Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, two months passed.
December, 1515.
Since the second Sky Island Gold transport ship was robbed two months ago, six more had been plundered in succession.
A total of eight transport ships, without exception, had no survivors!
The gold and silver treasures on board were looted, and the slaves destined for the Celestial Dragons were lost without a trace, dead or alive.
This incident caused a worldwide sensation!
All major forces were keeping a close eye on this matter, even the Pirate Emperors had been drawn to it.
It was like a serialized drama, with continuous reports appearing daily in the World Economic News.
…
New World, Dressrosa Kingdom.
The royal palace's open-air swimming pool.
Donquixote Doflamingo, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, basked in the sun, a low chuckle escaping his lips:
"Fufufu… those five old geezers must be in a panic now. What a comical reality."
As a former member of their ranks, he had also plundered more than one Sky Island Gold transport ship.
If it weren't for his Celestial Dragon identity, Doflamingo wouldn't dare to do such a thing.
"Behebehe… Capone Bege, this man has actually managed to stay out of capture for so long. What a remarkable man." His subordinate, Trebol, let out a strange laugh, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
"Are you an idiot? How could it be Capone Bege? This guy was just a Mafia boss before. Someone is backing him!"
Doflamingo narrowed his eyes, his lips curling into a sneer. "The Sky Island Gold transport ship route is classified information. To be able to carry out multiple precise attacks, there must be corresponding intelligence."
"Dofla, are you saying there's a traitor in the government?"
"Of course! We were able to do it because I was a Celestial Dragon back then, so I could get accurate information. What does Capone Bege have? A hundred percent, there's a traitor!"
Doflamingo asserted with certainty, "As for who it is… Fufufu, who knows? How long will this good show last? It's truly exciting."
…
Shihon Town.
Temporary Navy Garrison.
Grand Banquet Hall of the Resort Hotel.
"The eighth one! Three days ago, the eighth Sky Island Gold transport ship was robbed!"
"This kind of mess, as the highest commander of this operation, I can't escape responsibility!"
"The Gorosei gave me a month, but it's already been two months..."
The spacious banquet hall had been transformed into a Navy meeting space.
In the middle, Tsuru's face was heavy, her gaze sweeping over the assembled officers.
Over the past two months, with the escalation of the situation, she had been forced to draft troops from the various West Sea branches.
Now, there were over forty Navy Captains, sixty-odd warships, and a combined force of over thirty thousand men!
However!
With such a large force, they couldn't catch a single pirate crew!
The Captains in attendance sat in silence, each one keeping their head down.
"Every time, we're either too late or the other side accurately intercepts the transport ship's route. This is an incredibly unreasonable situation!"
Tsuru narrowed her eyes, her words measured. "I don't want to overcomplicate things, but at this point, I have to suspect something."
The Captains had a premonition that it wasn't just Tsuru; even they had their suspicions.
"The Sky Island Gold route is classified information. Our Navy actions are also confidential. Confidential information...where did it start to leak out?"
Tsuru's eyes were sharp, her gaze sweeping over each officer one by one.
"Vice Admiral, do you mean..." One branch Captain tentatively spoke, "From this meeting room?"
"That's right! I don't want to think this way, but I have to assume it!"
Tsuru snorted angrily, gritting her teeth, "We've got a traitor amongst us!"
An uproar.
The meeting room erupted in chaos.
Eric sat calmly, his posture straight, exuding the air of an Admiral.
This traitor business… wasn't it obvious?
When he chose to commit these crimes repeatedly, he had anticipated this scene unfolding.
"No one leaves this meeting room until we catch this traitor!"
Tsuru let out an angry laugh, "I'm speaking directly to you, traitor. If you confess yourself, you might receive a lighter sentence!"
Who would believe that… Eric couldn't help but laugh in his heart.
Confess and get a lighter sentence, but spend your life behind bars.
Resist and receive a harsher punishment, but you can go home for the holidays.
The meeting room was in an uproar, finally settling down after a shout of silence from Tsuru.
"Vice Admiral, how are we going to find this traitor?"
The branch Captain who had spoken earlier asked hesitantly.
The fear was that this kind of thing, being a soldier, earning a living, being a soldier, earning a living, everyone who had reached the rank of Captain, not many had clean records.
If they started an internal investigation due to the traitor issue, a good portion of the people present would be finished.
Which branch Captain didn't take a bit of extra pay?
There were certainly clean people, but they were few and far between.
As for the corruption within the West Sea officers, Tsuru, a headquarters Vice Admiral, naturally didn't know. This kind of thing wasn't rare in headquarters either, she could guess a little.
"Don't worry, it's just an investigation into the traitor. Other issues are not my concern!"
As soon as these words were spoken, several branch Captains secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Thus, the atmosphere returned to normal, and everyone began to brainstorm, searching for the traitor.
You have your methods, I have my schemes. The branch Captains vied to impress Tsuru with their ideas.
Tsuru simply watched coldly, actually, she already had several targets in mind for the traitor.
At this moment, the meeting room door was suddenly pushed open.
"No need to argue."
Hearing the sound of the door opening, dozens of pairs of eyes looked up instantly, their faces revealing astonishment.
"Aokiji Admiral!" Tsuru was startled. "You've been out of sight this whole time. I thought you had returned to headquarters."
"Went to investigate something."
Aokiji lazily replied, walking straight to the main seat in the meeting room. Tsuru, well aware of her position, stood up to make way.
"Let's set aside the traitor issue for now. I have a few questions for you."
Aokiji sat down without a second thought, his posture relaxed as he crossed his legs, but his gaze was fixed on Eric.
Seeing this, Eric raised his eyebrows in surprise, speaking aloud:
"Aokiji Admiral, are you asking me?"
"That's right, Prodemore Eric!"
Aokiji's tone remained languid. "Half a year ago, on the day you first arrived in Shihon Town, you witnessed a group of Mafia chasing a woman. Later, that Mafia group died, but that woman disappeared."
He paused there, speaking frankly,
"Where's Nico Robin?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the whole place was stunned.
What was this?
Nico Robin? That name sounded familiar, wasn't she a wanted criminal?
Demon Child, Nico Robin!
The survivor of Ohara!
After a brief moment of confusion, the Captains, one by one, remembered, their eyes widening in shock as they looked at Eric.
"Ah… it finally came."
Eric sighed, knowing this day would come, but he hadn't expected it so quickly.
The Sky Island Gold hadn't been exposed, but Robin had.
"You really know!" Aokiji narrowed his eyes, his tone hardening slightly, "Tell me, I'll give you a chance to explain."
"Explain?"
Eric shook his head with a wry smile, then the smile disappeared, his eyes became like water, and his aura suddenly changed, no longer the "aging" headquarters Captain nearing his end, but the mastermind behind everything.
"I, have no need to explain to you."