In the mere time span of a few hours, the entire island knew of what had occurred earlier that day. The Wayne Group had been in conflict with the Mayor's office.
It's said the Chairman was so enraged he shouted to the top of his lungs before kicking out the Mayor's office like poor dogs.
Reactions were mixed but a huge majority of the people decided they would stand on the Wayne Group's behalf if something happened due to the many incidents and rumors of the Mayor's office corruption.
It was also now people began understanding a new rising power held influence over the Organ Islands.
…
Tavern, meeting room.
Sanemi continued going back to work like nothing happened. He laughed satisfied before muttering.
"Taxes? Laws? Mayor's office? This is the One Piece world for goodness sake. The loopholes are endless!"
But for more important notes, Sanemi had just showed where he stood. The Wayne Group didn't care about the Mayor's office and he made it clear about that.
What are politicians or highly ranked people the most afraid of? It's obviously…. the people.
The people are the foundation of everything. Without their support, no one can stand tall. They can make or break anyone.
Sanemi understood this and he knew his current position.
"When dealing with a businessman Mayor, you must make a deal. Not use force." He muttered under his breath, amused.
"But then again, for every deal, there's a price to pay."
…
Mayor's Office
The representatives who had been sent to Sanemi returned clearly dejected. They stepped into the Mayor's personal quarters, heads low, and reported everything that had happened. Safe to say, the Chairman's attitude was something none of them had expected. For goodness' sake, the man was barely older than a boy.
Mayor Arthur remained silent, letting the words settle, before finally letting out a frustrated sigh. He truly didn't have the means to challenge the Wayne Group at this moment. Any move he made could be easily exploited by the Deputy Mayor, and before he knew it, his position might crumble entirely.
The office itself was divided into two clear factions, one half loyal to the Mayor, the other to the Deputy Mayor. Things had been stable for a time, but the tax incident from two years ago, combined with his indulgences, had clearly altered the balance of power. Those working in the office quickly realized just how precarious their Mayor's situation had become.
The tension in the room was palpable. Papers were scattered across the desk, half-signed forms, memos left ignored. A few of the loyal legal servants fidgeted nervously, exchanging glances as if the walls themselves were judging them.
One of the younger clerks finally spoke, voice barely above a whisper. "Sir… perhaps it's time we consider negotiations… or… or even a truce with the Wayne Group."
Arthur's eyes narrowed. "A truce? With that brat?!" He slammed his palm on the desk, rattling the ink pots. "Do you think I built this office to bow to some merchant company?!"
An older, more cautious servant interjected, "With all due respect, sir, it's not just a merchant company anymore. They've acquired entire branches, dozens of ships, hundreds of workers. The people, the citizens—are already on their side. If we act against them directly…" His voice trailed off, the threat implied but unspoken.
Arthur leaned back, rubbing his temples. He could call in the Deputy Mayor for advice, but even that was risky, the Deputy had his own ambitions. Every misstep could see Arthur stripped of authority faster than he could recover.
From the corner, a young clerk whispered, "Maybe… maybe we can use the Wayne Group's rise to stabilize our office. If we align carefully…"
Arthur's eyes flicked toward him, a mix of irritation and contemplation crossing his face. "Align ourselves? Perhaps… but mark my words. This isn't over. That brat may think he's untouchable, but every rising power has a weakness. And I will find it… eventually."
The room fell silent. Outside, the people of Organ Islands continued their lives, unaware of the power struggle brewing behind the office walls. But inside, the balance had shifted and it would take cunning, patience, and perhaps a little luck for the Mayor to reclaim any ground.
…
"System, show me the core stats."
[Core Stats:
Wealth: 42,380,000 Million Berries
(Includes capital reserves, factory infrastructure, branch assets, ships, contracts, and product stockpiles. Cash flow still unstable, but projected profits are high once branches sell Iron Bull.)
Influence: Regional Merchant Circles (Low–Medium)
(Wayne Group is respected by workers and feared by rival merchants. Mayor's office forced to acknowledge their leverage. Still largely unknown outside East Blue.)
Manpower: 213
178 Factory & Branch Workers
12 Managers / Executives (newly acquired & trained)
7 Logistics & Administrative Clerks
4 Loyal Subordinates (Seb, Liora, Jonas, Marlow)
3 Security Guards (HQ only)
9 Misc. Hires (warehouse hands, assistants, etc.)
Innovation: Tier 1
(Earth-inspired corporate policies, workplace contracts, and fair salary structures. "Iron Bull" remains the primary breakthrough product. Tier 2 unlock requires scaling beyond East Blue.)
Security: Developing
(Still weak compared to major forces. Few guards, no uniform, light weapons. However, Jonas, Seb, and Coyote add "hidden strength." Expansion of proper security division required.)
Overall Analysis:
No longer "a small company in the making." Wayne Group is now recognized as a growing regional power with the potential to dominate East Blue trade if stability is maintained.
[Divisions]
Trade Division:
13 merchant ships total (from acquired companies).
Trade routes opened between Organ Islands HQ, Shells Town, Loguetown, Orange Town, Gecko Islands and Syrup Village.
Security Division:
3 formal guards (HQ).
2 elite enforcer (Jonas and Seb, unofficial).
Growing reliance on loyal subordinates for heavy threats.
Logistics Division:
7 clerks handling record-keeping, Den Den Mushi communications, and shipping manifests.
Newly set up branch reporting structure (daily reports to HQ).
Production Division:
6 operational Iron Bull warehouses/factories.
Dozens of workers trained under Marlow.
Output sufficient for regional supply.]
…
Sanemi leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowing as he glanced at the "Wealth" stat on the system. Compared to the worth of notorious pirates and criminals, it wasn't nearly as impressive as he had imagined.
He thought of bounty posters, the value assigned to a pirate's infamy and realized the same principle could be applied to the Wayne Group. Despite all their recent acquisitions and influence, the company was only worth roughly 43 million berries. In the grand scheme of the One Piece world, it was still minuscule.
With a soft chuckle, Sanemi shook his head. Pirates in the New World easily surpassed that number, and even in the East Blue, a bounty of 20 million berries was considered extraordinarily high. Relative to that, the Wayne Group's current fortune, though impressive locally, was just a drop in the ocean.
Now, he had to enter a period of stability, amassing wealth, consolidating resources, and saving like no one before him, before taking the next major step.
And that was precisely what he intended to do.