"Dark Soulstone... What kind of damn name is this?" Judge repeated this awkward operation codename several times before he could pronounce it properly.
He knew every word that came out of the Deceiver's mouth, but combined, Judge found he didn't understand a single term.
The moment the Vinsmoke patriarch said this, he knew he had caused trouble. Because the Navy great spy before him, who had been polite and maintained a smile, was now staring at him as if looking at a bag of humanoid garbage.
The other person's eyes widened, those azure pupils losing their beautiful highlights, making Vinsmoke Judge inexplicably think of the vast sea. Bright and translucent when calm, but once angered, the dark blue surface often brewed storms and monstrous waves.
Judge knew very well what kind of expression that was, because he had seen similar lifeless eyes when his wife was angry. And that time, he lost the perfect Lineage Factor he had painstakingly developed, and almost lost his beloved Sora.
And this Marine before him, whose hand was already resting on the short knife carried at his waist, was clearly on the verge of darkening.
Lindeman's voice was filled with an irrefutable pride: "How far-reaching is the Legion Lord's strategic vision, how exquisite is the tactical layout, how could a mere king of a country like you possibly understand it?"
Judge's eye twitched slightly. He wasn't afraid of a petty Navy officer causing trouble for him. But falling out with the entire Burning Legion, and even Sakazuki who was rumored to be quite protective of his own, over such a nonsensical trifle was absolutely not worth it.
Moreover, Sakazuki's last visit, his words before leaving, were like celestial music to him. The Germa Kingdom's most outstanding chief scientist immediately arranged for blood sampling from his beloved wife Sora. Within just one week, the Sora clone, created using the country's top equipment and best resources, was successful.
The advent of the Sora clone successfully overcame a major challenge in the Vinsmoke Kingdom's medical system. Facing the severe condition of multiple organ failure, Judge no longer felt helpless, merely watching his beloved wife approach death day by day.
Organ transplantation without rejection successfully halted the patient's worsening condition. Subsequently, genetic engineers, finding the right direction, snatched that fool's life back from the Grim Reaper step by step in stages.
Although after more than a year of recuperation, the patient was still somewhat weak post-surgery, Judge knew the rest was just a matter of gentle nourishment and maintenance.
His beloved wife's health improved daily, and Judge dared not forget this life-saving favor. He nodded towards the Marine on the verge of darkening: "Indeed, as you said, the Legion Commander's every word carries deep meaning. Even understanding a part of it allows me to open up a whole new field."
"Hmph," the fox snorted coldly, reluctantly accepting the latter half of His Majesty the King's human words. "But I must also remind you, Doflamingo is an adversary acknowledged personally by the Legion Commander. This person's strength and schemes far exceed ordinary pirates; he absolutely cannot be underestimated."
"Sakazuki, that old dog, stationing the Expeditionary Legion in the North Blue was definitely not a whim. I have a feeling he will be the biggest stumbling block to our family's development." Doflamingo leaned casually against the bar counter, legs crossed nonchalantly, but the content of his words was exceptionally solemn.
"Young Master, Young Master, hasn't the one constantly pursuing us been that Navy Headquarters Great Staff Officer—Tsuru? Why did it suddenly involve the Expeditionary Legion? Also, speaking of stumbling blocks, shouldn't our focus be on that Kil'jaeden who's stealing our business?" A little girl with a bow tied on her head excitedly raised her hand and threw out a series of questions.
Diamante, sitting beside her cutting a meat chop, pursed his lips: "Hey! Baby-5, shut up and eat. The other top family executives haven't finished reporting yet, it's not your turn to speak! Be careful Corazon doesn't mess with you again!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the girl's entire body stiffened slightly. She fearfully glanced sideways at the tall figure quietly slurping meat sauce noodles beside her.
Seeing the other person's full attention was on the noodles, the girl finally breathed a sigh of relief: "Scared me to death, I thought he really..."
But she didn't see the smile suddenly curl up on Diamante's lips.
A large hand suddenly clamped onto the back of the girl's head, pushing the girl, mid-sentence, face-first into her dinner plate.
Thus, a joyful atmosphere floated over the entire dining table, except for a deadpan child wearing a felt hat to Corazon's right.
"Hahahahaha, I warned you, Baby-5." Diamante laughed heartily, forking a piece of cut steak into his mouth.
Jora, nearly laughing to tears, took a sip of red wine and looked at the man who continued eating noodles after bullying the child: "Hahaha, Corazon, you still hate children just as much!"
Trebol, who always had a runny nose, glanced at the laughing Young Master and continued Baby-5's topic: "But, Doffy, we really should teach that nouveau riche a lesson. This morning, I received intel from subordinates downstream, that bastard Kil'jaeden actually used heavy firepower to wipe out one of our arms selling points!"
