DD Meeting

After chatting with Robin, who was disguised as the big-haired Rebecca, Yang Yunzhi checked the time. It was only a little past nine in the morning.

The morning sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, filling the room with a hazy warmth.

Normally, this atmosphere would have been perfect for doing something that would make everyone happy, but Yang Yunzhi glanced at Robin beside him.

Having just poured her heart out to Yang Yunzhi, she was currently in a state of happiness, relief, and slight sensitivity.

The mood was right, but the person was wrong.

Forget it. Better get some work done.

Standing by the window, he let his gaze pass through the wall and fixed it on the sea thirty-two kilometers away. Within the Byakugan's field of vision, a cargo ship was slowly leaving Glazed Town's harbor, while sailors on deck busied themselves with the mooring lines.

"Master, the Report on the Necessity and Feasibility of Establishing a Base of Operations that you asked me to compile has been sent to Hina, Robin, and Bezos's chat interfaces."

Little Bean's voice sounded in his mind, noticeably more lively and natural than it had been a month ago.

Yang Yunzhi nodded and withdrew his attention.

To bring change to this world, they could not remain at the theoretical level.

They needed a testing ground, a place that could prove that ordinary people could live better after noble rule was overthrown.

And Ghost Mulberry Island was currently the most suitable choice.

"Little Bean, how are the preparations for the meeting at six-thirty this afternoon?" Yang Yunzhi asked.

"The meeting interface has been debugged. The synchronized voice and text transmission functions are operating normally. Per your instructions, permissions have been set—only the four people designated by you may access the meeting channel."

Little Bean replied, "In addition, I added a basic raise-hand function and a file-sharing module to the interface."

"Very good." Yang Yunzhi nodded in satisfaction.

He turned toward the desk, picked up the report he had written the previous night, and read it over carefully once more.

The report was divided into three parts: why they needed to establish a base of operations, why they had chosen Ghost Mulberry Island, and what they would do after the base was established.

The report was detailed, but Yang Yunzhi knew that what would truly convince everyone was not the text, but the clear train of thought and feasible plan he would present at the meeting.

At 6:25 in the afternoon.

Marine Base 36, Hina's office.

The pink-haired female Marine frowned at a floating light screen that had appeared out of thin air. The words "DD Meeting About to Begin" were displayed on it, with a countdown below.

"This thing really is convenient..." Hina murmured.

Five days ago, when this light screen had first appeared before her, it had genuinely startled her.

Only after Yang Yunzhi explained it did she understand that it was a communications interface developed by Little Bean using the Link-Link Fruit's ability.

Not only could it be used for real-time text chats, it could also hold remote meetings like this one.

The instant the countdown reached zero, the image on the light screen changed and split into four sections.

Yang Yunzhi's face was in the upper-left corner, Hina herself was in the upper-right, a beautiful woman with black, voluminous curls—Rebecca—appeared in the lower-left, and an ordinary-looking middle-aged man with shrewd eyes—Bezos—was in the lower-right.

"Can everyone see and hear me?" Yang Yunzhi's voice came clearly from the light screen.

"Clearly." Hina nodded.

"No problem." Rebecca—or rather, Nico Robin—smiled.

"Sir, everything is normal on my end," Bezos said respectfully.

"Good. Then the meeting officially begins." Yang Yunzhi's expression turned serious.

"First, thank you all for attending this high-level organizational meeting despite your busy schedules. I am Yang Yunzhi, codename: Disciple."

He looked at the three people on the screen in turn. "Major Hina, codename: Threshold Guard; Miss Rebecca, codename: Historian; Bezos, codename: Eyes and Ears. From now on, we will address one another by our codenames within the organization."

"Understood," the three replied in unison.

"First item on the agenda: ideological alignment." Yang Yunzhi pulled up a document and shared it on the light screen. "This is the report I sent everyone this morning. Please briefly explain your understanding of its contents and any questions you have."

Hina spoke first. "I've finished reading the report. Its core argument is that we need a base of operations to test our governing principles, train personnel, and accumulate funds. Ghost Mulberry Island was chosen because it already has an industrial foundation and a school, while its remote location makes it difficult to discover. After the base is established, we will use the identity of a 'mafia' as cover while conducting experiments in social governance."

"That's an accurate summary." Yang Yunzhi nodded. "Rebecca, what do you think?"

Robin pondered for a moment. "Based on the report, establishing a base of operations is indeed imperative. But I have two questions. First, how can we ensure that we can take Ghost Mulberry Island? The Ghost Wood Family's strength cannot be underestimated. Second, even if we take Ghost Mulberry Island, how can we ensure that the World Government does not notice?"

"Bezos?" Yang Yunzhi looked toward the intelligence chief.

Bezos wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Sir, I am only responsible for intelligence work. But based on the information I currently possess, the Ghost Wood Family is indeed very strong. They have more than three hundred rigorously trained armed personnel under their command, including at least five experts at the General level and more than twenty at the Pillar level. Furthermore, the steelworks and weapons workshops they control are all equipped with defensive fortifications..."

The Ghost Wood Family's "Generals" were actually equivalent to Marine rear admirals, while their Pillars were equivalent to colonels.

"Hm?" Yang Yunzhi turned to Robin. Why is this different from the intelligence you gave me?

Robin had already opened her heart completely to Yang Yunzhi, so she definitely had not been lying before.

