Eliminating Traitors!

"You really don't look like someone so young who's already the Boss of a Mafia family." Kelly felt somewhat conflicted and spoke softly.

"What, did you think I was some pirate, assassin, bounty hunter, or something?"

"I replaced the Mike Family on Iron Island. The Mike Family was a subordinate family of the John Family, and after I took them over, the John Family started coming after me."

"To turn the tables, I personally infiltrated the John Family and caused them some trouble. By now, the John Family probably has no energy left to deal with me."

Carlos was right. The John Family truly had no energy left to deal with him. Their partner and backer had suddenly died right before their eyes, and they were already overwhelmed just cleaning up the mess.

The World Government's investigation, finding a new backer, and the series of consequences caused by their former backer's downfall all required the John Family's full attention. Otherwise, even if the John Family was not wiped out, it would be severely weakened and fall from the ranks of the Five Mafia Families of West Blue.

The West Blue Mafia was indeed the foremost force in West Blue. If all the Mafia families joined together, they could control more than half of West Blue. But there were still forces they could not afford to provoke.

It was not exactly that they could not provoke them; the price of doing so was simply too high. If all the Mafia of West Blue united, that would be one thing. But a single Mafia family, even one like the John Family, was nothing much to the Marines or the World Government. If they made up their minds, they could still wipe it out.

To negotiate with the Marines and the World Government, to confront them head-on, all the Mafia in West Blue had to unite before they had those qualifications!

Of course, even united, they still could not defeat the Marines or the World Government. But the tremendous consequences of an all-out war would indeed give them the leverage to negotiate with the Marines and the World Government.

"What exactly did you do?" Kelly asked curiously.

"You'll find out when you read the newspaper in a few days."

Carlos did not answer directly, merely speaking indifferently.

Kelly was somewhat annoyed. What was with stopping halfway through? But Carlos had no choice either.

Three days later, after his usual training and cultivation, Carlos went to the deck to rest and read the newspaper as usual. Kelly came to question him again.

"You told me to read the newspaper, but I've read every paper from the last three days. There hasn't been any major news in West Blue."

"Hmph, if you don't want to tell me, then don't. What's the point of messing with me?" Kelly stood in front of Carlos, blocking the warm sunlight, and said angrily.

"It seems the John Family, or the World Government—perhaps both—have suppressed the news."

"You don't actually need to know. Knowing won't do you any good." Carlos spread his hands helplessly.

"Hmph, liar. I've been making you delicious food all these days for nothing..."

"Are you sure you want to know?"

"Being too curious is not always a good thing."

"Once you know about this, for my own safety, it won't be easy for you to leave me and regain your freedom in the future."

"Are you really sure you want to know?"

Kelly immediately became conflicted upon hearing this. Should she find out or not? From the sound of it, this was indeed no trivial matter!

After agonizing over it for a while, Kelly ultimately could not suppress her curiosity. Gritting her teeth and stomping her foot, she made up her mind. "I want to know. I'm all alone anyway, with nowhere to go. At worst, as long as you're alive, I'll just keep following you."

"That curiosity of yours... Fine. Since that's the case, I'll tell you."

"I used a rifle to snipe the John Family's partner and backer from a distance. He was a high-ranking World Government official, apparently in charge of West Blue trade." Carlos stopped keeping her in suspense and said it lightly.

"What? You assassinated a high-ranking World Government official?" Kelly blurted out in shock.

"Keep your voice down. If someone hears you, I'll probably have to silence them." Carlos frowned and looked around. Luckily, there was no one nearby. Otherwise, he truly would have developed murderous intent.

Kelly hurriedly covered her mouth. Her nervous appearance made Carlos want to laugh. This woman looked icy on the outside, but she was not actually that cold-hearted.

"I understand now. You're really bold, daring to lay hands on a high-ranking World Government official. If the news gets out, you're definitely finished."

"So only the two of us know about this..." Carlos said with a faintly amused smile, sending a chill through Kelly's heart. She quickly changed the subject.

Carlos turned his attention to the newspaper in his hands, casually responding to Kelly. Ever since Pirate King Roger had emerged, the New World, the Grand Line, and even the Four Blues had become much quieter than before. The number of new pirates had clearly decreased.

