Next Bonus, 100!!
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Ralta Island.
The island was located on one of the seven routes. Its port was filled with ships.
Today was the island's annual Harvest Festival.
The streets were filled with tourists. The bars, the pleasure quarters, the casinos... all were calling to the sailors.
Not just honest sailors, but pirates and Marines as well.
In this port, the considerable pay they had earned after a long and dangerous voyage would be squandered on booze and women in a day or two.
It was a common sight.
Sailors and pirates like these would spend their entire lives at the bottom of the food chain.
After finding a suitable place to dock, Law, Shachi, and Bepo went ashore.
The streets were gaudily decorated, bustling with activity. At night, colorful lanterns would be lit.
Everyone—from adults to children to tourists—was out on the streets, enjoying the festivities.
There were photo booths on every corner, and the open-air food stalls were packed, one after another.
People spent their money, and in doing so, they kept the wheels of society turning.
"Hey! What is this stuff? It doesn't even taste like booze!"
In a casino, a game of dice was in full swing.
The festival had drawn a huge crowd, and with it, a few troublemakers.
"I lost again! You've been betting against me every single time! You're cheating, you bastard!"
"Sir, if you're going to make accusations, I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to leave," the casino manager said politely. "Even for a Marine Rear Admiral, there are rules."
He could understand a bit of frustration. But to be shouting about cheating... that was bad for business.
"Hey! Do you know who I am, you bastard??" the drunken Rear Admiral roared, grabbing the manager and sending him flying with a single punch. "I'm from the West Blue! I'm on my way to Headquarters to become an Admiral!"
Seeing that he was about to go on a drunken rampage, the other patrons began to back away.
Just then, a tall, bald-headed man appeared. He was bare-chested, with a large "X" tattooed on his chest, his muscles clearly defined.
The Rear Admiral, Oleg, sneered at him. "Hey! I haven't won a single Berri in your casino! And this booze is shit!"
The man clapped his hands. One of his subordinates brought him a stack of cash. He took it and offered it to the Rear Admiral. "Will this suffice? Please, go home. We apologize for the trouble."
"What?" Oleg's eyes widened. He slapped the money away. "Is that all? Are you trying to pay off a beggar?"
The man's eyes narrowed. "What do you want?"
"A hundred million!" Oleg slurred. "I want a hundred million Berries!"
"You've got to be kidding me," the man said, raising his fist. "Do you know whose territory this is?" He turned, revealing the mark of the Donquixote Family.
Oleg's eyes widened, and he took a step back. But in front of the crowd, his pride got the better of him. "The Heavenly Yaksha? So what? I'm..."
WHAM!
With a single punch, Oleg was sent flying. He landed in a heap on the floor, unconscious.
"Take him back to the base," the man said, spitting on the floor. "A Rear Admiral from some backwater branch base thinks he can extort one of the Seven Warlords, Lord Doflamingo? Pathetic."
Oleg was dragged away.
There were plenty of Marines like him, who used their position to bully and extort others.
Most people were afraid of them. But he wasn't.
In Paradise, the flag of a Warlord still meant something.
He took the stack of Berries and tossed it to the crowd. "A little something for your troubles. Today is the Harvest Festival! Enjoy yourselves! And may you all win big!"
"YEAH!" the crowd roared.
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In a nearby bar, Law was killing time, pouring another drink for a man whose face was already flushed with alcohol.
"Sorry to make you buy," Law said smoothly. "So, what was it you were saying? About the boss of this island."
Law never went into a fight unprepared. He was here to gather intel.
"You mean Mr. Tatao?"
"Yes."
"Well, there's a Marine base on this island, but the one who really runs things around here is Mr. Tatao."
"You said that already," Law said. "What kind of person is he?"
"Oh, well... not good, not bad, I guess. He's from the slums. A real go-getter. When he was just a teenager, he already controlled a few city blocks. Then one day, he met one of the Seven Warlords, Doflamingo. After he started flying his flag, his power grew real fast. Soon, he had control of all the casinos and other businesses around here..."
The man looked around conspiratorially and lowered his voice. "But that's just on the surface. They say he's actually helping the Donquixote Family smuggle weapons and slaves. I've... met him once or twice."
Law subtly passed the man some money under the table.
Tell me more.
With the money in his hand, the man became much more talkative.
Doflamingo's status allowed him to operate on both sides of the law. He had official connections and a dark history. His tentacles reached all over the world, squeezing out profit.
And Law's mission was to sever those tentacles.
And, at the same time, to gather evidence of Doflamingo's crimes, so that the World Government would be forced to revoke his Warlord title.
CRASH!
The door to the bar was kicked open. The patrons all looked over and saw Rear Admiral Oleg standing there.
There was still a fist-shaped bruise on his face, but he was no longer drunk. "Someone reported seeing pirates in here," he announced.
He had clearly been faking it at the casino, trying to extort some money. And he had failed.
"Who is it?"
Marine soldiers poured in behind him, surrounding the bar.
Oleg strode forward, grabbed a patron, and scrutinized his face. Not him. He tossed him aside.
He was in a foul mood, and he was looking for a fight.
I can't take on Doflamingo... but I can take on you.
"If you're not a pirate, get out!" he snarled, his eyes sweeping over the remaining patrons.
The customers quickly fled.
Soon, only Law's table remained in the corner.
Oleg strode over and immediately recognized him.
"Trafalgar Law. Bounty: 250,000,000 Berries. Over ten incidents in various locations in just a few months... You're a big fish."
Law had been destroying Doflamingo's outposts in the name of his own pirate crew. It was only natural that he would attract the attention of the Marines.
He was ready for a fight. But instead, Oleg sat down and a cunning smile spread across his face.
"Law," he said, "I know what you're here for. You're after Tatao. How about we work together?"
Law was surprised. He looked at the middle-aged Rear Admiral. "What do you mean?"
Oleg picked at his ear. "I was just transferred here. There's a lot on this island that's out of my control. I've seen your file. Seems you've got a score to settle with the Donquixote Family. I can guess why you're here. We have a common enemy. Think about it."
Law was silent for a moment.
He had a feeling that this seemingly unconventional Rear Admiral was no good.
But if he had his help... things would go much more smoothly.
He weighed the pros and cons.
A slow smile spread across his face. "Alright," he said. "What's the plan?"
"Tonight, there's a party at Tatao's mansion. I'll get you an invitation. You sneak in and capture him. I'll delay the Marine response. After it's all over, I'll let you go. And... this is all the intel I have on Tatao and his top officers. With this, your chances of success will be much greater."
Oleg produced a file.
Law raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
Oleg knew what he was asking. "I'm a Marine," he said, his voice ringing with false righteousness. "I can't just stand by and let Tatao and his gang run rampant on my island. But... he's flying the flag of one of the Seven Warlords. I don't have the authority to act."
Law understood.
Oleg saw this island as his own personal territory. He wouldn't tolerate anyone else's influence. Or, more likely, he and Tatao hadn't been able to come to an agreement. So, when he learned that the Heart Pirates were here, he had decided to use them to eliminate Tatao and seize his assets.
If that was the case... would he really just let them go?
As if sensing Law's doubt, Oleg said, "Don't worry. You get me what I want, and I won't cause any trouble for you."
He raised a hand. "You have my word."
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