"——So, I bought more food than we planned," Bege announced as he walked in. "It's not enough to feed the whole disaster area, but it will last for a little while."
"That's a big help, Bege."
"Yeah, you really saved us, Capone Bege," Kuzan added from the corner. "Now we don't have to ask the refugees to cut back even more."
"It's only for now. Don't relax, Aokiji," Bege grunted.
I had just finished giving orders for the road and the camp. I had also run around talking to officers about the captain's men. Just as I finished, Bege came back with a lot of supplies.
I'm so thankful. I'm really, really thankful.
"And, like I told you on the Den Den Mushi... sorry." Bege said, turning to me. "They charged me a lot for the medicine. I got as many antibiotics and painkillers as I could, like you asked, Kuro."
"That's more than enough. No one will complain about this. The Marines who unloaded the supplies were happy, right?"
"Exactly," Kuzan confirmed. "I can't say this officially, but as a Marine, thank you."
"...I never thought a Marine Admiral would thank me," Bege chuckled. "Heh heh heh. Kuro, strange things always happen when you're around."
"I know, right?"
Strange things are always happening to me, too! Hahaha!
It's not funny... It's really not funny.
I should be planning a harvest festival right now to cheer up the people.
"I gave away our food at the start, but it looks like we got it back," I said.
"Yeah," Bege said. "I stopped by Mopuchi Country before I came here. I gave the resupply to Hancock and her team."
"Are they doing okay?" I asked. "We talk on the Den Den Mushi and by letter."
"Yep. They said they're busy smashing pirates and rebuilding the port."
Ah, yeah. That sounds like they're doing fine.
She was also supposed to be a bodyguard for the princess, but she's becoming a good commander.
Maybe I should make her the leader of her own team for a little while.
"I also got some extra things like alcohol, tea, and tobacco," Bege continued. "I have firewood and wood to replace what you and the girls in Mopuchi Country used. And I brought as much soap as I could. The next ship will have the same stuff."
Good, good. Soap is so important for keeping the refugee camps clean and healthy.
Fuel and wood is also great news.
"The harvest has started in some places. I think we can last until the government aid arrives. ...So, what did you find?"
I gave Bege two jobs.
First, use his criminal contacts to get supplies. The Marines agreed to pay for it all.
And second, the most important job... get information.
"You were right," Bege said, lighting a cigar. "This isn't just a simple pirate attack. But I found something strange."
We were in the Mogwa Kingdom castle, in a small room next to the war room.
It was the room where servers prepared drinks for long meetings. Bege cut his cigar, put it in his mouth, and lit it.
"The sale of slaves hasn't gone up as much as I thought."
"You mean from all the kidnappings?" I asked.
"Yeah."
He took a puff and slowly blew out the strong smoke.
"No, don't get me wrong. Sales are way up. I checked. A lot of slaves from the West Blue are being sent through dealers to the Sabaody islands. ...But, when you think about how many people were kidnapped, the numbers don't add up."
"...Are they still in this sea?"
"No way," Bege scoffed. "They were taken for a reason. But the pirates don't have enough supplies to keep them alive. If they were going to sell them, they would have sold them fast, before they got skinny and lost value."
"And no sales inside the West Blue?"
"Not zero, but not many. ...Ah, and those sales are already finished. We would need proof that those slaves were the kidnapped people, but..."
Kuzan and I both sighed.
We'll never find proof like that. If there was any, it's been burned.
We could try to catch a dealer, but that would ruin Bege's reputation. And the dealers are probably ready for that anyway.
Who made this awful system?
"Let's refocus," Bege said. "There aren't many sales in the West Blue. But they are being sold or moved somewhere. ...That really only leaves one place."
"The Grand Line..." I said.
Wait, but...
Huh? Maybe that guy with the stupid sunglasses isn't part of this.
He and his crew should still be in the North Blue.
He wouldn't have connections to the New World.
And how would he move thousands of people?
If he was selling to the Celestial Dragons, he would just use a dealer...
