Kuro looked at Arcadio, who nodded at him. Only then did Kuro respectfully reply to Colonel Roy, "Understood."
After Kuro left, Arcadio turned to Roy and asked, "Do you think Stolt was lying just now? If he really had eaten a Logia-type Devil Fruit, would he still be acting as compliant as he just did?"
Colonel Roy spoke in a low voice, "He's only in his teens and managed to kill Barbarossa. That's one thing—he might have used tricks, as he claimed. But to gain control of an entire crew in such a short time? That's no small feat. For someone his age to have this kind of cunning and yet act so obediently—that's what's truly suspicious."
Arcadio frowned at Roy's words. "Maybe he's just clever enough to fear the power you and I wield. As for the Devil Fruit, I think you might be overthinking it. He's just a pirate with some cunning, nothing more."
Roy grinned, but his smile was laced with bitterness. "You wouldn't understand. If you had spent time at Marine Headquarters or on the Grand Line, you'd realize one thing: this world is inherently unfair. Some people are born to be chased by others. No matter how hard you work or how desperately you pursue them, you'll never catch up to those who are destined to be 'monsters' born for battle."
As he spoke, Roy's expression twisted with jealousy, and his tone grew sharp and bitter. "Since we can't match those 'monsters' in brute strength, we have to rely on our minds. Think carefully, use our human advantage, and avoid following the example of brainless beasts."
Noticing that Roy was becoming agitated, Arcadio quickly changed the subject. "So, what do you propose we do if it turns out Stolt really has eaten a Logia-type Devil Fruit?"
Roy took two deep drags from his cigar, calming himself before replying, "The most troublesome thing about Logia users is their ability to turn into their element. Honestly, even I can't guarantee victory against someone like that. So the safest course of action is to notify Marine Headquarters..."
Arcadio's hand trembled, nearly spilling his coffee. He interrupted sharply, "Notify Marine Headquarters? Are you insane? Aren't you afraid they'll investigate our dealings once they arrive?"
Roy casually flicked the ash from his cigar. "What's there to hide between the two of us? Even if they notice our connection, so what? As the commanding officer of a Marine division, it's perfectly normal for me to associate with the minister overseeing my jurisdiction and gather intelligence on pirates in the area. The only ones who need to worry are the pirates."
Arcadio was far less at ease than Roy and still voiced his disagreement. "That's too risky. And you call this the safest option?"
Roy gave Arcadio a deep look, then extinguished his cigar in the ashtray. He opened his right palm and extended it toward Arcadio. "Let me tell you what safety truly means. The authority of the World Government and the Marines may seem omnipresent, but in reality, they're distant. What keeps us in control of these pirate scum is our own strength. With even a slight edge in power, we can dominate the situation. They'll have to follow our lead—that's what safety means!"
As he spoke, Roy clenched his right hand into a fist with such force that his knuckles cracked audibly. "But if we lose our advantage in strength, everything will spiral out of our control. At that point, we'll have no choice but to rely on the authority of the World Government and Marine Headquarters. That's when we'll truly be at a disadvantage. A Logia Devil Fruit user is a potential threat to our control."
"The Marines from Headquarters will eventually leave," Roy said coldly. "I'm not worried about them. But if Stolt is lying and has actually eaten a Logia-type Devil Fruit, then he must have grand ambitions. I will definitely report this to Headquarters, even contact my former classmates to capture him. He'll either die in the East Blue or spend the rest of his life locked up in Impel Down. The East Blue must remain under the sole dominance of the Marines for us to maintain control!"
After leaving the Ministry of Finance, William didn't return to the ship. Instead, he headed to a restaurant owned by the underground arms dealer Dampier, a place Reis had once brought him to.
Following the receptionist's directions, he made his way to the underground bar.
Inside the bar, members of the Morgan Pirates—Vice-Captain Harden, Second Mate Selkirk, and crew members Aramis and Hatcheson—occupied a table by themselves. Their eyes were fixed on the bar's entrance. When they saw William appear, they all stood up in unison.
The intimidating presence of these men, some with fierce expressions and others with towering builds, drew the attention of nearby patrons. But the pirates paid no mind to the curious glances. Once William acknowledged them, they moved to follow him, naturally falling half a step behind.
Leading the group, William walked down the corridor toward the meeting room he had visited previously. Along the way, patrons and staff, intimidated by the group's appearance and aura, instinctively stepped aside.
"Are they here yet?" William asked without looking back.
"They arrived ten minutes ago," Harden replied in a deep voice.
"How many of them?"
"Six in total."
William nodded. By the time the conversation ended, they had reached the meeting room door.
William pushed the door open. As it swung wide, several pairs of eyes immediately locked onto him.
With a quick glance, William took in the scene. At one end of the long table sat "Red-Leg" Zeff, who had once clashed with the Red-Beard Pirates and was as renowned as Barbarossa in the East Blue. Zeff sat with one leg crossed over the other, while five members of the Cook Pirates lounged on a sofa behind him.
The restaurant and underground bar owner, arms dealer Dampier, was seated next to Zeff, seemingly engaged in conversation with him.
When Dampier noticed William enter, he merely smiled. Zeff, however, uncrossed his leg, and his subordinates behind him stood up, glaring at William and his group with fiery eyes.
Unperturbed, William smiled faintly and walked calmly to the other end of the long table. He sat down in the chair that Hatcheson pulled out for him, his demeanor composed.
"So, the rumors are true," Zeff said, sizing up William. "Barbarossa's ship sank, and a brat like you picked it clean. Not only did he lose his life, but even his legacy is gone. Quite unexpected."
"Old man, you're getting senile," William said with a hint of malice. "Survival on the seas follows the law of the jungle. If you're scared, you'd better find a way to wash your hands clean and settle down as a peaceful chef ashore."
"Sharp tongue," Zeff sneered, holding back his enraged subordinates with a wave of his hand. His tone turned cold. "The only reason I came here is out of respect for Dampier. You asked him to arrange this meeting—are you here to declare war?"
"If that's the case, I can save you the trouble. Whether your ship changes one captain or ten, the war between our crews has never stopped!"
(Bonus chapter for 50,000 clicks!)
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