Capone Bell's plea left Yaen feeling awkward instead, as if he were doing something bad. He could only reassure him.
"Don't worry. I already told you I'm a good person. I won't do anything to your family."
"Then... h-how did you know my son's name?" Capone Bell asked.
How did he know? Of course he knew!
Yaen thought helplessly.
Compared with Capone Bell, the father, his son, the Castle-Castle Fruit User Capone Bege, had achieved far more and enjoyed a much greater reputation along the normal course of events.
After unifying the underground forces of the West Blue, the Castle-Castle Fruit User Capone Bege went on to establish the Fire Tank Pirates and set sail for the Grand Line. Not only did he become a Supernova of the same generation as Straw Hat Kid Monkey D. Luffy, he also became the son-in-law of the Yonko Big Mom, and eventually even stabbed the Yonko Big Mom in the back.
However, since there was no way for Yaen to explain this to Capone Bell, he could only say casually, "That's a secret."
After pondering for a while, Capone Bell instead wore an expression of sudden realization and muttered, "Could it be... Bege thought I was blocking his path? So he decided to get rid of me?"
Yaen.
For a moment, although Yaen knew that the people on this sea all had more or less abnormal thought processes, he still felt admiration for Capone Bell's train of thought, whether regarding the handcuffs or his son.
Just as Yaen was wondering whether he should comfort Capone Bell, the old father suddenly burst into laughter and said,
"Hahaha, well done, Bege! Ruthlessness is the right way. It looks like you're finally going to grow up..."
The next moment...
"Smack!"
Yaen slapped the back of Capone Bell's head and said,
"Stop wasting time here. Hurry up and transfer and secure all the evidence. Otherwise, I'll immediately find that Capone Bege and kill him."
"Yes, yes, yes..."
Capone Bell hurriedly agreed, packing all the treasures from the safe into the briefcases at astonishing speed.
Finally, Yaen also tossed the Castle-Castle Fruit into one of the briefcases for safekeeping.
Even if Capone Bell had said nothing, Yaen would never have destroyed the Castle-Castle Fruit.
More accurately, Yaen had already started paying attention to the existence of the Castle-Castle Fruit back when he read the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia in the past.
In Yaen's view, the Castle-Castle Fruit wasn't meant to be squandered in pure combat. Instead, it held tremendous strategic significance.
Turning the human body into a fortress allowed anything to be deployed inside at will. The power of the Castle-Castle Fruit was unquestionable, but that applied to major forces.
Just imagine: on the surface, Yaen appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary, refined young man, yet inside his body lurked the Yonko, the Shichibukai, Marine Admirals, and other unbelievably powerful combat forces, ready to strike at any time. What terrifying strategic significance would that have?
Destroying the World Government's central holy land, Mary Geoise, in an instant would not be impossible.
Therefore, this was not a Devil Fruit suited to individuals, but one truly suited to warfare!
Setting aside its other uses, the existence of the Castle-Castle Fruit would also be enormously useful to the Revolutionary Army, which currently had extremely high requirements for secrecy.
Yaen then carried two completely full briefcases, grabbed Capone Bell by the shoulder, and leaped down through the window that the other Zoan Devil Fruit Users had broken open moments earlier.
"Ah!!"
Amid Capone Bell's cry of alarm, Yaen stomped through the air with both feet!
"Bang, bang, bang!"
"Six Powers—Geppo!"
With this special technique that allowed him to walk through the air, Yaen's falling speed rapidly slowed, and he drifted down to the ground.
Kuzan, leaning against the wall, glanced at Yaen and said, "Looks like you had quite a haul."
"Not bad."
Yaen answered casually, then tossed Capone Bell to Kuzan and said, "This should be Capone Bell, the head of the Capone Mafia. He's yours."
"Mm."
Kuzan casually caught Capone Bell, but his gaze fell on the two briefcases in Yaen's hands as he reminded him, "Are those the Capone Mafia's treasures? The rules require spoils of war to be handed over."
Hearing this, Yaen said with a beaming smile, "Kuzan, I haven't officially joined the Marines or taken up a position yet. I'm just a civilian. You wouldn't rob a weak and helpless civilian of everything he owns, would you?"
With that, Yaen, in an excellent mood after obtaining the Castle-Castle Fruit, walked toward the port.
"That kid..."
Kuzan watched Yaen's retreating figure with slight speechlessness, but he did not press the matter any further.
In a sense, Yaen was indeed right. He had not officially joined the Marines yet, so he had no obligation to hand over the spoils.
And since Yaen had successfully captured Capone Bell and breached the Capone Mafia's headquarters, Kuzan had also given Admiral Sengoku a satisfactory account. Naturally, he no longer fixated on such a minor matter.
Kuzan then carried the head of the Capone Mafia toward the port, under the dumbfounded gazes of the other underground organization members in Freedom Town.
Soon, the Marine Warship, which could be called a war behemoth, set sail once more and headed straight for Marineford, the Marine Headquarters.
However, after Kuzan's style of justice had undergone a major transformation, the Marine Warship's speed was unexpectedly leisurely, as if it were strolling through the sea.
In the end, only after repeated urging from Marineford did Kuzan and the others return to Marineford on the eve of Admiral Sengoku's Promotion Ceremony to Fleet Admiral of the Marines.
For the Marine Admiral Sengoku, known as "Buddha Sengoku" and "The Strategist Sengoku," to be promoted to Fleet Admiral of the Marines was an extremely shocking event, even for this sea that had entered the Great Pirate Era.
Sengoku's promotion to Fleet Admiral of the Marines would take place tomorrow. Countless Marines would witness this major event, and the footage would even be broadcast simultaneously to every Marine branch, sub-branch, and base around the world, inspiring the Marines to uphold justice.
That night, Sengoku dragged his slightly weary body back toward his courtyard-style home.
With the sea gradually descending into turmoil after entering the Great Pirate Era, the appointment of a new Fleet Admiral of the Marines was excellent news. However, to prevent pirates from causing trouble, Sengoku had been so busy during this period that he could barely catch his breath.
Preparing the Promotion Ceremony, mobilizing Marine forces, monitoring and handling intelligence on the movements of Great Pirates, responding to the World Government's various demands...
Just as Fleet Admiral Sengoku was thinking about the matters of the following day while pushing open the door and entering, warm lamplight filled the living room, and a sumptuous feast covered the table.
"Old Man, congratulations..."
Standing beside the table, Yaen let his gaze drift toward the window and spoke as if unintentionally.
Before you continue