"What did you say?" Taro stopped walking and looked at George. "Fish-Man Island hasn't sent anyone?"
Taro had been worried that Neptune would come knocking at his door. Hearing from George that no Fishman had come was quite a surprise.
George was obviously surprised too. He nodded heavily, a bit worried. "Yes, Vice Admiral. Do you think Fish-Man Island changed its mind and doesn't agree with us setting up a security force?"
Huh, we're surprised about different things!
Taro didn't share George's concern. It was better if they didn't come. Discrimination against Fishmen by humans was so severe right now.
His preliminary preparations hadn't even begun. Rashly interfering in a crucial place like Fish-Man Island could easily land him in a heap of trouble!
"Vice Admiral, why don't you make another trip?" Mike egged him on from the side.
Are you trying to stab me in the back again, you bastard?
Taro glared at him, then put on a deeply troubled expression. "Hmm, I'd like to as well, but there's just too much going on right now. Let's wait until things settle down a bit!"
"Besides, they're the ones who need us. There's no need to rush. Let's wait and see!"
Stay calm, stand firm, don't panic even if you shit your pants!
Taro was dead set on not going again. No one could talk him into it!
Mike and George exchanged a glance and nodded. "Indeed, Vice Admiral! Let them get anxious first. That way, we'll have more leverage in the subsequent negotiations!"
The corner of Taro's mouth twitched. Leverage, my ass! He was destined to work for free!
A memory of a soft, pleasant sensation flashed through his mind. Hmm... maybe it wasn't entirely for free?
"By the way, Vice Admiral, that warship from before has also returned!"
George reported another matter.
Taro was taken aback for a moment before realizing he was talking about the warship that had been following Teacher Zephyr.
"Back so soon? Where's that Sergeant Major? Bring him here!"
Not long after, the man arrived.
Taro stood up from his seat, his expression serious and grave. "Where is Teacher Zephyr?"
The Sergeant Major was startled and shrank back timidly. "Head Instructor Zephyr said he had a place to go and ordered me to return first!"
"What place?" Taro roared in anger. "Why wasn't I informed?"
"Before I left, I repeatedly instructed you to take good care of Teacher Zephyr and report any situation to me immediately. How dare you disobey!"
Taro's voice thundered. The more he thought about it, the angrier he got, and the angrier he got, the more fearful he became. Zephyr had no capable people by his side. What if something happened... Seeing the red tinge in Taro's eyes, the Sergeant Major was so frightened his lips trembled, and he nearly collapsed. George pulled him upright. "Speak quickly!"
"V-Vice Admiral, I... I d-don't know." As soon as the Sergeant Major uttered these words, Taro's eyes widened instantly, almost ready to cut him down on the spot.
"Head Instructor Zephyr ordered me not to tell you! He said he was going to find an old friend to discuss some matters and that he might be able to get some combat support from him!"
Taro's killing intent ignited the Sergeant Major's will to survive, making his speech much more fluent.
"After the fleet separated, I wanted to contact you immediately, but... it was the Vice Admiral's wife who answered the den den mushi. She told me you had already left!"
The Vice Admiral's wife? Betty?!
Taro frantically patted himself down but couldn't find his den den mushi. His face instantly stiffened, the killing intent and anger dissipating in an instant.
"My apologies. I got a bit emotional and frightened you." Taro took a step back and bowed deeply to the Sergeant Major, apologizing sincerely. "I'm sorry!"
Taro's action stunned Mike and the other two. The Sergeant Major simply slumped to the ground.
"Vice Admiral, you..." Mike opened his mouth but didn't know what to say.
George snapped out of his surprise. "Vice Admiral, why go to such lengths? Regardless, the fact remains that he disobeyed your orders. Such behavior deserves severe punishment!"
Taro helped the Sergeant Major to his feet, circulating his Internal Energy to pat his back and help regulate his chaotic Qi.
"George, Teacher Zephyr is my teacher. Obeying my teacher's orders is not wrong. Let's not talk about punishment anymore."
Then he waved his hand and sighed. "All of you, dismissed."
The three of them quickly withdrew.
Taro's expression shifted between dark and light. Teacher Zephyr's old friend? Someone who could provide him with combat support? Who could it be?
After a long while, still without a single clue, Taro felt a sense of alarm. He realized that with his intervention, having altered some history, events were gradually sliding into territory unknown to him.
At least regarding certain people and matters, his advantage of foreknowledge was gradually being lost.
"What was that about the Vice Admiral's wife you mentioned earlier?"
After the three of them left, Mike and George pulled the Sergeant Major aside to ask.
"Uh, Major Mike, you've seen the Vice Admiral's wife too. It was that day..."
Mike and George exchanged a glance, the flames of gossip burning fiercely!
...13GR.
Ever since the Marine began its "Rectification Movement," the slave auction houses on Sabaody Archipelago were wiped out in one fell swoop, and the gambling establishments were also driven into the Lawless Zone.
Countless casino bosses who had their revenue streams cut off were, of course, initially unwilling to accept this. They wanted to complain to the World Government and the Marine about Taro's actions.
However, after the noble owners of the auction houses returned in defeat, they also learned about the "Celestial Dragons" club that Taro was wielding.
At the slightest sign of disobedience, the Marines would charge in, drag out a few pirates from the casino, then shut down the establishment and throw the relevant people in jail.
After all, none of these businesses were clean.
Inside a casino in the Lawless Zone, the noise was deafening.
The very fact that one could operate a business in such a place represented power in itself.
Today, a blind "Gambling Sage" had arrived, winning every single bet.
Starting with just one chip, he had amassed a huge pile in front of him in half a day.
The casino manager now missed dearly that bespectacled old man who would often gamble himself away.
Both wearing flip-flops, how could the gap in gambling skills be so vast!
Since most casinos were shut down, it had been a while since they'd seen that "Gambling God"!
All because of that damned Taro!
The casino manager, while nostalgically remembering the "Gambling God" Rayleigh and cursing the "ink dragon" Taro, also contemplated whether to cheat just once to win back the chips from the "Gambling Sage" before him.
"Black or white? Place your bets!" the dealer shouted.
All the gamblers waited for the blind swordsman to place his bet.
"White!" Issho pushed all the chips in front of him forward. The other gamblers hurriedly followed suit.
The roulette wheel began to spin. Everyone held their breath, watching the small ball in the center.
Silence fell all around. Only the sound of the ball spinning could be heard. Even after the ball stopped, not a single sound was made. It was as if even the sound of people breathing had frozen.
A slight smile touched the corner of Issho's mouth. Hearing the faint sound of footsteps behind him, he slowly spoke,
"Young man, could you please tell me, is it black or white?"
"White!" Taro said.
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