Those Who Sold Their Integrity

A low price would not affect Oran's profits. He could not possibly work for nothing.

Having a conscience had never stopped anyone from making money. Throwing it away simply meant making even more.

As long as the plan went smoothly, Oran would gain the prestige and benefits he needed, while those who needed Prosthetic Limbs could begin new lives. It was a win-win situation.

"Prosthetic Limbs can be improved, and custom work is possible too. Of course, that naturally raises the price, but people who can afford it will not care about such a small difference.

The same applies to organs, except their components need to be replaced regularly.

If there are any special requirements, I can even cultivate an organ separately based on the patient's sample."

Yes, only individual organs would be cloned, not entire people. It was a matter of principle. In Oran's view, clones were independent living beings as well. Once they possessed their own thoughts and consciousness, the shell no longer mattered.

Even though Blitz was Oran's creation, Oran regarded him as a special subordinate rather than a disposable tool. Only machines capable of nothing more than basic logical responses and rigidly carrying out orders were lifeless objects in Oran's eyes.

"No wonder you wanted to get rid of Piekro. There is nothing wrong with that. If your technology truly spreads across the seas, at least half of Piekro's business will be ruined. He will become one of the people most eager to kill you."

Cutting off someone's source of income was like killing their parents. In the profit-driven underworld, what Oran was doing was the equivalent of smashing Piekro's table.

There was no need to worry about rejection, the price was lower, and it was legal. With something like this around, the organ trade would naturally become impossible to sustain.

Of course, it might give rise to people who specialized in stealing Prosthetic Bodies, but that was a matter for later.

"Not a bad plan. Doubling the funding is no problem, and I will make sure the people judging the awards know about your achievements. But Dr. Siderial, what benefits do I get from your later plans?

Even if Piekro is eliminated, it seems you will be the one filling that gap in the market. That does not do me much good."

No one rose early without profit to be made. That was also the nature of the underworld. Feld's business overlapped little with Piekro's, and because Piekro ran an assassination business, his military strength was even greater.

Starting a war with him would bring Feld little benefit.

"What you want most: reputation. You funded MADS for fame, did you not? What could build your reputation better than taking down a group that assassinates people and traffics organs every day?

You could even use this opportunity to consider further expansion, such as establishing a private bank recognized by the World Government. That would make far more money than your current businesses.

We could also form a closer partnership. For example, if someone wanted a more advanced Prosthetic Body but could not afford it, they could apply for a special Prosthetic Body loan through your bank.

There is a huge gap in that field. Right now is the perfect opportunity."

The World Government's financial institutions were only established in member nations. Beyond that, there were merely scattered private currency exchanges. There was still no stable institution in non-member countries or territories controlled by pirates.

Just as Oran had said, if this plan could be made to work...

Feld swallowed hard. He had taken the bait Oran had dangled before him. Since he already worked in a similar line of business, he could not refuse this proposal. If he had not dared to take risks, he would never have reached his current position.

Feld stood and stretched, even offering Oran a cigar, but Oran declined. He did not smoke and rarely drank; those were habits ingrained in his life.

Feld did not care. As long as someone had enough status and ability, such minor details meant nothing.

"Very good. You have convinced me. But I need to remind you of something: you do not understand the underworld well enough. If we do this, we will have another enemy—the organ-trafficking assassination group."

"The organ-trafficking assassination group?"

"You do not understand the underworld well enough. This group does not get along with Piekro. Since both of their businesses involve organs, conflicts often break out between them.

But if we do this, we may force them into joining hands. There will be no shortage of assassinations aimed at you. Do you need me to lend you a few bodyguards?"

"No. I can ensure my own safety. As for these two things, I will need to make use of your channels."

Oran handed Feld two slips of paper, each containing information about a Devil Fruit.

There was a Devil Fruit encyclopedia aboard MADS's ship, and it recorded quite a few Devil Fruits. Two of them happened to be the ones Oran wanted.

"Paramecia: Munch-Munch Fruit. Paramecia: Book-Book Fruit. Understood. I will put out bounties for them on the black market. Forget about the money; consider it my way of making a friend."

If they had been Logia Type fruits, Mythical Zoan fruits, or something as outrageously expensive as the Op-Op Fruit, Feld would never have made such an offer. But the fruits Oran wanted were not especially rare, so Feld decided to be generous for once.

Besides, it was essentially an empty promise. Devil Fruits with names specified so precisely were not easy to find. Who knew what corner of the world they might be hiding in?

Oran and Feld thus reached several verbal agreements. Afterward, Feld did not linger any longer and left with his men.

His visit to MADS had only been convenient on the way, and he still had other matters to attend to. Not to mention that Oran had given him a new plan to pursue.

"Oran, meow thinks that fatty is dangerous. He cannot be trusted. That is meow's intuition."

Not long after Feld left, a hidden door opened in the nearby wall, and Kate emerged from within with a weapon in hand. She had been waiting nearby, ready to support Oran if anything happened.

"I know. That is why I do not trust him much either. This is only a temporary convergence of interests."

Today, they could agree to move against Piekro, but once the profits reached a certain level, Feld might turn on Oran as well. Likewise, if the opportunity arose, Oran would not show mercy either.

That was the order of the underworld. Betrayal was nothing more than commonplace here.

"But Oran, is it really all right to work with someone like him? He does not look like a good person."

"Kate, this is only temporary. There was a lady where I used to live who believed in the philosophy of gray. This world is neither black nor white, but an exquisite and elegant shade of gray.

The World Government has accumulated centuries of foundations and possesses too many trump cards. We need to build up our strength now, nurturing new flowers within this gray sea. When they bloom, true white will naturally reveal itself."

Bang!

Before he could finish speaking, the door was suddenly shoved open. Queen forcibly squeezed past Judge and Caesar, rushed over first, and blurted out something that sounded slightly unhinged.

"Lord Oran! I offended you before. Please, do not take it to heart!"