"Woooo—!!!!"
The giant black engine spat out rolling white smoke. The steel rods moved with a steady roar as steam pushed them forward. The train slowed down and slid into Stalburg Central Station.
Normally, if a train had just survived a serious hijacking, it would be met by armed MPs, rows of dark gun barrels, and a tense atmosphere.
However, a bright red carpet stretched from the VIP passage to the train steps. On both sides of the platform, two rows of soldiers in full Black Steel Empire ceremonial uniforms stood tall. Their gold-plated rifles shone under the lights. Behind them, a large military band played a solemn but enthusiastic welcome march.
Inside the carriage, Rosinante watched this through the window. He was not too surprised.
Following Aiden's instructions, he had already sent a note explaining the situation. After the conductor woke up and checked the train, he believed Rosinante without question. He immediately used the snail to contact the capital and report the latest news.
Click.
The door slowly opened.
The noise from outside rushed in at once.
Rosinante took a deep breath. He adjusted his expression and tried to look as imposing as possible.
He stood up, tightened his black feather coat, put his hands in his pockets, and walked out with an arrogant stride to hide his nerves. Surrounded by several men from the Donquixote Family, he slowly stepped out of the carriage.
The moment he appeared, flashbulbs started flashing like crazy.
Several reporters, who clearly seemed to have been arranged by the government, kept taking photos.
"Welcome! A warm welcome to our noble guest from the North Blue!"
A slightly fat middle-aged official in a fine tailcoat hurried forward. The gold medal on his chest showed his rank, Undersecretary of the Interior of the Black Steel Empire.
The Undersecretary wore a full smile. It held the politeness meant for a guest, but also the arrogance of an official from a powerful country.
"Corazon! I am the Undersecretary of the Interior. I have come to receive you by His Majesty's order."
The Undersecretary bowed slightly, his voice full of excitement. "We just received the report that the train was attacked by thugs. Those damn Roka Kingdom remnants actually tried to destroy the Empire's transport line. They were asking for death! Thanks to you and your men for acting so bravely, the riot was crushed at once, and the lives and property of hundreds of Empire citizens were protected!"
At this point, the Undersecretary put on a sorrowful look. "His Majesty is deeply sorry over the unfortunate sacrifice of your family officer, Diamante. His Majesty has already ordered a funeral for him with the honors of an Empire hero! His name will be carved forever on the Black Steel Empire's Friendship Monument!"
Faced with this enthusiastic flattery, Rosinante only raised his chin. Behind his sunglasses, his eyes looked coldly at the man. He did not say a word.
The air suddenly felt a little stiff.
The smile on the Undersecretary's face began to falter. A bit of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.
"Uh... Corazon?"
At that moment, a clever family subordinate stepped forward and blocked Rosinante. He explained, "Our apologies, Mr. Undersecretary. Because of certain tragic events in childhood, our leader's vocal cords were damaged. He cannot speak. Also, he just went through a fierce battle and lost a close friend. He is in deep grief. Please understand."
"I see! I see!"
The Undersecretary immediately understood. His embarrassment turned into even deeper respect.
On this cruel sea, someone who could hold such a high position despite such a condition usually meant only one thing. He was a dangerous man with terrifying strength and methods.
"I was rude!" The Undersecretary bowed deeply again. "Please rest assured. His Majesty has already prepared a banquet at the palace to welcome you. As for the arms deal we discussed, His Majesty promised that, as thanks for your family's bravery, he will give you a great surprise on top of the original order!"
Hearing the word "surprise," Rosinante only gave a slight nod in response.
"This way, please! The carriage team is ready!"
The Undersecretary stepped aside and pointed toward a row of black carriages waiting outside the platform.
Rosinante coolly got into one of them while everyone watched. The moment the door closed, he let out a long breath. His back was already soaked.
Acting really was exhausting.
At the same time.
While everyone's attention was focused elsewhere, an unremarkable figure blended into the crowd of ordinary passengers leaving the station and quietly slipped away.
Aiden had already changed out of his eye-catching clothes. He was now wearing a gray trench coat taken from his Storage Ring. That style was common in this industrial city. His collar was raised, covering half his face.
Even when a few passing MPs glanced at him, they only saw an ordinary traveling merchant. Their eyes did not stay on him.
He walked out of the station and looked at this city called the "Heart of Steel," Stalburg, under the gray sky.
It really was an impressive city.
Unlike most islands in the One Piece world, everything here was filled with industrial order and cold hardness. The streets were wide and straight, paved with black asphalt.
Aiden bought a copy of the Empire Daily from a roadside stand. While pretending to read it, a red light flashed in his eyes.
