Li Yuan had to admit that the world was indeed filled with fools, just as Shakky had described. They were everywhere, in such abundance that it was impossible to count them all.
"You're right; only fools would dare steal my arms shipment. Anyone with a bit of sense would never attempt such a thing."
Li Yuan's demeanor was much calmer now than it might have been in the past. Otherwise, his Seven Star Sword would have already tasted blood instead of simply knocking people out with Conqueror's Haki.
As he spoke, the blood-red lightning surrounding Li Yuan burst forth, enveloping Capone Seref.
Suddenly, Seref felt an invisible and terrifying force crushing him, pinning him down completely.
"Thud!"
In the next moment, Seref dropped to his knees, unable to move, his body weighed down by an immense pressure. He could only lift his head to look up at Li Yuan.
It was then that he realized the man before him was none other than Li Yuan, the captain of the Infinite Pirates and the world's greatest swordsman!
"Lord Li Yuan, I was blind, a fool indeed. It was my idiotic son who took your arms shipment without my knowledge. He is here; please deal with him as you see fit!"
Seref had never imagined that just after his foolish son stole from the Infinite Pirates, Li Yuan would personally come to confront him. The speed and precision of this response terrified him.
So, he decided to blame everything on his foolish son, hoping to save his own life.
"Damn old man, you're the one who ordered me to take it, and now you're putting it all on me!" Capone Terense, pinned by Li Yuan's Haki and unable to speak, cursed his father internally.
"Shakky, is the core of the Capone Family just these two?" Li Yuan asked, losing interest after understanding the nature of these fools through his Haki.
"The Capone Family is a mafia built on blood ties, so they aren't the only ones."
"Most of the family lives on this island, but only the head and his branch live here."
"Given the situation, ambitious and daring members from other branches should arrive soon," Shakky explained.
"Good, we'll wait for them to arrive," Li Yuan nodded, then increased the intensity of his lightning, causing Seref and Terense to faint.
"Husband, are you planning to take over the Capone Family?" Shakky asked, sitting beside Li Yuan as he took the head's seat.
"You asked me what the next step was after establishing stable trade stations in the West Blue. It's simple: control the Five Mafia Families. They're the local power brokers, and many things in the West Blue can't escape their notice."
"The Mafia has significant influence across the West Blue. Controlling them won't provoke the World Government into immediate action but will allow us to influence various aspects of the region," Li Yuan explained.
"I see, establishing trade openly while secretly controlling the local power. Then we can infiltrate and sway the West Blue's nations," Shakky noted.
"Exactly. I don't know how effective this will be, so we'll test it in the West Blue first. If successful, we can apply this model to the other seas and even the first half of the Grand Line," Li Yuan confirmed.
The Infinite Pirates had established trade islands in all four seas, but only Grimo Island in the West Blue was public. The others were secret to avoid provoking the World Government.
Li Yuan was conducting an experiment in the West Blue, planning to replicate it elsewhere if successful.
"This will certainly help us control the West Blue and expand our intelligence network," Shakky agreed.
As time passed, almost all the Mafiosi at the Capone base had been knocked out by Li Yuan's Haki. Those who remained were too cowardly to approach and scattered in fear.
"Strong enemies have invaded the Capone Family. We saw blood-red lightning, probably a Devil Fruit power!"
"Shall we go in and see?"
Near the Capone base, members of the family's other branches gathered. They were ambitious, always scheming to overthrow the current head.
Seeing the head besieged by powerful enemies, they seized the opportunity to take control for themselves.
"We're here. How can we back down now? Missing this chance might mean none will come again!"
Unfazed by the unconscious Mafiosi they passed, they pressed on, determined to seize the day.
Entering the main hall, they saw a young man seated in the head's chair with a stunning woman beside him. The head of the Capone Family lay unconscious, used as a footstool by the man.
The sight shocked the two branches' leaders, their eyes wide with disbelief.
"Thud!"
Capone Becca, one of the leaders, recognized Li Yuan and immediately knelt.
"I am Capone Becca. I didn't know what our family had done to offend Lord Li Yuan. Please spare us!"
Becca pleaded, trembling with fear.
He hadn't expected the intruder to be the world's greatest swordsman. Had he known, he would never have dared approach, let alone bring others in!
Now he cursed his ambition and Seref's foolishness for provoking the Infinite Pirates and drawing Li Yuan's wrath upon their family.
"Thud!"
Following Becca, Capone Remy, who had allied with him, also knelt, terrified upon realizing who they faced.
"Thud, thud!"
Seeing their leaders kneel, the Mafiosi behind them followed suit, pressing their foreheads to the floor in submission.
"It seems the Capone Family has some brains after all, not just fools," Li Yuan remarked, nodding.
He intended to control the Capone Family, but if they were all fools, he would have wiped them out instead. After all, as the saying goes, a wise enemy is better than a foolish ally.
At least Becca and Remy showed ambition and intelligence.
"Previously, your family stole a shipment of arms worth 2.5 billion Berries from the Infinite Pirates. You're the first in the West Blue to dare such a thing!"
"Upon hearing this, I came directly to your family. This fool at my feet is responsible!"
"I planned to annihilate the Capone Family as a warning to others in the West Blue about the fate of those who cross the Infinite Pirates!"
As Li Yuan spoke, his blood-red lightning surged, knocking out all the Mafiosi except Becca and Remy. They felt as though a mountain pressed on them, immobilizing them.
"Damn Seref, you fool! You dared steal from the Infinite Pirates. Why not rob the World Government's Heavenly Tribute while you're at it?"
"Capone Seref, you idiot! Stealing such a massive shipment from the Infinite Pirates is a death wish!"
Becca and Remy cursed Seref internally, furious at his stupidity. They feared for their lives, wondering if Li Yuan would execute them to set an example.
After all, Li Yuan had said he intended to make an example, and the Capone Family, one of the West Blue's Five Mafia Families, was the perfect target.
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