Business #50

Karasu looked at Jiron inquisitively. "The man who killed Artur Bacca... Blake Thorne, right?" he asked. "That merchant, Jack, was tight-lipped about him and refused to tell us any more than we already knew... I didn't expect to hear that young man's name again so soon."

Jiron shrugged, a slight smirk on his face. "Neither did I," he said. "Apparently, Blake and his crew, the ones he gathered at Swallow Island, hit the gangs on Spider Miles hard." He went on. "They wiped out most of them. The few that survived were stripped of their resources and left powerless against the Marines."

Karasu's eyes widened in shock. "So the Marines decided to swoop in and claim the credit," he said, trailing off thoughtfully. "Typical." He sighed in annoyance.

Jiron nodded in agreement. "Yeah, they're under a Marine captain by the name of Daigin. A real piece of work, that guy," he said with a scowl. "He's a hardcore justice fanatic, one of the red dog's students, I believe."

Karasu shook his head, digesting the news. "Blake Thorne... I wonder what he's really after? And Daigin's involvement complicates things. "He said with a sigh. "We need to keep our distance from the Marines, but if it's a lunatic like Daigin then he might do more harm to the civilians than the gangs themselves...."

"Aye... his type can't be reasoned with. They'll go to any length to enforce the World government's justice..." Jiron leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms. "That Blake Thorne is even more of a mystery... do you think he's up to something?"

Karasu paused, deep in thought. "Possibly. A man doesn't take down a notorious pirate and dismantle an island's worth of gangs without a reason. There's a purpose behind his actions, and I believe it will be in our best interest to find out what it is."

Jiron nodded at Karasu's words, finding sense in them. "Do you want me to gather more intel on Thorne's and his crew? Maybe we can get a better sense of their plans."

Karasu considered the suggestion for a moment before replying. "Yes, you do that..." He instructed. "And before you go... what do you reckon are the chances of that young man and the marines clashing...?" 

Karasu mulled over the suggestion for a brief moment before chiming in. "Yeah, that sounds like a plan," he directed, pausing before adding, "But before you take off, what's your take on the odds of Thorne and the Marines locking horns?" 

 Jiron winced involuntarily at the query, scratching his chin in thought. "It's a toss-up, really. If it's just your run-of-the-mill corrupt marine captain eyeing a promotion, he'll probably bide his time until all the variables, like Blake Thorne and his crew, clear out of Spider Miles," he speculated.

 "But if we're dealing with one of Red Dog's proteges... well, patience isn't exactly their strong suit," he remarked, his brow furrowing. 

Karasu let out a weary sigh, nodding in agreement. "Figured as much," he muttered. "But the real question is, will they deliberately provoke Thorne and his crew? And if they do, what sort of reaction with the Marines receive?" he mused aloud, tapping his fingers on the table. 

"It'd be a stroke of luck if they clashed... gives us cover to move discreetly and presents the Marines another headache," he added, his gaze flicking towards Jiron. "Can't have enough of those..." 

 A chuckle escaped Jiron's lips at Karasu's words. "Sure would be a fortunate turn of events, but luck isn't exactly our constant companion in these endeavors," he remarked dryly. "More pressing, though... have we settled on our next destination?" he inquired, casting his eyes towards the map spread out before them.

Karasu nodded decisively, his dark eyes fixed on Jiron. "We'll be making our way to Kuen Village, but before that, we'll make a stop at Lvneel Kingdom on the way," he declared.

Jiron raised an intrigued eyebrow. "Lvneel Kingdom, boss? What for?" he inquired, genuinely curious."The nobility may rule with an iron fist, but the kingdom itself boasts wealth that trickles down even to its commoners... you can say they're well off compared to other places on North Blue..." he explained, a faint frown creasing his brow. 

"What's more, it's a smaller and more tightly controlled domain compared to our usual haunts. Blending in won't be easy, to say the least," he added thoughtfully.

Letting out a resigned sigh, Karasu continued, pondering the situation. "You're correct, but I suspect Blake Thorne will set his sights there soon," he mused aloud. "Given his course so far, he'll have to pass by Lvneel Kingdom to get to Reverse Mountain, and I strongly believe that's exactly where he's heading."

A knowing grin tugged at Jiron's lips. "Thinking of recruiting him for the Revolutionary Army, boss?" he teased lightly, his amusement evident.

Maintaining his calm demeanor, Karasu replied evenly, "While having him join us would be advantageous, I'm not banking on it..." he said, shaking his head. "Nevertheless it wouldn't hurt to try..." 

...

Looking at the dilapidated building before me, I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. "Is this the hideout of our so-called broker?" I asked, giving the rundown façade a thorough once-over. 

It was as inconspicuous as it was decrepit, blending seamlessly with the other buildings in this area. Spider Miles was essentially one massive slum, but this particular section felt like the slum within the slum.

Law shrugged at my words. "It certainly doesn't look like much," he agreed. "Still, it's the kind of place no one would spare a second glance at. Perfect for someone in the underworld."

"Makes sense," I said, nodding in agreement. "Shall we announce our presence?" I moved to knock on the wooden door, only to pause at the metallic sound that echoed back. "Now, how in the hell did they manage to disguise steel as wood?" I muttered, my eyes widening in surprise.

Turning to Law, I noticed he seemed distracted. He was facing the direction of the docks, his gaze fixed on the sky. "Hey, Law, you with me?" I called out, trying to get his attention.

Law blinked and turned back to me, looking a bit dazed. "Yeah, sorry," he said, shaking his head slightly. "I'm right here. Just got my mind on those marine ships that docked recently," he explained.

I shot him a quizzical look. "We've got nothing to worry about from the marines, right? No black flag on our mast," I said.

Law sighed deeply. "I know, but I can't shake the feeling that their presence is going to be a headache... for me," he added, his eyes narrowing as he looked at me.

I grinned and gave him a friendly slap on the shoulder. "You're the brains, Law, so it's only natural you suffer all the headaches," I teased. "As for the marines, there's no need to stress. Sif, Double Six, and the rest are all on the ship. They can handle themselves, and if there's any danger, they'll signal us."

Law looked like he had more to say, but he clamped his mouth shut as the door creaked open. A man peeked his head in, eyes darting suspiciously. "Who are you? What's your business here?" he demanded.

Law stepped forward with a confident stride. "I believe your boss is well aware of who we are," he stated coolly. "As for our business, this isn't the place for such discussions," he added, fixing the man with a pointed glare.

The man behind the door hesitated, considering Law's words, then stepped back and opened the door wider.

"You may come inside, but remember, this is Umit the Shipping King's territory," he said flatly. "Cause trouble here, and the entire underworld will be after you," he warned, gesturing for us to enter.

I turned to Law with an amused smile. "They sure know how to roll out the welcome mat, don't they?" I quipped, earning a blank look from Law in return. "Already got your business face on, eh? Saves me the trouble and the headache..." I laughed, walking into the building ahead of him.