238. Gangster

Cige Island.

This is the turf of the Capone family, the biggest gangster crew in the North Blue.

Based around Cige Island, their influence stretches to different islands in the North Blue.

It's fair to say that the three main divisions of the Capone family hold about half of the North Blue's mafia influence.

Now, inside the Capone family meeting room.

In the middle of the fancy hall, there's a long table dominating nearly half of the meeting space.

At the head of the table, a chubby middle-aged man sits on a chair adorned with gems, surrounded by opulence. A sizzling steak rests on the table in front of him.

The man appears composed as he carefully removes the hat from his head, exposing his neatly combed-back hair. Next, he unwraps the scarf from around his neck and takes a napkin from the waiter, as if wary of any potential stains on his pristine new striped suit.

Capone Bege, the fresh leader of the Capone family at just thirty years old, has consolidated power within the family through ruthless tactics. He is a man with bold ambitions and courage.

"Does the Soviet Chamber of Commerce intend to offer me any clarification?" Capone Bege inquired softly, slicing his steak deliberately.

Despite being in the family's meeting hall, it's now entirely under the control of Capone Bege's personal armed forces. Even the family elders are subdued by his brutal methods and hesitate to speak up.

Now, the Capone family has been entirely transformed into Capone Bege's sole domain.

Certainly, the majority of the family deeply acknowledge and respect him.

In contrast to the elderly individual who succumbed to power and gradually deteriorated, the enthusiastic youth can instinctively recognize him as a leader capable of steering the Capone family forward.

"Father, the Soviet Chamber of Commerce has been unusually silent lately. There's been no activity whatsoever, as if nothing has occurred."

A man dressed in a black suit and a black hat stepped forward, leaning in, and lowered his voice to whisper to Capone Bege.

"Oh?" Bege's hand, in the midst of cutting the steak, halted, and a hint of surprise flickered across his stern face.

"Do they have any other support?" Bege inquired.

"It's not certain. We've pretty much gathered all their information."

"They're merely a bunch of fortunate individuals who managed to grab a portion of the Donquixote Family's legacy. If the actual Donquixote Family were still around, we might have reason to fear. But as for them..."

"Hmph..." The man in the black suit sneered with a hint of disdain.

Being a prominent gangster force in the North Blue, the intelligence agencies under their control are intricately connected. Any minor upheaval in the North Blue is unlikely to escape their watchful eyes and ears.

The so-called Soviet Chamber of Commerce does appear to be exceedingly enigmatic, and the showcased users of devil fruit abilities are sufficient to instill fear in people.

Yet, upon closer scrutiny, one can identify several shortcomings.

To begin with, the emergence of the Soviet Chamber of Commerce aligns too closely with the downfall of the Donquixote Family, doesn't it?

If this is merely a coincidence.

Hence, the revealed abilities failed to completely convince the Capone family.

Being the most significant intermediary in the underground realm of the North Blue, Doflamingo naturally engaged in numerous dealings with the Capone family.

Furthermore, Bege, who has a fondness for swords and firearms, stands out as one of the Donquixote Family's major purchasers of weapons.

Coincidentally, they possessed a catalog of items slated for the next auction by the Donquixote Family. This was a modest privilege that Doflamingo extended to these influential players.

Cursed Sword, Paramecia Devil Fruit, Zoan Devil Fruit...

These are evidently on the list!

So...

Bege boldly concluded that these individuals simply chanced upon a portion of the Donquixote Family's legacy.

It's presumed that they might not be particularly adept at harnessing fruit abilities. Given the Capone family's might, absorbing them wouldn't be a straightforward task.

Bege aims for all the factions in the North Blue to be aware this time.

In the face of overwhelming firepower, even the Devil Fruit, often regarded as the sea's secret treasure, must yield and submit!

As for the Marines supporting the Soviet Chamber of Commerce?

Bege hadn't considered this aspect at all.

The Marines typically don't bother with such trivial matters, and they wouldn't involve themselves in such small-scale affairs.

Moreover, even though he isn't well-versed in politics, as the leader of a formidable gangster family, he possesses some understanding of the fundamental power dynamics.

It's nearly impossible to make subtle maneuvers under the watchful eyes of the world government.

"By the way, have you figured out the abilities of the Devil Fruit you acquired some time ago?" Bege delicately set down the utensils in his hands and reached out to take the napkin fastened around his neck.

"Father, I've identified it. It's a Paramecia Fruit," the man in the black suit responded respectfully.

"What's the specific ability? Provide me with the details," Bege maintained his composure.

Despite his reliance on overwhelming firepower, it doesn't imply a dismissal of the power of Devil Fruit.

Throughout the years, he has been on the lookout for a fruit ability that aligns with his needs.

After all, if he intends to fulfill his ambition of uniting the North Blue's underworld, he must possess unwavering strength!

This particular Devil Fruit ended up in the hands of the Capone family during a skirmish with a minor gang not too long ago.

Even though facing entities like the Capone family makes obtaining Devil Fruits not an arduous task, they are certainly not inexpensive. The Capone family endeavors to uncover the capabilities of every Devil Fruit they acquire.

"Ability is..."

"It can transform the interior of a person with abilities into a fortress. It has the capability to shrink everything, including the user, and store it within one's body. Once outside the ability's range, everything returns to its original state."

After stating this, the subordinate in the black suit seemed somewhat puzzled.

It's essentially a mobile war fortress. The Devil Fruit truly lives up to its reputation as the sea's secret treasure.

Despite its drawback of being vulnerable to the sea's curse, it fails to dampen people's enthusiasm for it.

This extraordinary ability surpasses what humans can naturally achieve!

"...bring it to me," Bege contemplated for a moment and swiftly made a decision.

"Do you wish to..."

"Yes, I intend to consume this Devil Fruit and acquire its powers!"

The power of a Castle Human.

It can be affirmed that this is the most fitting ability he has encountered in recent years.

A humanoid tank possessing both overwhelming firepower and strength-crushing capabilities.

He can efficiently consolidate the might of the family under his command, flawlessly addressing his shortcomings in physical skills.

Certainly.

The purported shortcomings in physical skills are merely in comparison to monsters specialized in physical prowess.

This doesn't imply that his physical abilities are utterly inferior.

It's just that, in contrast to physical combat, he leans towards employing firearms for ranged assaults!

"Yes!"

Shortly after, a gray-white Devil Fruit was brought to Bege.

Mysterious spiral patterns intersect, resembling the brick patterns on a castle. They are square, markedly distinct from typical fruits.

Paramecia Castle-Castle Fruit! ! !

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