Target: [East Blue 16th Branch Base Commander - Ashford Dante]
[Formerly a swordsmanship prodigy and Captain at Marine Headquarters, Dante was assigned to the East Blue 315th Branch for undisclosed reasons. Later, with a recommendation from Rear Admiral Shawn of the New World's G-5 Branch, he assumed command of the East Blue 16th Branch.]
[Since his posting, he has failed in capturing the so-called East Blue Overlord, captain Mock of the the Mock Pirates. This lack of progress recently led Marine Headquarters to suspect him of colluding with pirates. However, after an investigation, and after Vice Admiral Garp, the Hero of the Marines, witnessed the Mock Pirates true strength firsthand, Dante was formally cleared of all suspicion.]
[During the East Blue Pirate Festival, his base was nearly overrun by the Mock Pirates. He was rescued by Captain Smoker, the Loguetown Base Commander, who helped successfully repel the invaders. More recently, Dante thwarted another scheme planned by the East Blue Overlord, dealing a significant blow to the revival of piracy in these waters.]
[His current strength is unknown. Some speculate he abandoned his training after his reassignment and has made no progress. Other rumors suggest he has succumbed to a dissolute private life and has developed a particular fondness for female pirates.]
***
A ship cut a slow path through the waters of the East Blue.
On the deck, a woman with long brown-black hair and light brown eyes studied the intelligence report in her hand, a red flower tucked behind her ear and Flamenco attire accentuating her dancer's form. She frowned as she read it.
Viola closed the report with a soft snap. She turned to the subordinate waiting patiently a few feet away.
"Is this everything?" she asked, her voice calm. "There's nothing else?"
"My apologies, Viola-sama, but that is all we have," the man said, bowing his head. "The Family's intelligence network in the Four Seas is not what it could be. We had to purchase this information from Baroque Works."
He hesitated before adding, "It's more that the Donquixote Family has never bothered with the Four Seas. Especially this one, the Weakest Sea."
The other three seas at least had black market dealings worth monitoring, but the East Blue was a backwater. Before this Mock character showed up, the highest bounty was a paltry seventeen million Berries. What business was there to be done in a sea like this? The profits from a slave-running operation wouldn't even cover the cost of the voyage. Any pirate with a shred of ambition left for the Grand Line, the ones who stayed behind were useless to the Family.
It was only in the last couple of years, when Mock had returned from the Grand Line with a hundred-million-Berry bounty, that things had gotten slightly more interesting. But the man refused to leave the East Blue, and no one could figure out why. It was as if he had no ambition at all.
"We did receive one recent report, however," the subordinate added quickly. "Since the Shichibukai, Bartholomew Kuma, arrived in the East Blue, he has been aggressively expanding his territory. He's been recruiting civilians, and the pay is rumored to be quite good. His presence has put the local Marines in a difficult position."
He continued, "His domain apparently surrounds the 16th Branch, and they've been requesting assistance from Headquarters to no avail. It seems Captain Ashford has been forced to accept the situation."
"Bartholomew Kuma," Viola murmured, a flicker of interest in her eyes. She raised a slender hand to her mouth, a soft chuckle escaping. "It sounds like this former Marine prodigy has his hands full."
The Family's objective was clear: secure the Oda's Cosmetics formula as quickly as possible. And if the opportunity presented itself, eliminate Bartholomew Kuma, allowing the Donquixote Family to seize the market he controlled.
Then, the Marine 16th Branch would be trotted out to arrest the East Blue Overlord, neatly distancing the Family from the entire affair. While the Shichibukai rules didn't explicitly forbid conflict between them, it was best to avoid any complications that could bring unwanted scrutiny upon the Family.
And her part in all this...
Viola glanced down at the report again. 'A fondness for female pirates?' she thought.
What a predictable weakness for a corrupt Marine. Still, the question was how to use it.
"Does Viola-sama plan to approach him disguised as a pirate? Will you need our assistance?" the subordinate asked, seeing his superior lost in thought.
"Are you planning to approach him as a pirate, Viola-sama?" the subordinate asked, sensing her train of thought. "Will you require our assistance? According to our sources, this captain rarely goes to sea himself. He sends his men to deal with pirates. After the trouble with the Overlord, it's become very difficult to even find a pirate crew in this area."
Viola's brow furrowed. "A timid Marine, then."
"Perhaps not timid, just practical," the subordinate sighed. "He hardly needs to show his face. His men can handle the small-time pirates, and with Kuma's territory overlapping his jurisdiction... no pirate would be foolish enough to cause trouble here."
"I see. I hadn't realized the politics of the Weakest Sea were so convoluted," Viola said, rubbing her temples. "Fine. I'll think of something."
Doflamingo's plan required an executive to "assist" the East Blue Overlord. Her job was to lure the captain out at the right moment so he could lead the arrest. The lure itself wasn't the problem, his peculiar tastes were hardly a challenge for her. The difficulty was in making the approach feel natural.
After a moment of thought, an idea took shape. She pulled out a Den Den Mushi, dialed a number, and spoke into the receiver. "Vergo, I need your help with something."
A short while later, having apparently gotten what she wanted, her bright eyes narrowed into a slow, seductive smile. Her full red lips parted. "Don't disappoint me, you corrupt Marine Captain."
--**--**
"Shawn, my friend! You need a favor? Name it!"
"Ah, your superior's hometown... an uncle of his brother's neighbor is coming to the East Blue for business? And he's worried it's too chaotic? It's not that, well, alright, with the Overlord and a Shichibukai running around, I guess it is pretty chaotic. So you want me to look after a merchant ship for him? No problem at all!"
Dante spoke into the Den Den Mushi with genuine warmth. "I get it. Your boss values his old connections. A Vice Admiral who still takes leave every year to visit his sister and hometown friends... he sounds like a good man."
"Don't you worry, you can count on me. With me here, nothing will go wrong! Consider this my belated congratulations on your New World assignment! When your people come to my turf, I'll make sure you look good. I guarantee your superior will remember you fondly. By the way, what's your superior's name?"
"Vergo? Okay, I'll remember that... Wait a second."
The cheerful energy vanished from Dante's voice. He lowered the Den Den Mushi and stared at it for a long, silent moment, blinking slowly. Then, he raised it back to his ear, his tone once again bright and easy.
"What's wrong? Oh, nothing, it's just..." He let out a thoughtful sigh. "...I suddenly have a feeling you might be in for another promotion soon. No, really, I'm not kidding. It's all good. Talk later."
*Click... Beep, beep, beep...*
After hanging up, Dante continued to stare at the Den Den Mushi in his hand.
Robin, who had been watching from nearby, finally asked, "What is it?"
"Nothing," Dante said, shaking his head with a wistful smile. "Just a feeling that when an opportunity like this falls right into your lap, you can't exactly turn it away."
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