Inside [The Drifter], a small wooden house.
The situation in the New World is complex, and Umit naturally wouldn't come personally to manage. The one in charge of [The Drifter]'s affairs is a trusted subordinate of his, Jenson Edie, nicknamed the "Lame Wolf." He's a greasy middle-aged man with a broken right leg, supported by a wooden stick.
"Welcome to [The Drifter]! Please rest assured; this commission will not bring trouble to Germa!"
Edie opened his mouth with a smiling face, the thick layer of fat on his face squeezing into a lump, making his eyes narrow into slits. If you didn't consider the things he had done, anyone might think he was a friendly guy who prospered in good times.
"I don't care!"
Facing him, Vinsmoke Ichiji, the eldest son of the Vinsmoke household, nicknamed "Sparkling Red," shrugged. "That's not my concern. As long as you don't mind paying the price, I hope you can deceive them."
"After all, in that case, we would have a reason to continue the war against the Shipping King..."
When Ichiji spoke, his eyes flashed with a naked chill and a strong desire.
He was truly waiting for deception and then war!
Madman!
Edie felt a cold sweat on his back after hearing these words.
Due to some friction in business in the North Blue, Umit and Germa 66 never got along. Edie had only heard that the members of the royal family of Germa Kingdom were a group of emotionless monsters, but facing Ichiji in person, that strange feeling instantly made his scalp tingle.
Thoughtful but without emotion, was this the Vinsmoke household?
"Speak less about irrelevant topics, Ichiji! Don't forget Father's orders."
At this moment, a girl sitting at the opposite end slowly spoke, gently reminding him.
She had pink mid-length hair covering her right eye, a slender figure, and long legs. Wearing a pink combat suit with a butterfly-shaped cape, she had the number "6" tattooed on her thighs and wore white and pink knee-high boots.
Ichiji wasn't afraid of Reiju, his elder sister, but in Germa Kingdom, where orders were everything, he had to consider Judge's commands. He waved his hand and said seriously, "Alright, I understand... So, Captain Edie, what is your commission this time?"
"Don't be in such a hurry."
Edie poured two glasses of wine and handed them to the two. Then he smiled, "I'm sure you two should know about the news of the Marine's Soryu (Azure Dragon) appearing in the New World, right?"
Marine's Soryu (Azure Dragon)!
Reiju frowned silently.
In this era, no one could avoid the increasingly powerful Marine. With the Aircraft Force, Thunderbolt Stimulation Device, and Independent Commission Against Corruption, the once independent branches and Marineford Headquarters were closely connected, forming an ironclad unity that put immense pressure on all other forces in the sea.
And within the Marine, one couldn't ignore the man codenamed Soryu (Azure Dragon).
Although not an Admiral, Reiju was well aware that her father Judge's wariness of him was second only to Fleet Admiral Sengoku. Soryu (Azure Dragon) was a cunning and powerful Marine, like a clever and fierce watchdog.
Ichiji, born without emotions, didn't know fear, but he wasn't stupid. Otherwise, Judge wouldn't have sent him out to negotiate. Smirking, he said, "We know of know."
"Do you fools think you can create some pirate League to challenge the Yonko? Even though this is a safe zone in the New World, do you really think Marine is made of mud?!"
The deployment of Soryu (Azure Dragon) to the New World was a signal, a warning from the Marine. And with the strength and temper of Soryu (Azure Dragon), if the warning was ignored, he would not mind causing some casualties.
"No, no, no, Ichiji San, please don't misunderstand. We at [The Drifter] are just businessmen. We were chosen as the venue for the League meeting, and that's it. We won't get involved in pirate affairs."
Edie quickly clarified his position and continued, "Including contacting you, it was their idea. I'm just doing it on their behalf."
"Oh? So what do they want?"
Ichiji's face still had a playful smile.
"Diverting the tiger away from the mountain!"
Edie's narrow eyes suddenly opened a slit, revealing a fierce gleam inside. "If that Monster Soryu (Azure Dragon) is left alone, not to mention holding a League meeting, many people probably wouldn't dare to show their faces."
"So, they need Germa to do something in the New World, attract Marine's attention, and leave Soryu (Azure Dragon) with no time to spare."
"Mr. Edie, if it's an attack on Marine or an attack on the Allied Kingdom Members, it's better not to bother! We all know why BIG MOM's pirate crew canceled even last year's tea party." Reiju suddenly spoke, issuing a warning.
"As a member of the Government's Allied Kingdom, Germa Kingdom can't make mistakes on matters of principle."
Germa Kingdom's strength was formidable, even causing fear to Marines and the World Government due to their military power. But that didn't mean they had the right to directly challenge the government's authority on principle.
Regardless of them, because they won't affect the government's rule, this is the common premise. Otherwise, the Revolutionary Army, now as infamous as a mouse on the street, would be a glimpse into Germa's future.
"Naturally, that naturally won't happen!" Edie was sweating profusely. Attack Allied Kingdom Members? Attack Marine? They must be crazy.
Even the renowned Yonko, Charlotte Family, suffered heavy losses for attacking Allied Kingdom Members. The current Allied Kingdom Members in the New World were not as easily manipulated as before.
"You can take a look at this list first; they are all non-Allied Kingdom Members."
Edie took out a prepared list and said, "These places have long had pirate forces secretly trained, ready to overthrow the monarchy. When the time comes, Germa only needs to cooperate with the rebels in these Kingdoms, making the situation as chaotic as possible."
"Is it that simple?"
"Of course!"
Ichiji and Reiju exchanged glances. Although they couldn't quite understand what the pirates of the White Sea were thinking, if it was only against some non-Allied Kingdom Members, Germa didn't have to worry about Marine.
Germa itself had the banner of being an "Allied Kingdom Member." Did wars between countries really need to be approved by Marines?
"I like this kind of business. Paying someone to go and rob others for you!"
Ichiji laughed heartily, lifting his wine glass and finishing it in one gulp.
"All right, I'll take your commission back to ask Father's opinion. If nothing unexpected happens, please be prepared with the commission in advance."
"That is only natural!"
Edie nodded with a smiling face, watching the two leave.
...
New World, an unknown sea.
Inside the communication room, Rowen, holding the freshly received information, frowned.
"What does Germa Kingdom mean? Are they not afraid of the Marines?!"
Through internal Marine channels, Rowen got the contact number of Vinsmoke Judge, the ruler of Germa Kingdom. However, the other party claimed it was just a regular mercenary mission and then hung up.
"Germa Kingdom is a complete mercenary state. They don't produce anything, have no fixed territory, just a mobile island composed of ships. Their only source of income is the mercenary industry, which is their lifeblood. As mercenaries, they naturally consider the rules of the trade and won't casually reveal information about their employers."
Dante, standing beside him, analyzed forcefully, only to receive a disdainful eye-roll from Rowen.
"Uh... is there a problem?"
"Do you think Germa 66 is the kind of industry benchmark that would rather die than break faith and abandon righteousness?"
"Naturally not!"
Germa, as war mercenaries, could be blackened in the government-distributed manga. If Vinsmoke Judge were the kind of person like Jinbe, who followed a certain code of conduct, would the government even dare?
"They don't want to say; it's just a matter of not having enough benefits."
Rowen said slowly, suddenly glancing at Dante.
The latter shivered instantly, his right hand touching the hilt of the 21 Ō Wazamono "Clear Spring" sword.
"What are they planning to do?!"
...
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