[V3] - Chapter 48. Come on! Show Us!
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Signal stations had already started being deployed throughout the first half of the Grand Line and the East Blue, and there were quite a few places where the signal could now be used.
There were even rumors that Marine Headquarters could now connect to the signal—though it was reportedly rather weak.
And based on system data… it seemed quite a few people in Marine Headquarters were already using smartphones!
It looks like smartphones were proving quite popular with the Marine.
It's truly a cause for celebration!
At this stage… thanks to the Yuto Group pouring in huge amounts of funding, delivery men in the East Blue and the first half of the Grand Line had begun using smartphones too. And to be honest, the reputation boost from defeating the Beasts Pirates turned out to be pretty handy. As long as you displayed the Yuto Group logo, basically no pirates dared to smash up the Yuto Group's signal towers to sell them for cash!
It wouldn't be long, surely, before the New World could use smartphones too. When that day came… maybe there'd be no more need to go through the news agencies to buy news!
However—
This world was still quite troublesome. Wars kept breaking out left and right, and a single careless move could see a base station blown to bits. The maintenance costs were painfully high~
Also, given this world's special circumstances, apart from a very few individuals whose smartphones could connect across realms, for everyone else… the Yuto Group hadn't yet enabled inter-realm communication.
Yuto let out a sigh of emotion, then closed the system data and turned to look at Robin beside him. "Wano should be about ready, right?"
It had been quite a while.
Surely it was time to get started on business!
…
Today.
The weather was clear and sunny.
A gentle breeze blew under a bright sun.
"So remember!" Lucci said, looking very serious as he addressed his CP9 companions who had infiltrated the area with him. "From this moment onward, we must hide our identities as much as possible. Then, taking advantage of this opportunity, we need to pass the interviews, infiltrate the Yuto Group, and gather intelligence on them!"
As a secret espionage agency directly under the World Government, CP9 specialized in infiltration, covert missions, and gathering critical intelligence.
Whenever orders came down from above…
CP9 had no choice but to execute them immediately!
Just a few days earlier, they'd still been working in Water 7, investigating the whereabouts of the Pluton blueprints.
Then suddenly—
Orders arrived, telling them to infiltrate the Yuto Group, get jobs there, and investigate secrets about the Yuto Group and the Uchiha clan.
So, upon receiving the orders, they didn't hesitate for a second and immediately rushed over to Wano.
They were fairly familiar with the Yuto Group—not merely because of the Yuto Group's destruction of the Beasts Pirates.
Even before the Yuto Group arrived in Wano, they'd already heard plenty about it.
After all, the Yuto Group was famous for…
High salaries, generous benefits, and excellent working conditions!
It was quite well-known even back at the headquarters of the Galley-La Company.
As someone who'd worked as a shipwright under the Galley-La Company, Lucci himself had naturally heard of it.
After all, whenever they were on break, quite a few shipwrights would secretly talk about wanting to jump ship and go work at the Yuto Shipyard instead—it was hard not to hear about it!
Who would have thought…
That this time—
They'd end up actually "jumping ship" to join the Yuto Group!
Of course—
Even though the Yuto Group offered high pay and great benefits, rumor had it that the employee background checks were extremely strict. If you had even a single blemish on your record, they'd reject you outright.
Otherwise, you'd have no choice but to start from the very bottom—and promotions were reportedly very hard to come by!
However—
As agents sent specifically to gather intelligence, there was no way they'd actually start from the bottom.
Unlike in Galley-La, where they'd already acquired plenty of information on Pluton and only needed to keep an eye on Iceburg, here in the Yuto Group… all their information so far had come from newspapers. So if they wanted to get any real information, they had to infiltrate the upper ranks of the Yuto Group and gain its trust. Only then might they learn more secrets!
No matter what kind of information it was, as long as it was information they didn't currently possess, it was incredibly important to them right now!
Originally, Lucci had planned that once he reached the Yuto Group, he'd showcase his unique skills, win the Yuto Group's recognition, and thus secure an opportunity to join.
Unfortunately…
The initial situation wasn't quite what they'd imagined.
If you wanted to join the Yuto Group, the very first step was…
You had to print out your own résumé, drop it into the Yuto Group's recruitment box, and then wait patiently for them to notify you about an interview. Only then would you get the chance to demonstrate your abilities!
Otherwise—
If you tried to approach them directly, the higher-ups wouldn't pay you any attention at all.
Especially considering their identities…
On the surface, they were just employees "jumping ship" from the Galley-La Company, but if they recklessly tried to recommend themselves, it might draw the Yuto Group's suspicion—or even get them exposed.
