Wilder remained oblivious to these developments. When he awoke, it was already past six in the morning.
After freshening up, Wilder left his room. He needed to head back to Dana's to meet with Ashin's deputy, Korosar. Moreover, the Power Spinach required attention, and the matter of securing an island base was becoming increasingly urgent. A sense of pressing need settled upon Wilder, and he dared not delay any further.
Walking along the street leading to the port, Wilder sensed a peculiar atmosphere. It was unnervingly quiet, as if the entire kingdom were still deep in slumber. Not a single soul could be seen on the streets.
"Has something happened?" Wilder paused. Finally, people appeared ahead, but a single glance told him they were not ordinary citizens of the kingdom.
A group of armed individuals were combing the area, seemingly searching for something. Intermittently, people were dragged from their houses, their faces etched with terror as they were subjected to inspections.
"It seems Doflamingo has made his move," Wilder mused. He had anticipated this moment, though he hadn't expected Doflamingo's response to be quite so swift.
"Good thing I didn't wear that black robe, or I'd be under much greater suspicion." For safety, Wilder had opted for his usual attire today. He had been concerned about Doflamingo's men conducting a covert investigation and had taken this precaution to avoid drawing attention. Unexpectedly, their approach was this direct and overt.
"Still, this is quite troublesome." Wilder could almost picture Doflamingo's expression upon discovering his presence on the island. He would undoubtedly be listed as the prime suspect; after all, Wilder's appearance was far too coincidental. Even if Doflamingo didn't suspect him in this particular matter, knowing Wilder was active in the vicinity would surely heighten his vigilance. The observation on him would definitely intensify, a scenario Wilder wished to avoid.
Before the distant group could spot him, Wilder turned on his heel without hesitation and walked away.
However, after changing direction and walking for some time, Wilder discovered that the entire island had been locked down. Forces loyal to Doflamingo were systematically advancing, sweeping from the perimeter towards the island's center.
"Heh… this is the inherent weakness of small islands and minor kingdoms. One lapse in attention, and you're completely encircled."
Wilder decided to try yet another direction.
"The docks will undoubtedly be heavily guarded, but coastlines unsuitable for docking ships are less likely to have personnel." Wilder wasn't entirely certain, but he was confident that even if there were guards, their numbers would be few.
The journey was fraught with tension but ultimately uneventful. Wilder soon reached a deserted area. Beyond a stretch of overgrown, wild forest lay a coastline littered with numerous hidden reefs. Normal ships couldn't navigate such waters, but Wilder's small boat could pass through with ease.
"Stop!"
"Just as I thought…" Wilder looked up to see five or six low-ranking thugs guarding the coastline. One of them had spotted him immediately, his shout causing the others to turn their attention towards Wilder.
Wilder glanced around, confirming there were no other enemies nearby, before fixing his gaze on the small group.
The men exchanged wary glances and began to approach Wilder cautiously.
Looks like I need to make this quick…
Wilder, who had his head slightly bowed, lifted it a fraction.
Puchi! Puchi! Puchi!
The next second, several razor-sharp swamp spears shot out without warning, impaling the men's bodies.
"You are…" one of them gasped, eyes wide, pointing a trembling finger at Wilder, seemingly having recognized him.
Snap! Wilder's figure flashed, appearing beside the man in an instant. He reached out and twisted, cleanly breaking his neck.
After dispatching the group, Wilder didn't linger. He retrieved the swamp spears embedded in the corpses, quickly made his way to the water's edge, and released his small boat, swiftly departing from the coast.
Five minutes later, a larger contingent of men arrived at the scene. On the desolate shore, only five or six corpses remained. The killer was long gone!
Whoosh! A sound tore through the air as a tall, pink-clad figure descended from the sky. The atmosphere seemed to solidify. The men who had arrived first bowed their heads deeply, not daring to utter a sound.
Doflamingo stood silently, gazing at the bodies on the ground. His face was an icy mask, the veins on his forehead throbbing like fissures of molten lava just before a volcanic eruption. A chilling aura emanated from him, making his subordinates feel as if their bodies were frozen. Tremors of fear rippled through them.
Boom! In the next instant, without any warning, the still figure of Doflamingo suddenly shot into the sky, hurtling towards the distant sea!
"Fuffuffuffuffu…! Whoever it is, just pray I don't catch you…"
...…
Meanwhile, Wilder's small boat, aided by a favorable wind, was rapidly cutting through the waves.
