Deep within Small Garden, in an exquisite hut made of wax.
The walls, tables, chairs, and even the windows were all made of wax, and the air was filled with a dull waxy scent.
In the corner, the young girl Ms. Goldenweek sat quietly on a small stool made of wax, still dabbing and smearing at her drawing board.
Two figures, bringing with them the oppressive heat from outside, walked in. It was Mr.5 and Ms. Valentine. Both of their faces looked displeased, especially Mr.5, whose face under his sunglasses was somewhat dark.
Mr.3 was sitting at the dining table with his back to the door, elegantly savoring his cup of black tea. Without turning his head, his voice drifted over slowly, with a hint of feigned concern:
"Oh my, oh my… Look who's here. Our fifth-ranked senior agent duo, Mr.5 and Ms. Valentine. You both seem quite heated."
"Cut the act, Mr.3!"
Mr.5 interrupted him impatiently, his voice buzzing, "Where did those Mugiwara bastards hide? This time I'm going to blast them until there's nothing left but ash!"
"But I heard you failed on Whiskey Peak, didn't you?"
Listening to Mr.3's somewhat mocking tone, Mr.5's face grew even darker.
"Last time was entirely due to my carelessness! I absolutely won't let them off next time we meet!"
Mr.3 finally turned around slowly, a fake smile, his trademark, plastered on his face. He pushed up his glasses, and a white flash glinted off the lenses.
"Don't rush, don't rush." His tone was gentle, as if he were comforting an ignorant child. "Don't be so grim-faced. Have a cup of black tea first. There are still plenty of opportunities on this island right now."
He was at the wax dining table, where an exquisite tea set was laid out. He then picked up the teapot and began pouring black tea into the empty cups in front of Mr.5 and Ms. Valentine, continuing to speak in a calm narrative.
"This island is much livelier than you two imagine right now." He picked up his teacup, gently swirled it, then blew on it, and took a small sip.
Mr.5 grunted impatiently, "Get to the point! Stop beating around the bush!"
Mr.3 put down his cup, his voice suddenly dropping a few notes, saying with a sense of mystery, "Mr.1… and his partner have also landed on the island. I met them both before you arrived."
"Wha… what?!"
Mr.5 was somewhat surprised, clenching his teeth. He felt that the mission that should have belonged to them had been taken away, indicating that the Boss no longer fully trusted them.
His sunglasses slipped down slightly due to his contorted facial movements, revealing his somewhat shocked eyes underneath.
"That guy?! Why is he here too?!" Ms. Valentine also let out a low click of her tongue, gripping her umbrella tightly, and then kicked at the air on the ground, complaining, "Then what's left for us if he's here?! All the credit will definitely go to him!"
Mr.3 watched their reactions with great satisfaction, the smile at the corner of his mouth deepening. This was exactly the effect he wanted.
"Hehehe…" He chuckled, his fingers lightly tapping the wax table. "Precisely because of this, my dear Mr.5 and Ms. Valentine. That's why I say, our opportunity… has truly arrived."
"Opportunity?" Mr.5 frowned, completely failing to understand. "What opportunity? The opportunity to have our credit stolen by that guy?"
"Of course not…" Mr.3 sneered inwardly, but put on an expression of thinking for their benefit.
"Use your brain, Mr.5." His voice was full of seductive power as he began to outline the start of his plan to Mr.5: "That big fool who thinks he's invincible because he ate a Devil Fruit… The Boss sent him because the initial intelligence said there was an unusual old man on Straw Hat's ship."
"An old man?" Ms. Valentine tilted her head, looking confused.
Mr.5, however, seemed to recall something. He touched his still faintly aching abdomen and said through gritted teeth, "Hmph! I didn't see any old man… but there was indeed an unusual bastard! He ambushed me when I wasn't paying attention!"
Ms. Valentine beside him silently rolled her eyes, not exposing him.
"That's not important."
Mr.3 waved his hand and continued, "What's important is, what if that guy really exists, someone who can contend with him, or even… defeat him?"
He paused deliberately, observing Mr.5's expression.
"You mean?" Mr.5 listened to what the wax man in front of him was saying and seemed to understand a little.
Mr.3 smiled as he revealed his core plan, "As soon as those two fight-crazed maniacs, who only think about fighting, are both injured… that's when we make our appearance. We just need to show up at the last minute! We can take them all down in one fell swoop! With your bombs and my wax liquid!"
He grew more excited as he spoke, suddenly pulling out a yellowed old paper from behind him and slapping it onto the table with a loud thud.
"And, look at this!"
Mr.5 and Ms. Valentine leaned in to look. It was a very old wanted poster, depicting two grinning Giant Race heads.
"These are… the Captains of the Giant Warrior Pirates from a hundred years ago, Blue Ogre Dorry and Red Ogre Brogy!"
Mr.3's voice became somewhat sharp with excitement, "They are on this island! The bounty for both of their heads combined is worth—!"
He held up two fingers, facing Mr.5.
"Two hundred million Berries!!"
"Two… two hundred million?!" Mr.5 and Ms. Valentine simultaneously gasped, taking a cold breath. Although somewhat afraid, they were also stimulated by the Berries. This number far exceeded their imagination.
Mr.3 watched them, seeing their fear mixed with greed, knowing the time was ripe, and threw out the final and boldest bait.
"Don't worry, those two Giant Race members have the intelligence of pigs, and they're just guys who only know how to fight."
"So, I need your help. As long as we cooperate, we can take down the Straw Hat, that princess, and these two Giants worth two hundred million combined…"
His voice dropped extremely low, filled with dangerous temptation.
"…And, incidentally, leave the exhausted Mr.1 and Ms. Doublefinger on this primitive island forever… Then, returning with such achievements, both you and us will definitely be greatly promoted!!!"
The room suddenly fell silent, with only the occasional sound of candles burning.
Mr.5 was silent, his eyes flickering intensely beneath his sunglasses. He was weighing his options. Despite being somewhat afraid of Mr.1's strength, he couldn't resist the temptation of promotion.
Greed ultimately overcame fear… He looked up at Mr.3, his voice hoarse: "That's… quite a bold plan, Mr.3."
Mr.5 grinned, revealing a fierce smile.
"However, I agree!"
"Excellent!" Mr.3 also smiled. Everything was going according to his script. "Now, let me tell you how we should perform next."
His gaze swept over the quiet Ms. Goldenweek and the excited Ms. Valentine, finally settling on Mr.5.
The web of conspiracy had quietly been woven in this dull wax hut.