"Among the guys you made listless, there were Marines, right?"
"Those traitors?"
"That's right. They're list makers and transporters to this ship."
With dozens of chained Marines in the background, the conversation between the gangster and pirate continued.
"The list maker is deeply involved in Marine personnel affairs. Based on requests from Celestial Dragons, he finds people who fit the criteria and lists them up."
"So instead of restaurant menus, it's creating menus for Human Shops."
"Exactly."
The pirate had sent his companions back to the ship just in case. Both gangsters and pirates are outlaws, and their humanity varies widely—that much is common.
The pirate—the man who had become the being called Kuro—knew the "possibility" of what Capone might become in the future, but as a captain, he couldn't unconditionally trust the current Capone.
"And the honored Marines chosen from that menu, during missions or navigation training... ah, they have accidents. Insidious, inexplicable, unlucky accidents."
At the gangster's words, emphasizing each one, the pirate furrows his brow in disgust.
"And the Marines who have accidents get shipped out."
"The Red Line bandits you crushed were also involved, you know? Well, they mostly just lent their names to be suspected as the cause of accidents."
"...So that's why they had such high bounties..."
"Well, Red Line bandits are basically guys who were discarded from Mariejois and are somehow surviving in the Underworld."
"Why does crushing that make my name rise..."
"You crossed Red Line, didn't you? Just climbing that cliff is an achievement."
"Climbing would be tiring..."
"Then what did you do? Is there another route?"
"I ran up it."
"That makes no sense!!!"
Ignoring the gangster's retort, the pirate glances once at the Marines who are literally being shipped out.
"Still, there are many young female Marines, so I had my suspicions... but as expected."
"Is there any other reason Marines would be transported like this?"
"I was also considering the possibility that guys who were in cahoots with the Family but betrayed them at the crucial moment were being handed over for punishment."
"...I see, certainly possible. You really are sharp."
"But, while I hate to say it, I'm surprised this hasn't leaked until now. They are... easily bored, right?"
When the pirate says this from his knowledge as a reader, the gangster laughs.
"There are proper rules."
"It's not something like 'never abandon them,' is it?"
"Ah, they only keep them within their own property. And when they get bored and dispose of them, they absolutely kill them. That's the rule."
The gangster continues with a malicious smile twisting his face.
"They don't just kill them. The clothing that's evidence of being Marines, and of course their bodies, are disposed of so not even bones remain. Some customers even turn their death throes into shows."
"...And that is informed to the products being delivered?"
"That's right, they're shown disposal shows and such. Thanks to that, most are obedient. No matter what humiliating things they're ordered to do."
The Marines hanging there listening to the conversation each have their faces pale as they listen. With mouth gags on, they desperately try to raise their voices or struggle to remove their chains.
"What's your purpose?"
"I'm a gangster, you know? It's decided—money."
The gangster looks at those Marines with cold eyes. Not eyes that see people, but eyes that count money.
"I'm going to take over this sales route. The trash getting soft up there could only kidnap rookies and desk Marines, but I'm different. I'll skillfully make even the guys that trash couldn't catch and wouldn't put on the list have accidents."
"Strong Marine slaves... is there even demand for such things?"
"If you pay money, you can get things other guys don't have—no, can't easily get. More influential Celestial Dragons will definitely bite. Even knowing it becomes a risk, the greedier they are, the more so."
The pirate rubs his brow in displeasure, as if he can understand this from the heart.
"First I want to sell off these guys, and through that exchange, get a grasp of the routes and involved parties to some extent."
The young Marines are desperately struggling. Trying desperately to somehow escape.
"How about it, 'Silent Step'? Won't you get involved in just this business for now? I'll split the profits fifty-fifty."
With tears in their eyes, trying to at least voice something, just one word—trying to call for help,
"Capone Bege."
"Yeah."
The pirate moves.
"I'm grateful you invited me."
Bege's eyebrow twitches upward.
"But sorry. I decline this off--"
"Use your words correctly, pirate."
And lightly straightening his suit and coat,
"You bastard, you plan to crush it, don't you? This entire deal."
"That's right."
--
So how was the chapter?