Chapter 19: Chapter 19: Defeating the Enemy
On Pier 3, workers were continuously unloading crates from the Plata Tower. Wearing gold-rimmed glasses, the businessman Wekes stood by quietly, holding a list and counting the items.
Normally, someone of his stature wouldn't need to do such menial tasks; a subordinate's clerk would have sufficed. However, today, he had to deal with the two brothers personally for the partnership negotiations, and it was something he had to handle himself.
"Mr. Wekes, we have already gathered information about you," said a tall, muscular man standing beside Wekes.
The man was also dressed in a black suit with a crew cut, giving off an air similar to that of a certain governor from Rosinante's past.
From their attire, this man seemed to be on the same side as the "professionals" from before. However, the discreet "66" emblem on his belt buckle revealed his identity.
A member of the Jelma 66 Security Company!
Indeed, not only Blackwater Security, but many "security" companies in the Northern Seas were actually subsidiaries of this mysterious organization.
Upon receiving the report about the D-class personnel, Blackwater Security had specially dispatched a retired B-class member from Jelma 66 to salvage the client's opinion of them.
Due to his injuries, this man named "8674" had lost some of his combat prowess. Nevertheless, having fought in the New World, he was still considered an elite among elites in the Four Seas!
"I will assess their strength and provide appropriate responses," said 8674 with an unwavering attitude, instilling a strong sense of security.
"No, there's no need to deal with them. Just ensure my safety," replied Wekes, who held a high opinion of Rosinante. In this chaotic era of the Great Voyage, finding a rational trading partner wasn't an easy task.
Wekes believed that as long as those two brothers didn't die, they would surely achieve great things in the future.
The current "investment" might turn into substantial returns in the future...
Boom!
Just at that moment, a sudden explosion echoed from the distance.
The black-suited man beside Wekes immediately shielded him, looking towards the source of the explosion. Between two buildings near the waste disposal area and the dock junction, flames and black smoke billowed.
The black smoke rose over ten meters high, even forming a mushroom cloud. The powerful black-suited man could clearly see the debris of the buildings being thrown into the air, disintegrating and decomposing before raining down like gentle rain.
Simultaneously, countless sparks sprayed in all directions, akin to a volcanic eruption. The bright golden flames, during their descent, blossomed into dazzling and resplendent golden sparks.
As these flames landed around them and continued to burn fiercely, the black-suited man furrowed his brows.
"Someone used barrels of gunpowder?" Wekes immediately deduced the scale of the explosion, realizing that it would require several barrels of ordinary gunpowder to achieve.
Of course, if it were the special explosives of the Great Voyage, the quantity needed would be much smaller.
"No, it doesn't seem like an explosion caused by gunpowder," the man with sunglasses, who resembled the governor, observed for a few seconds before denying Wekes' conjecture.
"The scale of the explosion exceeds that of a shockwave's destruction, and those flames aren't normal either. It seems more like an explosion caused by splashing flammable materials..."
"My judgment is that some easily combustible and explosive material was suddenly detonated."
Although his words sounded strange, Wekes nodded, understanding.
In this world, not only gunpowder could cause explosions; many things could trigger flames and shockwaves. Nevertheless, it shouldn't have anything to do with an "ordinary" businessman like him.
However, a few minutes later, Wekes realized he was wrong. The explosion seemed to be related to him.
"Mr. Rosinantenandi, what happened to you two?" asked Wekes, puzzled.
"Haha, don't worry. We just encountered a few small-time thugs," replied Roman, patting the tattered tracksuit he wore, still emitting smoke from the burnt holes.
"Hmph, a bunch of fools who don't know any better!" snorted Doflamiongo, equally smoky and fiery, causing the surrounding workers to instinctively steer clear of them.
So, the explosion just now had something to do with these two.
"Mr. Wekes," the sunglass-wearing man from Jelma 66, the "Governor," whispered to the businessman after Roman and Doflamiongo had boarded the ship.
"I advise against confronting these two gentlemen..."
"I understand," Wekes pushed up his glasses and glanced back at the direction of the burning and explosions in the town.
It seemed that these two were even more dangerous and powerful than he had initially thought!
---
"Cough, cough."
"Is everyone okay?"
Beside the fiery explosion site, three blackened figures supported a thin, charred silhouette as they staggered forward.
"I said... I said..."
"Why... Why did that guy know..."
The almost-charred person spewed out a puff of smoke from his mouth. From his repetitive phrases of "I said... I said...", it could be deduced that this charred individual was none other than the "fatso" from before, the one who disguised himself as a "chubby" man in a blue coat wielding a cane.
Torrebol!
