chapter 65 part 2
"Of course!" *2
"But as far as I know, auxiliary-type Devil Fruit abilities are actually not bad either..."
"No!" *2
"Then you're really sure you want to eat them..."
"We want to eat!" *2
Looking at the two whose minds were already made up, Loy revealed an expression of one watching a good show.
He immediately let the two of them choose their own boxes, then decisively handed over the Devil Fruits.
"Alright, go to the side and eat your Devil Fruits, then feel and compare each other's abilities."
Hans and Fahr naturally had no objections. They immediately walked to the side, opened the boxes, and decisively consumed the two Devil Fruits.
Then...
"My ability is impossible! Absolutely impossible! How could this be?"
First came Fahr's wailing sound.
"Oh? It seems your ability isn't very powerful, little brother Fahr? Come on—let Staff Sergeant Hans teach you what a true strong person is!"
Afterwards came Hans's smug laughter.
But not long after...
"What did you say? Your ability can preserve food... Big Brother Fahr—no! Godfather, I was wrong just now, can't we reconcile?"
"Now? Aren't you joking?"
Listening to the voices behind him, Loy, whose lips curled into a faint smile, returned to the underside of the World Government warship.
"Brother, how should I address you?"
He looked at the enthusiastic soldier from earlier.
"Major Loy! I... my name is Arnold, Private Third Class of the World Government Cargo Escort Guard!"
Soldier 'Arnold' immediately saluted and said excitedly.
"No need to be so polite."
Loy also returned a military salute, then asked curiously.
"I came here to ask you—I noticed there are quite a few more ships in the port, and those two CP9 agents from just now..."
He raised a hand and pointed nearby.
And just as he said—Loy had noticed that since earlier, today's ships in Oris Port were clearly many more than usual.
Moreover, if one looked closely, quite a few of them were not Marines' ships.
"Major, you don't know? Oh, I understand—you must have been busy with training recently."
Arnold was startled at first, then said understandingly.
"As you can see, these ships and those two officers from just now are all here at Marineford to participate in the three-forces martial arts drill."
"Although there's still some time until the drill, because all participants come from various military branches of the World Government, everyone except the Marines will arrive in advance to conduct rehearsals."
He introduced it concisely and comprehensively.
"So that's how it is."
After hearing this, Loy finally understood, but he also exclaimed in his heart—the World Government was indeed serious about this drill.
At this moment, Arnold had clearly gotten carried away with talking. He then continued to introduce things to Loy one by one.
"Major, you see—that ship belongs to the Allied Defense Squads, and on board are experts from the guard units of various World Government Member Nations."
"That ship is from the Sky Guard, they came from the Summit of West Blue."
As a lower-level World Government guard member, he was clearly well-informed.
But at this moment, Loy, while nodding, also noticed several other ships.
"Those few are..."
Even among the many ships docked at the port at this moment, those few ships appeared very special.
There was a ship shaped like an albatross, equipped with a giant Den Den Mushi.
There was a ship filled with all kinds of large and small boxes, like a cargo truck.
"Oh, that ship with the giant Den Den Mushi is the 'World Economic News Agency' live broadcast ship."
"The other ship is G.I.B.C. Ocean Commerce Association's transport ship—it's said to be carrying various materials required for this three-forces martial arts drill, provided by the Duffield Financial Group."
Arnold said offhand.
"I guessed as much."
After hearing this, Loy also narrowed his eyes.
World Economic News Agency—the business of the Underworld Emperor 'Big News' Morgans.
G.I.B.C. Ocean Commerce Association—the business of the Underworld Emperor 'Shipping King' Giberson.
Duffield Financial Group—the business of the Underworld Emperor 'God of Fortune' Duffield's financial group.
"After all, this is the 'World'."
He softly said in his heart.
The Six Great Emperors of the Underworld each monopolized a certain illicit trade, wielding enormous power.
Public opinion, smuggling, loan sharking... their money and wealth came from evil.
But it was very clear that the World Government didn't care about these things.
Just like they clearly knew that the Underworld's 'Joker' was Doflamingo, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, yet they still let him run wild.
As long as they could ensure their rule was stable, then evil could also cease to be evil.
And as long as their rule was disrupted, then justice would also be irrelevant.
Just like now—the three-forces martial arts drill, symbolizing the World Government and the Marines, would actually be sponsored and invested in by these people behind the scenes.
How ironic.
"Then I guess that ship should be the 'Pieckrow Company's' ship?"
Very quickly, Loy looked at another ship.
That was a ship with a prow shaped like a scythe.
Arnold nodded: "You guessed correctly. Pieckrow Company has medicines from all over the world; they voluntarily provided the medicines needed for this drill."
Afterwards, he also said softly: "And you surely know that they are also responsible for the funeral industry—the drill itself inherently carries a certain danger."
His answer also proved Loy's conjecture correct.
Pieckrow Company—the business of the Underworld Emperor 'Great Hand Undertakers' Pieck.
The domain monopolized by this Underworld Emperor was related to 'death,' specifically the funeral industry, medicines, and also... assassination!
It is said that he was the king of all assassins, the 'King of Shadows.'
Almost all famous assassins in this world received his patronage, but at the same time, they also needed to obey the rules he established.
"The King of Assassins, huh..."
But at this moment, Loy's face revealed a smile.
"Major?"
Seeing Loy's expression, Arnold was a bit confused: "What's wrong, Major?"
He didn't know why, but he always felt Loy's smile seemed a bit sinister.
"Ah, no, nothing."
After hearing Arnold's question, Loy cleared his throat twice.
"Just... remembered something exciting."
(end of chapter)