After thinking for a moment, she said, "I followed Oniki Nobuko and was always involved in legitimate business. My understanding of the Ghost Wood Family's deeper strength was indeed somewhat one-sided!"

Looking at it this way, the Ghost Wood Family was even stronger than they had previously imagined!

"In other words, with our organization's current strength, a frontal assault is practically impossible?" Yang Yunzhi asked.

"Yes." Bezos nodded honestly.

Yang Yunzhi turned to Hina. "Based on your experience, how much force would it take to wipe out a family like this?"

"If we assess the Ghost Wood Family as though it were a Marine base, it would take the combined encirclement of at least five Marine branches, with an expert at vice admiral level holding the line."

Hina said, "And the biggest problem is—the Ghost Wood Family is not made up of pirates. We Marines have no reason to mobilize troops against them. Even if I joined the battle in a personal capacity, the more than three hundred recruits at our Base 36 alone would be no match for the Ghost Wood Family."

For a moment, the light screen fell silent.

"Disciple," Robin said softly, "do you already have a plan?"

Everyone's gaze focused on Yang Yunzhi's face.

Hina also spoke. "Stop putting on airs here already. Everyone will listen to you!"

Yang Yunzhi was somewhat speechless. He had originally intended to establish his position within the organization through one victory after another.

After all, as the saying went, it was not becoming a leader that earned one recognition; it was those who earned recognition who became leaders.

What he did not know was that the links created by Little Bean had a loyalty function, making everyone instinctively trust Yang Yunzhi. It directly spared him countless steps that would have been needed to establish authority and credibility.

So many of Yang Yunzhi's performances really had been pointless efforts.

Hearing Hina's words, Yang Yunzhi smiled awkwardly. Rather than answer directly, he asked, "Everyone, when do you think an organization is at its most vulnerable?"

"When there is internal turmoil," Robin answered immediately.

"Exactly." Yang Yunzhi nodded. "The Ghost Wood Family may appear powerful now, but beneath the surface, they are already roiling over the issue of succession. The three sons are openly and secretly fighting one another, but do those Generals and Pillars who have served the family for decades truly wish to remain subordinates forever?"

Bezos frowned. "But Disciple, this is how mafia families in the West Blue pass down their power. The next family head is either a son or grandson, or at worst, a son-in-law... It has already become customary."

"Custom does not mean it is reasonable, nor does it mean everyone will accept it." Yang Yunzhi's tone was firm. "Especially the Ghost Wood Family—they have only risen to power over the past few decades and have yet to develop deeply ingrained inheritance traditions. Those Generals and Pillars followed Oniki Isshin to conquer the world in their youth. Now that Oniki Isshin is old, do they not want to take charge themselves?"

Hina looked thoughtful. "You mean... provoke internal conflict?"

"Not provoke it. Accelerate it." Yang Yunzhi pulled up another document. "According to the intelligence previously gathered by Eyes and Ears, three factions already exist within the Ghost Wood Family: the Foreign Trade Faction that supports the eldest son, the Local Faction that supports the second son, and the Order Faction that supports the third daughter. The contradictions between these three factions run deep. All it will take is one spark to ignite them."

Robin pressed on, "What exactly are we going to do?"

"Three steps." Yang Yunzhi raised three fingers. "First, deepen the intelligence. Eyes and Ears, within two weeks, I want you to infiltrate the Ghost Wood Family's intelligence network into their core level—especially monitor the confidants, maids, and servants around the three young masters, as well as the private dealings of those Generals and Pillars."

Bezos looked troubled. "Sir, two weeks may be..."

"I will provide technical support." Yang Yunzhi cut him off. "Little Bean will use the Link-Link Fruit's ability to help you establish an encrypted communications network. Your intelligence agents will be able to transmit information in real time through this network. In addition, I will provide you with operational funds."

"If that is the case... this subordinate guarantees that the task will be completed!" Bezos perked up.

"Second, create conflict." Yang Yunzhi continued. "Oniki Isshin has forbidden his three children from killing one another, but judging from the Historian's attempted assassination, assassinating their subordinates is feasible. Then we will start with their subordinates. Assassination, framing, sowing discord... I will make separate arrangements for the specific methods."

Hina frowned. "Wouldn't that be a little too..."

"Too underhanded?" Yang Yunzhi looked at Hina. "Threshold Guard, you need to understand that we are facing not only the Ghost Wood Family, but the entire order of the old world. If we do not employ extraordinary measures, we will never break through this high wall."

Hina fell silent for a moment before finally nodding.

"Third, win over and divide them." Yang Yunzhi looked at the three people on the light screen. "When the Ghost Wood Family's internal strife reaches its peak, we will need an insider—someone among the Ghost Wood Family's upper ranks who is willing to cooperate with us and, after the matter is settled, accept our leadership."

Robin's eyes lit up. "You want to support a puppet?"

"No, a partner," Yang Yunzhi corrected. "What we want is not a puppet, but a comrade who truly identifies with our ideals and is willing to work toward building a new order. As for this candidate... I will personally select them."

The meeting room fell into brief silence.

Bezos processed Yang Yunzhi's plan, and sweat began to bead on his forehead again.

He had never imagined that this young Marine lieutenant could scheme with such seasoned thoroughness.

Robin, meanwhile, reassessed Yang Yunzhi in her heart.

She had thought this man was merely an idealist, but now it seemed that he not only had ideals, but also the means and determination to turn them into reality.

That only made her trust Yang Yunzhi more.

After all, in this world, kindness alone was not enough.