Sachis's Efforts

It was a bustling little town, its harbor packed with all kinds of ships. Along the docks, almost everyone they passed was a busy sailor or merchant.

"How ironic. This place relies on pirates, yet it's more prosperous than most towns."

After entering the town, Nia couldn't help but sigh.

Over the past few years, she had visited countless similar port towns, but few could compare with Spiders Mill.

Even among the great nations, only their most important port cities surpassed this place.

"This isn't a pirate ship, so we can just leave it here. No one dares cause trouble on Donquixote Family turf."

Nerl directed Pekoms and Shakky as they moored the ship. After paying a fee to the dock authorities, he followed Rod and the others with a faintly amused smile.

They'd come to cause trouble for the Donquixote Family, yet the family had saved them the trouble of finding someone to watch their ship. It was rather amusing.

As for the fee they'd just paid, they'd get it back from the Donquixote Family.

"Actually, even pirate ships are left alone, as long as they don't fly their flags too conspicuously."

"The Donquixote Family really is everywhere in this town."

The Donquixote Family's emblem was brazenly displayed on the wall of the dock authorities' office. And once Rod and the others entered town, they found that almost every few streets there was a shop bearing the family's emblem. The family had a hand in practically every aspect of the town.

"What do we do now?"

Everyone looked to Rod, waiting for their captain's orders.

"What do we do? We attack, of course!"

Rod's gaze fell on a building in the center of town: a sprawling estate.

Now that commerce was thriving, only the Donquixote Family could afford to keep such a vast estate in the center of Spiders Mill.

What's more, a Donquixote Family flag flew proudly atop the estate's main building.

"Let's say hello first, Nerl."

"Got it!"

Under the terrified gaze of the people nearby, Nerl raised his black rifle and took aim at the Donquixote Family's fluttering flag.

Bang!

With a gunshot, the bullet left the barrel. A moment later, the flagpole in the middle of the estate snapped, and the Donquixote Family's flag came crashing down.

Fifteen minutes earlier

The main hall of a side building in the central estate

A lanky man, about two meters tall, was hunched over the table, making panting sounds.

"Lord Edouard D. Mann, someone claiming to be Lord Doflamingo's most devoted admirer has come to see you. He says he has important information to report."

An underling entered cautiously, head bowed and eyes fixed on the floor.

"There are plenty of people who want to work for that great man. If I had to see every Tom, Dick, and Harry, how could I properly serve him?"

"Ah, no, wait. I'm a dog myself."

Manudo raised his head, revealing a long, doglike face. As he spoke, he stuck out his tongue and licked the ice cream on his face.

"Understood. I'll tell him to leave at once."

The underling didn't dare say another word. He nodded, then started to leave.

"Did you just call me a dog?!"

A towering figure suddenly loomed over the underling, and a chill rose in the room.

"I didn't! I never did!"

The underling shook his head frantically, still not daring to look up.

"Lick my bowl clean!"

Manudo tossed the bowl at the underling's feet, gave him a cold look, then turned to another underling.

"Go bring in that guy. If he doesn't have any important information, I'll make him lick plates for a month."

"Yes, sir!"

After answering loudly, the underling who'd been singled out hurried out of the room. The face he turned away was filled with relief at having survived the ordeal.

Lord Manudo went around all day with a dog's face and even called himself a dog, yet he never let anyone get away with calling him one. Anyone who dared mention dogs in front of him was punished by being made to lick his dog bowl clean.

"Lord Manudo, I'm Sachis! I have something to report about a group of arrogant thugs. They want to seize the Donquixote Family's business."

At last, Sachis had gotten his wish and met someone from the Donquixote Family. His heart was full of excitement.

A little over half a month ago, Rod had defeated their group in an instant. They'd fled like beaten dogs, without even managing to bring their leader, Bellamy, back with them.

But after returning to their base, Sachis couldn't calm down. So, ignoring the others' attempts to dissuade him, he'd made his way to Spiders Mill, hoping to rely on the Donquixote Family's power to rescue Bellamy.

After all his efforts, he'd finally managed to make connections with some low-ranking members of the Donquixote Family. Once he'd paid 500,000 Berries, they'd agreed to arrange a meeting with Lord Manudo.

Sachis glanced at his friend, who was sprawled on the floor nearby, and a flicker of confusion passed through his eyes.

He'd gone to this friend earlier and asked him to report to Lord Manudo on his behalf. But why was he licking a bowl?

With no time to dwell on it, Sachis quickly reported everything to Manudo.

From the moment they'd heard that the Felke Family was trying to get into the Arms Business, to their resolute attempt to stop them, to Rod and the others defeating them and taking Bellamy prisoner.

When he'd finished, he even took out several portraits. Fortunately, one of his companions was good at drawing and had sketched Rod and the others after they'd returned.

"So, you want me to step in and rescue your captain, that guy named Bellamy?"

After hearing Sachis's account and looking over the portraits in his hands, Manudo summed it up.

"My main reason for coming was to report that there are scoundrels in the North Blue who dare to encroach on the Donquixote Family's interests. We're simply too weak to deal with them ourselves, so we need a powerful man like you to defend the family's interests!

"Of course, if you could also rescue our captain in the process, that would be even better. We'll swear to defend the Donquixote Family's interests!"

"You hide beneath the family's flag and accept its protection, then use its power to serve your own interests. I've seen plenty of people like you. Guess what happened to them?"

At some point, Manudo had appeared in front of Sachis. He looked down at him, his towering frame radiating menace.

"Do you really think I can't see through the likes of you? What do you think made me the family's representative in the North Blue?"