Chapter 33: A Promise and a Plan
"Uncle T is silent again. Peacock, you tell everyone." Ian's gaze shifted, relentless. "What kind of 'new jobs' will that mother and daughter get?"
He turned his demanding stare on Peacock, seeming to require an answer. From her composure at the scene, it was clear she had known about the auction house's true nature all along. The girl who had been laughing and joking on the ship now wore a grave expression.
"They will be purchased by the highest bidder at the auction..." she began, her voice low.
"And after they're bought? What work will they do?" Ian pressed, refusing to let the subject drop.
Peacock took a deep breath, avoiding his eyes. "They will become... slaves."
The bloody truth, spoken aloud, finally forced Nami and Skylark to confront the world's darkest corner.
Nami's eyes trembled. "How can that be...? Why... why is it like this...?"
Skylark bit her lip until it was white. "What did they do to deserve that...?"
Nami, whose home had once been occupied and who had lived under the thumb of pirates, understood this kind of powerlessness intimately. Skylark, who yearned for a peaceful world, couldn't comprehend how such a "legal" place could exist.
"Since it's a place operating under the World Government's auspices," Ian continued, his words deliberately provocative, "even if they are auctioning people, they must be criminals, right? I suppose... that mother and daughter must be unforgivable murderers. They deserve this fate!"
His harsh, cynical words were the final spark.
Finally, T. Peng, who had been bottling his emotions, could contain himself no longer.
"NO!" he roared, his composure shattering. "Commodore Ian, that mother and daughter are clearly not criminals! They... they are just ordinary civilians! But I... but I couldn't save them...! I'm not worthy of even speaking of justice!"
Tears streamed down T. Peng's face as his body gave way. He fell heavily to his knees, as if kneeling in penance for a terrible sin. His was a tragic character—a man who felt the pain of others so acutely that he bore the responsibility for their suffering as his own personal failure. It was this very self-blame that would one day leave him unable to raise his sword against a desperate refugee, not because of the blade, but because of the guilt in his heart.
"It's useless," Peacock said, her voice thick with frustration as she kicked the base of the giant tree, making the roots tremble. "Even if we had acted, we couldn't have saved them. Those collars around their necks... they're explosive. They're bombs to prevent escape. Any sign of rebellion, and they'd be killed. Damn it! That old man Garp was right. The bastards who created these dark rules are the real trash!"
Seeing the atmosphere was ripe, Ian decided it was time to reveal his hand.
"What if I told you I have a way to save those innocent people?" he asked, finishing the last bite of his apple and looking at each of them in turn. "Would you be willing to cooperate?"
"Really? There's really a way to save them?" Skylark gasped, scurrying up to Ian. "I'm willing to cooperate, Commodore Ian!"
"Commodore Ian, I am too!" Nami declared, her outrage giving her voice strength. "Why should ordinary people be bought and sold? Why should they become slaves to those monsters?!"
"I am your adjutant," Peacock stated, her gaze steadying on Ian with a newfound hope. "I will follow your orders, Commodore Ian. Whatever you command."
The three women had given their answers. Only T. Peng remained on his knees.
"Uncle T, you're a grown man. How long are you going to kneel there?" Ian walked over and extended a hand. "What about you? Are you in, or are you out?"
T. Peng grabbed Ian's arm, his grip tight. "Commodore Ian... is it true? Is there really a way to save them? We can really get them out?"
Ian tightened his own grip and pulled the older man to his feet. He patted T. Peng firmly on the back. "I promise you. We will rescue them."
Then, his tone shifted, a sly, cunning smile spreading across his face. "But... my plan... will require the absolute cooperation of every single one of you. Hehe!"
New World, Onigashima.
The headquarters of the Beasts Pirates, led by one of the Four Emperors, Kaido.
Glug, glug, glug...
CRUSH!
"Go get more sake!" Kaido, the "King of Beasts," roared, casually demolishing an empty barrel. "Why is there so little today? Didn't that bastard Orochi deliver the shipment to Onigashima on time yesterday?"
He glared unhappily at the three figures seated before him.
"Big Brother Kaido, there is plenty of sake," one of the three, a veteran who knew Kaido's temper well, interjected cautiously. "But before we drink, shouldn't we discuss the matter of Doflamingo and the 'SMILE' fruits?" If Kaido got drunk now, no business would be concluded for the rest of the day.
Grumbling, Kaido snatched up a newspaper from the floor, his eyes landing on the front page. "That bastard Joker... is this the guy he's talking about?" he slurred, reading the headline. "'Commodore Jock Ian... Adjudicator of the Sea... My goal is a world without pirates!' What an arrogant fool! Wants to kill all the pirates on the sea? He's got a death wish!" He tossed the paper aside. "We're short on capable Devil Fruit users right now, so I'll let Joker have his way this time. Hey, you three! Which one of you is going to go kill this guy for me?"
…
That afternoon.
Grove 66, Sabaody Archipelago. Marine Base.
Ian, having formally assumed command of the base, stood before the assembled Marines on the central parade ground. There was no helping it; Sengoku's propaganda had built him up, and it would be remiss not to say a few words on his first day.
In addition to the 750 elite Marines he had brought from Headquarters, there were another 200 permanently stationed at the base. In total, he commanded nearly a thousand troops.
It sounded impressive, but when applied to the vast expanse of the Sabaody Archipelago's 79 groves, it meant he could only allocate a little over a dozen Marines to each area—a pitifully thin force. As a major hub, Sabaody saw a constant, massive flow of pirates and criminal syndicates. With less than a thousand Marines, it was no wonder so many lawless zones flourished, neglected and out of control.
Beyond the initial patrol upon landing, Ian had no further plans for the day. The real work would begin tomorrow.
End of Chapter