Observation Haki quietly spread out.
Trying to locate a king he had never met in a city with hundreds of thousands of people was like finding a needle in a haystack. But he had a perfect marker.
"Found him."
Aiden looked toward the tallest building in the center of the city. In his senses, Rosinante's familiar aura sat inside a carriage that was moving along the central avenue toward the black palace at the highest point of the city.
"If I follow that blond idiot's aura, I can probably find the king."
Aiden closed the newspaper and was just about to move when he paused.
With Observation Haki, he found two more familiar auras trailing Rosinante's carriage from a distance.
"Kuma and Ginny?"
Aiden's expression turned strange.
Those two had actually followed him all the way here. It seemed the Revolutionary Army really had set its eyes on these weapons too.
Aiden understood their goal at once. The Revolutionary Army was poor. They clearly wanted to steal from the rich and use it for themselves.
"They want to rob other criminals?"
He sensed the two figures quickly moving through the shadows across the rooftops. A hint of amusement appeared in his eyes.
"This is getting interesting."
Aiden suddenly thought of something fun. He rubbed his chin and disappeared into the busy crowd.
The Black Steel Palace
This building, standing at the highest point of Stalburg, was less a palace and more a steel fortress.
The black metal outer walls were more than ten meters high. Jagged spikes and watchtowers lined them. Large searchlights swept over the walls, sealing off the airspace as tightly as possible.
Inside the palace banquet hall, everything was bright and luxurious. Giant crystal chandeliers cast golden light everywhere. The long dining table was covered with fine food.
The military and political leaders of the Black Steel Empire wore sharp formal uniforms as they raised their glasses and drank together.
"Corazon, this way please!" A waiter led Rosinante inside.
At the head of the banquet table, a man stood up.
He looked around forty. Thin face, gloomy features, and a complicated marshal's uniform covered in medals. In his hand was a golden scepter that symbolized power.
The ruler of the Black Steel Empire, Friedrich II.
"Cough, cough-cough—"
Friedrich had just opened his mouth when he suddenly started coughing hard. He quickly pulled out a white handkerchief and covered his mouth. His body bent slightly, and his straight, soldier-like posture cracked for a moment, revealing a trace of sickly weakness.
A moment later, Friedrich steadied his breathing and put the handkerchief away. He straightened his back again, and his eyes became sharp as knives, as if the weakness just now had only been an illusion.
"Although there was a small and unpleasant incident, just like sparks when steel is forged, it does not affect our strong friendship."
Friedrich raised his wine glass. His voice was hoarse, but it still carried a strange charisma. "To thank you and your family for the sacrifice made to protect the Empire's train, I have decided—"
He waved a hand. A servant behind him immediately stepped forward with a new document.
"In addition to the original 1,500 latest-model rifles and 50 cannons."
Friedrich looked at Rosinante, who sat there in silence behind his sunglasses. There was a clear attempt to win him over in his eyes. "I have personally approved an additional gift for your family. Ten of our newly developed heavy howitzers and 500 high-explosive shells."
"Whoa—!!"
A low stir ran through the hall.
The officers present all showed shocked expressions.
Rosinante sat there in his chair. Although his sunglasses hid his eyes, the hand resting on his knee could not help trembling slightly.
He might only be playing the role of a pirate, but he clearly understood the weight of those weapons. If that kind of heavy firepower entered the North Blue and fell into Doflamingo's hands, the consequences would be impossible to imagine.
"Thank you for your generosity, Your Majesty!"
The family subordinate standing behind Rosinante became so excited that his voice nearly cracked. He quickly bowed in Rosinante's place.
"Corazon?" Friedrich looked at the silent Rosinante.
Rosinante took a deep breath and suppressed the unease inside him. He slowly stood up, gave the king a stiff nod, raised his glass, and drank it all in one go.
"Good! Very bold!"
Friedrich laughed loudly. He seemed very satisfied with this quiet powerhouse.
At the same time.
On top of a clock tower outside the palace.
Aiden sat cross-legged on the giant bronze bell as the night wind blew against his trench coat.
His Observation Haki clearly sensed Rosinante inside the hall, along with the target, King Friedrich.
Aiden was certain now. He was just about to probe the palace's internal layout.
Then suddenly.
As his senses passed over a common-looking courtyard deep inside the palace garden, a hidden but extremely heavy aura entered his range.
Aiden's eyes snapped open. A trace of surprise flashed through them.
"This is..."
In his senses, that person felt incredibly solid, like someone who could not be moved at all.
It was pure strength.
"This level of strength..."
Aiden raised an eyebrow, and an amused look appeared on his face. "Interesting. In a country that barely mattered in the original story, there's actually someone this strong hiding here?"
