Organ Islands.
Sanemi sat alone in the meeting room, stacks of papers cluttering the entire oval table. The candlelight flickered across his face, highlighting the exhaustion hidden beneath his calm expression.
He leaned back, eyes shifting to the translucent screen that hovered before him.
[System Objectives]
2. Recruit Talent
• Objective: Secure at least 2 skilled subordinates (manager, fighter, craftsman).
• Status: Complete
• Reward: Unlock [Corporate Talent System].
Sanemi exhaled slowly, a light smile on his face. He had forgotten to claim this.
The text shimmered before his eyes, then shifted.
Reward Claimed: Corporate Talent System
[The Wayne Group is no longer a lone venture.
You now possess the means to identify, cultivate, and maximize human potential.
Talent builds empires. Without it, even wealth turns to dust.]
Corporate Talent System Unlocked!
The system interface transformed, branching into new menus that felt more intricate.
New Functions:
Talent Appraisal – View natural strengths, weaknesses, and loyalty levels of your subordinates.
Talent Cultivation – Assign resources, training, or mentorship to improve abilities over time.
Synergy Report – Gain insights into how employees work together for maximum efficiency.
Corporate Influence – Earn Influence Points as talents grow, unlock Wayne Group-wide bonuses.
Sanemi leaned forward, intrigued, as faint lines of light stretched across the table, displaying miniature profiles of his closest people.
[Employee Appraisal: Liora]
• Role: Executive Assistant
• Loyalty: A- (Stable)
• Talent: A (Administration), B (Negotiation), C (Leadership), A (Economics)
• Potential: S
[Employee Appraisal: Seb]
• Role: Field Operative
• Loyalty: B+ (Solid)
• Talent: A (Combat), C (Tactics), D (Team Management)
• Potential: A
Sanemi's grin widened. So this is what it means…
He tapped the screen, pulling up the newly acquired merchants from Shells Town and Loguetown. Their names, ranks, and talents flickered into view. Some were disappointingly average, but a few stood out like gems hidden in dirt.
It didn't take long before Sanemi called Liora, instructing her that the hidden gems he had just uncovered would be summoned to headquarters for proper training.
With that handled, he mentally closed the system interface and let out a long, tired breath. For once, he allowed himself a rare moment of idleness, leaning back in his chair.
Knock. Knock.
The sound pulled him from his thoughts.
"Come in," he said flatly, stifling a yawn.
The door swung open, and to his surprise, Seb finally stepped inside. But he wasn't alone. Behind him stood a man with a wolfish grin, eyes sharp even beneath his casual slouch.
Coyote.
Many days late.
At first, Sanemi's expression softened, a brief flicker of relief at seeing his childhood friend alive. But then his gaze caught the awkward smile tugging at Seb's lips. He didn't need to hear a word more to know, Seb had done something again.
Sanemi pinched the bridge of his nose before pointing lazily toward the stranger.
"Coyote, take a seat."
His voice dropped, quieter and heavier as his eyes locked on Seb.
"And you… what did you do this time?"
Seb cleared his throat, a bead of sweat trailing down his temple, before finally beginning his explanation.
…
"Alright, so here's what happened, okay? We're sailing back, calm seas, nothing weird, then BAM, this green-haired lunatic jumps off his boat with three swords. Three. Who even uses three? Anyway, he's yelling about training, challenges me, says he's from some Isshin Dojo in Shimotsuki Village, like that's supposed to mean something to me.
So we duel. Sparks flying, swords clashing, real dramatic stuff. And what happens? A stalemate. Total waste of time. We're both starving afterward, so we head to a nearby island to grab food. Simple, right? Except no, because green-hair vanishes, and I end up fighting pirates. A lot of pirates. Too many pirates.
Somewhere in there, I find him half-dead but still mumbling about honor like a lunatic. I was this close to leaving him, this close, but then he blurts out he owes me a favor. So, now he's here. With us. Lucky us.
And THEN.. wait, no, you don't understand, because after that, there was this thing with the tavern owner, and then the bounty posters, and, hold on, let me start from the top again, because you're not getting the full picture…"
Seb kept going, words tumbling faster, hands flailing as he tried to explain everything at once. It was clear this was nowhere near the end of his story.
…
"Okay, okay! Enough, I get it!" Sanemi finally cut in, rubbing his temples and glanced at Seb with a look of pure exhaustion.
Seb froze, then let out a sheepish laugh, scratching the back of his neck.
Sanemi spun his chair slowly, turning his back to them as he sank into thought. There was no mistaking it, Seb's ridiculous story lined up with only one person. Green hair, three swords, Isshin Dojo… it had to be him. Roronoa Zoro. One of the most gifted swordsmen of this generation, and destined to become part of Luffy's crew.
Sanemi turned back, his expression sharper now, brows furrowed.
"Tell me straight, Seb. Did you lose against him?"
He leaned forward on the desk, voice low and serious. At this point in time, Zoro should still be young, freshly setting out to sea. No name yet as a bounty hunter, but that didn't make him any less dangerous.
Seb's eyes darted left, then right. His grin twitched.
"Lose? Me? Hah! What kind of question is that, Sanemi? I mean, technically, no.. but also, uh… not exactly a win either…"
Sanemi's stare only grew colder.
Seb raised both hands defensively. "Look, look, it was a stalemate! Yeah, a stalemate. You know, like… when both guys are too awesome to decide who's better. That's what happened. Totally respectable."
Sanemi didn't blink.
"…Okay, fine, maybe he nicked me once or twice. And maybe I, uh, tripped over a rock at one point. And maybe he called me slow. But!—" Seb suddenly puffed out his chest, "he was bleeding too, I swear it! That's gotta count for something, right? Right?"
Coyote sighed, leaning back in his chair. "He got tossed around like laundry, Sir."
"Coyote! Whose side are you on?!" Seb barked, his face red.
Although Sanemi didn't show it, a spark of surprise flickered inside him. Seb had actually held his own. Better yet, he hadn't completely embarrassed himself. Maybe… just maybe, Seb was more talented than he'd expected.
"Anyways," Sanemi said, shifting his attention, "on to more important matters. Coyote, I've been looking for you for quite some time. It's… nice to finally meet you. I'm Sanemi Wayne." He cleared his throat, his gaze locking on the man whistling idly by the doorway.
Coyote's grin spread wide, almost feral, and he gave a slow, deliberate nod.
Sanemi allowed himself a small, calculating smile. Most people had no idea who they were really looking at. Coyote wasn't just some wandering, middle-aged man with a knack for trouble. No, he was part of the Dadan family in Foosha Village, the younger brother of Dadan herself.
But more importantly… Coyote knew the East Blue like the back of his hand. The underworld, the hidden routes, the black-market contacts, illegal weapons, all of it. And he knew it all without ever appearing to know anything at all.
This man was what one would call hiding in plain sight.