Chapter 55: Godfather Duke Says Hello To You

Jim Volt's devious grin widened as he watched the room of chamber presidents nodding in agreement. His confidence was unshaken, despite the lingering threat of Vice Admiral Galen's tacit alliance with the Figarland Family.

The room, thick with cigar smoke and tension, was charged with the excitement of rebellion. Jim's plan wasn't to fight the Figarland Family directly but to slowly suffocate their business through boycotts and subtle propaganda. 

"This is West Blue, not Marineford," Jim reminded them. "The world government and the kings won't tolerate any Vice Admiral meddling in local affairs. Galen can't step in just because we're boycotting the Figarland Chamber of Commerce.

We're not pirates, after all—we're merely businessmen protecting our interests." His sinister smile deepened. "And advising civilians to avoid working for the mafia is simply good citizenship, isn't it?"

The idea of limiting the Figarland Chamber's expansion without openly provoking Marine forces resonated with the other presidents.

They began discussing the finer points of Jim's plan, eagerly throwing their support behind it. Before long, the **Anti-Figarland Chamber Alliance** was formed, and the boycott was in full swing. 

Chambers of commerce across West Blue began refusing to supply goods to the Figarland Chamber. Rumors started circulating that Figarland drinks were tainted, their lottery rigged, and that any factory aligning with them was essentially joining the mafia. The smear campaign was subtle but effective, cutting into the Figarland Chamber's profits and stalling their factory projects. 

But the Figarland Family wasn't the type to sit idly by.

Duke, the patriarch, had always been a man of business, and while he could tolerate assassination attempts or battles against rival pirates, when it came to hindering his ability to make money—especially when it was based on false rumors—his patience ran thin. 

In his office, Duke reviewed the reports of declining revenues from across West Blue. His fingers drummed against the table as he read through the slanderous allegations that were beginning to take root in the market. His usual calm demeanor cracked, revealing a much colder side.

With his top lieutenants **Graves**, **Sett**, and **Capone Bege** assembled before him, Duke's eyes gleamed with icy resolve. "They think they can just slander us, reduce our profits, and get away with it?" His voice was low, but the weight of his anger was unmistakable.

"You can try to kill me, you can challenge me, but when you start messing with my business… Well, I won't tolerate that."

Duke stood, his presence commanding the room. "I hope none of you have forgotten what kind of family we are. The Figarland Family isn't just a bunch of businessmen—we rule this place!" 

He turned to Graves and Sett, his most trusted enforcers, and spoke with a chilling edge. "Go remind them who controls West Blue. Make sure every chamber of commerce that joined this so-called alliance understands their place."

The message was clear. The Figarland Family had built their empire with blood, sweat, and strategy, and Duke wasn't about to let a few disgruntled merchants threaten that.

The Anti-Figarland Alliance may have had the backing of kings and nobles, but West Blue was Figarland territory, and Duke intended to make that abundantly clear.

With his lieutenants ready to act, a storm was brewing in West Blue. The chambers of commerce that had dared to oppose the Figarland Family were about to find out that there were far worse consequences than a simple boycott.

Jim Volt froze as the bloody head of his prized guard dog rolled across the polished floor of his grand manor. His eyes widened in shock, his hands trembling as he backed away from the sight.

Capone Bege stood before him, cold and composed, his sharp gaze locked onto the president of the largest wine merchant association in West Blue.

"Godfather Duke asked me to say hello to you on his behalf," Capone Bege said, his voice calm yet dripping with menace. His respect for Duke was evident, but so was the unspoken threat behind the greeting.

Jim's carefully curated world of power, influence, and wealth seemed to crumble before his very eyes. The grand halls of his manor, once filled with lavish parties and important business meetings, now echoed with a silence that felt heavier than ever before. His bodyguards, the best money could buy, lay dead in a heap behind Capone, their fates sealed without even a chance to fight back.

Capone Bege's presence was a chilling reminder of who the Figarland Family truly was. They were not just businessmen or merchants; they were a force to be reckoned with, a family whose power extended far beyond trade or politics. The rumors, boycotts, and petty schemes against the Figarland Chamber of Commerce meant nothing in the face of their raw power.

Jim's voice trembled as he tried to find words, his usual confidence replaced by fear. "This... this wasn't supposed to happen. We're not criminals, we—"

Capone raised a hand, silencing Jim with a simple gesture. "You made a mistake, Jim. You thought you could play with the big boys, undermine us with rumors, and get away with it. But let me tell you something—Duke doesn't care about your alliances, your kings, or your nobles. You've made it personal, and now, you've got his attention."

The weight of Capone's words sank in, and Jim Volt realized too late the gravity of his actions. This wasn't just about business anymore. The Figarland Family was a different beast, one that didn't just play by the rules of commerce. They ruled West Blue, not with contracts and deals, but with fear and dominance.

"I... I didn't mean..." Jim stammered, his mind racing for an escape, but he knew there was none. The game was over, and he had lost.

Capone Bege gave a small smile, one that carried no warmth, only a grim satisfaction. "Duke doesn't care what you meant. He only cares that you tried to mess with his business. And now, you pay the price."

Jim's heart pounded in his chest as Capone turned and left the room, his footsteps echoing in the now quiet manor. The message had been delivered. The Figarland Family was not to be trifled with, and Jim Volt had crossed a line that he could never return from.

As Capone exited the manor, a small group of Figarland enforcers moved in, their task clear. This was not just a warning—it was the beginning of the end for the Anti-Figarland Chamber of Commerce Alliance. 

In the distance, Sett and Graves were already making their moves. The Figarland Family was showing its true colors, and the message was being sent loud and clear across West Blue: West Blue belonged to the Figarland Family.

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