When Capone Bell pleaded with him like that, Yahn couldn't help but feel a little awkward, as if he were doing something shady. He tried to reassure him.
"Relax. I told you—I'm a good person. I'm not going to do anything to your family."
"Then how... how do you know my son's name?" Capone Bell asked, clearly unsettled.
How did he know? Of course he just knew!
Yahnn sighed inwardly.
Compared to Capone Bell, it was his son, Capone Bege—the Castle-Castle Fruit user—who truly made a name for himself in the main timeline.
After uniting the West Blue's underground forces, Bege went on to form the "Fire Tank Pirates" and entered the Grand Line. He rose to prominence as a Supernova of the same generation as "Straw Hat" Monkey D. Luffy, married into the Big Mom Pirates, and eventually even dared to betray one of the Four Emperors, Charlotte Linlin.
But Yahn couldn't exactly explain all that to Capone Bell, so he simply shrugged and said, "It's a secret."
Capone Bell pondered for a moment before his face lit up with realization. He muttered, "Could it be... Bege thinks I'm standing in his way? That he's planning to eliminate me?"
…
Yahn was speechless.
Even though he already knew people in this sea tended to think in strange and unpredictable ways, Capone Bell's logic was still impressive—whether it was about the handcuffs or his son.
Just as Yahn was debating whether to comfort this sentimental father, Capone Bell suddenly burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! Well done, Bege! Ruthless and decisive—that's the right path. Looks like you've finally grown up...!"
The next second—
"Smack!"
Yahn slapped Capone Bell on the back of the head.
"Quit the melodrama. Hurry up and secure all the evidence. Otherwise, I'll go find Capone Bege and take him out instead."
"Yes, yes!" Capone Bell quickly responded, stuffing all the treasures from the safe into a pair of large briefcases.
Finally, Yahn also tossed the Castle-Castle Fruit into one of the suitcases for safekeeping.
Honestly, even if Capone Bell hadn't cooperated, Yahn would never have destroyed the Castle-Castle Fruit.
In fact, he had been paying close attention to it ever since he came across it in a Devil Fruit encyclopedia.
To Yahn, the Castle-Castle Fruit wasn't some wasteful combat ability—it held massive strategic value.
Transforming the human body into a fortress, capable of housing troops, weapons, or anything else—it was undoubtedly a powerful ability, especially for large organizations.
Just imagine: A seemingly ordinary, scholarly young man like Yahn, who on the surface appeared harmless, could actually house within himself powerhouses like the Four Emperors, Warlords of the Sea, or Marine Admirals—ready to strike at a moment's notice.
With that kind of potential, even razing the World Government's sacred capital, Mary Geoise, in an instant wasn't out of the question.
That's why this fruit wasn't just fit for individuals—it was a Devil Fruit made for war.
Even setting that aside, for a secretive organization like the Revolutionary Army, the fruit's value was enormous.
With both suitcases filled to the brim, Yahn grabbed Capone Bell by the shoulder and leapt from the broken window left behind by the Zoan fruit users earlier.
"Ahhhh!!"
Capone Bell screamed, but Yahn stepped midair—
Boom! Boom! Boom!
"Navy Six Styles/Rokushiki: Moonwalk/Geppo."
With this special technique that allowed him to walk on air, Yahn slowed their descent and gently landed on the ground.
Leaning against a wall nearby, Kuzan glanced at him and said, "Looks like you scored big."
"Not bad," Yahn replied casually, then tossed Capone Bell over. "Here—this is Capone Bell, leader of the Capone Mafia. He's all yours."
"Mm." Kuzan caught him with one hand, then eyed the two briefcases Yahn was carrying and gave a reminder.
"Those are the Capone Mafia's treasures, right? By protocol, spoils of war need to be submitted."
Yahn just smiled. "Kuzan, I'm not an official Marine yet—just a regular civilian. You're not planning to rob an innocent, defenseless civilian of his life savings, are you?"
With that, Yahn—now in possession of the Castle-Castle Fruit—happily made his way toward the harbor.
"…This brat."
Kuzan looked after him, somewhat speechless, but didn't press further.
In a sense, Yahn was right. Since he hadn't formally joined the Marines, he wasn't bound by any rules regarding spoils.
More importantly, Yahn had successfully captured Capone Bell and destroyed the Capone Mafia's headquarters. That was more than enough to satisfy Admiral Sengoku. So Kuzan had no reason to sweat the small stuff.
And so, under the stunned gazes of the remaining underground forces in Liberty Town, Kuzan carried the mafia boss toward the port.
Before long, that massive warship—like a seaborne behemoth—once again set sail, heading straight back to Marine Headquarters at Marineford.
However, ever since Kuzan's sense of "justice" had changed dramatically, the warship's pace was oddly slow—like they were out on a relaxing stroll across the sea.
Eventually, it was only after several urgent calls from HQ that Kuzan and his crew returned, just in time for Sengoku's promotion ceremony.
The promotion of Marine Admiral Sengoku—known as the "Buddha" and famed for his brilliant strategies—to Fleet Admiral was a major event.
Even in this age of rising pirate activity—the so-called "Great Pirate Era"—Sengoku's promotion was a monumental affair.
The ceremony would be held the next day, witnessed by countless Marines. It would even be broadcast live to every Marine base, branch, and outpost across the world—to remind them of the ideals of justice they swore to uphold.
…
That night, Sengoku returned home, shoulders slightly hunched with fatigue, to his courtyard-style residence.
His promotion was a promising development in these turbulent times, but in preparation, Sengoku had been busier than ever—planning the ceremony, deploying Marine forces, monitoring the movement of major pirates, and answering constant demands from the World Government…
As he pondered the tasks ahead and opened the door, he was greeted by the warm glow of light in the living room—and a large table filled with dishes.
"Old man, congratulations..."
Standing beside the table, Yahn gazed absentmindedly out the window as he spoke in an offhanded tone.
---
Currently at chapter 290 for advance chapters
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