After receiving the call from Sean, Mansour was practically vibrating with excitent.
Since establishing a connection with Sean less than a year ago, the Lawan Company had secured projects worth tens of billions of Belly, firmly outpacing several of their competitors.
Sean had detailed his specific requirents. Although this particular project wasn't massive, the confidentiality restrictions were stricter than anything they had faced before. Still, Mansour gave his word with a confident thump to his chest: it would be finished within a month.
After all, it was just a modestly sized training base and a few oversized warehouses. Compared to the island fortress of the 16th Branch, the construction difficulty was practically nonexistent. As for the "top secret" nature of the project, that wasn't an issue at all. They had operated this way when helping Sean build his shipyards and factories; they were well-versed in the process.
Consequently, within just three days, the personnel were in place and construction had begun.
anwhile, the scavenging of gold from the ruins by hundreds of Shandora people was largely complete. While so small amounts had likely been missed, those were insignificant. The chief had already stated that if any more gold was discovered during the reconstruction of Shandora, it would be sent to Sean imdiately.
As for Enel's half-finished ark, the Maxim, it had also been located. However, there wasn't much gold on it. The internal basic structure of the ship was still primarily wooden, and construction hadn't yet reached the stage where massive amounts of gold were required. This explained why so much gold remained scattered throughout the Shandora ruins.
Once everything was settled, Sean left Kaku behind to manage the project and guard the gold until a permanent replacent was chosen. Sean then took the two won and, using Blueno's ability, returned to the warship anchored at Gaia Island.
It was ti to return to the 16th Branch. After all, he still had Crocodile and Enel locked up on his ship.
That experint... Sean was becoming impatient to get it started.
'''
Marine Headquarters.
Marineford.
Lately, Garp had been incredibly frustrated.
A few days ago, Sean had given him a call. The news was... that brat Luffy had been captured by Sean again!
Although Sean ntioned that he wouldn't do anything to Luffy and would deliver him to Marine Headquarters as previously agreed, that was exactly what gave Garp a headache.
He knew all too well that the mont he released Luffy back to the East Blue, the boy would set sail as a pirate again within days. Normally, as long as Garp was around and the boy didn't cause too much trouble, it wasn't a problem.
But the real issue was: could he even make it out of the East Blue? He'd probably be caught by Sean again before he'd even been at sea for a week. And if he were caught a second ti, would Sean be so lenient?
Even Garp didn't have the nerve to keep asking Sean for favors. Should he actually do as Sean suggested—throw the brat into Impel Down for a few years before letting him out?
Garp knew it was a sound plan, but he couldn't bring himself to be that heartless. After all, Luffy was his grandson—his only biological grandson.
'Maybe I should just force him to stay by my side and personally discipline him?'
Garp pondered this and suddenly decided it was a great idea.
Fortunately for the world, Sean wasn't privy to Garp's thoughts. If he were, he would have likely groaned in exasperation. ''Please, just forget it... with your thod of "education," you'll probably only make things worse...''
'''
At the sa ti, in the Sabaody Archipelago.
Under the cover of night, a figure quietly ca ashore and approached a bar. The establishnt had a rather peculiar na: Shakky's Rip-off Bar. The na alone was... sothing else. Most passersby would simply shake their heads and keep walking upon seeing it. A few curious souls would enter for a drink, but their experiences rarely ended well.
However, those in the know understood that this bar was a powerhouse of information. As long as you had the money, you could buy almost any piece of intel.
"Yo, if it isn't little Shanks?"
"Auntie Shakky, it's been a while!"
"It has indeed. Two years, hasn't it? What would you like to drink?"
"Uh, I wouldn't dare drink your liquor..." Shanks replied with a wry smile.
Was Shakky's liquor sothing one could drink lightly? He might end up having to leave the Gryphon behind just to pay the tab.
"Fine then. The person you want to see is over there," Shakky said, gesturing toward a corner of the bar.
Shanks nodded and walked over. He hadn't co to see Shakky; rather, Shakky had contacted him saying soone wanted a eting, which was why he had made the trip.
