52 Chapter 52
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One Piece: I Will Wipe Out The Tenryubito!
The king and nobles of the Kingdom of Flujesh carried themselves with immense arrogance, showing outright contempt for the simpletons of the Donquixote family.
Their admiration was reserved for those aristocrats who were even more arrogant than they.
They dreamt of being a dog under the feet of the Celestial Dragons!
But what they couldn't possibly fathom was that the leader of the Donquixote family, who they incessantly belittled and cursed, was actually a member of the Celestial Dragons they admired so greatly!
At least, he used to be!
Senoir, who had been eavesdropping all along, had somewhat changed his mind.
Initially, he had only planned to scout the place first and then employ less drastic measures to accomplish the mission.
For instance, sneaking into the king's room at night and placing a blood-soaked, terrifying doll beside his pillow.
Or, suddenly reaching out from the ground to grab the king's ankle as he walked.
After a few such instances, he would send a detailed threat letter.
Generally, this would resolve half the issue.
But for these guys in front of him, there was no need to spare their lives.
Perhaps, he could change his plan.
With these thoughts, Senoir became a bit distracted, inadvertently revealing his hostility.
Had the room been full of inept nobles, it wouldn't have mattered.
But the two men in black suits stationed at the entrance of the room immediately spotted this oversight!
"Intruder!"
Whoosh!
One of them, a square-faced man with a crew cut, vanished from his spot instantly. He appeared above the place where Senoir was hiding and raised his leg.
Rankyaku!
Startled, Senoir sprang out from the ground and swung a punch.
Bang!
Both of them were sent flying backward. Senoir had a gash on his shoulder where blood spurted out.
The opponent had just unleashed a sharp kick, a slashing strike?!
If he hadn't dodged it at the last second, it wouldn't be just a shoulder wound he'd be dealing with, but a lost arm instead.
He had no idea that such strong people existed in this country. It seemed impossible to kill the king and the nobles today.
Realizing this, and seeing that his opponent had not been hurt and was nimbly getting up, Senoir plunged straight into the wall, using his devil fruit powers to swiftly escape.
"Trying to run? Rankyaku!"
In a flash, several sharp vacuum slashes cut into the wall, causing it to shatter and crumble. Regrettably, there was no sign of Senoir among the wreckage.
"Stop chasing, the enemy is a Devil Fruit user. Don't fall for his diversionary tactic. Our task is to protect the safety of the king of this country until the cargo is handed over," the black-suited man who hadn't joined the attack earlier advised his partner, who was eager to pursue.
"If you'd joined in the attack earlier, that guy wouldn't have gotten away."
On hearing his partner's complaint, the scar-faced black-suited man could only sigh helplessly, "What can I do? My Shave and Rankyaku are still lacking in skill; I'm not yet ready to use them effectively."
"Huh? He dares to come back?"
Senoir, who had unexpectedly made a U-turn, had pulled a flintlock from another wall and aimed it at the king of this country, Colin Campbell.
The scar-faced black suit immediately stepped forward at top speed, putting himself between Colin Campbell and Senoir.
The next moment, gunfire erupted.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Senoir emptied his firearm in a clean sweep, not bothering to check the outcome. He quickly melted into the wall again and slipped away.
In less than a second, the spot he had just vacated was sliced into pieces.
"It's best to retreat for now. This mission has become a bit tricky. Thankfully, I managed to take out one of them," Senoir muttered, quickly departing without a backward glance.
However, the scar-faced black suit he thought he had eliminated was perfectly unscathed, not a single injury on him. Instead, bullets were scattered all over the floor, some shattered.
"If you would dedicate a portion of the time and effort you put into Tekkai to training in Shave and Rankyaku, you wouldn't still be an apprentice," the square-faced crew cut couldn't help but remark, seeing this.
The scar-faced black suit casually rolled his neck, "Aren't you just as bad at focusing your training? At least when we pair up, we can compensate for each other's weaknesses. Isn't that good enough?"
The square-faced crew cut had a different perspective, "But we can't be tied together forever, can we? Moreover, to become a full member, we can't have any weaknesses in our Six Powers training."