"Knowing Doflamingo's temperament, he'll likely pursue me. It's been nearly ten minutes since I left; they've probably discovered the bodies by now. At my current speed, as long as I maintain the correct course, it's only a matter of time before Doflamingo catches up. Therefore…"
Wilder executed a Moon Walk, launching himself from the small boat. He then released his swamp, engulfing and retracting the vessel.
"Now, it's a contest of stamina."
A smug smile touched Wilder's lips. Regardless, he had nearly a ten-minute head start. Moreover, his own stamina expenditure was only just beginning, whereas Doflamingo had already expended a portion of his.
"Moon Walk!"
Wilder kicked off the air, skimming across the sea's surface at incredible speed. He gradually receded into the distance, his figure shrinking to a small black dot before vanishing over the horizon.
Some time later, Doflamingo, treading on his nearly invisible strings, arrived at the spot where Wilder had taken to the air. His expression was grim as he scanned the surroundings. There was no trace of any boat. Ultimately, he was forced to abandon the pursuit. His stamina was significantly depleted, and with no sign of his quarry, continuing the chase would mean being unable to return.
As if predicting Doflamingo would cease his pursuit, Wilder, once a safe distance away, re-materialized his small boat and continued his journey by sea.
Three hours later, Wilder arrived back at the initial island.
"This mission can be considered a failure. In the end, I still don't know if Diamante actually killed Vassalo or not." Wilder headed straight for Dana's restaurant. He had no intention of using his "Red Demon" identity again anytime soon.
Upon entering the restaurant, Wilder didn't immediately seek out Dana. He hadn't eaten since morning, and his stomach was beginning to protest. He couldn't ignore it any longer.
He casually ordered a few main courses and, pairing them with red wine, savored the meal before finally making his way to Dana's underground chamber.
Since coming under Wilder's sway, Dana rarely made public appearances in the restaurant. She had selected a trustworthy and astute subordinate to act as the manager, entrusting all restaurant affairs—save for those related to intelligence—to this individual.
Upon entering, Wilder first inquired where Dana had quartered the Monitoring Unit personnel. The answer he received was satisfactory.
"You didn't even give me a heads-up! When they first arrived, I thought my enemies had come knocking!" Dana shot Wilder a look laden with coquettish charm, though her body was already pressing against him like an octopus. "Honestly, those men are all so gloomy and difficult to get along with. I've put them up in the backyard; their food and lodging are being taken care of by dedicated staff."
Wilder now possessed a certain degree of resistance to such temptations. He merely sat down with a calm expression. "Are you interested in bringing all the influential powers on this island under your control, with you managing them?"
This question made Dana's eyes light up. Her lifelong ambition was to strengthen and expand her father's enterprise. It was precisely for this reason that she had attached herself to Wilder's rising power. How could she not be interested?
"I want to!" In her excitement, Dana's usually articulate speech faltered slightly, but it hardly mattered.
Wilder continued, "However, to gain this, you must first demonstrate your capabilities to me."
"Capabilities? Does this count?" Dana paused for a moment, then smiled enchantingly. Her body slowly began to transform, morphing into a slug. It was the color of white jade, exquisitely beautiful.
"A Zoan type?" Wilder had always been curious about Dana's abilities but had never asked. He hadn't expected something so… surprising. "Animals of this nature rarely seem to manifest as Devil Fruit abilities. From what I've seen and heard, they're usually mammals, or creatures with red blood, fur, or scales. I've never heard of insects, mollusks, or invertebrates appearing as such."
"Mm-hm," the slug emitted Dana's voice. Its body wriggled, slowly transforming back into her human form. "This is my ability: Zoan, Ancient Species, Slug-Slug Fruit."
Wilder nodded. That certainly counted as an ability, though the capabilities he had in mind encompassed more than just Devil Fruit powers.
"So, am I qualified?" Dana looked at Wilder, her eyes filled with anticipation, hoping for an affirmative answer.
"As a leader, in addition to your competence in handling affairs, your martial strength must also surpass that of your subordinates. Tomorrow, I will test your practical combat skills. We'll discuss it further then."
With that, Wilder rose and left the room, leaving a disappointed Dana behind. He still needed to meet with the Monitoring Unit and certainly had no time for frivolous distractions.
After traversing the underground corridor, Wilder arrived directly at the backyard.
The wooden door of a bungalow stood open. The main hall within was dimly lit and very quiet. A group of young people, all dressed in identical uniforms, sat cross-legged on tatami mats in disciplined rows, seemingly practicing their concentration.
Wilder's footsteps alerted those in the hall. One of them, upon seeing Wilder, reacted immediately, rising quickly and coming to the door to greet him.
"Boss."
"Boss."
