The Forgotten Madman

After connecting the call with Ferdinand, Werther fell silent for a while. After thinking it over, he continued, "Ferdinand, this is Werther. I want to ask you for some information." He took a swig from the bottle, still not in the best mood.

"Oh, Werther? What is it? There's actually information you don't know and need to ask me about? Now I'm curious." Ferdinand was quite surprised that Werther was asking him for intelligence.

In Ferdinand's impression, Werther knew many secrets unknown to others. For example, when Werther had mentioned that Donquixote Doflamingo was also one of the Dragon People, Ferdinand had been shocked. Very few people knew about that.

"My sword broke. I want to know where I can find a good swordsmith." Werther ignored Ferdinand's surprise and got straight to the point.

"That's all? There are plenty of master smiths on Anista Island, not far from Tutu Island." Ferdinand replied casually, almost brushing off Werther's question, as if he did not take him seriously.

"Do you want to die? I need a swordsmith capable of forging a famed blade. Looks like you've had too many comfortable days on Tutu Island. Don't think I wouldn't dare kill you just because you used to be one of the Dragon People. And don't tell me the auction incident had nothing to do with you. Do you really think a killer is that easy to fool?" Werther's tone suddenly turned cold, and even the Den Den Mushi before him seemed frightened.

On the other end of the Den Den Mushi, there was complete silence. Only after a while did Ferdinand's voice sound again.

"Werther, are you threatening me? Do you think Catarina at my side means you can really kill me? You're still too arrogant. If you want to kill me, then come and try. Let's see whether you die or I do."

"Hehehe, hehehe. Do you really think I'm still the same killer I was two years ago? The strong look forward; only the weak cling to what they once saw. Ferdinand, are you strong or weak?

Oh, I forgot to tell you something. I just slaughtered Onigumo. Yes, that Marine. If you think Catarina can stop me from killing you, then wait peacefully for me on Tutu Island." Werther no longer wasted words on Ferdinand after saying that.

From the beginning, Werther had known that this merchant who did "business" was unreliable. Still, he had never expected him to be this unreliable. It seemed that two years had made Ferdinand believe Werther was no longer a threat.

What a businessman. Just as Werther was about to change course and return to Tutu Island to slaughter Ferdinand, the Den Den Mushi rang.

There were several Den Den Mushi in Werther's bedroom, though some of them would never ring again. They had been kept only as mementos. Rabbit often took care of them and seemed able to communicate with them.

Werther looked at the Den Den Mushi. It was Ferdinand's, and a smile curled across his lips. It seemed this businessman was finally afraid.

With a click, he answered the call, and Ferdinand's voice came from the other end.

"You really killed Onigumo? I never expected you to have become so strong after two years apart. Then let's continue discussing the swordsmith matter." Ferdinand seemed to have completely forgotten their earlier unpleasantness and warmly resumed chatting with Werther.

Werther's eye twitched a few times. He had seen shameless people before, but someone who could be shameless so naturally was truly rare.

With that ability to change with the wind alone, Ferdinand could be considered a real talent.

Werther had known from the moment he met this man that when you were strong, he could bring you benefits. But if you became weak, he would definitely be the first to betray you.

"Hehehe, let's not talk about swordsmiths anymore. I'm sailing toward Tutu Island right now. In about ten days, we'll meet again, my old friend. I really want to cut open your skull and see what's going on inside it. And your sister Catarina, too.

"I don't plan to kill her, because I just thought of a good idea. How about selling her to the Dragon People as a slave? I'm sure those 'lampshades' in Mary Geoise would be very interested. After all, she used to be one of the Dragon People too, wasn't she, my friend?" Werther grew more excited as he spoke.

By the end, the Den Den Mushi before Ferdinand once again wore that deranged smile Werther had shown while drinking atop a mountain of corpses at the harbor.

Ferdinand felt a little afraid. He deeply regretted assuming Werther was not that strong simply because he had not made a name for himself on the seas in two years, while Catarina had improved greatly.

So he had let his guard down. His confidence had caused him to make a grave mistake from the start: he had underestimated Werther too much.

Werther said he would kill him and sell Catarina to that "hell," and Ferdinand completely believed him. Once the man before him began fighting, he was nothing but a madman.

Ferdinand was not afraid of death. The day his biological father had driven him out of Mary Geoise, his heart had already died. All that remained was a despicable, shameless Ferdinand who pursued profit above all else. The sunny boy he had once been had long been swallowed by the abyss.

But he would never allow his sister to be harmed, especially not sold to Mary Geoise. Others might not know how miserable the slaves were there, but he did. Male slaves might merely suffer miserably, but for female slaves, that place was pure hell.

It was the most terrifying hell for female slaves. Those perverse Dragon People no longer merely violated them, because they did that every day and had grown tired of it.

No one knew which sick bastard had invented those so-called "entertainments." After those activities began, the consumption rate of female slaves in Mary Geoise increased by more than tenfold. Yes, consumption, like the consumption of everyday goods.

Therefore, Ferdinand would never allow his sister to be sold there.

"Werther, as long as you don't touch my sister, I can give you everything. I had CP investigate you. You're no longer someone I can stop, but for the sake of Catarina having once worked with you, don't treat her like that." Ferdinand's tone was practically pleading.

Werther had not expected this man, who abandoned morality for profit, to care so deeply about his sister. As for what Werther had just said about selling Catarina to Mary Geoise, it had all been nonsense.

Werther might have killed countless people, but he would never sell someone he had once fought alongside as a slave. He had only wanted to scare Ferdinand, yet this guy had been frightened out of his wits and had actually said he would give Werther everything.

That should include his life, right? Werther suddenly became interested in Ferdinand again. The man's fickleness amused him.

"Hehehe, my friend, what nonsense are you talking about? I was just joking with you. Let's continue discussing the swordsmith matter." Werther returned to his usual expression, smiling as he said something that nearly made Ferdinand collapse.