"Anyone can grasp that logic, but after all these years, only a handful have become official members. If you and I possessed the talent to master the Six Powers, we wouldn't have been thrown into the North Sea to guard these useless nobles and a king," said the scar-faced black suit, their careless conversation making Colin Campbell and the other survivors feel awkward and irritated.
However, they could do nothing about it. These two were the emissaries specially assigned by a significant figure, serving as their guardians, watchers, and supervisors. In their eyes, the nobles and king of a minor North Sea nation were barely worth noticing, so regardless of their discontent, they had to endure.
Hadn't they witnessed the scene earlier? With just a few swift moves, their surroundings were cut to ribbons, and bullets bounced off them without effect. And yet, these terrifying 'monsters' weren't even official members!
It seemed they had indeed picked the right strong support to rely on. The present nobles could hardly contain their fantasies of ruling the North Sea in the future.
However, they completely overlooked the mockery flashing in the eyes of the two black-suited men.
Considering the style of their superior officer, it remained to be seen if these unfortunate individuals could still laugh when the time came.
...
Inside the inn, Abel and his companions were idling around, playing cards and sticking paper on their faces. With his skilled gameplay, Abel quickly filled Baby-5's face with paper strips, while Bafaro, due to his large face, still lacked a fair amount.
Just then, Senoir emerged from the ground behind them.
"Huh? You're injured?" Abel exclaimed in surprise.
Although Senoir wasn't the strongest executive in the Donquixote Family, his power level was fairly high in a place like the North Sea. He could easily handle pirates with bounties around 30 million.
How could this previously trivial mission have turned into a surprise?
What on earth had happened?
"There's been a bit of a hiccup. The king here is being protected by two strong black suits. I underestimated them and got a bit injured," Senoir explained.
"Of course, I did manage to take one of them out," he added, perhaps a little prematurely confident.
Abel quickly bandaged Senoir's wounds and learned about the specific situation from him.
"A stomp leading to disappearance, followed by a kick that produced a slicing attack?"
Why did that sound so familiar?
"Wait! Could it be Shave and Tempest Kick?" Abel reacted, finding it almost comical that someone in the North Sea could master the Navy's Six Powers.
"Did you say that those two guys were in black suits and stood guard at the entrance from the beginning?" Abel suddenly inquired.
Senoir thought back, "Yes, and they had an odd accent. I can't exactly pinpoint what was strange about it."
Navy's Six Powers, black suits, door guarding, peculiar accent - this combination almost certainly couldn't be explained by elite navy officers deciding to vacation in the North Sea and serve as bodyguards for loathsome nobles.
The description given by Senoir suggested that these two were agents from CIPHERPOL!
CIPHERPOL, abbreviated as CP, is a secret intelligence agency directly under the World Government. There are officially eight departments - CP1 through CP8 - but in reality, there are two more clandestine departments, CP9 and CP0!
CP9 is a covert special branch engaging in various secret activities, mainly targeting global criminal organizations like the Revolutionary Army.
CP0, on the other hand, is directly under the World Nobles, the Celestial Dragons, known as "The Strongest Shield of the Celestial Dragons" and regarded as "The World's Strongest Intelligence Agency."
Anyone marked by a CP0 agent is undoubtedly in for trouble.
Abel pondered carefully, feeling that the situation might not be that severe. Earlier, Senoir had also mentioned the intel he had overheard.
After ruling out two possibilities, the most probable truth was that the 'important figure' mentioned by King Colin Campbell belonged to a CP department and was trying to use this nation to achieve certain objectives.
"It's those slaves!" Abel suddenly realized, perhaps the answer had been evident from the start!
To prevent any tricks from the local nobles and king, ensuring smooth collection, two CP agents were sent for surveillance and protection.
It all added up now.
However, he didn't disclose his assumptions to Senoir, for he had no evidence to prove his speculation.
Moreover, considering his current identity and past experiences, there was no way he could have known so much.
So he could only feign ignorance while being vigilant.
After all, given Doflamingo's former Celestial Dragon status, even if real trouble arose, it wouldn't be much of an issue.
Furthermore, the acts committed by the other party may not dare to be disclosed.
Given that Senoir's appearance had been seen and they had entered the country with a travel group, many people had witnessed them, prompting a swift and quiet relocation elsewhere.
