A Scheme?

Simon Sandy's heart sank when he learned the news.

It was not as though such a possibility did not exist, and all kinds of thoughts rose in his mind.

Could it be that Devil Fruit?

Simon Sandy suddenly thought of one possibility.

The Devil Fruit in Barlofiya's possession had been found on an island jointly operated by two parties.

According to the agreement, it belonged to both sides, but the Donquixote Family had bought it at a high price.

They had also planned to transport it to Bavely River Island.

To that end, the Donquixote Family had even dispatched one of their top executives, Diamante!

This showed just how important that fruit was to them!

But that doesn't seem right either. Even if it's important, the deal is already being negotiated. What's the point of pulling this kind of stunt now? Are they afraid we'll back out?

If they really intend to swallow that Devil Fruit and the profits... Hmph! So what if it's the Donquixote Family? If they dare set their sights on us, they'll have to pay a price!

Shaking his head and refusing to dwell on it, Simon Sandy knew it was only a guess. Rather than keep speculating, he might as well go meet Diamante!

With a sweep of his hand, Simon Sandy said, "Move out. We're heading to the Donquixote Family's base!"

"Crash..."

The group marched grandly in one direction.

However, the ones waiting there were members of the Fortune Telling Club.

To put on an act, they had to see it through. At Yun Ye's instruction, the Fortune Telling Club had come to the Donquixote Family's base.

They had disguised themselves as members of the Donquixote Family.

At that moment, they stood on high alert as they watched Simon Sandy's group.

Simon Sandy waved his hand, and all his subordinates behind him stopped.

He looked ahead but did not see Diamante. He shouted coldly, "Who are you people?"

The old witch Sharon wore a black cloak, half her face hidden beneath the hood. Looking ahead, she rasped, "We're from the Donquixote Family. Who are you?"

Simon Sandy frowned. He vaguely felt that something was wrong, but he could not put his finger on it.

Mainly because he was not familiar with the Donquixote Family at all; he only knew a few of their top executives.

The people before him were clearly mere lackeys. The Donquixote Family had countless people like that under its command, and they were impossible to distinguish.

Simon Sandy swept his gaze over everyone present and said coolly, "Where's Diamante? Tell him to come out. What exactly is going on? I want him to explain it to me properly. And what's the deal with that Bounty Hunter?"

"What Bounty Hunter?"

Sharon's gaze flickered, but she was old and shrewd. Coupled with the fact that half her face was concealed, she revealed no flaw.

Simon Sandy said nothing. The bearded man beside him stepped forward and snorted. "People on the island saw that Bounty Hunter come here, and he never left. Did your Donquixote Family hide him? Are you trying to renege on the debt?"

"Utter nonsense!"

Sharon shouted coldly, her tone stern. "When has the Donquixote Family ever done such a thing?"

Simon Sandy waved a hand to stop the bearded man from continuing. Instead, he stared fixedly at Sharon as murderous intent enveloped her entire body. He said icily, "Enough nonsense. Tell Diamante to come out and explain exactly what's going on!"

Sharon's body trembled beneath the murderous intent, but Hawkins had pushed her to the forefront, and her mental fortitude was first-rate. She forced down her fear and snorted. "Lord Diamante isn't here right now. You'd best leave!"

Although Simon Sandy was in charge of all affairs across a sea region, he only looked rough and uncouth. In truth, his mind was extremely meticulous.

A sharp gleam flashed through Simon Sandy's eyes. He had already sensed something off earlier, and after hearing what Sharon said, he became certain that something was definitely fishy here!

His first thought was the bearded man's earlier guess. The fat on his face quivered, revealing the turmoil in his heart!

But before he could think further, several explosions interrupted his thoughts.

Then came the shouts of his underlings:

"Cannon fire! Someone's firing cannons!"

"Damn it, it's an ambush! We've fallen into a trap!"

"How dare they?"

"Damn Donquixote Family! Are they really going to become our enemy?"

Naturally, the cannon fire had been launched by the Fortune Telling Club.

Those few blasts blew more than a dozen of Simon Sandy's men to pieces, leaving them in a gruesome state!

Simon Sandy's heart immediately sank, followed by surging fury.

How could the Donquixote Family dare do this?

Did they really intend to start a war between the two forces?

"What are you standing around for? Kill them!"

At this point, Simon Sandy could not be bothered with anything else. He would deal with these people first!

He charged out first, his vicious gaze locked onto Sharon as his killing intent soared and spread. "The Donquixote Family certainly knows how to make an impression!"

The instant Simon Sandy charged out, Sharon had already retreated to the rear.

Several broad-shouldered, burly lackeys stood in front of her.

Simon Sandy was fat, but his speed was astonishing. In an instant, he closed in, smashing the heads of the men before him with one punch each!

With a bounty of eighty million Beli, Simon Sandy's strength was naturally beyond what these North Blue gangsters could resist!

Seeing this, Simon Sandy's expression darkened. "You can't be members of the Donquixote Family. Who are you?"

The Donquixote Family was, after all, a Dark World force on equal footing with them. Their subordinates could not possibly be this weak!

As he spoke, he reached for Sharon, intending to seize her.

Sharon turned her head, her eyes filled with terror as she watched the fat hand draw closer. Hawkins had pushed her into this position. Though she possessed some cunning and strategy, she was merely an ordinary person in terms of strength and could not possibly evade Simon Sandy's grasp.

However, at the critical moment, a long blade shot down from above.

If Simon Sandy continued reaching forward to grab Sharon, that blade would definitely pierce straight through his body!

"Who's there?"

Simon Sandy withdrew his hand and retreated several steps, looking gravely toward the direction from which the flying blade had come.

Over there, a young man with black markings on his face and shoulder-length golden hair leaped down from a building.

From the situation, it was clear that the young man had thrown the blade just now.

Hawkins had been pondering Yun Ye's intentions all along. Now that he saw Simon Sandy, an idea came to mind.

Could the Quincy be trying to provoke a war between the Donquixote Family and someone else? Is he plotting against Doflamingo, one of the Shichibukai?

Born in the North Blue, Hawkins knew Doflamingo, one of the Shichibukai.

However, he did not know much about the Shipping King's side.

Seeing the situation now, his first guess was that the Quincy wanted to incite a war between the two sides.

At that thought, he became even more awed by Yun Ye.

What kind of status and strength would someone need to dare strike at Doflamingo, one of the Shichibukai, and his forces?