Iron Tribe

Ferdinand felt exhausted to the core.

Two years ago, after using Werther to deal with the Furious Lion Pirate Crew, he had successfully established contact with Donquixote Doflamingo.

Their cooperation had gone smoothly at first. Their somewhat similar childhood experiences had given them a sense of closeness that others could not understand.

But after spending more time together, Ferdinand discovered that Donquixote Doflamingo was also a lunatic. Although he usually seemed perfectly normal, during one conversation, perhaps because they had become so familiar with each other, Donquixote Doflamingo revealed the mental state brought about by the trauma of his childhood.

Ferdinand had suffered from insomnia that night. He had only just managed to settle Garde, and now this new partner, while not exactly insane, was somewhat mad and neurotic. It reminded him of someone—a young man carrying two swords.

Sometimes, Ferdinand thought that it would be interesting if those two ever met. Unfortunately, one of them had already vanished into obscurity.

And now, something even more unfortunate had happened. That madman named Werther had contacted him, and Ferdinand had judged him according to his usual habits.

After an emotional roller coaster, Ferdinand realized that he was safe for the time being. Miraculously, he had managed to soothe that madman.

"Werther, what level of sword do you want forged? You should know that finding a good smith alone won't be enough. You'll also need good materials." Ferdinand slipped into business mode, as if tossing all his unpleasant emotions behind him.

"At least the level of the 21 Great Grade Blades. It would be even better if it could be a Supreme Grade Blade." If Werther merely wanted an ordinary sword forged, why would he have sought out Ferdinand?

Although Werther did not know who determined the grades of blades, those blades had definitely been forged by people. They could not have appeared out of thin air.

As for someone like Ferdinand, aside from CP9 and Cipher Pol, he could mobilize personnel from other Cipher Pol divisions. The Government's support for him in terms of military strength was mediocre, but its intelligence support was excellent.

After all, Cipher Pol was the World Government's intelligence agency. Without his two identities as a former Dragon Person and the current highest administrator of Tutu Island, how could he possibly have the authority to mobilize them? Therefore, Werther felt that Ferdinand likely knew the information and locations of the craftsmen who forged those famous blades.

“At least Great Grade Blades, huh? As far as I know, only one family possesses that kind of skill. I currently have business dealings with their family head, so I can have them forge a sword for you. But do you have the materials? Forging a Great Grade Blade or a Supreme Grade Blade requires extremely rare metals. While those metals only cost about as much as a Devil Fruit, they are far rarer than Devil Fruits in quantity.” It seemed that, because of Werther's strength, Ferdinand was temporarily leaning toward Werther's side.

"Oh? Since you brought it up, it seems you have a way. What do you want? Even if you asked me to kill some Dragon Person outside Mary Geoise right now, I could do it." Werther felt that Ferdinand definitely had those rare metals. Otherwise, he would not have mentioned them. That would have just been asking for trouble.

Sweat had already begun to bead on Ferdinand's forehead. Brother, they were just rare metals. Was there really any need to kill a Dragon Person? That would bring in a Marine Admiral.

At the thought of an Admiral, Ferdinand's expression changed. Recalling what Werther had said earlier, he thought, Could this guy already be capable of contending with an Admiral? Probably not. But his strength is definitely beyond my estimates.

With that thought, Ferdinand became even more confident in proposing the rare metals, and he grew excited over what he was about to receive.

"Yes, I do have those rare metals, and they're all top-grade. I originally planned to use them to forge a blade and bribe some Marine officer with it.

Werther, I can give you these rare metals right now, but when I need it, you must help me do one thing. Don't worry, I won't send you to your death. If that's what it comes to, you can refuse." After considering it, Ferdinand offered Werther an enormous temptation.

"Fine. Contact me with a Den Den Mushi when the time comes. I'm heading to Tutu Island now. Tell me about that forging family." Compared to some future matter, Werther wanted to know more about that family of smiths. He had a few ideas, but he needed information about the family to determine whether they were feasible.

"I don't know that family's surname either, because they never reveal it to outsiders. Their names are also very strange—they can't really be called names.

All of them begin with the word Iron, followed by a number. If the father is Iron Four, then the son would be Iron Forty. But I think those are merely names they use outside the family. Some ancient families never reveal their surnames.

That family once forged two Great Grade Blades and one Supreme Grade Blade, spanning several centuries. It is also said that they are especially skilled at forging Cursed Swords, though they have never admitted it themselves." Ferdinand introduced the forging family to Werther.

The two spoke for a long time before Werther finally hung up the Den Den Mushi.

As if he had thought of something amusing, Werther suddenly laughed. Ferdinand had turned enemies into friends with him twice already.

That should count as a talent, shouldn't it? Otherwise, how could an exiled Dragon Person control an island rich in gunpowder and possess the authority to request intelligence from Cipher Pol?

Werther turned the ship toward Tutu Island, activated automatic navigation, and prepared to go to the deck and force Rabbit to train in Hand-to-Hand Combat.

Werther forced Rabbit to practice Hand-to-Hand Combat almost every day. Rabbit was very lazy, but under Werther's fists, Rabbit still obediently began training every day.

After searching around, he finally found Rabbit. Just as he was about to drag Rabbit straight onto the deck, he discovered that Rabbit was holding a large notebook and reading it with intense focus. Confusion occasionally appeared on Rabbit's face, while at other times Rabbit was as delighted as a child who had discovered a new toy.

After approaching, Werther realized that this notebook was the medical book Doctor Crocus had once given him. Since it looked like a textbook to him, he had tossed it onto the bookshelf in his bedroom.

He had not expected Rabbit to be interested in it. He did not know whether Rabbit could understand it.

"Rabbit, can you really understand it? What, do you like medical books?" Werther carefully examined Rabbit, trying to determine whether Rabbit truly liked it or was merely pretending in order to avoid Hand-to-Hand Combat training.

Rabbit nodded rapidly, then wrote a note.

"I really like it, but there are some parts I don't understand. It's so frustrating. Al, help me get more medical books. I've discovered that I really like medicine."

Al was Rabbit's special name for Werther. In this world, aside from the few people who had already departed, only Rabbit dared to call Werther by that name.

"Oh? Looks like you really do like it. Don't worry. In a dozen or so days, I'll get you enough medical books that you won't be able to finish them in a year." Werther happily agreed after discovering Rabbit's hobby.

Of course he would do everything he could to support something his family liked.