"Is that so?"
Ian narrowed his eyes. Indeed, he almost forgot about Vergo.
In the original story, that guy was quite arrogant for dozens of chapters, showing the readers a black and hard kind of domineering aura.
Of course, later everyone learned that only weaklings acted like that.
"Then get in touch with him," Ian said calmly, "At least let him know his boss has changed."
Navy Headquarters, G-5 Base.
Navy Marine Captain Vergo walked seriously through the corridors of the base building.
The Navy colleagues around him couldn't help but stifle their laughter.
Because this guy had such a serious expression, yet there was a fork stuck on his left cheek that nobody knew when it got there — and he himself seemed completely unaware of it.
Still, no one dared to mock him.
Everyone knew that Marine Captain Vergo was no ordinary officer. He had already mastered both the Armament and Observation Haki, and his true strength was far beyond that of regular Navy officers.
The only reason he was still just a Marine Captain was that he had joined the Navy too recently, had no notable achievements, and had no influential connections at Headquarters to push him up faster.
Vergo paid no mind to the strange looks from his Navy comrades. He simply returned to his single dorm room.
The moment he closed the door, he quickly double-locked both the door and window, took out an anti-wiretapping Den Den Mushi, and placed it quietly on the table, waiting in silence.
For the past two days, he'd been feeling somewhat absent-minded, as if he'd forgotten something very important.
But before he could recall what it was, a phone call from his family stirred complex emotions within him.
His family had crossed the Yonko Ian and was completely wiped out.
Fortunately, Ian had taken a particular interest in them.
Now, everyone in the family was forced to join Ian's ranks and become part of Hive Island.
And as for him, naturally, he could only go with the flow.
As he waited, Vergo's thoughts began to drift.
What exactly had he forgotten?
It had to be something very important — otherwise, why did his heart feel so empty?
Suddenly, the Den Den Mushi vibrated.
Vergo's hand snapped up like lightning to answer, not letting the device vibrate for even a second longer.
"Vergo, right?"
A very unfamiliar voice came from the other end of the line, light and teasing, spoken with ease.
But Vergo immediately tensed up, a cold sweat breaking out on his back.
The call from Trebol yesterday had already made it clear: today, the lord himself would contact him directly.
"Yes, it's me. Lord Ian!"
Vergo replied solemnly.
On the other end was his current boss — the Pirate Emperor standing atop the seas!
"I thought you'd resist having a new boss?"
Lord Ian's voice still carried a smile. He seemed like a man who loved to laugh.
Just like—
Just like who again?
No matter. Right now, the most important thing was to satisfy Lord Ian!
Otherwise, the family would be finished, and he himself would be finished too.
If the Navy found out he was a pirate spy, could he still live?
"No way!"
Vergo still wore a serious expression. "It is truly an honor to follow behind Lord Ian!"
He, Trebol, Pica, and Diamante were all failures. They planned to follow someone with the bearing of a king, walking behind him to reach the top of the world.
Was there anyone more suitable than Ian in the world?
"Excellent."
Lord Ian's smile grew wider over the phone. "I like your loyalty, Vergo."
"With your ability, being only a Marine Captain is too low. What do you think, Vergo?"
A surge of excitement rose in Vergo's chest. "Lord Ian, do you mean...?"
"Let me help you."
In the Navy, to get promoted, you either needed a strong backing or military support. Wasn't it simple?
"Yes!"
Vergo's tone was excited, but his face remained expressionless, giving no sign of his emotions.
Time rewinds to a little earlier.
Mariejois.
"Donquixote Doflamingo?"
The oldest among the Five Elders, Saturn, looked puzzled. "This guy is the one we forgot this time? And he was once a Celestial Dragon?"
"He's the mastermind behind the Dressrosa incident, right?"
The white-clad swordsman Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro frowned.
"Is that the Hobby-Hobby Fruit? Like King Riku's, except now it's this guy who's been erased. That troublesome power probably ended up in Ian fellow's hands."
"Have Stussy keep an eye on him."
Saturn said calmly, "We can't spare troops to fight Ian right now. Let CP0 see if there's a chance to snatch that ability user away."
That ability was indeed too troublesome.
The Five Elders all nodded lightly.
"That Doflamingo was still one of the Seven Warlords,"
Mars, the long-bearded one, said, "There should have been five Warlords left, but now there are only four."
"Another seat is vacant?"
Peter, in his red suit, felt a headache coming on. "The other two vacancies haven't been filled yet. The gap is only getting bigger."
"There aren't many suitable pirates left on the seas. How much longer until Vegapunk's android project bears fruit?"
While the Five Elders fretted over the Seven Warlords, in the Sabaody Archipelago, the Warlords began to make contact again.
Crocodile transformed into a flurry of sand, flying over a plain.
This area was shrouded in thick mist, scattered with graves and tombstones—it was nothing short of a massive burial ground.
It had taken him quite some effort to find this place.
"Tch."
Crocodile clicked his tongue.
Living in a place like this, isn't it creepy?
He moved forward silently, not disturbing anyone, and quietly arrived at the ancient castle at the center of the island.
Forming his body from yellow sand, guided by his Observation Haki, he pressed onward.
Soon, Crocodile entered a huge hall.
The moment he stepped in, a massive pair of scissors came crashing down from above.
In an instant, Crocodile's body was sliced in half.
But no blood splattered anywhere. His divided halves turned into flying yellow sand, which then recombined and solidified back into Crocodile's form.
"I thought you'd lost even the most basic sense of caution."
Crocodile said calmly.
"Heeheehee! Crocodile!"
A huge shadow suddenly loomed over him. The enormous monster holding the scissors laughed sharply.
"You just showed up out of nowhere—are you here to have tea with me?"
Moria felt somewhat embarrassed deep inside.
This guy had already entered his room before he even realized he had arrived!
How embarrassing!
Crocodile sized him up.
He had gained a lot of weight since their last meeting at the Seven Warlords conference.
The sharp, lean man from before was nowhere to be seen.
Now, in front of him stood nothing but a fat slob.
"With your current look, it's hard to believe you want to take revenge on the Beasts Pirates," Crocodile said.
The next moment, a giant pair of scissors sliced him in half at the waist.
"Shut up!!"
However, without the added power of Armament Haki, the scissors couldn't harm Crocodile at all.
He remained calm, turning into sand and then reforming his body.
"Can't even use Armament Haki anymore?"
Crocodile's tone was strange.
This guy was more fallen than he used to be.
"Crocodile!"
Moria stepped forward, his heavy footsteps shaking the ground.
The trembling caused ripples to form in the shadows beneath his feet, as if something was about to emerge from them.
"Do you want to die?"
"Don't get so worked up," Crocodile said coldly.
"Moria, I'm here to talk about cooperation."
"Cooperation?"
**********
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