Chapter 16 I Am A Soldier, You Are A Thief

"Adams Dylan?"

Not long after he left the door of "Shaky's Rip-Off Bar," a woman's voice sounded behind Dylan.

A woman nearly fourteen feet tall stood on the street corner with a hood covering her head.

Dylan looked at her and said nothing.

Today is the day Linlin agreed with him to "pay," and the person who came should be from the Charlotte family.

"Smoothie?" Dylan raised his eyebrows. At this time, there seems to be no term for the three dessert generals, but Smoothie should also be ranked very high in the Big Mom Pirates.

The woman standing against the wall shook her head: "I am Charlotte CInnemon, and Smoothie is my sister."

"HO~What? It turns out to be a nobody. Did you bring anything with you?"

Anger flashed across Charlotte Cinnemon's hooded face, but there was no attack.

After all, this man can easily defeat Brother Dafu, but it is difficult to compete with her strength.

"Are you inspecting the goods here?"

"Hmm..." Dylan had no intention of inspecting the goods, but the other party seemed to have deep thoughts: "Go to the bar in front."

Charlotte Cinnamon followed Dylan silently into Shakky's Rip-Off Bar.

"Boss I want you to inspect a good."

The moment Shakky behind the bar saw the two of them, he was slightly startled, and then smiled freely.

"Ah, what a rare guest. Thank you for your consideration."

Rayleigh, who was sitting in the corner, saw Dylan walking in and narrowed his eyes slightly: "Brother Marine have you come to drink"

"None of your business, old man, drink your wine."

After shutting Rayleigh down, Dylan walked to the bar and sat down, looking at Charlotte.

Shakky: "What good thing do you want me to inspect? Could it be Logia? Or a Mythical Zoan?"

In the corner, Rayleigh pricked up his ears and followed Dylan's every move.

Dylan took the fruit and looked at Shakky: "Boss lady, is this a genuine product?"

Shakky covered her mouth and smiled: "It is indeed the Fortress Fruit, a fruit with a very unique effect."

"Hey, hey, I asked you to help inspect the goods. I didn't ask you to add value to it. It will be difficult for me to do business with you like this, boss lady."

"Is that so?"

Shakky exhaled smoke gracefully and said with a smile: "I'm sorry, Brother Marine, then I'll treat you a drink."

Dylan played with the Fortress Fruit in his hand and turned to look at Charlotte Cinnamon standing next to him: "It's somewhat useful, but... you can't say that a mere Paramecia fruit is more valuable than Daifuku's life, right?"

Charlotte Cinnamon shook her head: "Of course, that's not what I meant. It was just to ensure face-to-face transactions, and also to show the sincerity of the Charlotte family. What my mother meant was that there will be opportunities for cooperation in the future."

"HO~ Is that so?" Dylan touched his chin and looked at Charlotte Cinnamon.

The Big Mom Pirates, although they would become one of the Four Emperors in a few years, were considered the weakest among them.

Linlin herself was extremely unstable, suffering from narcolepsy, mood swings, and even attacking her own relatives when she lost control.

Additionally, every member of Totto Land had to surrender their soul and lifespan to Linlin, adding further instability to the group.

With so many unpredictable factors, this seemingly powerful pirate group was full of vulnerabilities.

"Go back and tell Linlin that the deal is off. We can discuss the rest later," Dylan said, waving his hand. Charlotte Snamon left Shakky's Rip-Off Bar in silence.

Shakky crossed her arms over her chest and observed Dylan, who was lightly tapping his fingers on the bar.

Rayleigh, sitting in the corner, calmly approached Dylan.

"Brother Marine, have we met before? You seem to harbor some inexplicable hostility towards me," Rayleigh remarked, placing one hand on the bar and holding a bottle in the other.

"You're a thief, and I'm a soldier. It's natural for me to be hostile towards you. Just because you're 'Roger's right arm - Pluton Rayleigh', does that mean I have to forsake my beliefs and positions?" Dylan replied, returning the Fortified Fruit to its box and rising from his seat. He adjusted his cloak as he continued, "While we're naturally opposed to each other, you've abstained from taking action for many years. Garp didn't eliminate you all back then, which suggests you're not entirely villainous. But Rayleigh..."

"Shanks likely visited you, didn't he? I'll say this to you once more, and only once. I don't mind you aging gracefully, but don't overstep. You have your convictions and your patience, and I have mine," Dylan asserted.

Upon hearing the word "patience", Rayleigh's eyes flickered. "Oh? You..."

Before he could finish his thought, Dylan pushed open the door and exited, leaving Rayleigh deep in contemplation.

Shakky approached from behind the bar and walked over to Rayleigh, gently resting a hand on his back.

"What's wrong? Are you concerned about the 'fire' of the new era? That's not like you," Shakky inquired.

Rayleigh lifted his head and took a sip of wine. After a moment of silence, he asked Shakky, "Shaky, were we this strong when we were young?"

