Galan went to the office alone and started making plans.
Many things were happening in his life, but this was by far the most important thing. Someone was behind the scenes in Mariejois. Galan had seen the Empty Throne before and had a suspicion it was bullshit.
However, what he didn't expect was that it wasn't the 5 Elders, but someone above them!
This was beyond his expectations. He needed to revise his plans, he got reports from around the Blues, detailing their progress. It was slow, but definitely not effortless. Galan was glad that his plan was going smoothly but he had a feeling that it wasn't going to be that way for long.
The problem was the World Government had shady dealings with the Underworld scene. This was normal, they used the channels to get things that they couldn't get otherwise. Galan had used the Underworld before too, but mostly for information on Underworld bigshots.
He wasn't like the World Government, they supported such a thing and allowed Slaves. Galaln wouldn't be surprised if they purchased slaves too. The only thing he wanted from the Underworld was information on his next target, but that was in the past.
These things shouldn't exist but to dismantle the entire Underworld operation was impossible. They were deeply rooted in the world, more than the World Government! This was how frightening the Underworld truly was.
The thing that Galan was most upset about was the drugs, assassins, and human trafficking that would take place. He couldn't tolerate this. As for Weapon brokering, it was a mild inconvenience. Everyone needed weapons, it was a necessity.
Also one of the reasons that Galan left these people alone. As tough as it was to say, these people needed to make money to survive. You shouldn't vilify the person who makes the weapons, but the one who uses them for evil.
It was a simple calculus really.
If everyone had a weapon to protect themselves then people would be much safer. It's a deterrent but the problem with this is the escalation that it could cause. As for banning weapons, this was a joke. Not to mention impossible, what was he supposed to do?
Sail around to every house and confiscate weapons? Probably when he was done he would be over a thousand years old, right?
It was a stupid dream.
What Galan wanted for the Underworld was more of a channel for information and underground markets. These people needed to make money, if you took away their only way to live, many people would be angry.
Their anger wasn't a problem individually but as more and more people came together, the issue would escalate exponentially. Mainly, the issue was these people were more than likely innocent.
Now, the people who sold slaves and drugs, forget it. Galan didn't care how many came at him, he would kill them all. You can make money in the Underworld, within reason! Making weapons wasn't malicious as they could be used to protect just as well as they could to destroy.
But!
Selling Slaves is an inhuman act! Selling drugs is a malicious act in itself! It doesn't matter how much money you make or whatever bullshit reason you give. Galan didn't care if these people were trying to feed an entire continent of hungry people by selling drugs.
He would kill them all the same!
In his view, there were so many better ways to make money without hurting innocent people. Whatever excuse they came up with to justify themselves didn't matter. Whether that made Galan a bad person or not, he really didn't care.
For the sake of greed, countless innocents are implicated!
The drugs they sold were highly addictive and dangerous! Galan had seen too many addicts in his life. Sweet girls who became cocksucking whores for a fix… He didn't like it one bit.
As he was revising his plans and calling out orders to his troops in the Blues, he received a call. Galan frowned and answered "Hello?" to his surprise it wasn't the 5 Elders but Jonathan!
Jonathan smiled "Hey, kid! How's it goin'?" as he looked across his desk at a woman dressed in an inspector costume, smiling at him. Galan was confused and replied "Not too bad."
Due to the nature of snails, his voice was heard by the woman. Jonathan looked at her and she froze for a split second before returning to normal and closing her eyes.
She was afraid that she would be exposed if Jonathan saw the intense hatred in her eyes. Jonathan let out a breath and said "Commander Shepard is here to check on the G-8 base. She just arrived." Galan was stunned, 'she'? Shepard was a man… Although he was a bit of an idiot, he wasn't a bad person…
Just an asshole, really.
But someone took his place? Galan frowned and asked "I see… And where is Commander Shepard right now?" Jonathan smiled "Right in front of me." Robin clenched her fists secretly saying leisurely "Fleet Admiral."
Galan listened to the voice and didn't recognize it at all… He frowned and said "Shepard, I remember telling you to stop by G-8 before heading to G-19… Why are you still there?" Robin replied slowly " Fleet Admiral, I figured that a more in-depth review of Vice-Admiral Jonathan's base would be more appropriate. Seeing as how this Marine Base rarely comes into contact with Pirates, perhaps they are having some problems?"
Galan confirmed that this wasn't Shepard as he had never even spoken to him. The Marines in charge of inspecting Bases like this fell under one of Galan's subordinates… A division of the Marines that he had not been paying attention to at the moment.
Mostly because it was useless. He sent his own men to check on the bases and he would never send anyone to Jonathan's base. Not because of a favor, but because he knew Jonathan's character, not to mention, Jonathan was basically retired with his wife at the base.
He heard that they had a son at some point, though Galan mostly left them to their own devices. Jonathan didn't need his help. Nor would G-8 need an inspection… but this was a problem for another time.
He nodded and replied "I see. Then please do your job, Shepard. Wasting time at G-8 isn't wise, nor is it following orders. You're not on vacation." Robin replied "Yes, Fleet Admiral, sir." before walking away.
Jonathan waited till she left before laughing "She almost fooled me too." Galan frowned and asked "Who is she, old man." Jonathan scratched his beard and snorted "Nico Robin." Galan froze for a moment before replying slowly "I see…"
Jonathan raised a brow and looked at the snail, asking "Hey… was that emotion I heard, kid?" Galan replied immediately "No, you heard wrong." Jonathan thought about it for a moment, it wasn't like he hadn't been to Marineford for a long time. He returned just a few years ago!
He rubbed his chin and his brain exploded with an idea as he said in shock "Kid, you?! Oh boy, what a mess…" Galan frowned and Jonathan asked "Does she even know?" Galan didn't reply and Jonathan sighed, "She really doesn't like you, kid… Even I got cold feeling the look in her eye… reminds me of you."
Galan asked "Did she kill anyone?" Jonathan shook his head, replying "No, just knocked out that idiot, Shepard… though my men told me he was a member of the Straw Hats called Con D. Oriano… or Condoriano for short…"
Galan ignored that last bit, Shepard was an idiot, he didn't expect much from him, "Do me a favor. Test her and the crew. All of them… these are good pirates." Jonathan chuckled and asked "Is she all like you or just hateful?" Galan replied softly "I hope neither." Jonathan fell silent and sighed, "You can't keep living like this, kid. One day it's going to catch up with you. I'd rather not attend your funeral before mine."
Galan ignored him, saying "Please, Jonathan." Jonathan sighed and said helplessly "Alright, alright… No need to beg me like this… But is this girl really so important to you?" Galan didn't answer and Jonathan sighed, "I never asked." Galan said "Thank you." Jonathan rolled his eyes, saying "Yeah, yeah. Nice hearing from you, kid. See you now…"
Galan closed his eyes, saying "Bye, old man." before hanging up and holding his temples, rubbing them with his fingers as he let out a breath, going back to planning.