Iron Tribe

Ferdinand felt exhausted to the core.

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

Their cooperation had gone well at first. Their somewhat similar childhood experiences gave them a sense of closeness that others did not share.

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 he had grown familiar with Ferdinand, Donquixote Doflamingo revealed the mental state brought on by the trauma of his childhood.

Ferdinand had suffered from insomnia that night. He had only just settled things with Garde, and now his new partner, while not exactly insane, was somewhat crazy and neurotic. It reminded him of someone—a young man wielding twin swords.

Sometimes, Ferdinand thought that it would be interesting if those two met. Unfortunately, one of them had already vanished without a trace.

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

After a roller-coaster of emotions, Ferdinand learned that he was safe for the time being. Miraculously, he had actually managed to soothe that lunatic.

"Werther, what grade of sword do you want forged? 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 to the back of his mind.

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

Although Werther did not know who determined a blade's rank, those blades had undoubtedly been forged by people. They could not have appeared out of thin air.

For someone like Ferdinand, aside from CP9 and Cipher Pol, he could mobilize personnel from other Cipher Pol divisions. While the government's support for him in terms of military strength was merely average, its intelligence support was quite good.

After all, Cipher Pol was the World Government's intelligence department. Without his two identities as a former Celestial Dragon and the current highest administrator of Tutu Island, how could he have the authority to mobilize them? Therefore, Werther felt that Ferdinand was quite likely to know information about the smiths and locations of those famous blades.

"At least Great Grade Blades? In my intelligence, 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 cost about as much as a Devil Fruit, they're far rarer than Devil Fruits in terms of 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 want me to kill some Celestial Dragon who isn't in Mary Geoise right now, I can do that." Werther felt that Ferdinand definitely possessed those rare metals. Otherwise, he would not have mentioned them, since that would only be asking for trouble.

Sweat had already started to bead on Ferdinand's forehead. Brother, it was only some rare metal. Was there really any need to kill a Celestial Dragon? That would draw the attention of a Marine admiral.

At the thought of an admiral, Ferdinand's expression changed. Recalling Werther's earlier words, he thought, Could this guy already be capable of contending with an admiral? Probably not. But his strength was definitely beyond Ferdinand's estimates.

With that thought, Ferdinand became even more confident in the intelligence he had offered regarding the rare metals, and he grew excited about what he was about to obtain.

"Yes, I do have those rare metals, and they're all top-grade. I had originally planned to use them to forge a blade and bribe a 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 it comes to that, you can refuse."

After considering it for a moment, Ferdinand offered Werther a huge 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 matters in the future, Werther wanted to know more about the smithing family. He had some ideas that required information about the family before he could 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 barely be considered names.

"They all begin with the character for iron, followed by a number. If the father is Iron Four, then the son is Iron Forty. But I think those are merely names they use publicly. Some ancient families never reveal their surnames.

"That family has forged two Great Grade Blades and one Supreme Grade Blade, with spans of several centuries between them. It is also said that the family excels at forging cursed blades, 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 him from enemy to friend twice now.

That could probably be considered a talent. Otherwise, how could a banished Celestial Dragon control an island rich in gunpowder and also have 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 to force Rabbit to train in martial arts.

Werther forced Rabbit to train in martial arts almost every day. Rabbit was quite lazy, but under Werther's fists, he still obediently began training every day.

After searching around, he finally found Rabbit. Just as he was about to carry him straight to the deck, he discovered that Rabbit was holding a thick notebook and reading it intently. Rabbit was completely absorbed, sometimes wearing a puzzled expression and sometimes becoming as delighted as a child who had found a new toy.

When Werther drew closer, he realized that the notebook was the medical book Doctor Crocus had once given him. He had thought it looked like a textbook, so he had tossed it onto the bookshelf in the 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 watched Rabbit, trying to determine whether he truly liked it or was merely pretending in order to avoid martial arts 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 left, only Rabbit dared to address Werther by that name.

"Oh? It seems you really do like it. Don't worry. In another dozen days or so, I'll get you enough medical books to keep you reading for a whole year." Werther had discovered Rabbit's hobby and readily agreed.

When it came to something his family liked, of course he would support it with all his strength.