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Unfortunately, Luno completely ignored him, vanishing around the corner.
Ultimately, Moncas and the others were merely puppets Luno had installed to help the Five Families make money. Exposed puppets naturally lost their value. Since that was the case, why waste effort rescuing them?
These gangsters never did losing business!
Bege was well aware of this. He immediately ordered his men to take Moncas and the others back.
Carina hadn't expected to catch such a big fish and immediately ordered Victor to intensify the interrogation. As the saying goes, pulling up a turnip reveals the mud underneath. Even if she couldn't completely clean out these conspirators at once, they wouldn't dare to act recklessly for a while!
Victor thoughtfully ensured that Moncas and the others were escorted past Redd's cell.
"Do you see now? Even if you won't talk, someone else will talk for you! You have no value left. Prepare to die!" The Shadow Dragon Guard Reservist in charge of Redd's interrogation sneered, putting away his notebook and pretending to leave.
At this point, Redd's psychological defenses finally completely collapsed. He immediately cried out, "I'll talk! I'll tell you everything! I'm the King; I absolutely know more than Moncas!"
Redd's strategy of holding out was utterly shattered by his incompetent "ally," Moncas.
Over the next few days, based on the confessions of these few individuals, Victor and his team arrested over thirty officials, big and small. Among them were many highly placed figures.
Fortunately, many of the ministers Redd had dismissed were still alive; otherwise, the operation of the kingdom might have been paralyzed.
With the arrest of these individuals, the businesses of the Five Families in the Ether Kingdom also surfaced. Unsurprisingly, smuggling, fencing stolen goods, human trafficking, and illegal drugs were the main sources of profit!
The reason they wanted to eliminate the royal family was that the Ether Kingdom's geographical location was simply too good!
Situated centrally among the three major powerful nations of the West Blue, north-south travel meant most traders rested here. Coupled with Carina's father wisely establishing a free trade zone, the commercial activity here had multiplied several times over.
The Five Families naturally wanted a piece of such a prime territory. Unfortunately, Carina's father was not interested in the Five Families' dirty business. Normal taxation was enough to support the Ether Kingdom's development.
Moreover, he had even stepped up the crackdown on the human trafficking and illegal drug trade the Five Families conducted within the kingdom's borders!
This action—not only refusing to cooperate but actively trying to destroy their revenue stream—completely enraged the Five Families. They decided to strike ruthlessly, ensuring the Ether Kingdom got a new King!
Carina showed little emotional fluctuation upon hearing the report. She had largely guessed the root cause of everything the moment she learned the Five Families were involved.
"No wonder the Soul King-sama wanted you to come with me!" Carina looked at Bege.
With the capital largely under control, Carina finally felt confident enough not to disgrace Auguro, and she began to openly address him as "Soul King-sama."
"The history of the West Blue underworld is too old and powerful. Even if we wipe out the Five Families, newcomers will emerge to replace them!"
"But if your Capone Family swallows them up and becomes the sole head of the West Blue underworld, you can seamlessly control this sector of power!"
"One on the surface, one in the shadows. Perfect synergy!"
Carina couldn't help but admire Auguro. Even though he wasn't in the West Blue, he understood the situation there perfectly!
Bege softly agreed. After meeting Luno, he understood this was the best, and perhaps the only, opportunity for the Capone Family!
Although he had left the Capone Family for the Grand Line, he hadn't abandoned the Capone name. Luno was certainly going to make the Five Families cause trouble for the Capone Family!
Now that he was backed by a powerhouse, he had to quickly push the Capone Family to the highest position. Otherwise, once the Five Families attacked the Capone Family with full force, the Capone Family would absolutely not survive!
Brrrr, brrrr! Bege's Den Den Mushi rang.
Upon answering, an angry voice immediately came through.
"Hello! Bege! What did you do? Why did the Five Families jointly issue a challenge to the Capone Family?"
"Do you know that because of you, our family's business on three islands has suffered devastating damage!"
The speaker was the current Godfather of the Capone Family, Capone Slai, who was also Bege's uncle.
Bege spoke frankly.
"Uncle, the Five Families won't be jumping around much longer! If you trust me, temporarily feign weakness and preserve our strength."
"When they fall, we will take back everything tenfold, a hundredfold!"
To be a Godfather, Slai was no fool. He immediately grasped the deeper meaning in Bege's words.
Taking a deep breath, Slai calmed his emotions and said gravely, "Bege, give me the bottom line. How confident is the person you've allied with?"
Bege laughed at that. Confident?
In a place like the West Blue, Auguro only needed to casually send a Vice-Captain like Kuchiki Rukia or Matsumoto Rangiku, and they could sweep aside over ninety percent of the strong people here.
The remaining ten percent were unconfirmed rumors of legendary powerhouses, most of which were likely false. Even if they were unlucky enough to encounter one, Auguro had two Captains backing him!
How could anyone possibly withstand that?
Simply put, if Auguro wanted it, dominating the West Blue was only a matter of time. Entrusting the matter to Carina was simply a test to see if she was worth further development.
Hmm?
If that was the case, was he, Bege, also being evaluated?
The now-aware Bege spoke into the Den Den Mushi.
"If he wants to, no one in the entire West Blue is his match!"
"However, to reap this benefit, the Capone Family must demonstrate its value!"
"I see! I understand!" Slai knew his nephew's personality and that he would never exaggerate in such a situation!
Therefore, the West Blue was about to be completely reshuffled!
Whether the Capone Family could make the leap of a lifetime depended on this moment!
Just then, Bege realized something was off in Slai's tone and quickly spoke up.
"Don't talk nonsense! I haven't 'allied' with that person! I'm just making a transaction with him!"
That's right! A transaction! I help you dominate the West Blue; you help me build a fleet!
No debts owed! I am the man who will become the Pirate King! How could I possibly pledge allegiance to anyone else!
Slai, on the other end of the Den Den Mushi, twitched his mouth. His nephew was so focused on saving face!
The entire Capone Family would likely be subservient to the other party in the future; how could he be an exception?
However, he didn't expose Bege's pretense. He said directly, "I will arrange for our men to exercise restraint! If there is anything you need us to do on your end, contact me immediately!"
Having been suppressed by the Five Families for so long, Slai was filled with pent-up frustration. With this opportunity, he was determined to stomp heavily on the corpses of the Five Families!