Fishing Plan

Rono answered honestly, "Spandam."

"Spandam? Then you're definitely hiding something," Sairona said, raising an eyebrow, knowing Spandam's character well.

"I see! The Revolutionary Army stole a shipment from us, and I'm going to get it back. I'll have Spandam call you with the specific details." Rono, who had somehow let go of Sairona's leg, clenched his fist into his palm.

"Is that so? Since it's the captain's wish, I'll go get the information first." Sairona stood up upon hearing this. Dazhiki also stood up. "I have a question: what is this shipment you're talking about?" As a righteous Marine, Dazhiki couldn't tolerate the person she liked doing illegal things.

"We are Shichibukai, with official documents issued by the World Government. These matters are within our scope," Rono explained, not revealing the truth. Ultimately, he still didn't trust this dazed and cute Marine.

"Sairona, you tell me." Dazhiki ignored Rono and faced Sairona, hoping he wouldn't lie to her.

Sairona felt a headache coming on. How could he have forgotten about her? He smiled apologetically at Dazhiki. "Rono is the captain, and also the Patriarch. I need to discuss it with him." After getting Dazhiki's consent, Sairona pulled Rono aside.

"She's considered your future sister-in-law. I think we can tell her about this. Of course, if you don't want to, I won't tell her. We can find other women, but there's only one family."

"Sigh! Sister-in-law? Since when?" Rono was extremely surprised. How could he not know about something so important? Should he stir up some trouble?

"The relationship was established today. Didn't you notice during dinner? Do I have to spell it out?" Sairona sighed helplessly. This Patriarch was truly something else.

"Hmm, was there?" Rono's tiny brain had already forgotten most of what happened at dinner.

"Yes, so what's your decision..." Sairona's expression remained unchanged.

"Since we're family now, there's nothing to hide." Rono finally made up his mind.

Sairona received a satisfactory answer and returned to Dazhiki's side, taking her hand and gently explaining everything. Just as Rono had said, this was part of the Shichibukai treaty—the right to plunder in a certain sea area. It wasn't just about plundering small countries. Take Donquixote Doflamingo as an example. The King of the Kingdom of Flevance held the power of life and death over his citizens, but his dark activities were not permitted by the Marines. He had opened several auction houses in the Sabaody Archipelago, and nothing had happened for years. These were all tacitly approved by the Marines. With such a vast underworld, how could the Marines have no information? As long as there was no evidence, they had to turn a blind eye.

Similarly, Rono operated in the same way. Dazhiki fell silent for a long time after listening. To be honest, Rono, as a Shichibukai, was much better than the other Shichibukai. Apart from maritime trade taxes, he didn't demand tribute from those countries. Otherwise, with Rono's power, he could easily destroy a small country. As for the larger countries, unless they wanted to be cut off from the sea entirely, any ship that sailed out would be sunk. Of course, Baroque Works, managed by Xil, specialized in selling firearms and occasionally acted as a human trafficker. But Dazhiki didn't know about these things, and neither Rono nor Sairona intended to tell her, unless she truly married Sairona and took the surname Wolf.

With Sairona downplaying the more serious aspects, Dazhiki, while still finding Rono's smuggling difficult to accept, didn't make a scene. She had heard about the actions of other Shichibukai.

Seeing Dazhiki soften, Sairona breathed a sigh of relief. It was finally resolved. Nami also sighed in relief; she didn't want to lose her good friend. Gelu followed suit, sighing too. Well, he was just imitating.

Sairona kissed Dazhiki's forehead and entered the room with Rono, closing the door to discuss their battle plan. Although Rono would forget 90% of it, at least there was still 10% left, right?

In the dining room, Nami and Dazhiki left and sat on the deck to rest, with Gelu in Nami's arms. Gelu was unhappy. Auntie Nami always pressed her chest against him, making it hard to breathe. Gelu pushed against Nami's chest with his hands, tilting his head back to get some space to breathe. Nami didn't mind. For someone who charged 100,000 Belly for a peek, this was nothing, especially since Gelu was just a child. Nami placed Gelu on the table, and Gelu toddled away, hiding behind a sun umbrella and peeking out. Seeing Nami looking at him, he quickly ducked back.

Nami gave Gelu a look and started talking to Dazhiki. "Dazhiki, I consider you a good sister, so I'm going to say a few things. Since you joined the ship back then, you should know that these things are unavoidable. Your behavior just now made things very difficult for Sairona." Nami's expression was serious. She had seen many pirate crews and was mentally prepared for the things pirates did from the moment she boarded.

Dazhiki lowered her head and gave a wry smile. "Perhaps I was too naive. You are pirates, so doing these things is quite normal, isn't it?"

Nami comforted her, "I believe the Marines didn't send you to Rono's ship to monitor him. Rono's relationship with Admiral Aokiji doesn't seem like something an ordinary Shichibukai could achieve. I believe Rono must have a second identity. But if he hasn't chosen to tell us, it's likely due to his concerns. We should try to understand them, shouldn't we? After all, we've only been on the ship for less than two months. If it were me, I wouldn't tell two newcomers some secrets, especially when... one of them is a Marine."

Nami paused and continued, "I think Sairona has already done a lot for you. You know, in a family, the Patriarch's orders are absolute. Don't let Rono's usual scattered demeanor fool you; when it comes to serious matters, he handles them better than any of us."

Dazhiki remained silent. Perhaps she was overthinking things. Did she hope to change Rono and Sairona? Dazhiki didn't believe it herself. If their minds could be changed so easily, Rono and Sairona wouldn't have become such strong individuals. The hearts of the strong are not swayed by others. Luffy is a prime example. Throughout his journey, countless people mocked him, completely disbelieving that a rookie could become the Pirate King. Luffy never wavered in his dream, just like a famous novel says, "A person can be defeated, but not beaten."

"I want to go rest." Dazhiki got up and returned to her room.

Nami didn't stop him; Dazhiki needed to think quietly.

Inside the men's dormitory, Rono sat cross-legged on the bed with his legs hugged. After Sairona listened to Spandam's intelligence and understood the situation, he made a plan. "The Revolutionary Army's traces are hard to find. We can only find a way to make them appear before us. Also, I need Xil to help me gather information again. I don't trust the CP agents."

Rono nodded and took out a Den Den Mushi to dial Xil's number. After Xil went to carry out the order, Sairona said to Rono, "I'm calling this plan the 'Fishing Plan.' Let's see what big fish we can catch. Rono, call Spandam later and release the news that we're going to destroy the country where the Dancing Powder was stolen. Then, gather the subordinate pirate crews. We've kept them fed for so long, it's time for them to do something. Oh, right, don't forget to notify the Marines. I believe they'll love this grand gift. As for the Revolutionary Army, I'm confident they'll come. Otherwise, it would go against their beliefs."

Rono made the calls one by one. All the subordinate pirate crew captains agreed. Spandam didn't object at all. The Marines were a bit hesitant, but under Tsuru's final decision, they agreed to send troops. Within the Red Devil Pirates and the Wolf Family, Sairona was the strategist; Rono was only responsible for execution.

The fishing net was already cast, the bait was set, and now they were just waiting for the fish to bite.