Adams Pirates

Adams looked at Lucci first.

"Your task is to build an intelligence network first, then investigate the five great families of the West Blue underworld. I want a map of all their business holdings, as detailed as possible."

Wiping out the five great families? To him, that would be no more troublesome than crushing a few ants.

What he wanted was not their worthless heads.

It was the vast businesses and wealth they had accumulated over decades of dominating the West Blue underworld.

Lucci did not even raise his eyelids. He merely squeezed out a brief sound through his nose:

"Understood."

Adams turned his gaze to the long-nosed boy.

"From now on, you only need to diligently practice the Six Powers, especially Rankyaku."

Adams had no special arrangements for the still-young Kaku. He only needed him to train himself properly.

Kaku stood perfectly straight, competitiveness flashing in his eyes:

"Yes, I'll work hard!"

Adams looked toward the blonde girl, who habitually adjusted her glasses.

"Starting today, you will learn how to handle financial statements and how to become a qualified secretary. I'll find you books on the subject."

He did not expect Kalifa to achieve much in combat. A capable secretary was his only expectation of her.

Kalifa's gaze sharpened behind her lenses, carrying the focus of someone studying a research subject:

"Understood. I'll master it as soon as possible."

Adams's gaze shifted to the next person—Daz Bones, silent as a rock.

He had just opened his mouth to issue an order when a small hand gently tugged at his trouser leg.

He lowered his head.

At some point, Perona had slipped over from behind Kumashi. Enduring the lingering stench in the air, she raised her little face, her large eyes full of longing and determination:

"Big Brother Adams! I want to do something for you too. I'm not a little kid who only knows how to hide."

Adams looked at her earnest little face, and an almost imperceptible softness passed through the depths of his eyes. He bent down, his massive figure enveloping the small girl, a smile of encouragement curving his lips:

"All right. Since you want to help, why not see whether your little ghosts can affect other people's emotions? For example, make enemies feel negative, or... make friends braver?"

He paused and pointed at the giant teddy bear behind Perona.

"If you manage it, I'll let Kumashi... speak and keep you company. How about that?"

Kumashi was the name of Perona's toy bear. Although she had never met Moria, she had still given the toy bear Adams prepared for her that name.

That toy bear was a mud soldier wrapped in a cloth sack and dressed in a doll costume. Adams could selectively grant a certain degree of intelligence to these creations of his ability.

"I'll definitely do it!"

Perona jumped up in delight, her pink twin ponytails tracing cheerful arcs through the air.

Adams straightened, the smile fading from his face. His gaze returned to Daz Bones, standing still like a blade, as he issued a cold order steeped in iron and blood:

"Your task is to eliminate some wanted criminals in the West Blue and make money for the organization."

Adams had no intention of becoming a bounty hunter. He had assigned this task only to fleece the World Government before a bounty was placed on him. After all, once he became wanted, he would no longer be able to collect bounties.

"As ordered."

Daz Bones's voice was just like the man himself—without the slightest fluctuation, carrying only the sharpness of a blade leaving its sheath.

Finally, Adams's gaze fell on Stussy. The stunning woman was leaning elegantly against a dining table, a slender ladies' cigarette held between her fingers. Smoke curled upward, obscuring the emotions in her eyes.

"Your task is to assist Lucci in building the intelligence network."

Because of Vegapunk, Adams trusted Stussy enough that he did not worry about betrayal. However, he had not fully let down his guard around Lucci.

Besides, it would be far too wasteful to keep someone with T0 intelligence-gathering ability like Lucci hidden away.

So, he chose to place an observer as a safeguard.

The reason he stated it openly rather than doing it covertly was that Adams had learned from the historical lessons in his memories from his previous life. Planting an observer in secret could lead to enormous backlash.

Any control that needed to be maintained through lies and shadows implied the manager's own incompetence. That false sense of security would eventually become a fire that devoured the organization.

Upon hearing the order, Lucci gave Adams a meaningful look but said nothing more.

Stussy's fingers holding the cigarette paused almost imperceptibly. A wisp of ash drifted down soundlessly.

For the first time, an unmistakable trace of surprise flashed through the depths of her seductive eyes. She had not expected this young man before her to have the nerve to say something like that openly.

In the end, the surprise in her eyes slowly settled, transforming into a profound look of renewed appraisal.

She slowly exhaled a smoke ring, her red lips curving into a formulaic smile:

"I have no objections to that task, but..."

She changed the subject, her gaze sweeping across everyone in the dining hall.

"What exactly is the nature of our organization now? A gang, a pirate crew, or something else?"

Everyone's eyes focused on Adams at that question.

Adams looked around, baring his teeth in a sharp smile filled with the arrogance to stir the winds and clouds.

"Naturally, a pirate crew. What we do will sooner or later be printed on wanted posters and branded with the label of pirates. Rather than wait for them to put that label on us, we might as well claim it first."

He suddenly stepped forward, his body like a mountain rising from the earth, radiating unquestionable pressure.

"As for the name... we'll be called the Adams Pirates."

TO BE CONTINUED