Soon enough, an armed force stormed in, but they found no one.
Meanwhile, the two men in black suits stationed in the palace had made a call via the Den Den Mushi, reporting the incident to their superior.
"Chief Spandam, please advise on the next steps."
"Instructions? Find that man and eliminate him immediately!!!" A fierce roar emanated from the Den Den Mushi.
"I don't care how you do it, but the mission details must not be leaked! If you fail, you both might as well stay in the North Sea and fend for yourselves!"
After the call ended, the faces of the two men in black suits turned extremely grim.
Fending for themselves obviously did not mean freedom.
Rather, it entailed being covertly discharged by the World Government, followed by an assassination attempt.
Even if they were official agents, there would be no escape.
So, their only option was to locate the eavesdropper and eliminate him!
If there were other informants, they had to be wiped out too!
After the transaction was completed, of course, the king and the nobles of this nation would not be spared either.
Did these people think they were lucky?
No, they were merely scapegoats, chosen to be discarded after a single use!
Where in the world would manna fall from heaven?!
On the other end, after hanging up the Den Den Mushi, Spandam's face remained foul, as if someone owed him millions of berries.
"What uselessness! They couldn't even manage such a small matter. How could CP9 trainee agents let someone get close enough to eavesdrop and then escape?!"
"Trash will always be trash. I doubt they'll ever become official agents in their lifetime!"
"After we receive the goods, we'll dispose of these two worthless agents."
"Hmm, let me think. Annihilating a nation and then brutally murdering two World Government officials...if these crimes are pinned on someone, it could create a bounty of at least ten million berries, and that's not even including the 'accomplices'."
"Hahaha, this batch of slaves will definitely fetch a handsome price!"
"I, Spandam, am truly an unparalleled genius! Once I've made enough money, I can invest it to elevate myself even further."
"Ah yes, my good-for-nothing son. The current director of CP5 is retiring in a few months. This is an excellent opportunity. I can start plotting to put that brat in the position of CP5 director, so in the future, he can naturally succeed me and continue running CP9!"
This tall man, who appeared somewhat crafty and cunning, seemed entirely engrossed in his flawless scheme.
Even the most ordinary human fetches a minimum auction price of 500,000 Berries!
The wickedest criminals could undoubtedly sell for even more.
Hence, he hatched a crooked plan to manufacture criminal slaves in bulk using various tactics and his power, and then sell them for a high price.
Of course, such activities couldn't be discovered; the Marines of the Grand Line weren't pushovers.
So, he targeted some small regions in the Four Seas, where the majority of Marines were idle loafers, easily fooled.
All he needed to do next was select suitable 'agents', clean up after the transactions, and then sit back and rake in the money.
The auction houses he collaborated with would handle everything, ensuring there would be no issues.
Anyone who considers who the major players behind these slave auctions are would understand.
And it was this man who, four years ago, used the Golden Den Den Mushi to initiate the Buster Call, destroying Robin's hometown of Ohara.
To Spandam, if anyone hindered his interests, he wouldn't care how many of them died.
In a very short time, the wanted posters of Senoir were plastered all over the Kingdom of Flies.
Anyone who could provide clues was guaranteed a minimum reward of hundreds of thousands of Berries!
If one could capture him and bring him to the palace, they would instantly receive a bounty of five million Berries!
Additionally, the king, on behalf of the three noble families, promised that if an ordinary citizen provided valid clues, they could become nobility of the lowest rank.
If they caught the man, they'd be promoted another rank!
If they were slaves, they could regain their status as ordinary citizens and be granted freedom.
Capturing the target would earn one the status of a noble, the object of everyone's envy!
For this autocratic slave-holding country, this was undoubtedly a golden opportunity!
In addition to this, the entire country and all its ports were sealed off, prohibiting anyone from entering or exiting. It was a clear demonstration of their resolve to find the person!
Luckily, Abel and his companions had taken refuge in a local residence ahead of time and were temporarily safe.
"Did you find anything?"
"What can you expect a common civilian of this country to know?"
