They never imagined Raleigh would be so bold.
If the Marines couldn't station troops or govern locally, they would simply cultivate Mafia families to do it for them, letting them govern and oppose other underground forces.
Though the outcome was unknown, just having this idea was unacceptable to the World Government.
This touched the World Government's bottom line.
They trained the Marines to maintain their rule, not to raise a pack of wild beasts.
A Marine force with its own Mafia subordinates could be considered an independent power.
The Mafia would inevitably take their cut from civilians, and the Marines would profit from them.
A military force with its own economic power is, in essence, a warlord—a direct threat to the ruler's position.
Raleigh glanced at Gion and Tokikake in surprise, never expecting the two raised at headquarters to be so perceptive.
He had only proposed a hypothesis, yet they could deduce the consequences.
But they couldn't imagine this was only the first step in Raleigh's plan.
He planned to use the North Blue as a foothold to gradually cultivate his own forces.
The talents he had sent out through the Marines would inevitably hold the majority of decision-making power in the Marines in the future.
However, this was only a preliminary idea—it was always good to have more backup plans.
Borsalino clearly saw the underlying strategy, but his expression remained unchanged as he calmly said.
"Raleigh's idea is quite creative. I believe it has great feasibility."
Gion anxiously interjected, "But—"
Borsalino cut her off. "Regarding this matter, I will personally report it to headquarters. Additionally, we can conduct an experiment on this island first. If the results are good, we will proceed with this plan."
....
Chaniaral Island
Located on a prosperous shipping route in the North Blue, the island had a population of nearly 100,000.
Thanks to its proximity to a Marine branch base, the Mafia families on the island had been relatively obedient during Sakazuki's tenure.
But when jackals appear docile, they are merely hiding their claws and fangs.
They have a keener sense of smell than other creatures.
Once they sensed changes in the environment, they reacted swiftly.
No sooner had Sakazuki's warship departed than they eagerly made their move.
At the evening port, a tense silence fell over the city.
The sun had withdrawn its daytime intensity, staining the evening clouds blood-red, as if foreboding something.
On the main street, two groups stood facing each other, weapons in hand.
The crowd was massive, stretching down the street.
The originally wide road felt unusually narrow, with both sides locked in a standoff.
A bloody conflict could erupt at any moment.
One group was clearly outnumbered, with less than half the people of their opponents.
An arrogant voice rang out.
"Lucien, today is your last chance. Join our Mesfield Family, and let us unite the underworld forces of the North Blue together. Otherwise, we will wipe out the Salisbury Family today!"
"Never! The Salisbury Family will never yield!" a young, childish voice shouted.
Though she was terrified, she would never submit to the villains who had killed her father.
"Yohohoho, look at that, Rex! Has the Salisbury Family been reduced to being led by a kid?" the menacing Samuel yelled.
"Why not join our Mesfield Family as an executive? With your strength, you'd fare much better than with them."
"No need for more words, Samuel!" a tall man roared back. "The Young Miss has spoken—the Salisbury Family will never bow to our enemies!"
The battle escalated into a fierce clash from the very start.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Gunshots rang out as hundreds of people wielding blades fought wildly in the streets.
Ordinary civilians could only stay indoors, tightly shutting their doors and windows, silently praying.
Rex, holding a sharp blade, moved swiftly through the crowd.
His body was already stained with enemy blood, but he paid no heed, focused solely on the fight.
Spotting Samuel leading the charge, he roared and charged.
Samuel's strength was no match for his.
If he could kill Samuel and sow chaos, perhaps he could still save the Salisbury Family.
Samuel, though not particularly strong, was exceptionally cruel and cunning.
Leveraging the strength of the Mesfield Family, he had already eradicated several minor families affiliated with the Salisburys.
He seized their territories and used the plundered wealth to recruit followers, leading to a frenzied expansion.
As a result, the Salisbury Family became their next target, and they had ambushed and killed the previous family head last month.
Rex's hands had begun to tremble; he knew he had reached his limit.
But as he watched the family members around him falling one after another, his heart filled with grief.
The Mesfield Family was stronger in both manpower and weaponry.
If things continued, they would all be dead within half an hour.
Hundreds of Mesfield Family members surged forward like wild beasts, brandishing spears, broadswords, and battle-axes.
Screams and the clashing of blades echoed incessantly.
Dark crimson blood flowed through the once-bustling streets, with dismembered limbs and corpses piling up.
"Die, Samuel!"
Seizing a fleeting opportunity, Rex broke through the encircling enemies and recklessly charged forward.
His eyes were blood-red.
Tapping into his latent potential, his speed increased severalfold.
In the blink of an eye, he crossed ten meters and stood before Samuel.
Raising his blood-stained broadsword high, he let out a furious roar.
He unleashed his strongest strike, aiming straight for Samuel's neck.
In the split second before the blade descended, he caught the mockery in Samuel's eyes.
The next moment, a heavy blow struck the left side of his body.
The force was like that of a frenzied rhinoceros—utterly unstoppable.
Rex was sent flying like a pebble, his sword slipping from his grasp.
Gasping for breath, blood trickled from the corner of his mouth; the blow had damaged his internal organs.