the others might have come looking for her rather than to sabotage the ship, she couldn't be certain.

If she left with Raki to have fun with Arton, only for Lucci and the others to actually damage the ship's foundation, Kalifa wouldn't know how to face Arton afterward.

At that point, even if Arton wanted to get rid of Lucci and the others, Kalifa wouldn't have any good reason to stop him.

In fact, Arton might not even need to do it himself. Raki might already be capable of taking care of Lucci and the others.

"Then let's find somewhere near the ship's foundation to rest."

For the sake of Lucci and the others' safety, Kalifa ultimately chose to stay.

She could only imagine Arton and Conis passionately enjoying themselves together and suppress her urge to go find them for a nice long chat.

"Of course."

Raki nodded and took Kalifa by the hand as they entered the shipyard to find a suitable place to get a good night's sleep.

Meanwhile, elsewhere...

Near the huge smokestack Raki had been staring at earlier, Rob Lucci, Kaku, and Blueno were hiding behind it, looking rather tense.

...

"Lu... Lucci, did that Raki woman notice us?"

Kaku turned toward Rob Lucci.

Lucci didn't answer. He merely passed the binoculars in his hands to Kaku.

"This... Even if you let me look at them, I can't see what's happening over there."

Kaku's mouth twitched.

Or rather, he didn't dare look.

Raki might only have glanced in their direction by coincidence, but what if she really had noticed them?

Kaku had no desire to alert her to anything unusual.

After all, they still had to keep working for Raki tomorrow.

If she asked them why they had been secretly spying on her tonight, wouldn't that be incredibly awkward?

...

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