Abel helplessly spread his hands. "We only got some basic information about the country. The person we interrogated probably didn't lie; there are signs that only one person lives here. But the bad news is that this implies there's little stored food at home. If we can't take action quickly, you'll probably get quite busy."
That's because only Senoir could move freely without being discovered.
Although Abel had stored some food using his 'Universal Capsule No. 1', he didn't want to reveal it unless absolutely necessary, nor could he explain its origin.
He was fairly confident that, including Senoir, along with Baby-5 and Buffalo, none would blab about it after returning.
"A real man should fight a straightforward battle! So, I've decided to storm in directly. Just need to eliminate that annoying black suit, then kill the remaining king and nobles, and all problems will be solved."
Senoir, smoking, proposed a plan that made Abel's temples throb.
"Don't tell me that's the plan you came up with overnight?"
"Do you have a better idea? Anyone in this country could be our enemy right now. Swift victory is the best strategy."
Senoir wasn't stupid, but asking him to devise a seamless action plan would definitely be too much to ask.
"Senor, do you think there are people who willingly become slaves for others?"
Abel's sudden change of topic left Senoir momentarily stunned before he replied, "I don't think there are such people."
"The nobles of this country are smart, leveraging the masses to find us and precisely targeting everyone's weaknesses. Some people are greedy, so they offer them money. Some aspire to rise above the rest, so they grant them noble titles. And what the slaves desire is nothing more than freedom, to become just ordinary people!"
"We may not be able to satisfy the first two types of people right now. But I believe that the numerous slaves in this country must desperately yearn for freedom and human rights. So...
"This, precisely, is something we, the Donquixote family, can offer them."
Abel's words seemed to have opened a new world for Senior.
"You mean..."
"Captain Doflamingo intends to sell weapons in this country, right? I suspect even if a new batch of nobles and kings come to power, they might not be able to purchase many weapons."
"But it's different with these slaves. If we provide them with enough weapons, and then ask them: Do you want your descendants to be slaves just like you?"
"The very next second, they'll instantly transform into the fiercest rioters, warriors, rebels, or whatever name you prefer. They'll seize the weapons you've given them, with bloodshot eyes they'll charge into the vast estates of the nobles, into the grand palace, killing any enemies standing in their way!"
"During this process, Captain Doflamingo can sell as many weapons as he wants. All he needs to do is wait for the country to decide on its new master, then step out elegantly at the right time, with a clear account, and settle the books with the new leader."
"Trust me, after going through all this, finally returning to peace, whoever wins, they will undoubtedly pay their dues. They might even be grateful for our help."
"Senor, I know you don't want to harm too many innocents."
"But the fact is, we have to make choices. Just like how you chose to eradicate those despicable nobles and kings before, but the reality is the nature of this country remains unchanged. It's just a new set of kings and nobles continuing their rule."
"So why not give these lowly civilians and slaves a chance to change their destiny?"
"Even if the dragon slayer ultimately turns into the dragon, that's their own choice, irrelevant to us, isn't it?"
Senior was dumbstruck throughout Abel's passionate speech, only snapping out of it when his cigarette burnt down to the stub, scorching his hand!
This was the first time he felt something akin to fear towards a ten-year-old child.
It had nothing to do with physical strength.
In fact, he felt that Abel displayed a trait eerily similar to Doflamingo's.
No, even more terrifying!
At least, the current Doflamingo could not conceive of such a horrifying, precise strategy of manipulating people's hearts.
Senior had initially thought that Law, who escaped White Town with him, was the one with the most extreme thinking, destructive tendencies, and the deepest plunge into darkness.
But it seemed that Law's breakdown was apparent, one could see through his intentions at a glance.
Abel, on the other hand, was different!
Normally, you wouldn't find anything off about him. He behaved like any ordinary person his age, albeit significantly more mature.
But looking back, being "normal" after experiencing such an event is the biggest abnormality!
"Perhaps...there truly is a creature inside him capable of destroying the world!" Senior's expression became rather complex.
"Maybe you could consider conveying my suggestion to Captain Doflamingo. I believe he would appreciate this plan."
"And then, the rest...hey Senor, are you listening?"
"Hmm, I need to think about it. Let's leave it at that for now."
Senior indeed needed to cool down, so he retreated to his room and started chain-smoking.