The king had already appeared. With no goal left to chase, naturally fewer people went out to sea.

But Carlos knew this situation was only temporary. Roger had already become the Pirate King and was suffering from a terminal illness, with little time left. In 1498—this year—at some point, he would turn himself in, setting off turmoil throughout the world and the course of world history!

On the morning six days later, Carlos and Kelly secretly landed on the eastern side of Iron Island in a small boat. The Mad Bull Pirates had left and, following Carlos's orders, were operating cautiously in the waters near Iron Island.

After arriving on Iron Island, Carlos immediately returned to the Mansion. Once he arranged Kelly's lodging and work, he promptly ordered a large number of Mafia Members to summon several captains to see him. No matter what they were doing, they were to come see him immediately.

Carlos's stance was clear: they had to come. If they did not, he would not be polite. He was going to purge the traitor!

Though he did not know which captain it was, and though Carlos had not established a leader position, making captain the highest rank for now, his eyes would soon expose the traitor!

Half an hour later, in the bright and spacious hall of the Mansion, Carlos sat on a luxurious, soft sofa. Kelly, there to watch the show, sat on the sofa beside him. Before the sofas stood five uneasy captains, including Noah, his most trusted confidant.

"On my trip to Maglin Island, I was attacked by pirates along the way. Luckily, my life is tough and my skills are good enough. Otherwise, I'd be feeding the fish at the bottom of the sea."

"My whereabouts were so secret, yet according to the pirates who had already pledged allegiance to me, someone clearly leaked information to the John Family. Among the five of you, there is a traitor!"

"Now, I'll give that traitor one chance. Step forward and confess voluntarily, and you may be spared death!"

"If I uncover someone who remains stubborn, there will be no mercy!"

"Step forward!"

Carlos's face was cold, his eyes narrowed as he spoke in an icy voice.

The five leaders looked at one another, then finally turned to Carlos nervously. None of them stepped forward. Noah wanted to speak, but Carlos raised a hand to stop him.

"Since no one is willing to admit it, I'll have to investigate personally."

"Everyone, look at me!"

Carlos barked. Everyone instinctively looked at him, only to find that his eyes had turned scarlet. Three strange black tomoe slowly rotated within them. The five men immediately felt dizzy, and a bewitching voice echoed in their minds. One of them involuntarily stepped forward.

Carlos frowned. The one who had betrayed him was actually Kilan Cani, the man who had inadvertently told him about the Devil Fruit. He then lifted the hypnosis on the other four and looked coldly at the vacant-eyed Cani. "Tell me, why did you betray me?"

Unable to resist, Cani uncontrollably laid out every detail behind his betrayal. The reasons were not complicated: jealousy, enormous profits, threats against his family—both subjective and objective factors were involved.

The other four leaders, Noah included, felt their scalps go numb and their backs drenched in cold sweat. They lowered their heads, not daring to look into those eerie scarlet eyes. Kelly also shivered inwardly. This method of making someone reveal every secret in their heart without even realizing it was far too terrifying!

At that moment, the four leaders' awe of Carlos reached an unprecedented peak. Once the news spread through them, even more leaders would learn of it. Killing the chicken to frighten the monkeys—his control over his subordinates would reach a whole new level!

"Take Cani away. Interrogate him, then execute him by firing squad!"

"Confiscate all his property. Explain the reasons, leave a small portion for his family's living expenses, but keep them under secret surveillance. If anything goes wrong, you'll be held responsible."

"Yes, Boss is merciful!"

"Boss is merciful!"

The remaining four scrambled to speak. What they had experienced today was simply too terrifying!

Merciful?

Heh. If not for the Eye of the Devil Devil Fruit, Carlos really would not have shown even a shred of mercy. He would definitely have dealt with him according to the Mafia's usual practice for traitors in this world.

In short, leave no roots behind!

"I'll leave the cleanup to you. Don't disappoint me..."

"Please rest assured, Boss. If any fish slip through the net, Noah is willing to bring you his head!"

"Me too!"

"Me too."

What had happened today was too frightening. They had no choice but to be ruthless toward themselves and show their loyalty!