After a brief pause, the buyer replied: "In two hours, I'll be at 50GR East Coast. That's where the trade will happen."
Peterman glanced at Zhang Da Ye and answered: "Understood."
*Click.* The call ended.
"That's the voice from the other day," Peterman muttered.
"Good. Plenty of time. First, we'll deliver you to the Navy base." Zhang Da Ye waved his hand. "Tom, tie them up."
The traffickers were no longer of use. Later, Zhang Da Ye planned to impersonate Peterman using a mask made from Tom's likeness. Given the success of his previous decoy, crafting a wooden mask would be easy.
"Can you walk on your own? If not, I'll consider another method," Zhang Da Ye said, eyeing their injuries. He thought about using oversized bubbles or a makeshift cart for transport.
To the traffickers, it sounded like a threat. Miraculously, each of them managed to stand. Even the one with the stabbed knee shakily got up, tore clothes to bandage himself, and obediently let Tom tie them in a line with a rope.
Zhang Da Ye rode his bubble cart, sitting sideways to prevent any escape.
Tom led the line, happily marching with exaggerated arm swings, seeming to enjoy this task.
For minimal attention, they traveled along the town outskirts.
Suddenly, Zhang Da Ye remembered: "By the way, didn't you mention receiving a one million Berry deposit? Where did it go? Since you won't need your funds for now, I can keep it safe for you."
The traffickers stared in disbelief. How could he casually talk about robbery as if it were normal? Were they the villains, or was he?
Peterman nervously replied: "It's all gone."
"What? You spent one million and all your savings in three days? Are you joking?" Zhang Da Ye found it hard to believe; even his household expenses weren't that high.
"It's true," Peterman explained. "You might not understand our line of work. Every day could be our last, so we spend quickly. We had no savings, and we were extorted yesterday. Now, not a coin remains."
"Extorted?" Zhang Da Ye's interest was piqued.
"Yes. Yesterday, we went to a bar in 13GR, named Shaky's Extortion Bar. Seeing it was a shady place, we thought we could play them, but…"
Peterman's voice trailed off, while the nine others looked helpless. A professional trafficker group, and yet they'd been swindled—who would believe it?
Zhang Da Ye nodded: "I see. No other choice then."
Peterman added: "Just trust me on this."
Three seconds later:
"You trust me!?" *10 times*
The ten men's eyes bulged in shock. He actually believed such a preposterous story!
"Any problem?" Zhang Da Ye asked, secretly annoyed by the lost business opportunity.
"No problem." The ten unlucky men shook their heads. Belief was preferable; now they only wanted a peaceful path to prison.
The group entered 66GR quietly, soon encountering a Navy patrol.
Zhang Da Ye explained the situation. To avoid disruption, the captain assigned two soldiers to escort them.
"Trouble again, Lieutenant Kuro," Zhang Da Ye greeted. The laid-back Navy lieutenant had left a strong impression previously.
Kuro scrutinized Zhang Da Ye and Tom before realization dawned: "Ah, you're the one who captured Sword's younger brother. Planning to become a bounty hunter?"
"No, just happened that these traffickers approached me."
"Traffickers…" Kuro's tone was complex. He despised traffickers, yet the Navy, under World Government influence, often turned a blind eye.
While pirates were pursued immediately, traffickers faced little interference unless actively committing crimes.
World Nobles relied on traffickers for slaves. Decades ago, the World Government even purchased children from traffickers to train elite agents.
The Navy had once staged an operation under government orders to deter the execution of a pirate group, securing Giant Tribe support, eventually recruiting giants into the Navy.
One prominent trafficker was Sister Calmero, Big Mom's foster mother, known as the most formidable in the business.
These factors ensured traffickers faced minimal oversight, and bounties remained modest.
Thus, Peterman's group, despite professionalism, had lower bounties than the underpowered Sword's gang.
Kuro, unable to alter World Government policy, waved his assistant to verify identities and exchange bounties.
"Three have bounties: 2 million, 800k, 600k Berries. Plus eight intact weapons, valued at 20k each. Total: 3.6 million Berries."
Originally ten weapons existed, but Zhang Da Ye broke a sword, Tom destroyed a bow—leaving eight intact.
Zhang Da Ye confirmed the amount, collected the cash, totaling 360 bundles of 10k Berry notes, without even a box to hold them.
Kuro casually invited them to join the Navy, following standard procedure.
Zhang Da Ye declined, as before. Both sides showed little sincerity.
The assistant noted their unexpected synergy. If this young man joined the Navy, he might become another figure like Lieutenant Kuro.
Now, with the money in hand, Zhang Da Ye confidently let Tom sit atop the bubble cart. Anyone daring to steal, especially from Artoria's provisions, would regret it.
"Next, let's meet the buyer. First, change clothes, then settle things, and finally, go shopping! Oh, and pay old Bob his debt first."