Chapter 120: Lotte's Entrustment! The Fated Battle
Nighttime.
The entire pirate ship was holding a grand banquet.
Celebrating the complete victory at God Valley.
Amid the clinking of glasses and toasts.
Lotte and Whitebeard were happily drinking fine sake with Roger in front of them.
"Ha! Roger, this wine isn't bad at all!"
"Gurararara! I feel the same. Looks like you really brought out your private collection this time!"
Lotte and Newgate raised their cups toward Roger with smiles.
Clearly very satisfied with the wine this time, Roger also showed a proud expression.
He slung an arm around Lotte's shoulder and laughed.
"Hahahaha! Of course! These are all treasured brews!"
"You two helped me out so much this time—I naturally can't be stingy. This bit of wine is just a small token!"
In Roger's view.
This amount of fine sake was nothing to him.
With his current strength, if he wanted, there were countless ways to obtain precious wine. But building a good relationship with Lotte and Newgate
Was worth far more than any amount of alcohol.
On these seas.
Newgate and Lotte were among the rare few Roger truly considered friends.
"By the way, is there anything you two need my help with? As long as it's something I can do, I'll give it my all!"
Roger continued laughing.
Since he had already owed them a favor, he definitely wouldn't welch on it.
Newgate waved his hand upon hearing this.
"Just some small favors—nothing worth mentioning."
"But if possible, I'd like a pirate ship. Next, I plan to look for my own crew and build a new pirate group."
"This time, I must find my 'family'."
For him.
Material needs were worthless.
In fact, if one were to talk about sheer wealth, he ranked among the top in the Rocks Pirates.
After all, he was one of the absolute top cadres second only to Rocks, so naturally he possessed the largest share of treasure.
It's just that
Newgate had sent the vast majority back to his hometown.
He only kept a small portion for daily use—otherwise he wouldn't always freeload Lotte's wine.
Now that he had completely left the Rocks Pirates.
Newgate naturally planned to form his own pirate crew. Only he could find the family he truly wanted.
The pirate group he would build
Would never be as chaotic as the Rocks Pirates. Instead, everyone would be as close as family, creating a unique pirate crew on these seas.
Roger nodded slightly.
"I understand. As for the ship, I'll have someone prepare one."
"Then consider the favor on hold for now. Who knows, we might need it someday. Next, I also plan to continue my journey."
"Lotte, is there anything you need help with?"
He turned to look at Lotte.
After downing the cup in his hand in one go, Lotte raised his head toward Roger, the corner of his mouth curling into a smile.
"Actually, yes—there is one thing I need to ask."
"If you continue sailing next, Roger, I hope you can look after an organization called 'Shadow' in the West Blue. That's the intelligence network I built during the year I was missing."
As his words fell.
Roger's expression showed surprise.
Though he was in the New World, he had still heard of forces in the West Blue.
As an intelligence organization that had risen suddenly among the four seas, it had already begun extending its network to other seas at an unbelievable speed.
But considering it was built by Lotte.
It suddenly didn't seem so strange anymore. After all, the guy himself was a monster of the seas—having an intelligence network under him was perfectly normal.
Still, curiosity rose in his heart.
"Since it's your own organization, wouldn't it be more convenient for you to look after it?"
"Why entrust it to an outsider like me?"
Newgate also looked over curiously.
Everyone knew Lotte's current strength—when going all out—was comparable to theirs. It would be hard for either side to gain the upper hand.
Though Newgate was extremely confident in his own power.
Lotte's stamina and recovery didn't resemble a Logia user at all.
Fighting a war of attrition against someone like him was no good news.
Lotte narrowed his eyes slightly.
"This matter is a bit complicated to explain, but I have a very bad feeling in my heart."
"For some time to come, I probably won't appear again."
"So I have to ask this of you."
"Newgate, you've freeloaded my wine for so long—time to pay some interest back."
Even knowing Imu had likely already set their sights on him, Lotte had no intention of hiding anything right now. Being a coward wasn't his style either.
This was an opportunity for him.
As the behind-the-scenes chess player of the entire pirate world.
If Lotte wanted to dominate the seas in the future, Imu would undoubtedly be the biggest obstacle on his path.
Instead of avoiding it.
It was better to face it head-on right now. As long as he could gather enough intelligence.
It would be an extremely worthwhile deal for Lotte.
In this confrontation with Imu, Lotte also planned to force out whatever hidden Devil Fruit ability that person had.
That way, targeting them ten years later would be much simpler.
Roger and Newgate exchanged glances.
Though they didn't know exactly what Lotte was worried about, this was a trivial matter for both of them. Naturally, they agreed.
With their reputations.
Protecting an intelligence organization from the West Blue would be effortless.
"Don't worry, Lotte. Leave this to me."
"Gurararara! Sounds pretty interesting. Rest assured, kid Lotte—no one else will touch it."
"But you take good care of yourself. The World Government won't let this go so easily."
Seeing the two agree.
Lotte also smiled and raised his cup, clinking it with the two in front of him.
"Then it's in your hands."
"Clink!"
The cups collided with a clear ring.
With the protection of the Roger Pirates and Whitebeard Pirates, even if Lotte temporarily vanished from this era, anyone thinking of targeting Shadow would simply be courting death.
After all, these were among the top pirate crews on the seas—
Not something small-time trash could compare to!
As night gradually fell.
The banquet also continued for a long time before finally ending.
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