Chapter 323 – The Restarted Secret Deal
"I didn't expect even Kakuzu of the Zombie Duo to show up." Kisame, the Beast Pirates' undercover agent, set the newspaper down, mulling it over in his mind: 'So it seems Ulquiorra Cifer is also a member of the Dawn Pirates. I had always wondered how this guy could outrun the boss Raiden's speed. Thinking about it now, all those inconsistencies make perfect sense.'
Glancing once more at Kakuzu's photo in the paper, at those unmistakable emerald eyes, Kisame sneered: "Heh… bounty hunting suits that money-grubber just fine. Boss Eric really knows how to use people well."
"Kisame-sama!" A Beast Pirate pushed the door open.
"What is it?" Kisame's gaze swiveled toward the intruder, cold and predatory like that of a man-eating shark. The pirate instantly felt a chill run down his spine.
Facing Kisame, the lowly crewman trembled all over, stammering: "I-It was Lord Jack who sent me to call for you, Kisame-sama!"
"I see." Kisame's hand slid onto the hilt resting beside him, before slinging Samehada over his back. As he passed by the pirate, he paused. "Next time, if you barge in without knocking—there won't be a next time."
"Y-Yes, sir!"
In just two months on Onigashima, Kisame had risen rapidly through the ranks of the Beast Pirates, thanks to his immense strength and cruel, violent nature. Within the heavily competitive crew, he had already secured a position as a "Headliner," just beneath the All-Stars and the Flying Six.
As a fellow fish-man, Jack had taken a particular liking to his new kinsman, often bringing Kisame along on missions. Kisame, in turn, quickly gained Jack's trust, managing to extract plenty of valuable information from him.
The moment Kisame appeared, Jack rose from his chair. His body, over eight meters tall, radiated crushing pressure, but Kisame was already used to it.
"We're heading to Punk Hazard immediately."
"Punk Hazard?" Kisame frowned. "That's Navy territory."
"I know that well enough. It's all thanks to those damned Dawn Pirates meddling! They killed the middleman, 'Heavenly Yaksha' Donquixote Doflamingo, and nearly ruined our deal with the World Government."
'So Eric was right after all—the Beast Pirates have indeed established trade relations with the World Government.'
"The Dawn Pirates?" Kisame bared a row of sharp teeth. "That name has been popping up in the papers a lot these past two months."
"Nothing but hype!" Jack dismissed them with a snort. To him, besides Governor Kaido—whom he would follow for life—only King and Queen were worthy of respect. Everyone else was beneath his notice.
"They can't even deal with some rookie pirate, just being used as stepping stones, tch—pathetic."
'Heh-heh.' Kisame sneered inwardly. 'You may have the composure to weigh profit and loss, and you may have good leadership skills, but you're far too arrogant. That kind of attitude isn't good for your survival…'
Kisame shifted the subject, probing further: "So, what's the mission you need me for?"
"A trade with the World Government." Jack wasn't concerned about secrecy—Kisame was part of the deal anyway. He laid everything out: "We're exchanging weapons produced in Wano for Ancient Giants from the Government."
"Ancient Giants?"
"That's right." Jack nodded. "Punk Hazard is rich in ecosystems, known as the 'Treasure Trove of Life.' The Government set up three massive research bases there. Vegapunk and his team constantly develop new weapons, drugs, and conduct all sorts of experiments."
"Some prisoners captured by the Navy aren't sent to jail—they're sent there, used like lab rats for human experimentation."
"Oh?" Kisame's face stretched into a cruel smile. "They say pirates are guilty of every crime imaginable, but it turns out the so-called righteous World Government is conducting inhumane human experiments."
"The World Government isn't virtuous by any means." Jack scowled. "Our deal with them is nothing but mutual exploitation."
"From Doflamingo, Kaido learned that Vegapunk has been using the Lineage Factor to advance gigantification experiments. By harnessing the Lineage Factor of the demon Oars, he succeeded in creating Ancient Giants taller than any normal giant."
Kisame looked up at Jack's massive body. "You've got giant blood too?"
"Me? Impossible." Jack shook his head. "Even the shortest giants stand over twelve meters tall."
"Is that so…" Kisame raised an eyebrow.
"The Ancient Giants have terrifying size and monstrous strength, but they're considered 'failures.'"
"Failures?"
"Their intellect is low, their behavior savage and uncontrollable—it's nearly impossible to make them obedient soldiers."
"So that's why they're trade goods."
"Still, they can provide immense combat power." Jack recalled: "I heard that over a decade ago, during the battle between the Beast Pirates and Kozuki Oden's Nine Red Scabbards, several of those brutes gave the enemy hell."
"You already had those brutes back then?" Kisame began calculating inwardly, though his face betrayed nothing. "Why haven't I ever seen them?"
"They're always kept under strict confinement. Governor Kaido doesn't want Onigashima destroyed by them."
"After Oden's death, the Government cut off trade with Wano. But a year ago, Doflamingo, using his status as a Warlord, reinstated the deal as a middleman."
"The Government needs Wano's weapons to expand their might, and the Beast Pirates want the Government's 'failures' to strengthen ourselves. Both sides benefit. And thanks to the Dawn Pirates, the deal continues."
"The Dawn Pirates' rapid rise has made the Government desperate for military power. That's why—even after Doflamingo's death—they agreed to continue secret trades with us." Despite his disdain for the Dawn Pirates, Jack admitted this much.
Jack's tone grew hard and commanding: "This is the first transaction since reopening the trade route. I will not allow it to fail."
Kisame nodded. "Understood."
"Let's move." Jack boarded the Mammoth, his massive frame looming. Kisame followed closely.
…
"So, you're heading to Punk Hazard, planning to buy Ancient Giants from the World Government with weapons?"
"That's right. Do you need me to sabotage the deal?" Kisame whispered into a Den Den Mushi from a hidden corner.
"No need." Eric's voice came through. "Very few know about this deal. If you interfere, you'll only expose your cover. Besides, those Ancient Giants can't be controlled anyway—they'll end up becoming our strength just the same."
"Not to mention, with more of those around, Kurome will have a wider selection of puppets to use."
"Heh~" Kisame's trademark chuckle rumbled. "Boss, you really do care about Kurome, huh?"
"And don't I care about you as well?"
"My fish skin's crawling…" Kisame hung up the line.
[Kisame's Affection Slightly Increased, Bond Level Unchanged]
"This guy…" Eric looked at the silent Den Den Mushi, pressing the receiver down.
Raising his gaze, he saw a massive figure towering into the clouds in the distance. He muttered under his breath: "Finally, we've arrived."
(END CHAPTER)
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