From what he could feel, this aura was even stronger than Kuzan had been back at Ohara.
"So that's why..."
Aiden understood at once.
No wonder the CP agents sent by the World Government had disappeared without a trace. Against someone at this level, ordinary agents would not even have had time to react.
"This makes things a little troublesome."
Aiden rubbed his chin. Even though he called it troublesome, he did not look tense. He looked more curious than anything else.
"I thought this would be a simple assassination mission. I didn't expect there to be someone like this guarding the place too. If we really fight, this whole palace will probably be flattened. That would make too much noise."
Two hours later.
At the VIP passage by the palace side gate.
The banquet was over.
Rosinante, slightly drunk, walked out through the side gate while officials escorted him.
The cool night wind cleared his head a little. He waved away the family subordinates who wanted to send him back to the hotel. He made it clear that he wanted some time alone.
A long black carriage was already waiting by the road. It was a private vehicle specially approved by the king.
The driver respectfully opened the door for him.
Rosinante bent down and entered the back seat, then collapsed onto the leather cushion like a pile of mud.
"Phew—"
The door closed, shutting out all the noise outside.
Rosinante removed his sunglasses and rubbed his aching temples. His face showed clear exhaustion.
"This damned mission... how much longer do I have to keep acting..."
He closed his eyes and enjoyed the brief moment of peace.
Click.
A crisp metallic sound suddenly rang out inside the quiet carriage.
It was the sound of a lighter being lit.
Rosinante's body instantly went stiff.
Inside this carriage, other than him and the driver, there was someone else?
He opened his eyes in alarm and turned his head.
In the dark corner of the spacious back seat, a small flame danced.
By its light, a young and handsome face with a teasing smile came into view.
The person casually played with an elegant silver lighter.
Aiden sat in the shadows and smiled at the frightened Rosinante.
"Yo. Good evening, hero of the Black Steel Empire."
"Waaaaah!!!!"
Rosinante almost jumped out of his skin. He sprang straight up from the seat, and his head slammed into the roof with a loud thud.
"Ow, ow, ow—"
Holding his head with tears in his eyes, he pointed at Aiden and stammered, "Ai... Aiden?! Why... why are you in the car?! You almost scared me to death!!"
The driver in the front heard the noise and curiously asked, "Sir? Did something happen?"
Rosinante's face turned pale. He quickly covered his mouth and frantically waved at the driver, who had turned back to look. Then he pointed at his knee as if he had bumped it, made an exaggerated painful face, pointed at his mouth, and finally gave a big thumbs-up to show he was fine.
Seeing that, the driver did not ask further. He muttered something under his breath and turned back to continue driving.
Once he was sure the driver was no longer paying attention, Rosinante narrowed his eyes and quickly snapped his fingers.
An invisible transparent barrier instantly spread out. It fully covered the driver's space, while leaving him and Aiden outside it.
After doing that, he finally let out a long breath. He patted his chest and said, "That scared me... I almost broke character."
Rosinante looked at Aiden and asked, "Why are you suddenly here? Did something change with the mission? Do you need my help?"
Aiden closed the lighter. The carriage fell dark again, and only his eyes shone faintly in the shadows.
He leaned back into a more comfortable position and spoke casually, as if they were just chatting. "There is something, but it has nothing to do with my mission. I just wanted to remind you. Someone is watching that batch of weapons."
"Watching them?" Rosinante paused, then an uncaring look flashed behind his sunglasses. "Let them watch."
He already had a headache over those weapons. If they were really shipped to the North Blue and handed to Doflamingo, the family's power would grow even more. Then this sea would have even more innocent victims. As a Marine undercover agent, that was the last thing he wanted.
"If someone steals them, or if they fall into the sea, that would be even better," Rosinante muttered. "Anyway, I don't want to take those killing machines back."
"Heh. I knew you'd think that."
Aiden let out a light laugh. He had clearly expected Rosinante's answer. "But the thieves this time have a rather special background. I'm pretty interested in them. Or more precisely, in the cause they work for."
"So I came to ask you for a favor."
Aiden leaned forward slightly. "Since you don't want to take the weapons back anyway, why not help them out?"
"When you return, find some excuse to move part of the family men guarding the warehouse. Or get them drunk. In short, leave an opening so those two thieves can get in and out easily."
"Let them steal the weapons?" Rosinante did not understand why Aiden cared about thieves, but this proposal was exactly what he wanted.
"No problem!"
Rosinante nodded without hesitation. Excitement flashed in his eyes behind the sunglasses. "I'll arrange it as soon as I get back!"
To Be Continued
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