The new king had once galloped across the first half of the Grand Line, and the two new generals of their country were actually two cadres the new king had recruited on the Grand Line.
"General Moros… Moros is a Devil Fruit user. He can turn into a yellow cat."
A Devil Fruit user, and it's even the Cat-Cat Fruit. Looks like there's a chance to earn an Energy Stone back for Electabuzz.
"General Bis isn't a Devil Fruit user, but he's also very good at fighting. His weapon is a big axe."
A big axe? Dice can use any weapon, but if he has to pick a favorite, it's the big axe. When Vane defeated the Axe Pirates before, he seized the Axe Pirate captain's big axe, and Dice is using it now.
"The old general… I don't need to introduce the old general, right?"
That really doesn't need introducing. The old general, once called the only pillar of the Six-Gold Kingdom, is also very familiar to people of the Nanami Kingdom.
The Bear Guard nodded very warily.
"The Sword of Six-Gold, Schmitt. A very famous swordsman in the West Sea. He's stationed in the towns of the Six-Gold Kingdom, and no pirate has ever successfully completed a plunder under his watch."
As someone from the West Sea, Bonez had also heard of him. Bonez looked at Vane and said,
"If there's a chance, I want to duel him."
Ever since Vane cut through his defense, Bonez had wanted to challenge other famous swordsmen, but never really had the chance—or rather, he knew the gap was too big.
The Sword of Six-Gold, Schmitt, would be a very suitable opponent. He could see whether his training during this period had paid off.
"Tell me about your new king. I heard he's also a Devil Fruit user?"
As soon as the captain heard it was about asking about the king's Devil Fruit ability, his face immediately turned hesitant.
"Don't want to say? Dice, split him in half from between the legs and throw him into the sea to feed the fish."
"Got it."
Dice pulled out his big axe and licked his tongue twice along his lips.
"No, it's not that I don't want to say. It's that I'm not sure either. The king has never told us old ministers what his Devil Fruit ability is."
"But I've seen the king make a move. He directly released something like lava from his palm and turned a person into a carbonized human figure."
Lava? The Magma-Magma Fruit?
Absolutely impossible. The Magma-Magma Fruit is definitely eaten now by one of the future three Admirals of the Navy, Sakazuki.
The Flame-Flame Fruit? Ace is still just a little kid right now, so it wouldn't be strange for the Flame-Flame Fruit to already have an owner. But releasing something like lava… to be honest, that description doesn't quite match the Flame-Flame Fruit.
The Flame-Flame Fruit should be developed as flames. No matter what, it shouldn't be developed into liquid fire… liquid fire sounds like something that would appear in cultivation novels.
If it really could be developed into liquid fire, the development level would definitely be very high. It would be impossible not to leave a name on the seas.
There are really many Devil Fruits in this world that can produce high temperatures, so you can't directly judge the other party to be the Flame-Flame Fruit.
Next, he also revealed news about the old king, and about roughly which island those captured citizens of the Nanami Kingdom had been sent to become mine slaves with no human rights.
"Spare his life for now. If the information is true, throw him down below to step on the generator."
"Step… step on the generator? Aren't you letting me go?"
"Some unverified information and you want me to spare your life and also give you your freedom?"
Vane moved in close and said viciously with that villain's face,
"What dream are you having? We're viciously evil wanted criminals! As wanted criminals, we repay every grievance. You attacked us and were captured by us—leaving you two useful legs to generate power for our ship is already a huge mercy."
"Didn't you also want to throw us into the mine tunnels at the start?"
Inside the mine tunnels it's pitch-dark. He himself had just said how bad the environment was. On the Thunder Fortress, at least medical care and food are guaranteed, and it's not like he's being made to generate power all the time. The basic rest time is very ample.
I really am a great philanthropist. Although I ordered one "cannon" and destroyed a ship full of people, as long as the job I provide includes food, lodging, and medical care, and the working hours absolutely comply with the Geneva Conventions.
The only problem is there's no pay—but letting him live is the greatest pay.
If he behaves honestly in the future, and the Thunder Fortress catches other people who need reeducation through labor, then maybe we can consider letting him go?
...
"I didn't expect that although the old king isn't dead, he was also thrown into the mine tunnels."
They thought it was the Gold Mine Island; in fact, it was the Copper Mine Island.
Of course, the old king wasn't sent down into the tunnels to work, but imprisoned. Still, he's over fifty years old, a man in his fifties who hasn't exercised much, thrown into those pitch-dark mine tunnels. A pampered life suddenly suffering such a drastic change—he originally had twenty good years left to live, but once the environment changes, how long he can live is really unknown.
"Rescue the old king and deal with the new king! The process is simple, but carrying it out is a bit difficult."
Apart from its own kingdom's army, the Six-Gold Kingdom also has a fairly strong Navy base nearby.
Vane isn't too worried about either side alone, even if the kingdom's army is numerous.
But if the Navy and the kingdom's army join together, ants can bite an elephant to death. He's not afraid of being bitten to death—after all, he's much stronger than an elephant—but he's worried that the Rocket Team grunts might take casualties.
They need to get the old king out of the mine tunnels before the Navy can react. That way, after killing the new king, the old king will naturally return to the throne.
With the old king there, things can be brushed off casually on the Navy's side.
Vane isn't worried about whether the old king will listen after he comes out. Whether he feels grateful or not, with the man in his hands, grateful or not, whatever happens will be decided by him.
Bear Guard: "The place where the old king is imprisoned is Copper Mine Island."
The capital of the Six-Gold Kingdom is Gold Mine Island, which is the current location of the new king.
As the second-richest place after Gold Mine Island, Copper Mine Island also has a large number of troops stationed there.
"Split into two teams. Lena, Bonez, and Charizard will wait for an opportunity on Copper Mine Island…"
Vane and the others will charge straight at Gold Mine Island where the new king is. Once Gold Mine Island feels the pressure, it will certainly concentrate its forces. The distance between Copper Mine Island and Gold Mine Island is very close. Once Gold Mine Island falls into crisis, the troops from Copper Mine Island will definitely be mobilized as well.
"Boss, I want to take on their big cat general. A lion will not fear a cat."
"Then I'll take that axe general… I also want another axe."
Tant and Dice have already proactively picked their opponents. Bonez isn't worried at all, because the Sword of Six-Gold, Schmitt, is located on Copper Mine Island. That's also the reason Vane will send him there.