Pointing Swords at Spiders Mill

"We need a chef."

"Are you looking down on me?"

Pekoms, who was temporarily serving as the chef, looked displeased.

"Don't you want to eat delicious grand meals every day?"

"That's true. Let's go find a chef, Captain."

Pekoms immediately changed his tune.

"Of course, we need to find a chef."

Rode wiped his mouth. Pekoms' cooking was indeed only average, but he didn't want to cook himself, so he could only make do for a while.

However, after years of adventuring at sea, they truly needed an excellent chef.

An excellent chef could not only prepare delicious meals to satisfy their appetites, but some also mastered various special recipes that could subtly condition their bodies through daily diet, much like the Okama cuisine Sanji learned from the Okama Kingdom in the original story.

However, chefs of that caliber were not easily found.

"Before that, let's cause a huge disturbance and make a name for ourselves!"

Hearing this, everyone looked at Rode with burning eyes.

Having chosen to sail together, they were clearly not people who were content with mediocrity.

"Our first target is Spiders Mill. It's a Donquixote Family stronghold. Let's use the Shichibukai as our stepping stone."

"Shichibukai!?"

Grey exclaimed in surprise.

"Why do you look so out of it? We discussed this before."

"When did we discuss it!"

"Oh, I almost forgot. You were injured and passed out then."

"That means you didn't discuss it with me!"

"Forget it, it's not important."

"It's very important! You bastard!"

"Everyone, be prepared!"

"Is it too late for me to get off the ship now? I'm just a scientist who wants to build ships. Why do I have to face the vicious Donquixote Family..."

As a native of North Blue, how could Grey not have heard of Doflamingo's name? As the place where he made his fortune, many legends about him still circulated in North Blue.

"At our speed, it will only take two days to get from here to Spiders Mill."

Ignoring Grey's muttering, Nerl unfolded the nautical chart and pointed to a place marked with a cross on the map.

"According to the intelligence we've gathered, Spiders Mill was the Donquixote Family's initial stronghold in North Blue. Although it was abandoned for a time, after Doflamingo became a Shichibukai, they dispatched personnel from the New World again and brought the town where they started their business back under their control.

Not only that, but the Donquixote Family controls many related industries there, from auction houses to weapon shops, and even casinos. All of these operate under the name of the Shichibukai, and they have even stimulated the development of other industries in the town, making it a renowned trading city.

In fact, that town is also the largest underground exchange in the entire North Blue. Beneath the surface prosperity, all sorts of unsavory transactions are hidden, and with the special status of the Shichibukai, the Marines would not intervene without substantial evidence.

In fact, the Marines themselves might even have secret dealings with the Donquixote Family. At least, based on the intelligence I've gathered, most countries in North Blue have secret dealings with the Donquixote Family, including many World Government member states."

"As expected of the Shichibukai! Their influence is deeply intertwined, encompassing various interest groups to form a massive community of interest. Just hearing about it makes me feel a terrifying pressure."

Nia exclaimed. Even just a stronghold in North Blue made them feel a darkness as deep as an abyss. Compared to the Donquixote Family, the Felke Family they encountered before was like a child's game.

"It sounds impressive, but with the Captain here, we'll definitely be fine."

"We'll probably get bounties too. I wonder how much they'll be."

Pekoms and Shakky were still full of confidence, even fantasizing about their own bounties.

"I was wrong. I shouldn't have contacted the Felke Family from the beginning..."

Hearing this, Grey felt completely unwell. He had only known of the Donquixote Family's name and Doflamingo's notorious reputation before. After hearing Nerl's description, he felt that joining Rode's ship was an impulsive decision.

"According to the intelligence, the highest-ranking person in charge there now should be the user of the Explosion-Explosion Fruit—Gladius. He's a cadre who has been with Doflamingo since the beginning. You should know more about this person, Law."

Law looked deeply at Rode and Nerl. The fact that these two had gathered such detailed information about the Donquixote Family showed that they had been preparing to oppose them for a long time.

He had been hiding things from them and even planning to face them alone. Now that he thought about it, he seemed too weak, completely lacking the resolve to directly challenge Doflamingo.

"That's right. This person's strength should not be underestimated. He can detonate his own body or anything he touches, and the resulting power far exceeds ordinary explosives. He had a bounty of 31 million years ago, a dangerous guy."

Putting away his distracting thoughts and recalling his experiences as a youth, Law said in a deep voice.

Although a long time had passed, he still remembered the experience of learning artillery from Gladius.

He was a person extremely loyal to Doflamingo, who valued family honor immensely; he was also a hot-tempered person, just like his Devil Fruit ability.

That guy would definitely be very surprised to see him.

No, he would be extremely angry.

Law's mind involuntarily recalled Mr. Corazon's smiling face again.

I will definitely grant your wish, Mr. Corazon!

"After becoming a Shichibukai, neither the Shichibukai nor the other members of his pirate crew will have their bounties increased anymore, so that guy's strength is definitely more than 31 million Belly."

Nerl scanned his companions around him and added.

"Besides that, there's another guy worth noting on Spiders Mill's side, an eater of the Dog-Dog Fruit—Edouard D. Manu, he's a reserve executive of the Donquixote Family in North Blue, and he previously defeated a pirate with a bounty of 43 million."

"Everyone should have a clear understanding of the situation now. We need to win our debut battle beautifully!"

Rod clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention, and spoke with a tone full of allure.

"The Donquixote Family has been operating for so long, they must have accumulated a lot of wealth."

A gleam flashed in Nia's eyes.

"Having control over the entire North Blue arms trade, they must also possess some special technology."

Grey stopped his mumbling.

"Defeating a Shichibukai in our very first battle, we will all surely bear enormous bounties."

Pekoms and Shakky jumped up excitedly, high-fiving each other.

"Maybe they'll have cute mother bears there."

Bepo's face turned red, and thinking of something, he let out a chuckle.

This is too far-fetched...

Glancing at Bepo, who had fallen into a fantasy, Law rubbed his forehead speechlessly.

Amidst everyone's anticipation, two days passed in a flash. Spiders Mill has arrived!