This chapter was not uploaded yesterday due to a glitch, so I will upload 2 chapters today.
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"Then you should just kill that kid already!" he spat. "She's worthless trash, just like you!"
Kuzan, stay. Daz... is staying put, but stop Hancock. She looks like she's about to use her devil fruit and jump-kick him.
Everyone, stay, stay— Hina, stop secretly kicking my leg every chance you get.
It will be bad if we, or the Marines, attack first.
"Maybe so. But it seems the situation has changed."
"Huh!?"
"Think about it. If Nico Robin is still a high priority, why hasn't an order been given to you to kill her? You've come all this way, and you're leading a very strong force. I see you have members of the famous CP9 behind you, and hiding on your flanks, am I right?"
"...Tch."
I'm sure she's still a high priority. And I think this man knows it.
The fact that he brought CP9 but isn't trying to kill her... means they must just be bodyguards, in case we or the Marines attack.
Okay, so it's almost certain there's no kill order. Also, this man is a government official, but he's not a Celestial Dragon. He takes orders from the Five Elders, but he's not close to them.
I know from the original story that he was left out of the loop during the Ohara incident. I'm sure of it.
"Mister. You are the head of CP9, correct?"
"O-oh."
"If that's true, then the recent attempts to kill Nico Robin during the operation against the pirate alliance... were just agents acting on their own. As their leader, you did not give an official order. Is that right?"
"...Ah, that's right."
...His pulse was fast because he was excited, but it's calmed down a little as we talked. No big changes now.
His breathing is the same. His eyes are darting around, but that's because he's nervous. The situation has suddenly become unclear.
At least he's not lying about this part. Good.
"The government must have seen this mess and decided the 'Black Cat' crew is valuable in some way. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing."
"Don't be ridiculous!" he blustered. "The government would never see value in some new pirate crew—"
"Then why would a man like you be sent all the way to the West Blue again?"
"...No, we came to this island to talk with the Marines—"
"You knew we were using this island as a base, didn't you?"
He hid something there.
So, his official orders were... probably to use the Robin thing to put pressure on the 'Black Cat' crew, since we're growing.
That makes sense. It's a job that makes you feel a little guilty, but not important enough to make the person doing it question it.
"And the Five Elders know that we talked with the Marines. They know we are in charge of the non-allied people we've rescued, and the ones we will rescue. I heard from the Fleet Admiral that a copy of our agreement was shown at the planning meeting."
"..."
He's starting to think.
If he's moved up this far, he must be good at politics.
He should be able to figure out the situation from just a few clues.
"We are pirates, but right now we have a friendly relationship with the Marines. That is a fact you can't change."
"..."
"This means, if we play our cards right, we could get a role like the Seven Warlords."
I don't know how serious they were, but they did try to recruit me.
"The problem is Nico Robin. And the trouble between the government and Ohara."
"...Ohara was a criminal nation," Spandine said. "They were studying the forbidden Poneglyphs."
"And who found that out?"
"...I did."
"Who was in charge on-site, and who called the Buster Call?"
"I did. ...What's your point!?"
"My point is, you were the man in charge of everything at Ohara. And now, you're also the man in charge of talks with the Marines."
He twitched at the word "charge." Good, just as I thought.
He is obsessed with power... he's the type who loves to use it. He knows what power can do. That means—
Somewhere inside, this man is also afraid of power.
He believes that those above him can be unfair and unpredictable.
He's afraid of having power used against him, and he's afraid of losing it.
But that doesn't mean he's a nobody.
The title of CP Chief isn't something a simple flatterer can get... or... wait, his son was a total idiot.
No, wait. Maybe it means this guy's position in the original story was so strong that even an idiot like his son could become chief.
"You were vague when you called it a 'secret deal.' It shows that the Marine slave incident has become the government's weak spot."
Whoops, I've got to be careful with things like that...
"I don't like to praise myself, but we helped the Marines in that incident and earned their trust. That's why we were able to work together during this crisis in the West Blue."
"..."
He's talking less.