Shakky took a drag of her cigarette, pondering for a moment before shaking her head. "He didn't make a move. I can't make a judgment, but what's certain is that at the same age, he's far stronger than both you and Roger."

"Yeah..." Rayleigh's expression turned somewhat melancholic. "He should be a few years younger than Shanks. Ever since Shanks encountered him, his resolve has wavered."

"Rayleigh..." Shakky settled down, leaning against the bar and casting a sidelong glance at Rayleigh. "Your task is done, the 'spark' has been successfully passed on, and what comes next is in the hands of fate. It's out of our control."

"Fate?" Rayleigh chuckled wryly. "So it seems that one day, all we can do is wait silently for fate to unfold."

"Isn't it always like this?"

Holy Land - Mariejois.

In the grand palace, the Five Elders convened.

"According to CP's reports, Adams Dylan appears to have struck some sort of deal with Charlotte Linlin and has been in contact with 'Pluton' Rayleigh," one of the bearded Five Elders announced, reviewing the gathered intelligence. "What are your thoughts?"

The elder with a long knife in hand casually wiped his weapon as he responded, "I see no cause for concern. Based on his past behavior, he's not one to adhere strictly to protocol. Engaging in trade with pirates may actually contribute to world stability. It's not a bad move."

However, the elder with a birthmark on his forehead crossed his arms, expressing a dissenting opinion. "This man... remains shrouded in mystery. While his power is undeniable, some of the unique abilities he's displayed raise concerns. Could he be one of the 'Lights'? Or even... the 'Fire'?"

"I wouldn't rule out the possibility, but it seems improbable. Once aligned with the Marines, it becomes challenging to garner recognition and support from that ancient family, essentially forfeiting the opportunity to become a 'fire'," another elder countered.

After a brief moment of silence, the blond-haired elder proposed, "Since it's difficult to ascertain, perhaps we should seek guidance from Lord Im... I believe he will provide us with the correct course of action."

"G5 base.

After two months of construction, the base has been completely renovated.

Inside the base, Bell-mère sat in Dylan's office with her legs crossed, donning the cape of Lieutenant Commander.

"Rear Admiral, I heard from people at headquarters that you were like a devil in East Blue. Why have you been inactive since arriving in the Grand Line?" Bell-mère inquired.

Dylan casually propped his feet up on the table and glanced at Bell-mère and Shiryu.

"Do I have to spell it out? It's because you're too weak. This is the 'New World,' not a 'paradise.' Going out to 'hunt' without sufficient combat power will easily lead to encounters with major pirates. And with G5's current level, it's not enough," Dylan replied.

"I see. G5's usable combat power is indeed limited," Shiryu commented as he wiped his blade.

Bell-mère reclined on the sofa, expressing her boredom. "Ah, I feel underestimated."

Shiryu turned his head slightly to glance at Bell-mère before suggesting, "Although I don't know why Dylan values ​​you so much, I believe engaging in battles will help you progress better. Your talent surpasses that of the average marine. For a boatman, that's quite exceptional."

At the mention of "boatman," Bell-mère's expression froze momentarily as she thought of Tom.

Tom, who had mastered the armament haki of his weapons, coupled it with his exceptional strength. Even Dylan, considered a monster, was slightly inferior to him in terms of strength alone. Yet, Dylan continually urged him to practice further.

Near the G5 base, one could often see Tom, with two warships on his shoulders, performing leapfrogs along the beach. He effortlessly withstood Bell-mère's attacks, leaving her injured instead.

"Damn it! Aren't we all human? How can the gap be so vast?" Bell-mère exclaimed, slamming her hand on the table.

Shiryu exhaled smoke from his cigar. "That guy isn't human; he's a fish-man."

Bell-mère raised an eyebrow. "And what about you? You're human, right?"

Shiryu narrowed his eyes, holding his cigar between three fingers. "Even among humans, there's vast diversity. Take him, for instance."

Shiryu gestured toward Dylan. "Even without a Devil Fruit, his mastery of haki, swordsmanship, and physical prowess places him at the pinnacle of the sea. And..." Shiryu sheathed his sword. "How old is he?"

After Bell-mère stormed out, Dylan leaned back in his chair and addressed Shiryu: "You make a valid point. Physical exercise alone won't unlock her full potential. Let's send her to West Blue in two days. Accompany her, but keep a low profile. Only intervene if her life is in grave danger."

"The Kano Kingdom... Happo Navy? I've heard they pose a challenge," Shiryu remarked.

"It shouldn't pose a significant problem," Dylan replied nonchalantly. "With your current strength, even encountering Chief Don Chinjao shouldn't be insurmountable."

"'Chief' Don Chinjao?" Shiryu's eyes gleamed with a hint of bloodlust.

Sensing the intensity of Shiryu's emotions, Dylan furrowed his brow. "Your task is to watch over Bell-mère discreetly, not to indulge in reckless killing. Remember, 'Ashura's' will is to seek worthy opponents, not to needlessly slaughter the weak."

"Understood," Shiryu acquiesced, bowing his head slightly.

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