But it had to be said, this method didn't cause any resentment among the villagers of Baiscaiborg Island. In fact, they were even quite happy to hand things over.
At the time, he thought that person must be a hypocrite, someone good at pretending, but maybe now, it wasn't quite the same?
Oh, right, Gini also mentioned that it was that boss who personally wanted to recruit him.
To be honest, even now, he still didn't understand how a mere branch Marine Lieutenant could make Gini so confident as to stand up against the Capone Mafia Family, one of the Five Major Families of the West Blue.
Just as Daz Bonez was pondering this with some interest, he suddenly heard some commotion ahead and looked up.
At once, he saw a bustling scene before him.
Especially striking was the sight of piles upon piles of Belly stacked high on top of the old wooden carts; it left him utterly dumbfounded.
So this was the money distribution banquet?
It really fits the description!
"We're here!"
Gini snapped out of his daze while staring at the mountain of money and couldn't help but click his tongue. "Holy crap, did the Sibia River Archipelago make that much money selling wine this year?"
He looked again at the lively banquet, excitement flashing in his eyes.
"Quick, quick! Let's join in before the boss forgets about us!"
Without another word to the silent Daz Bonez beside him, he bolted forward, leaving Daz Bonez standing there in silence.
After a brief pause, Daz Bonez followed as well, his expression still blank, but his eyes kept drifting toward the piles of Belly.
As he watched the villagers' names being called and each one stepping up to receive their money, a thought flashed through his mind: Could this retired Marine Lieutenant, not very strong, but rich and generous?
The two hadn't gone far into the banquet when Gini, running ahead, suddenly spotted something.
His face first lit up in surprise, then instantly shifted into a look of grief and outrage.
Before Daz Bonez could react, Gini dashed straight ahead.
"Boss! I finally found you!"
Daz Bonez: "...?"
What the hell is this guy doing?
Daz Bonez froze for a moment while staring at Gini, who looked completely different than usual.
After a pause, he still followed along.
And that was when he saw the man Gini called boss.
Just one look made Daz Bonez's pupils shrink slightly.
In front of him was… a muscular man!
It was as if this man was bathed in sunlight, radiating warmth and strength!
Before Daz Bonez could react, the man whose leg Gini was clinging to shook him off with an exasperated expression.
"Let go! And what are you doing here? Don't tell me something happened?"
"Boss! I thought I would never see you again!"
"Enough with the act. Sit down and talk."
"Yes, boss."
Upon hearing Ian's words, Gini, who had been crying bitterly, suddenly smiled and sat down to the side. Then he greeted Zephyr, who was standing next to him: "Instructor Zephyr!"
Then, looking at Ian, a serious expression took over his face. "Boss, Capone Bege, the head of the Capone Mafia Family, wants to meet you!"
"Capone Bege?"
Ian frowned slightly at the name. "Why does that guy want to meet me?"
"I don't know."
Gini spread his hands helplessly. "Didn't I tell you before, boss? They seem to be looking for something. I don't know what exactly, but a while ago, they were still searching quietly."
"Then all of a sudden, they started acting openly, charging protection fees in Baiscaiborg and demanding that Grado go back to how things used to be. "
"No more pretending to be some cute little mafia, they want us to start collecting protection fees from Baiscaiborg again and pay tribute to the Capone Mafia Family!"
To be honest, if the Capone Mafia Family had just kept their quiet investigation, it wouldn't have mattered; he wouldn't have cared.
But now…
"Those bastards are even harassing the villagers on Baiscaiborg Island! They can't even run their businesses properly anymore."
If there's no business, how could those villagers possibly afford the security fees? What were they trying to do?
This was practically a declaration of war against the Grado Family!
Ian: "..."
Hearing Gini's account, Ian frowned deeper, and he fell into deep thought.
He roughly knew what they were looking for, but it seemed now they had set their sights on Grado as well.
"Hahaha! The Capone Mafia Family? One of the Five Major Families of the West Blue, right?"
Zephyr, who had been sipping his wine nearby, chuckled. "I heard their influence in the West Blue is huge. Even the local Marine branch doesn't dare mess with them, and they have picked a fight with you?"
"They probably have their eyes on something I have got."
Ian rubbed his chin. Sure enough, after obtaining a Devil Fruit, one should eat it immediately.
Otherwise, someone might take it back.
But now it seems not only the Devil Fruit is being targeted, but the Grado Family as well. How dare Capone Bege do such a thing?
Did he not know that they were all doing business with the Marine Headquarters' Chief Instructor?
As Ian sat there deep in thought, Zephyr beside him lifted his head cheerfully, though a faint glint flickered in his eyes.
Still smiling casually, he asked: "So, what do you plan to do about it?"
"What else?"
Ian glanced sideways at Zephyr, the corner of his mouth curling up slightly. Without hesitation, he said calmly: "If they reach out, I'll just chop the hand off."
It was just a mafia family. Even putting aside the fact that the Capone Mafia Family had not yet reached its future peak or unified the West Blue Underworld, Ian wouldn't have cared even if they had.
Besides, the Devil Fruit that Capone Bege relied on was currently in his possession.
What could that guy possibly use to fight him?
Just a few guns from his underlings?
"Chop them down, huh?"
Zephyr grinned at Ian's response, then he sipped his drink before speaking meaningfully.
"It's certainly a simple and fast way to deal with it. But I heard the Capone Mafia Family's influence spreads far and wide."
"After Capone Bege falls, how do you plan to handle his remaining forces? You alone can't manage them all. Or are you planning to just let them fall into chaos?"
70 more chapters on my Patreon/SweetestDeath