"What exactly is going on? Tell me clearly and quickly."
Upon hearing that one of the operation's behind-the-scenes bosses—the head of logistics—was in trouble, Jon was alarmed.
The underground food business was his primary source of income. If something went wrong, not only would he lose his funds, but his position could also be jeopardized. Of course, he wanted to know what had happened.
Lucien sighed before finally explaining, "It's actually not that complicated. Someone reported that old man."
"He was reported? Was it because of our operation?" Jon's expression was filled with suspicion.
"No, it wasn't because of our business. It was something else he did—also pretty serious. This time, he likely won't be able to keep his position. Chances are, he'll be forced to step down."
Lucien's tone was filled with resentment as he continued, "Precisely because he knows he's about to lose everything, he's going all in. He's using our operation to blackmail us for a payout. If we don't pay up, he'll report every detail—everything from start to finish—to the Marshal and the World Government."
At that moment, Pemberton's uncle angrily added, "That greedy old bastard! He's trying to extort us one last time. If it were just one or two billion berries, maybe we could swallow it, but do you know how much he's asking for?"
"How much?" Jon asked.
"One hundred billion berries!"
"Excuse me?"
Jon had to ask again, unable to believe what he'd just heard.
"You heard right—one hundred billion berries," Lucien confirmed.
"He's insane," Jon muttered, his face growing dark. Even he couldn't produce that kind of money.
They had been running this business for a few years, but to minimize risk, the shipments had never been massive. Even with scattered use of his earnings, Jon didn't have a hundred billion berries in savings.
That figure was outrageous. For context, even a top-tier Devil Fruit like the Op-Op Fruit was valued by the World Government at just fifty billion berries.
"He's not insane—he's as shrewd as ever. He knows we can't afford that kind of money, so this demand is actually directed at you. I'm just the messenger," Lucien said.
Jon gave a crooked smile. "So he's looking to extort me personally, huh? First time in two lives someone's dared to try that."
"What are you guys planning to do?"
Jon knew Lucien and the others wouldn't sit still and accept this.
"He's trying to blackmail us right before stepping down. If he pisses me off, this operation we've built goes up in smoke," Jon said.
Over the years, their black-market dealings had spread far and wide. Even within Marine Headquarters, many had a hand in it. Others depended on this network to survive.
If the operation collapsed, it would create massive turmoil—too big for anyone to handle. Especially for core figures like Lucien, the stakes were even higher.
Lucien said grimly, "We don't have the money. Even with your savings, it's not enough. The only way to raise that kind of cash quickly would be a large-scale push—but that would be incredibly risky. Everyone's gotten used to stability. No one wants to gamble now."
Pemberton's uncle chimed in, "Exactly. We have enough supply chains and manpower as it is. Sure, people want to make more money, but above all else, they value their safety. Nobody wants to get exposed. It's still a criminal operation after all, and if we're found out, the consequences will be severe."
Jon understood. Everyone involved had much to lose if exposed—status, career, even their freedom.
"So if you won't risk it… you're saying you'll pay him?"
Jon narrowed his eyes. He doubted Lucien would surrender so easily.
"Pay him? Hell no!" Lucien snapped. "That bastard's gone too far. If we give in now, who's to say he won't come back for more later? We can't let him get away with this."
Jon nodded slowly. "So, if you're not paying, then what are we doing here? What are you proposing?"
Lucien paused, then uttered one cold word: "Kill."
Jon's eyes narrowed sharply. He leaned forward, staring at Lucien. "You're serious?"
"Very," Lucien replied firmly.
"Is this just your idea, or does everyone agree?"
Lucien scoffed. "Do you think anyone's happy about being extorted like this? Everyone's fed up with him."
Jon listened as Lucien laid it out.
"You know how this business works. As the mastermind, you take 30% of the cut—even that's kind of a loss for you. But do you realize how much that old bastard's been pocketing? Another 30%! Same as you, for doing nothing! And that's not all—he wanted more but backed off when everyone refused to yield. Now, he knows he's on the way out and is trying to cash in one last time."
Jon tapped the table as thoughts raced through his mind.
Killing a Marine Vice Admiral would shake the world.
"You actually plan to do it?" he asked.
Lucien nodded. "We've talked it over. He's left us no choice. We tried negotiating—he won't budge. He's demanding the full hundred billion. We're out of options."
"You do realize how risky this is. If you're caught, the consequences…"
Lucien interrupted, "We know. But it's this or be ruined."
Jon was silent for a while. These people really had been pushed into a corner.
"You have a plan?"
Lucien sighed. "We've thought about it, but the old fox is too cautious. He won't leave HQ. We can't touch him there."
Attacking within HQ was a death sentence.
"He's probably suspicious already. He's isolating himself, not seeing anyone. He's begun withdrawing his people. He's been in power for over twenty years—he knows the system better than any of us."
Jon sighed again. Lucien and the others had been completely outplayed. Desperate, they had turned to him.
And now Jon had a choice: risk everything to save the empire he built—or let it all collapse.
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