Biodata
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Baroque Works (巴洛克工作室) 23 |
| Affiliation | Operates under Rono and the Red Devil Pirates; reorganized by the Gongdongtalio Family 23 27 32 |
| Occupation/Role | Maritime trade network, intelligence organization, firearms dealer, and assassin organization 28 32 49 104 |
| First Appearance | Chapter 23 23 |
History
After Crocodile's death and Rono's appointment as a Shichibukai, Baroque Works asked to operate under Rono's name while its own personnel managed the organization. The Gongdongtalio Family reorganized it, and Rono and Sairona received monthly dividends 23 27.
Under Xil's management, Baroque Works retained its assassins and expanded across the Alabasta shipping route. It provided jobs and relief shelters, while its trade network brought substantial business to the region 31 32. Xil supplied Rono's group with intelligence on pirate crews and Fire Fist Ace 28 32.
The loss of Rono's Shichibukai title exposed the organization to Marine action: ships flying its flag were sunk, factories were raided, and business fell 73. When Rono was later believed dead, Baroque Works abandoned its expendable industries and retreated into the underworld 100. Its withdrawal from Alabasta left nearly 40% of the country's citizens facing unemployment; before leaving, Xil sold its local firearms and supplies to the King's Army at cost 133 138. Baroque Works members returned to Alabasta after Rono's return 196.
Organization and Operations
- Leadership: Xil manages Baroque Works' affairs. Sairona directs its personnel during the conflict with the Marines and later leads members in battle alongside William Winifred 32 80 183 184.
- Trade: Baroque Works nearly monopolized maritime trade along its route. Some goods moved through its own branches; other trading companies handled goods while Baroque Works took 30% of the profits 32.
- Protection and coercion: Merchant ships flew its flag. Its agents tipped allied pirate crews to ships that did not, and those ships were destroyed 32.
- Other business: The organization retained an assassin arm, sold firearms, and occasionally engaged in human trafficking 32 49 104.
- Intelligence: Its network located pirate crews, gathered information for Rono's group, and maintained informants 28 32 78.
- Communications: Rono contacted Baroque Works through a dedicated Den Den Mushi. Xil later installed a large one at headquarters so members could hear Rono's calls and select delivery teams 28 170.
Relationships
- Rono — Baroque Works operates under his name and supports him with intelligence and supplies; its members later compete for a chance to join his Red Devil Pirates 23 28 170.
- Xil — manager who oversees business, intelligence, and personnel; he interrogates Veil after discovering a leak to the Marines 32 78 104.
- Sairona — works with Xil on intelligence and strategy and leads Baroque Works members against the Vinsmoke Family 32 80 184.
- William Winifred — commands Baroque Works members during the North Sea conflict with the Vinsmoke Family 182 183 184.
- Veil — executive and Xil's secretary who leaks routes to the Marines; Xil discovers the betrayal and uses him to feed information back to them 78 79 80.
- Donquixote Family — business connection in the firearms trade and a proposed partner for large-scale weapons sales 104 124.
- Marines — raid its factories and attack ships flying its flag after Rono loses his Shichibukai title 73.
Major Conflicts
- Marine campaign: Veil's leaked routes aid Marine action against Baroque Works. After uncovering him, Xil obtains details of planned attacks on its Rain City headquarters and allied forces 73 78 79.
- Vinsmoke Family: More than half of the Baroque Works members at its North Sea position are reported dead or injured. Survivors join Sairona's force for a counterattack; sea mines destroy their ship, and the Vinsmokes' trained fighters and poison inflict further losses 182 184 185 188.