Because the Yuto Group was no ordinary company like Galley-La!
It was an organization powerful enough to eliminate an Emperor of the Sea!
So, in the end…
They had no choice but to compromise and obediently follow the Yuto Group's official process!
First, they went to the HR department to collect a résumé form, then filled it out according to the provided instructions. They could also submit it online, but they still didn't quite understand what exactly the "internet" was, so they chose to fill out the paper forms and drop them into the recruitment box instead.
Fortunately, the Yuto Group's job application forms didn't require any bizarre or overly personal details.
All they had to fill in were things like age, gender, contact information, address, work experience, criminal history (if any), and desired position.
Although they found some of it rather odd and seemingly pointless—since a single glance could reveal plenty about a person—they still quickly completed the forms as instructed and submitted them separately into the box.
This wasn't the time to try any special tricks.
And when it came to this recruitment drive at the Yuto Group… they were feeling quite confident. Lucci and Kaku had both worked as foremen at the Galley-La Shipyard!
Kalifa had experience as a secretary!
Blueno had been the owner of a bar!
They all had plenty of work experience. They were certain that, with their skills, they'd absolutely make it into the interview stage!
So, once the notification was sent out, they all went over to the Yuto Group's recruitment department to wait.
"Those whose names I call, stay behind!" A staff member from the recruitment department came out, holding a piece of paper, and began reading off names: "Lucci! Kaku! Kalifa! Fukurou! Kumadori! Blueno!" After calling several names, he paused slightly, looked up at the crowd in front of him, and said, "Get ready! In a moment, come in for your interview in the order I called!"
As soon as he turned away, everyone exchanged subtle glances.
Except for Jabra.
Just as Lucci had guessed, the others had all successfully made it into the interview stage!
The corners of Lucci's mouth lifted slightly.
Next—
As long as he showcased his skills… he believed that, with his craftsmanship from the Galley-La Shipyard, landing a foreman's role, or even a technical director or deputy plant manager position at the Yuto Shipyard, should be a piece of cake.
The infiltration—
It could be said to have successfully taken its first step!
As for Jabra… it was honestly no surprise that guy had been eliminated!
He was far too stubborn and arrogant, always thinking he was hot stuff!
For so many years, he'd been eyeing Lucci's position. And this time, he'd shown up to the interview dressed sloppily, completely failing to take it seriously at all!
Not only that, but he'd even lied on his résumé, claiming he'd been the President of Galley-La, running a business with 5,000 employees… And he still thought he could slip into the Yuto Group like that?
Did he really think the Yuto Group—who'd managed to defeat the Beasts Pirates—were a bunch of fools?!
There was no way someone like that would make it to the interview stage.
Even Galley-La wouldn't want him!
Lucci ignored Jabra's livid expression, straightened his clothes, and began waiting patiently.
Back at Galley-La, the reason he'd earned the respect of all the workers in just a few years… was because no matter what task he was given, he always tackled it with utmost seriousness!
"Damn it! Don't celebrate too soon!" Jabra snapped, glaring jealously at everyone. Then he said furiously, "You guys still have to go through the interview! Maybe you'll all end up getting kicked out just like me!" With that, he turned sharply and stormed off toward the exit. "I don't believe it! With my skills, there's no way I won't find a job here!"
As he finished speaking—
He spun around and left.
Just then—
"First candidate for the interview—Lucci!"
A loud voice called from inside.
Lucci immediately snapped out of his thoughts. He took a deep breath, his face shifting into a calm, serious expression, and headed inside.
The interview had officially begun!
After a while—
He arrived in the interview conference room.
Wearing a confident expression, Lucci raised his head and looked at the interviewers in front of him. He spoke in a loud voice, "Esteemed interviewers! Hello…"
Suddenly—
Before he could finish his sentence—
His pupils shrank in shock.
His eyes widened as he stared at the woman with long, straight black hair sitting before him.
[What the hell is she doing here?!]
The Devil Child!
Nico Robin!
Lucci was completely stunned!
Things were developing far beyond what he'd expected!
Until—
"Hurry up and get started! We're on a tight schedule! Quickly show us your skills! If you don't want an interview, then get out!"
An impatient voice rang out.
Only then did Lucci snap back to his senses. As if he hadn't even seen Robin, he regained his confident smile and looked at the man seated in front of him—the Yuto Group's Boss, Uchiha Yuto. With an apologetic tone, he said, "Sorry! I got a little nervous there!"
"No problem!" Yuto smiled and nodded, extending his hand. "So, what skills do you have? Come on! Show us!"