Infernal Affairs

"You analyzed it correctly. The 'Heavenly Tribute' really was just a cover for the Kuja Pirates."

"Mm-hmm, and then? Was it some other treasure?" Ron pressed eagerly.

"Their... real objective was to rescue their 'companion.'"

"..." Ron's gaze immediately dimmed. After two seconds of silence, he turned expressionlessly toward Kaido. "This has nothing to do with you, so what the hell are you so happy about?"

"That's not how you should put it," Kaido explained righteously. "Didn't you get that sudden feeling of enlightenment?"

Ron let go of his shoulder and walked ahead on his own without looking back. "I hereby declare the Intern Alliance disbanded."

"What are you talking about, Ron? Don't just say things that hurt unity!" Kaido hurried after him, shouting with an unhappy expression.

Yes, just as Kaido had said, the Kuja Pirates' goal was to rescue their companion.

According to the information they had gathered, the ones responsible for this escort mission were Marine Fleet Admiral "Kong the Steel" and Marine Admiral Sengoku the Buddha.

With their current strength, they simply could not shake a lineup like that and could only seek cooperation from outsiders.

Their initial intended partner had been the Roger Pirates, while the Rocks Pirates had merely been a last resort.

However, as time grew more urgent, the Kuja Pirates happened to run into the Rocks Pirates on their way to meet the Roger Pirates, and the plan changed accordingly.

The terms of their cooperation were not complicated. The Kuja Pirates would only provide the route, while however much Heavenly Tribute the others seized would all belong to the Rocks Pirates.

Their only condition was that if the Kuja Pirates encountered danger they could not resist, the Rocks Pirates had to lend them a hand.

Meanwhile, somewhere in the New World.

Three enormous World Government warships sailed side by side at a steady pace, their hulls cleaving through the waves and leaving three long white trails across the sea.

Aboard were the Heavenly Tribute they had recently collected from various countries, some kind of treasure used as collateral for the Heavenly Tribute, and... "slaves" for the World Nobles, the Celestial Dragons, to amuse themselves with.

Inside the cabin of one warship.

The fragrance of tea lingered in the air.

"Huff." Kong gently blew on the tea in his cup and leaned back comfortably in his chair, gazing at the calm sea through the porthole. "It has been a long time since we sat down and had tea together, hasn't it, Sengoku?"

"Hahaha... thanks to you, I got to drink some fine tea for once." Sengoku smiled lightly and took a sip from his cup.

Kong waved a hand. "It is not thanks to me. We are both benefiting from the World Government. Everything we have achieved today was bestowed upon us by the World Government. At critical moments, we cannot let the World Government down."

Sengoku nodded slightly. Although the words were unpleasant to hear, what Kong said was indeed true.

"Hahahaha, justice will prevail!!" Kong laughed. Before his voice had faded, a young man in a Marine uniform hurried inside, holding a Den Den Mushi.

"Report! Admiral Sengoku, your personal Den Den Mushi is ringing."

After saying that, the young Marine naturally handed the Den Den Mushi to Sengoku, then tactfully turned and left.

Kong watched the entire exchange without saying a word.

Sengoku answered the Den Den Mushi.

Very soon, a deep voice sounded from the other end.

"Mr. Sengoku, does what you said before still stand?"

"Of course." Sengoku nodded firmly. "However, how much you receive will depend on the value of the information you provide."

"Their target is the Heavenly Tribute. They are preparing to ambush you along your route."

"Mm. Very valuable." Sengoku's gaze darkened slightly.

"Hehehe... I hope you will honor the agreement."

"Of course. Our cooperation will not end with this one time."

The Den Den Mushi call ended. The cabin fell silent for a moment.

Kong, who had remained silent until then, finally spoke in an even tone. "It seems... we have a traitor among us as well."

Sengoku put down the Den Den Mushi, his brow slightly furrowed. "What do you intend to do, Kong? The Rocks Pirates are not easy to deal with. If the Heavenly Tribute gets stolen, we will not be able to answer to the World Government."

As Sengoku analyzed the situation, he weighed all kinds of possible responses in his mind.

Kong remained silent for quite a while. The tea in his cup had already cooled slightly. Then, a faint smile appeared on his face. "In that case, we will turn their scheme against them."

Sengoku paused at first, then quickly understood Kong's intention. His tightly furrowed brow relaxed. "That is quite a good plan."

Kong slowly rose to his feet and walked to the window, looking out at the endless sea. "Sengoku, make the arrangements. Let us give those Rocks bastards a big surprise."

Much later.

A speedboat sped across the sea, trailing a white wake behind it.

"The World Government bastards sure are crafty." Ochoku sat at the very front of the speedboat, holding a pizza and eating it with relish as he mumbled his complaint.

This was what had happened.

As the Rocks Pirates raced along the route provided by the Kuja Pirates, they suddenly received new intelligence. To prevent an attack, the Marines had divided their fleet into three groups, each traveling along a different route.

This forced the Rocks Pirates to split into three teams to set up their ambushes.

Rocks and the Kuja Pirates formed one team.

Ron, Whitebeard, Stussy, Kaido, and Ochoku formed another.

The remaining members of the Rocks Pirates formed the third.

"More importantly," Whitebeard said from the middle of the speedboat, leaning against the side with Murakumogiri in one hand as he glanced sideways at Ochoku, "isn't it strange that you were willing to travel with me, Ochoku?"

The original arrangement had been for Ron, Whitebeard, Stussy, and Kaido to ambush the World Government warship rumored to have the weakest combat strength.

But unexpectedly, Ochoku had actually volunteered to travel with Whitebeard.

"Hehehehe." Ochoku sneered a few times, took a bite of pizza, and spoke slowly. "Following those lunatics, I would not get any benefits. But following you... you understand."

He did not spell it out, but the meaning was obvious. Whitebeard had no interest in treasure, while Ron and Kaido were interns who could be fobbed off easily.

The only one who needed a share was Stussy.

Even if they came up empty-handed later, Ochoku did not care. He had not put in much effort anyway; all he had lost was the time it took to eat a few bites of pizza.