After hearing Bellamy and his crew out, Rod finally understood the situation.
They had all been born in Notis Town, a rather prosperous little town.
However, despite growing up in comfortable circumstances, they had grown tired of their ordinary lives and wanted to pursue something different.
So, with Bellamy at their head, they formed a small group. They worshipped the Great Pirate Donquixote Doflamingo, who had set out from the North Blue, idolizing him and hoping to become great pirates just like him.
Their dream was to join the Donquixote Family.
Some time ago, through the local gang forces, they had learned something.
The Felke Family, which held sway over Minion Island, seemed to be planning to muscle in on the North Blue Arms Business, and had recently been making frantic preparations for something.
Before that, the North Blue Arms Business had always been controlled by the Donquixote Family.
While Doflamingo was still in the North Blue, he had already expanded the Arms Business across the entire North Blue. The Donquixote Family had wiped out every other competitor.
And after Doflamingo became a Shichibukai, he used the power of the World Government to keep an even tighter grip on all Underground Trade.
Now another force actually wanted to muscle in on that business. Even if it was only a tiny fraction, it was still a provocation against that great man!
Eager to prove themselves, Bellamy and the others decided to strike first as soon as they learned this, taking out the fools who dared to encroach on the Donquixote Family's Arms Business.
If they could handle the job well enough to earn permission to join the Donquixote Family, that would be even better.
Who could have guessed they would run into such a tough opponent?
"I have no interest in little punks like you. Get lost."
Under Rod's gaze, the boys went pale. Not daring to say a word, they hurried to leave.
A blue-haired kid mustered his courage and walked up to Rod, intending to pick up the unconscious Bellamy.
"I never said you could take him with you."
Rod glanced at him and spoke calmly.
At the sound of Rod's voice, the boy froze. His whole body trembled, but he still raised his head slightly, his eyes full of struggle.
"Come on, Sachis! Leave Bellamy!"
At his companion's voice, a complicated look flashed in Sachis's eyes. His lips parted slightly, as if he wanted to say something.
But in the end, he said nothing. He simply lowered Bellamy to the ground, turned, and quickly followed the others away.
"I thought he would ask you to spare him."
Watching the group of boys and girls leave in such a sorry state, Nia's eyes flashed with disdain.
"They can abandon even their own companions without a second thought. They really are just a bunch of little punks."
"Anyway, what are you planning to do with this Springman kid?"
"There's something I want to try."
As Rod looked at Bellamy lying on the ground, the image of a companion crossed his mind.
He wondered how that guy's ability training was going, and whether his idea would actually work.
While Rod was thinking, Jason carried a box over to him and respectfully offered it to him.
Rod raised an eyebrow at the gangster before him.
He had been beaten half to death by Bellamy and his crew just moments ago, yet he had recovered so quickly. It seemed that becoming a gang lieutenant took some skill after all—at the very least, he had a stubborn vitality.
Rod took the box from him, a strange glint in his eyes.
"This feels like more than five million."
"Our lives were spared only because you showed mercy. A mere sum of money could never begin to repay you. Besides, if you hadn't stepped in, those villains would have killed every one of us."
As Jason spoke, his gaze unconsciously drifted to Bellamy, lying at Rod's feet.
The enemy who had defeated them all in a single encounter couldn't withstand even one move from Rod. Compared with him, the gangsters were simply no match.
"If you think about it, we owe you two lives now!"
"There's no need to keep saying that. I'm just not interested in opponents who are too weak."
Rod cut Jason off, not wanting to get involved in anything else.
"I'll take the money. Let's go!"
Rod weighed the box in his hand, then kicked Bellamy over to Nia and called to Nerl. After Nerl hoisted Grey onto his back, the group headed for the shore.
We're too weak!
Watching the group walk away, Jason thought to himself.
They had been absorbed in gang business and content with the profits in front of them. Looking back now, their ambitions had been far too small.
"Boss Jason, what do we do now?"
After Rod and the others disappeared from sight, a few of the gang's underlings gathered around Jason and asked him.
Their boss had been taken out, and his men had been scattered everywhere. The other important officers had also all been taken out by Rod and the others in the fight. Jason was now the highest-ranking member left.
Besides, he had always been the brains of the Felke Family. No one objected to him becoming the new leader.
Jason looked around at the remaining men. Their faces were all filled with confusion, and some of the brothers wounded in the fight lay on the ground, groaning softly.
"First, treat the wounded. Then spread the word and gather the Family's forces."
Jason gave the order in a deep voice. The underlings around him quickly got to work, and with someone to lead them, they were able to put their confusion aside for the moment.
Gang business had lost all meaning...
Jason looked at the men bustling around him and thought about the two groups they had encountered. Whether it was Rod and his crew or Bellamy and his, both had possessed overwhelming strength that left them utterly helpless.
The sea—perhaps that was where the real adventure lay!
By the shore
"Are you really sure we shouldn't wait until dawn to set sail?
"I've heard that strange sounds can always be heard at night along the sea route between Flying Swallow Island and Minion Island.
"Someone once saw a small boat being rowed desperately across the sea, with several white waves chasing close behind it. The strange thing was, when the boat reached the shore, it couldn't come in. It could only turn around and keep rowing out at sea until dawn, when it was finally able to land. The rower was almost exhausted to death. They say a sea monster was causing trouble in the water."
At Nia's words, Rod and Nerl exchanged a glance, their expressions odd.
"A sea monster? Then let's wait until dawn to go!"
Grey cried out. He seemed to aggravate his injuries, and his face grew even paler.
"It's just a silly rumor."
Rod raised the anchor and looked toward Flying Swallow Island.
"Let's go!"
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