In the corner sat a man dressed in a long green cloak, his entire body wrapped tightly. Shanks already knew who it was. In fact, he had known the mont he stepped through the bar door.
This was a man whose strength was not inferior to his own—a man of imnse renown. He belonged neither to the Marines nor to the pirates, but to the Revolutionary Army. He was the leader of that army... the world's most wanted criminal, Monkey D. Dragon.
Shanks and Dragon didn't have a direct relationship, but they shared a complex indirect one.
Luffy.
To Dragon, Luffy was his biological son. To Shanks, Luffy was an indispensable piece of a larger plan. It wasn't that Shanks viewed Luffy as particularly special or important in himself; the real key was not the boy, but the fruit he had swallowed.
"Mr. Dragon, what brings you to seek out this ti?"
Upon sitting down, Shanks dropped his usual goofy deanor, revealing a level of seriousness rarely seen in his daily life. Given his "status," contacting Dragon was not exactly a safe move.
"I want to talk to you about Luffy."
"Luffy? I heard you hijacked Sean's warship and rescued him previously?"
"I did. But about a week ago, he was captured by Sean again."
...
'Is he really that unreliable?'
At that mont, Shanks felt a flicker of regret. He wondered if he had chosen the wrong person when he decided to let Luffy execute his plan years ago.
"So, you want to step in and rescue him?"
"Yes. It is not convenient for to act again."
"What do you an? Since it's inconvenient for you to act, you want to do it instead?"
Shanks' eyes narrowed slightly.
Haki began to leak from his body, and the lights within the bar seed to dim. Then...
'Crack!!!'
Unable to withstand the pressure, a fissure suddenly snapped across the tabletop.
But right at that mont...
"One damaged table: 3 million Belly!"
"Sigh... Auntie Shakky, this table is worth maybe two or three thousand Belly at most, right?"
At Shakky's words, Shanks' aura vanished instantly. He returned to his usual goofy expression, but Shakky wasn't buying it. She took a slow drag of her cigarette and said...
"5 million Belly!"
"Fine, fine! Stop raising the price. I'll pay the 5 million!"
To see a distinguished mber of the Four Emperors cave in instantly before a bar owner—if word of this ever got out, it would likely drop the jaws of countless people.
Once Shakky heard his agreent, she nodded with satisfaction and fell silent.
Shanks' expression turned serious once again as he looked at Dragon.
"Mr. Dragon, I'm afraid I must refuse your request!"
"Nika..."
In response to the refusal, Dragon uttered a single word.
Those two syllables caused Shanks' pupils to contract. He stared at Dragon in disbelief. Even those five old fogies didn't know about this—how did he know?
"Rest assured, no one knows but . I won't ask for this favor for nothing. In the future, the Revolutionary Army can provide the necessary assistance for that plan of yours. How does that sound?"
"Fine. I'll find a way to handle Luffy's matter."
After a long silence, Shanks looked up.
Having secured the agreent, Dragon didn't linger. He stood up, pulled his hood over his head, and departed.
"Auntie Shakky, I'll have the five million Belly delivered within three days."
"Little Shanks, did you really find that Devil Fruit?"
Others might not understand what the word "Nika" implied, but Shakky did.
Shanks gave a slight nod.
Shakky sighed. She wanted to say sothing, but ultimately held her tongue. She could already guess what Shanks intended to do. She wondered if such an action would be a blessing or a curse for this world...
One wrong move, and it might even lead to the world's destruction.
"Auntie Shakky, I know what you're thinking. But this is sothing the Captain didn't finish. I will inherit his will and see it through."
"Very well. You've grown up; I won't try to stop you. Go on then..."
"I'm off, then. Auntie Shakky, give my regards to the First Mate."
"Mm!"
'''
After Shanks left, Shakky sighed once more.
"Two of the three fruits have appeared. No, if the initial deduction was correct, all three have already surfaced."
"So... will the tragedy of eight hundred years ago repeat itself?"
"But what is the point? It is nothing more than one great dragon falling and another rising."
"That is all!"
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