He possessed the "Superhuman Series: Sticky-Sticky Fruit" ability, which allowed him to create a thick, sticky mucous-like substance that he used to disguise himself as a "fatso." This mucous provided him with low-intensity attack defenses and allowed him to dodge attacks like someone from the "Nature Series," completely nullifying them. Even the powerful Luffy with his Three-Color Haki had been intimidated by it.
However, in Rosinante's clear eyes, Torrebol was the weakest among the four.
One could even say he was a typical "bad teammate."
His mucous was highly flammable!
Once exposed to open flames, it would immediately ignite and explode.
And everyone knew that the Mera Mera no Mi (Flame-Flame Fruit) was too hot to handle!
Cough, cough. In fact, anything involving fire, like the "Fire Fist," "Foxfire Style," and "Demon Wind Leg," not to mention the notorious "Flame of the Flambeau" in the future East Blue, could easily create fire.
Even Krieg Pirates' Deputy Captain "Iron Wall" Bastille, who destroyed fifty ships for fun after a meal, could create flames out of thin air.
Even Cabaji, one of Buggy's three major underlings, could spit out fire...
Even ordinary people were not unfamiliar with the use of fire.
Rosinante exploited this fact, taking out a lighter during the battle and throwing it at Torrebol, catching him off guard and instantly toppling the leader of the "Four Colored Families," who was stronger than both of them.
This was the limitation of a Devil Fruit ability: once someone knew the specifics of the ability, they could tailor their response accordingly.
"Cough, cough. Now is not the time to think... about why the other person knew about your ability," said Diamante, the second in command of the family, leaning on his Western sword. He was closest to Torrebol and suffered the most damage from the explosion.
With his face blown up by his own ability, Torrebol, only ten years old and over two meters tall, was being carried on the back of the tall Pipka.
"Virgo, go find Dr. Barty," said Diamante.
Although they called themselves the "Four Colored Families," they were just a group of thugs. They couldn't go to a hospital openly, so they had to seek help from a doctor willing to take on some extra work.
"Yes," the steady Virgo nodded, with a dagger still stuck to his cheek. He hurriedly left.
On the ship, the Platno, Roman carefully went through the list prepared by Wekes and handed it to Doflamiongo.
In the front of the ship, in the navigator's room, two kids and a businessman with gold-rimmed glasses were engaged in a serious discussion. The scene looked somewhat comical, but the people involved took it seriously.
"Also, we need to purchase a batch of firearms, gunpowder, lead bullets, dried meat, and rum," said Roman. The previous captain of the ship had planted explosives in the captain's cabin, which necessitated repairs on the Platno. Naturally, the expenses would be covered by Roman and Doflamiongo.
The resources left behind, along with the inferior version of the "Explosive Rocks," would be sufficient for them for some time. However, considering that they would need to recruit crew members in the future, it was essential to have adequate reserves.
Not everyone could set sail with just a wooden barrel and expect to find help at every turn for food, clothing, and shelter. At least, Roman didn't believe he was that lucky to start with and find a bunch of SSR characters.
"Well then, Mr. Wekes, we'll leave these matters to you."
After discussing these miscellaneous matters, Wekes excused himself. After a few pleasantries with him, Rosinante returned to the cabin, where he found Doflamingo with a furrowed brow.
"What are you thinking about?"
"The plan is proceeding smoothly. Next, we need to recruit crew members and establish our influence..."
"Rosinante" Doflamiongo looked up from his deep thoughts, meeting his brother's gaze.
"You've changed."
"People change. You used to love all kinds of grilled meat, but now..."
"Enough!"
Doflamingo covered his mouth, his face turning extremely unsightly, but the tightly furrowed brow relaxed slightly.
As Roman said, he used to enjoy eating grilled meat when he was a kid. But now:
After nearly becoming the "grilled meat jerky" of some crazed civilians, Doflamingo had developed a strong aversion to grilled meat!
"I just... I just feel that you've changed too much during this time..."
If he were an ordinary kid, he might not think too much about his brother suddenly becoming "reliable." But Doflamingo was different; his experiences over the past few years had made him mature beyond his age. So, when it came to Rosinante's changes, he couldn't help but feel a complex mix of bewilderment and fear.
"Don't overthink it, Doflamiongo."
Rosinante walked over and patted the little boy with sunglasses on the shoulder, sighing.
Although he often teased the "Silent Fruit" for being utterly useless, if it weren't for Doflamiongo giving him this Devil Fruit, Roman might have starved to death shortly after arriving in this world. Later, when he stole food, it was also Doflamiongo's quick reaction that saved him from being chopped to death by the head chef.
So...
"We're brothers. I won't harm you."
"Let's work together and turn this world upside down!"
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(End of this chapter)
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