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Loyal Marine - Chapter 152: Impel Down Brand Imported Pirate, You Get It?
🕑 Added 2025-10-17 13:13:34 +0000 UTCNew World, G-5 Marine Base.
In the reception room, Doflamingo sat on the sofa, eyeing the man across from him with a strange lookâa man shackled in Seastone cuffs... Shichibukai âCrusher Fistâ Slekemind.
He had come to G-5 today by invitation, but he never expected to walk into a scene like this.
How could a Shichibukai have ended up in such a pitiful state?
Slekemind sat stiffly on the sofa, avoiding Doflamingoâs gaze, unsure of what to say.
Just then, the door to the reception room opened. Ortoren strolled in with a broad smile.
âSorry, sorry, Doflamingo. I had a few things to take care of.â
Doflamingo immediately stood, smiling in return. âItâs fine. I wasnât in any hurry. Iâve got plenty of time.â
Ortoren, ever hospitable, personally brewed tea for both Doflamingo and Slekemind, setting the cups before them. Then he produced a key, unlocked the Seastone cuffs, and freed Slekemind.
âYour subordinate just arrived with two hundred billion Belly. Weâve counted it, not a single coin missing. Congratulationsâyouâve successfully renewed. Your Shichibukai trial membership has now been upgraded to full membership.â
He grasped Slekemindâs hand warmly, speaking with heartfelt sincerity.
Upon hearing this, Slekemind nearly burst into tears. If he could go back to that day, the day he accepted the World Governmentâs invitation to become a Shichibukai, he would never, ever take that cursed position!
Whoever wanted the title could have it. Heâd even recommend it to his sworn enemies so they too could âenjoyâ the wonderful experience of being a Shichibukai.
But now? Now Slekemind was determined to hold onto this title no matter what. He would keep it for life. Anyone who tried to strip it from him would pay with their life. After all, heâd already suffered countless humiliations and forked over two hundred billion just to secure it. No way was he letting it go to waste.
Seeing the grief and bitterness written all over his face, Ortoren looked puzzled.
âWhy the long face? This is great newsâyou should be celebrating! Shouldnât you be thanking me?â
âThank you... thank you...â Slekemind forced the words out, swallowing his pride.
âNo need for thanks. Weâre all brothers under the World Governmentâs banner.â Ortoren patted his shoulder, then leaned in, speaking with deliberate weight.
âBut the New World is a rough place. Things arenât easy for anyone, you understand?â
âHuh?â Slekemind looked at him in confusion, unsure what he meant.
âAhem... as a Shichibukai, youâre entitled to premium VIP services going forward. If you run into trouble in the New World, you can always reach out to me. As long as the service fee is paid, Iâll gladly lend a hand to fellow allies of the World Government. Got it?â
Slekemind thought bitterly, Every damn problem Iâve run into in the New World was caused by you, bastard!
So this Shichibukai membership isnât permanent, huh? Youâre going to squeeze me for more renewals later, arenât you?
Though resentment burned inside, he forced a grateful smile and nodded.
âIf I ever face trouble again, Iâll definitely turn to you for help, Vice Admiral Benn...â
âGood, good. Iâm glad you understand.â Ortoren nodded, satisfied.
The room fell silent after that. Doflamingo looked between the two of them, at a loss for words, while Slekemind sat frozen, equally unsure how to continue.
After a moment of silence, Ortoren gave Slekemind a strange look.
âWhat are you still doing here? Go enjoy your brand-new life as a Shichibukai! Your little brotherâs waiting for you at the dock!â
âHuh? I can leave already?â
Slekemind shot to his feet, leaving the steaming tea untouched on the table. He rushed out in a panic, even remembering to politely close the reception room door behind him.
Once he was gone, Ortoren sat back on the sofa, lifted the untouched teacup, took a sip, and smiled at Doflamingo.
âMy apologies for the spectacle.â
âNo, I should say it was eye-opening...â Doflamingo shook his head with a sigh.
