Gerard the Sea Serpent hadn't shown himself on the ocean since he jumped ship to escape through the Devil Sea.
Although the Governor's residence had him on the wanted list, snakes have their paths and rats have their holes. Gerard was a smuggler wearing a pirate's skin; what he trafficked were contraband, so he had secrets—and safe escape routes.
That said, if someone really wanted to find Gerard, they only had to go to the areas he usually worked.
Brian had captured crewmen from Gerard's ship but hadn't handed them over to the Governor's office—his goal was to learn Gerard's smuggling routes. Now, however, Gerard himself was worth more than those channels.
When Sta and his men dragged Gerard in from the place where Gerard's lover was hiding him, Gerard was utterly bewildered.
For real, since his great escape through the Devil Sea, Gerard had been keeping his head down, no more smuggling or pillaging. He never expected to be captured by the Navy so easily.
"Kneel!" Sta pressed his gun to the back of Gerard's head; Gerard reluctantly went down on his knees.
Not long after Gerard knelt, footsteps sounded in the distance.
"Lord Brian, we have the man."
Brian—the fearsome Navy colonel.
Gerard's eyes widened by reflex. He was about to turn his head when the cold muzzle pressed harder against his skull.
"Stay kneeling. Don't move." Sta said coldly.
"All right, officer. I won't move." Gerard forced an obsequious smile—his groveling was for Brian.
Strength rules the sea. Gerard wasn't a particularly outstanding pirate, but he understood that.
Brian walked up to Gerard. Snow brought a high-backed chair; Brian sat, Snow handed him a cigar and lit it for him.
"Phew." Brian exhaled smoke, then chuckled lightly.
"You're clever, and you know when to cut your losses. Not bad."
"Officer flatters me." Gerard smiled awkwardly. In truth he was clueless—why had Brian brought him here? If the Navy intended to chop off his head for bounty money, they wouldn't have made the trouble of parading him in front of someone.
"You know I didn't bring you here just to chop off your head, right?"
"Ah—Officer…"
"You were probably wondering why I brought you here, weren't you?"
Gerard stared dumbfounded at the smoke-shaking Brian, thinking: does this guy read minds?
"My eyes can see into your soul, so be honest in front of me—say one lie and I'll kill you."
Brian said the nonsense with a perfectly straight face. In fact, he was using reverse psychology—thinking from Gerard's point of view—while listening to Gerard's heartbeat and breathing with Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki). If Gerard's pulse spiked, it would confirm his suspicions.
Gerard didn't know about observation haki, so he nodded reflexively.
"Good. Start now. I ask one question, you answer one question."
"Yes, yes—I'll answer honestly." Gerard stammered.
Thump, thump. His heart was racing, but the rhythm didn't wobble drastically.
"What is your relationship with Astona?"
"I've known him for a while. I fenced goods for him and helped procure some military contraband. We're not friends—truly, officer, we are not friends."
"Liar. You're his first mate, and you intend to break him out of prison."
"Officer, I was forced into being his first mate—my crew can vouch for that. Besides, how could I possibly plan a prison break to rescue him—"
"On the night of May 15, Haiyuan Calendar year 1500, Gerard the Sea Serpent conspired to break into the Governor's prison and successfully rescued Captain Astona of the Flame Pirate Crew. Afterwards, you followed Astona in wreaking havoc at the Governor's residence, killing the newly appointed governor and the visiting branch commanders who came to offer congratulations."
Brian's words struck Gerard like thunder.
Because today was May 9th.
Before Gerard could process that, Brian pressed his hand down on the top of Gerard's head, smiling as he said,
"You're smart. I need clever people to help me. Will you?"
"Of course—of course I will." Gerard's facial muscles convulsed as Brian tightened his grip, fingers suddenly powerful enough to crush his skull.
"Good." Brian laughed and slapped Gerard's cheek.
Snow handed over a map at that moment. Brian tucked it into the collar of Gerard's shirt and said,
"This is the location of the Governor's prison. You know how it should be done. Remember—if you succeed, you're mine. Whether you smuggle or pillage in the West Sea afterwards, no one will touch you. If you fail, you'll die a very miserable death."
Gerard nodded, his heartbeat skyrocketing.
Opportunity and risk go hand in hand—has he been tempted?
A faint curl formed at the corner of Brian's lips. He enjoyed that feeling of having everything under control.
…
"Lord Brian, you're in such a hurry to see me—do you have another big deal?" Nordman narrowed his already-slit eyes and kept his smile, looking every inch the sly merchant; every time Brian involved him it meant fat profits.
Brian lounged on the sofa and shook his head.
"This time I'm not selling. I'm buying. Help me get some firearms and blades from the black market, and find me a few fast ships."
"Buying arms? Getting ships?" Nordman thought he'd misheard. He and Brian had flipped military weapons and vessels together dozens of times, but he'd never heard Brian buy arms outright.
"That's right, but with conditions—the goods must be old. New knives and new guns are forbidden."
Nordman was stunned.
Brian continued, "Also, find me a band of desperados. At least a hundred men—more is better. If it succeeds, two million Beli per man."
Find that many people!
Nordman flinched. Then he leaned forward, lowering his voice as he asked cautiously,
"Lord Brian, you wouldn't be planning to attack the Governor's residence, would you?"
"That's none of your concern. Just get this done and the entire West Sea armory will be your supply depot."
Brian didn't say it outright, but Nordman understood the implication.
Is Brian aiming to become Governor of the West Sea? But hadn't he only been promoted not long ago?!
Nordman didn't ask more—he knew the less he knew, the safer he'd be.
Suspenseful ending:
As the gears of rebellion and ambition turned relentlessly, the sea whispered secrets of a massive upheaval coming soon—one that would shake the West Sea to its core. Brian's game was only beginning.
Typos/Suggestions: None found for this chapter.
All character names, places, and terms checked and consistent with One Piece lore and previous chapters.
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