"Interesting… looks like Kuma found Luffy a different teacher this time," Oguro said with a smile.
Come to think of it, Kuma never had the chance to talk with Rayleigh this time. There was no way for him to hand Luffy over as a student.
On top of that, because Rayleigh had shown his face during the Marineford War, the Marines were now hunting him aggressively. He didn't even dare return to the Sabaody Archipelago.
Right now, Rayleigh was under Oguro's employment, hiding on Thriller Bark, helping him train his first batch of elite forces.
That made things even more interesting… just who was the other person Kuma trusted enough to entrust Luffy to?
Still, Oguro didn't really care that much.
The next two years would be Luffy's period of hard training, and the world would be relatively peaceful.
That was also Oguro's most important phase for steady development.
Knock, knock, knock.
Someone knocked on the door.
"Come in."
Click.
Two people walked in.
One was the princess of a fallen kingdom whom Oguro had once saved at the Sabaody Archipelago. The other was a Supernova… Capone Bege.
"You're here," Oguro smiled faintly. "How did the things I asked you to handle go?"
Bege dropped to one knee without hesitation.
"Reporting to Lord Soul King. The Itel Kingdom in the West Blue has indeed been destroyed. However, using Princess Carina's identity, we managed to gather a group of the kingdom's former officials."
Even Oguro hadn't expected that the woman he saved on a whim back then would turn out to be a West Blue princess… Carina Itel.
The moment he learned that, an excellent plan to dominate the West Blue immediately formed in his mind.
A fallen princess restores her country… joining forces with both the underworld and the legitimate side to conquer the West Blue.
Just thinking about it felt satisfying.
So he ordered Rob Lucci to find Bege.
To make this plan work, the West Blue's mafia godfather was an absolutely indispensable piece.
At first, Bege tried to put on airs.
After all, he was a Supernova.
Why should he go just because someone summoned him?
The result was simple.
This Supernova, who hadn't even reached the New World yet, got beaten senseless by Lucci, who had already mastered Armament Haki.
Along with him, the hundreds of subordinates hidden inside Bege's Devil Fruit ability were all wiped out by Lucci alone.
Current Lucci could easily be considered at least a Marine vice admiral.
Bege instantly folded and personally came to Water 7 to meet Oguro.
When he heard that Oguro wanted him to help Carina restore her country, and even dominate the West Blue, Bege initially refused.
He had fought his way out of the West Blue with great difficulty, reached the Grand Line, and even earned the title of Supernova.
Going back now… what was the point?
Oguro asked helplessly,
"Let me ask you something. A hollow title like Pirate King, plus some unknown thing called ONE PIECE… is that really more attractive than ruling the West Blue?"
"Sleeping with beauties at night, ruling the world by day… isn't that every man's dream?"
What Oguro didn't expect was that Bege lifted his chin proudly and said,
"The sea is every man's romance!"
Alright. Case closed.
People in the One Piece world really do have something wrong with their brains.
Maybe it was the influence of the world's will itself.
To them, the sea equaled freedom… and freedom was the highest ideal.
Whatever.
You can have your freedom.
I'll take domination.
"As long as you help Carina restore her country, you'll become the kingdom's underground emperor," Oguro said calmly.
"In the future, when you sail on the Grand Line, you'll have the financial backing of an entire nation."
"And my Water 7 can build the best ships in the world. As long as you do a clean job, I can have an invincible fleet built for you."
There was no denying it… Oguro's terms were incredibly tempting.
Bege was already wavering when he noticed Yoruichi, cracking her knuckles, wearing a warm, dangerously kind smile as she stared straight at him.
An overwhelming survival instinct kicked in.
Bege immediately slammed himself flat onto the ground.
"I am willing to serve Lord Soul King!"
If someone offers you benefits, that means they respect you.
If you actually think their two admiral-level subordinates are just decorations, you're an idiot.
There wasn't only one mafia boss in the West Blue. If Bege refused, Oguro could simply replace him.
Carina, meanwhile, was shaking with excitement.
The hatred of a destroyed nation.
At last… she had a chance for revenge.
In that instant, Carina's loyalty toward Oguro maxed out completely.
And after Marineford, Bege didn't dare harbor even the slightest disloyal thought toward Oguro.
Buggy's livestream had lasted all the way until Shanks appeared.
Bege had seen it clearly. Even the Marines were helpless against Oguro. In the end, it was only because Shanks owed a favor that Oguro willingly withdrew.
Bege was confident… but not stupid enough to think he could take on Marine Headquarters and the Red-Haired Pirates at the same time.
Before absolute power, any scheming was nothing but suicide.
"Good. As long as everything checks out," Oguro nodded. "Lucci happens to have a group of new recruits under him. Take them with you and let them get some real combat experience."
Soldiers who had never seen blood would always be missing something.
"Yes!"
Bege was more than happy to comply.
That way, he didn't have to risk his own men.
Oguro took Carina's restoration of her kingdom very seriously.
He not only sent elite subordinates who had mastered Haki, but also provided Bege with a large batch of firearms.
As Oguro put it… if firepower could solve the problem, there was no need to gamble with lives.
West Blue.
The former territory of the Itel Kingdom… now known as the Treya Kingdom.
King Red Treya had once been the prime minister of the Itel Kingdom. He was the one who launched the rebellion and seized the throne.
Carina's entire family was slaughtered.
She only survived by jumping into the sea.
Even then, she was later captured by slave traders and sent to the Sabaody Archipelago.
Who could have imagined…
After all the twists of fate…
She would return to this land once again.
"Your Highness! You're alive… this is truly wonderful!"
An elderly man with graying hair knelt before Carina, tears streaming down his face.
His name was Rorlchart, formerly the finance minister of the Itel Kingdom.
He was also a diehard loyalist of the Itel royal family.
The moment Red seized power, he removed this old minister and placed the treasury firmly in the hands of his own people.
Now that Carina had returned, Rorlchart was the very first to respond.
"Your Highness, are these the reinforcements you brought back?"
Rorlchart looked at Bege and the dozens of black-suited fighters behind Carina, disappointment flashing across his face.
Carina smiled and gently reassured him.
"Uncle Rorlchart, these are all powerful fighters from the Grand Line. Each of them can fight ten men alone. With them, it will be enough."
Rorlchart shook his head.
"Your Highness, you don't understand. That traitor Red found a monster from who knows where."
"He can transform into a gigantic wolf. Our army is no match for him at all!"
"Now everyone in the kingdom says Red has been blessed by the gods… that a legendary warrior descended to help him!"
A man who can turn into a wolf?
A legendary warrior?
Hearing this, Bege rolled his eyes.
That's just a Zoan-type Devil Fruit.
In the Four Blues, that might count as something special.
But on the Grand Line…
Zoan Devil Fruits were practically bottom-tier.
***
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