World's Banquet (3/5)

Under the silent intimidation of Longinus's soul, Charles unwittingly poured out what he knew.

After that, Charles asked, still intent, "By the way, brother, what are you planning to give World-sama as a congratulatory gift?"

"Captain Charles is so well-informed, he should know about World-sama's near-failure in his escape two years ago, right?" Longinus asked with a smile.

"This is a taboo matter for World-sama, and I only know a little about it, but it seems that a marine nearly captured World-sama while he was weak and frail."

Charles was now not forgetting to show his loyalty and said, "That marine must be a despicable villain, or else World-sama wouldn't have brought that incident to shame!"

Longinus narrowed his eyes and said kindly, "I was just going to give that marine message to World-sama as a gift, what does Captain Charles think of the gift?"

"Oh!" Charles exclaimed, "I didn't realize you were so lucky to have such a chip in your hand, brother!"

"World-sama has always been bold and generous, perhaps it's not even out of the question to let you serve directly as a cadre for the sake of this gift." Charles said, not without envy.

"If Captain Charles would help with the introduction, there will be a share of that credit for you, Captain, then, won't there?"

"Ahahahaha! I'll take care of such trivial matters!"

It was after Longinus had left that Charles threw back his head and whispered to himself in a slightly surprised voice, "Strange, why am I so enthusiastic about a guy I'm meeting for the first time? Is it because the fear I was scared of before hasn't completely dissipated?"

"Never mind, it's an unintentional gain," Charles looked towards Longinus' departing back and smiled gloomily, "A guy from nowhere also wants to get on World-sama's lap? It doesn't matter."

"When the time comes, as long as I operate casually, this credit will be mine." Charles thought with longing, whirling to himself, "I seem to have forgotten to ask the guy's name, never mind, it's just a stepping stone, no need to pay too much attention to it."

...

Calm seas, cadre ships of varying styles, and flowing mass-produced foundation ships sailed the seas.

"Katakuri nii-san, does Mama really intend to support Waldo in filling the last piece of the New World puzzle?" Despite possessing the bloodline of the Longleg Tribe, Smoothie was a little shorter than Katakuri and could only gaze up and say.

"I don't think Mama thought much of it, perhaps, but was simply interested in World's gift." Katakuri wrapped his arms around her and said in a low voice.

"So." Smoothie whispered, whirling with curiosity, "Did World actually catch a living griffin? I've heard it's a very proud creature with a rigid temperament, like the griffin Mama used to catch that just killed itself."

"Right." Katakuri nodded, "Waldo found two griffins, one large and one small, and maybe, there's some connection to the one Mama used to catch."

"The large griffin, having been captured, and seeing no hope of escape, soon committed suicide, and as for the little one, before he could do so, World knocked him out and fed him the devil fruit."

"Naturally, a griffin chained to a Kairoseki can't even commit suicide and is left in World's custody."

"So that's it." Smoothie nodded, then sighed, "I don't know where this fantasy creature came from, but if we can take in this griffin, it might be able to lead us to the place of origin of such creatures."

"It's just an illusory rumor, but if there was a place like that, it would only be comparable to Elbaff, where the Giants are."

...

Three days later, the passenger ship finally arrived at the Precious Beast Island.

"In two days' time, it will be the day when World-sama holds a banquet, and not only World-sama's affiliated pirates, but also the big names from the BIG MOM pirates will attend."

Charles smiled falsely, "So, make sure you have your information ready and come back to me in two days, I won't be able to get you in if I miss the time."

"That would be a problem for Captain Charles."

Just as the two were making a false move, a shout came from the distance.

"Charles!"

At Charles' words, he turned to look, spun around, and bowed in awe, "Sebastian-sama."

He is a man with a mace in his hand, a hybrid of Fishman and the Giant, a surviving member of World Pirates more than a decade ago.

"Charles, did you bring everything?" Sebastien asked coldly.

"Supplies and arms have been brought, would you like to take a personal check?"

"No, I don't think you've got the guts to play us!"

"That's, that's." Charles asked quietly, rubbing his palms together, "Sebastian-sama, in Den Den Mushi the day before yesterday, it was mentioned that Akagami Shanks had challenged World-sama, I wonder what the current battle situation is ..."

Sebastian's brow furrowed, and instinctively he wanted to refuse. However, after some consideration, he said, "Of course the captain won a great victory, it's still too early for a new age brat to challenge the order of pirates."

Charles couldn't be more pleased with himself and said, "I already knew that World-sama's strength was definitely not comparable to that kind of lucky kid."

Longinus was standing farther away, but his Kenbunshoku-enhanced hearing was still hearing the conversation between the two men word for word.

"World beat Akagami, the guy's got some bragging rights!" Naturally, Longinus was a hundred times less convinced of Sebastian's claim.

"The anxiety he showed at the beginning can't be faked, even some of the supplies and armaments required a person at the level of a senior cadre to come over and personally inspect them. It seems that the World Pirates are in even worse shape than I had expected."

"As for the defeat of the Red Hair Pirates?" Longinus closed his eyes and listened intently to the thoughts around him, "So that's how it was. The World Pirates had already been retreating, but it was good that reinforcements from the BIG MOM Pirates arrived at the last minute and combined the strength of the two families to repel Akagami's attack."

"What else is going on?" Seeing that Charles looked like he was going to stop talking, Sebastian asked impatiently.

"Sebastian-sama, will the banquet ... still be held as scheduled in three days?" Charles asked probingly.

"Of course you will." Sebastian snapped, "The threat of a brat isn't worth the effort, and if he shows up, I'll make his red hair turn to blood if he tries!"