All of them spoke in unison. Their voices and expressions were calm, yet the respect emanating from their hearts was undeniably profound.
"Monitoring Unit Vice-Captain Korosar, leading the First Battalion of the Monitoring Unit, reporting to you, sir!" A young man—the eldest among them, though still only in his early twenties, with a resolute face and a sharp crew cut—stepped forward and delivered a crisp, serious salute to Wilder.
This was a set of rules Wilder had established. In this world of lax conventions, such a sense of ceremony was truly unique.
Wilder nodded and solemnly returned the salute.
"You've all worked hard." Wilder always paid meticulous attention to appearances and was never stingy with words of appreciation for his subordinates. His warm smile engendered a sense of acknowledgment and touched those who were meeting their legendary boss for the first time.
What a good person!What a good boss! These were the heartfelt sentiments of everyone present.
Even Wilder himself felt a similar sensation at that moment, though he had never denied being a friendly and good person. But this feeling had never been quite so intense.
"Korosar, I need your unit to gather intelligence throughout the New World on all islands that meet our specified objectives. This assignment is temporary. Once a suitable island is found, you will return to your regular duties."
"Additionally, I need you to investigate a certain group. These individuals once appeared in the Sabaody Archipelago and conducted surveillance on me. I suspect they originate from the New World. I cannot provide you with much valuable information on this; you will have to rely on your own resources."
"For now, these two tasks are your primary objectives. If any urgent needs arise, I will notify you separately. Are you confident you can accomplish this?"
"Yes, sir!" Korosar replied firmly.
Wilder nodded, a satisfied smile gracing his lips. "Good!"
"Also, you've all met Dana, haven't you?"
"We have, sir," they all responded, their faces impassive.
"Good. Dana is, in a way, my second secretary, and she is an expert in intelligence matters. Consult with her; you can collaborate on certain tasks. If you deem it feasible, you can even propose to me that Dana's operations and yours be consolidated into a single entity."
"You've just arrived in the New World. For your initial familiarization, you can go directly to Dana. She possesses a wealth of intelligence that will be beneficial to your work."
"Understood. Thank you, Boss," Korosar said. He possessed a degree more affability than Ashin; Wilder, at least, had never heard Ashin utter a word of thanks.
Wilder clapped him on the shoulder and then gave a nod and a smile to the numerous young men standing behind him, a gesture conveying the weight of the responsibility he was entrusting to them. Having reaped a fresh wave of appreciation and loyalty, Wilder turned and departed.
"Next up is the Science and Development Department." Lying on Dana's warm bed, Wilder decided to bring the Science and Development Department to the New World ahead of schedule.
His original plan had been to wait until a base island was secured before gradually relocating all departments, including Science and Development. But now, having unexpectedly obtained a potential game-changer like the Power Spinach, Wilder couldn't afford to wait.
Partly, it was his own impatience, and partly, it was the fear that the Power Spinach itself couldn't wait. He wasn't sure how long the plants would last stored in his swamp space; after all, they were just vegetables, not animals or inanimate objects. He worried the spinach might spoil before he found a suitable island.
With this thought, Wilder delayed no further. He immediately dialed Jesse's Den Den Mushi.
After a few rings, the call connected.
"Bo… Boss?" Jesse's somewhat timid voice came through, a stark contrast to the misplaced confidence he had exuded when they first met. Wilder had clearly become an indelible shadow in his mind.
"Mm, Jesse. Make preparations. Notify the other scientific personnel. You're all heading to the New World." With Jesse, Wilder was much more direct, dispensing even with basic pleasantries or feigned concern for a subordinate.
"Ah… Ah?!" Jesse nearly collapsed upon hearing this news. If Wilder was an inescapable shadow in his mind, then the New World was much the same. He was utterly averse to the idea of going there.
"I… I understand, Boss. You absolutely must send people to protect me!" Though resistant, Jesse knew he couldn't defy the order. After a moment to compose himself, he pleaded anxiously.
Wilder directly ended the call. He would have arranged for protection even if Jesse hadn't asked. He was well aware of the dangers involved in journeying from the East Blue to the New World. Jesse himself was somewhat durable, being a formidable opponent unless faced with Armament Haki users—his fighting ability wasn't weak, just his courage—so he possessed some capacity for self-preservation.
The other scientists, however, were ordinary people, physically frail enough that even a cat could potentially kill them. Wilder had no intention of seeing these precious and fragile talents lose so much as a single hair. Therefore, protection was an absolute necessity.
After a moment of thought, Wilder decided to dispatch that person to escort the scientific personnel to the New World, along with two additional members from his executive-level cadres who were top-tier combatants.