"Fuffuffuffuffu, know why I brought up the Expeditionary Legion?" The young head of the Donquixote family chuckled lightly, downing his cocktail in one gulp. He slammed the stemmed glass heavily onto the table: "Because I suspect that damn Kil'jaeden is one of the Burning Legion's people!"
"..."
"!! Eh?"
The reactions of the people at the table varied. Although the four top executives were puzzled, they all quietly waited for the Young Master's further explanation.
Diamante couldn't even be bothered to listen to the explanation. "Since you say so, let's believe it, Doffy."
The tall man in a black suit raised the wine glass passed by Trebol and toasted towards the other end of the table: "Fuffuffuffu, truly worthy of being my family. I certainly accept your unconditional trust, Diamante."
This was his favorite [Winner's], and these family members who spent every day with him had carefully remembered his taste. Doflamingo took a small sip of the cocktail: "Thank you for your trust, but I still want to tell you who our real opponent is. This is a formidable enemy that cannot be taken lightly."
This unorthodox pirate with outstanding strategic vision dipped his finger into the wine in the glass and began drawing a simple power distribution map on the wooden dining table.
He first drew a large circle closest to himself: "This is our family. After these years of operation, one-third of the entire North Blue's underground forces belong under our banner. The remaining underworld forces, neutral arms dealers, slave trading ports, etc., also cooperate with or depend on us to varying degrees."
The executives gathered around him nodded; this was the result of all their efforts.
Doflamingo drew another small circle next to the circle representing his own forces: "I don't know if you've noticed, but ever since Sakazuki's Burning Legion entered the North Blue, an arms dealer named [Kil'jaeden] has appeared."
"Doffy, are you saying the Burning Legion is involved in the arms trade behind Navy Headquarters' back?" Diamante casually fixed his detached cloak into a slender tactical rod and handed it to Doflamingo.
The young man, taking the tactical rod smoothly, shook his head: "I don't know if the Burning Legion is trading arms behind Navy Headquarters' back, but undoubtedly, Sakazuki has interfered in the North Blue's underground black market network."
"Sakazuki, this old dog, is known for his sharp killing, but in reality, his strategy is as terrifying as his combat power." Doflamingo sneered twice: "This is an enemy skilled at hiding himself. Everyone knows he's a mad dog daring to bare his teeth at Whitebeard, but very few know he is a cunning, ruthless, and brilliant strategist and tactician. Vergo's recent intel indicates: it seems before the Whitebeard Pirates descended upon Fish-Man Island, those human trafficking groups and racists were tricked out from the shadows by his schemes."
"Young Master, I don't quite understand..." Baby-5, with rice grains all over her face, still kept a wary eye on a certain man wearing a black feathered coat while speaking.
But there was no need for Doffy to explain further. The deadpan child who hadn't spoken suddenly turned his head to look at the little girl wiping her face: "[Kil'jaeden]'s rise was the fastest, his momentum the greatest. To swallow one-third of the North Blue's neutral arms dealers in just over a year, I don't believe there isn't a huge force supporting him from behind."
"Correct, Fuffuffuffu," the largest arms dealer and smuggler in the North Blue underground market stared at this unsmiling boy: "Law, you learn quickly. When you joined the family last year, you knew nothing about the arms trade!"
Doflamingo dipped his finger into the wine glass for the third time and drew a third circle: "But he is just a front. Making a high-profile entry into the arms industry, actually providing cover for the Vinsmoke family integrating the North Blue underground arms in the shadows."
Three circles were arranged in a triangular formation on the table, just like the current situation in the North Blue: Navy, affiliated nations, and pirates forming a tripartite balance. Mutually exploiting, mutually encroaching, yet forming a temporary equilibrium.
"Then isn't our situation very dangerous?" A shrill voice came from the gathered crowd, making Baby-5 and Buffalo quickly cover their mouths. They knew this top executive of the Spade Army hated people mocking his voice the most.
Doflamingo's mouth curled back肆意地: "Not the worst, Pica. Right now, we must first confirm whether the War House Germa Kingdom is developing its own underground arms trade freely and high-profilely under the Navy's cover, or if they have already allied with the Navy."
He patted his younger brother's head: "Speaking of which, you, this second-generation Corazon, are not competent. Dumping more than half of the intelligence work onto Trebol and the others! The task of finding out if they have allied falls to you."
"Exactly, even if you are Doffy's biological younger brother, accounts must be kept clear!" Jora complained somewhat gloomily, because she was clearly a special ability personnel under Trebol's command, yet was **** doing spy work collecting intelligence.
____________________________________________
you can support me aand unlock more than 90 advanced chapters at the same time! by joining our community on patreon for just 10 $
patreon.com/iamsuzu