"The enemy's goal is to cause chaos. We know that," Kuzan stated.
"Yeah."
"Sengoku said he's almost 100% sure, too."
Okay, if the smartest guy in the Marines agrees, then it's probably true.
"Let's just say they got them to the Grand Line," I posed. "Who is buying?"
"...The Celestial Dragons. Or a country that needs workers or wants to act like the Celestial Dragons..."
"Or pirates."
Yeah, that's it. Pirates.
...Pirates.
.....
Pirates!
"Kuzan. Bege," I said. "Let's say a medium-level pirate crew in the New World gets thousands of new slaves. What do they do with them?"
"What do they do? Well..." Kuzan started.
"They might find other uses for the good-looking ones," Bege cut in. "But most of them would be used for work. Farming, mining, or other jobs if they have skills."
"Right. And that pirate crew gets stronger. ...For how long?"
Kuzan and Bege both tilted their heads.
"What do you mean, 'how long'?" Kuzan asked.
"Until the slaves die, I guess," Bege said. "You wouldn't do this, but most pirates would work their slaves to death."
Yeah. That's what I think, too.
"And when the slaves die," I continued, "the crew can't produce as much. So the pirates have to get more."
"Well, of course—"
Kuzan stopped talking.
"A pirate crew that gets big by using slaves will grow for a year or two," Kuzan realized. "But after that, they will be forced to keep attacking just to feed their new, larger crew. Is that what you're trying to say?"
I nod.
Damn it. I was too focused on the West Blue. I thought the Calm Belts were a perfect wall!
"If we do nothing," Kuzan said, thinking aloud, "in a few years, huge, bloated pirate crews will be causing chaos in the New World. But even if we know that, the Marines have to keep their soldiers here until the West Blue Pirate Alliance is gone."
"It's worse than that," Bege added. "If the West Blue becomes a total warzone, the Marines will never be able to leave this sea."
This is a checkmate. The enemy is attacking two of our biggest pieces at the same time.
I know you want to hold your head in your hands, Admiral Aokiji, but please hang in there!
If you give up now, what will happen to the West Blue and the Marines?
.....
Sengoku would probably be the first to die from overwork.
"Kuzan," I said, "I need the Marines to look into the New World. Can you do that?"
"...They said we have no more soldiers to spare... but I'll try to ask Sengoku."
"Please. Bege, I need you to follow the money. It's too hard to follow the people now. But..."
"I get it," Bege interrupted. "If they sold slaves, someone paid for them. Got it. I'll look into it."
"...You agreed so fast. Are you sure your mafia reputation will be okay?"
"Don't worry," Bege said. "This mess is hurting all the families' territories. Every group will share information if it means crushing these guys."
Okay, good.
I'm sorry I'm asking them to do so much.
"The enemy is much more organized than we thought," Kuzan said. "The plan is smart and bold. It's hard to even know where to start."
But, the person who made this plan... Who is this nasty? Who wants to destroy the whole world? I can only think of that old, pink-feathered bird... but who is it?
Someone who has connections in the New World, and a way to link the West Blue to the New World... Maybe not an Emperor, but someone almost as strong... Who?!
Okay, but if there is a planner, then this is a plan, not just random chaos. And plans always have a weak spot.
"But we know their goal," I said. "They want to start a huge war. If we know that, we can guess when they'll make their next move."
Kuzan, who looks like his head and stomach both hurt, looks at me.
...Don't look at me like that. I'm a pirate, but I'll help until this is over.
My own territory is in danger if I don't.
"It's the day the government supply ships arrive, isn't it?" Kuzan asked.
"If they're going to do something big," I confirmed, "that day, or right before or after, will have the biggest effect. I'm sure of it."
What will they do then?
If we can figure that out, we can hit back.
If we can figure it out.
Sengoku, please... can you send someone smart, like Ms. Tsuru, over here?...
It would really help my stomach and Kuzan's stomach... No? Okay, I get it...
Help me... Please help...
...Wait. I think I have an idea of what the enemy is planning.
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