He had always thought Ortoren was a bit underhanded, treating him like some lackey. After all, he was a direct descendant of the Celestial Dragons, the Little Tyrant of the North Blue! Didnât he deserve at least a little respect?
But after seeing the miserable state Slekemind had been reduced to, Doflamingo finally understood. Ortoren wasnât looking down on him at allâhe was treating him like a real brother. He couldnât ask for more. This was enough.
âSee? Iâm fair and just in my dealings. When it comes to the Shichibukai, I canât just single you out and make you pay a fee. Thatâd be disrespectful. Rest assured, anyone who wants to become a Shichibukai has to pay the 20 billion Belly bond. That bastard Crocodile might have run off, hiding in Alabasta and refusing to come out, but donât worry. He still owes the fee, and Iâm keeping trackâwith interest. When the chance comes, Iâll collect every last bit.â Ortoren grinned, his face the picture of righteous loyalty.
âFair? Hell yeah, thatâs fair!â Doflamingo raised a thumb in admiration.
âAlright, enough about that. What about Mary Geoise? Have you settled things there? If you have, Iâll start preparing your recommendation for Shichibukai...â Ortoren set down his teacup and asked.
Doflamingo let out a helpless sigh. âIf those bastards in Mary Geoise had even half the sense of honor you do, Vice Admiral Benn, I wouldnât be in this mess. I tried using my connections, spent a fortune, but all I got was rejection...â
âThey really donât know the meaning of honor.â Ortoren frowned, then continued, âIf you donât make them feel pain, theyâll never understand what pain is.â
âSo, what are you suggesting?â Doflamingoâs eyes lit up as he looked at Ortoren.
âPull off a job. Itâs almost the end of the yearâ1501 is coming. Nations will soon be sending in their Heavenly Tribute. You know the North Blue well. Pick a couple of ships carrying the tribute, hijack them, and put some pressure on Mary Geoise. This concerns the face of the World Governmentâtheyâll have no choice but to give in.â
In the original story, this was exactly how Doflamingo secured his position as a Shichibukai. It made perfect sense.
Doflamingo froze for a moment, then asked with a trace of worry, âIsnât that going too far? What if we push them over the edge...â
âIf they get desperate, theyâll send the Marines to wipe you out, right?â Ortoren rolled his eyes. âI am the Marines. What are you worried about? Just find a place to lie low. Iâll handle it on my end. Headquarters will send forces but wonât commit seriously. Weâll just say we canât find you. Wait it out, and see who runs out of patience first.â
Doflamingo stared at him for a moment, then smirked. âVice Admiral Benn, the World Government truly deserves a loyal and righteous man like you!â
âAh, itâs their good fortune,â Ortoren waved it off with shameless âmodesty.â
After wrapping up that matter, Ortoren leaned forward.
âThis time, I called you here for another reason. I want your recommendation. Do you know of any labor-intensive industries that are especially profitable? Iâm thinking of expanding into one...â
âLabor-intensive?â Doflamingo blinked, then cautiously probed, âYouâre not planning on using Marines to make yourself some private money, are you?â
It wasnât an unreasonable thought. Back in the North Blue, heâd seen plenty of Marine base commanders who used their soldiers for private work.
With Ortoren in the New World, far from direct oversight, and commanding thirty to forty thousand Marines under him, he certainly had the manpower if he wanted to run such schemes.
âThatâs not it at all. As a Marine officer, Iâve always worked to provide for my men. How could I ever exploit them? Hereâs the truth: Iâve imported a batch of pirates from Impel Down to use as slavesâabout fifty to sixty thousand. And thereâll be a steady stream coming in. I already have plans for twenty to thirty thousand of them. But the rest... I need to find a way for them to generate value.â Ortoren spoke with absolute confidence.
Doflamingo blinked.
Imported pirates? What kind of nonsense was that?
Iâve been immersed in every corner of the underworld for years, but Iâve never heard of that term in my life!