He's starting to think about what's in it for him.
"We have Robin. And we are building a good relationship with the Marines, who are starting to distrust the government. The government couldn't ignore that. That's why they ordered you to put pressure on us, but—"
To be exact, they wanted the Marines in the West Blue, like Kuzan, to do something.
If they just watch, it sets a precedent, and it will weigh on Kuzan and the other Marines.
If they rise up, the West Blue Marines will be labeled as traitors, even if any high-ranking Marine quits, no matter the reason—
But the World Government made one mistake.
I'm here.
I won't let them have their way so easily.
"That's why the government has to prepare for the worst. They need a way to make peace with the Marines, even if it costs them something—"
"Hey, wait, 'Black Cat'!" Spandine yelped. "That's..."
If the enemy uses politics and schemes instead of force, there's always a move to make, no matter how careful their plan is.
Also, this doesn't matter, but could you call me 'Silent Step'?
It's just... 'Black Cat' sounds a little too much like the big names, 'Whitebeard,' 'Red Hair,' 'Blackbeard.' It makes me nervous.
"The government wants to be above the Marines. Of course it does. But if things are about to break down, they need proof... proof that everyone can see... that they gave the Marines something. In that case, that 'something' might also look good to us, since we're friendly with the Marines."
"Why would the government care what a bunch of pirates think!?"
"Then why are you so slow to play your card, the CP9?"
"...Ngh...!"
I don't know for sure. But the government probably doesn't mind if some Marines quit. What they want to avoid is a full-on fight.
But, if they're willing to risk that... they must have some other card to play.
It's probably not a bluff. The risk is too high. It would be too hard without a real plan.
I don't know what it is, but it's safer to think they have a card.
But, if they're being this indirect, it means it's not a card they can play easily. Whether it's a real weapon or a scheme, if it's a card they don't want to play, then I still have a chance.
"It's very possible they want to see how the Marines react to this. Then, they might call it a draw and reset. The Marines would forget the slave incident, and go back to being the government's public face, fighting pirates and rebels."
"So, what's the 'pain' the government has to feel?"
The World Government is split. No matter what, it's divided between the Celestial Dragons, including the Five Elders, and everyone else.
Even people who belong to the World Government are secretly... afraid. They can't escape that fear.
"The Buster Call on Ohara... people in the Marines are starting to question it. And the man who led that, and who is now trying to grab this labor force... the man who has all the Marines' hate. The head of CP9, the government's secret workers. Wouldn't his head be a... a welcome gift?"
I'll start by poking that spot.
"Are you sure... a deal is impossible? A deal where they drop the charges against Nico Robin, and in return, we join the government? For the government, it's a way to get their hands on Nico Robin. If a deal like that works... the value of anyone involved in Ohara goes way up, for good or bad."
He loves power. That's why the idea of power being used against him is like poison.
"Mr. Spandine."
"...!... Y-yes."
His face is pale. He can't hide it.
Honestly, most of what I said was a bluff. But it must have sounded real to him.
The World Government is so huge, so dark. And with the Celestial Dragons... anything is possible.
That fact is the government's biggest weakness.
"You have done your job. You tried to get the labor force. And a pirate crew, the 'Black Cat' crew, is in your way. That's all. For now..."
The heart of the government's secret work, CP9.
Sorry, but I'm going to inject a little poison of distrust right there.
Serves you right, you idiots! You brought me this stupid job at the worst possible time! Now pay for it, you fools!
"How about it? Could you... report this to your bosses? To the Five Elders?"
"The Five Elders would never listen to a pirate!"
"Then how about this: report that you need to ask if it's okay to use force."
"...Ngh... mmm... ugh..."
Mihawk, stop grinning. I'm trying to avoid a fight. Take your hand off your sword.
...No, just turning the blade around isn't good enough.
What? You'll just hit him with the back of the blade!? Of course that's not okay, you idiot!
Hancock! Kick that thug in the shin for me!
"I promise, you will not regret this."
"How about it, Mister?"
"...Wait here."
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Powerstone Goal : 100