I guarded Impel Down for a hundred years in the pirate world.

This time, the Holy Demon King did not refute it.

Because this time, he was genuinely afraid.

Chapter 366 Recent Developments of the Merchant Guild

"This is yours. Keep it safe. You can use it to retrieve a Heart Net Lamp wick from the warehouse."

"Thank you, Miss Nami."

Nami returned a smile, watched the merchant guard who had come to collect his wages leave, and seeing that no one else was coming in, she stood up and stretched.

"It's getting dark, time to go home."

She muttered something to herself, got up and left the office. Everyone she met on the way greeted her sincerely as "Miss Nami".

In the past two weeks, the Lynch Business Group has been developing rapidly and expanding daily.

The war between humans and demons has not yet affected the Lynch Merchant Guild, which is located in a relatively remote sea area, but it cannot be said that it has had no impact at all.

Capri's order caused many merchant groups to suffer—a thorough investigation into unfair competition among all merchant groups, severe penalties for the capture of lantern-fishing slaves, reduced punishment for surrendering, and additional penalties for those who remained obstinate or even tried to evade the inspection.

Many merchant groups harbored wishful thinking, but the Skeleton Emperor was well-prepared.

The group of business association leaders experienced firsthand what imperial methods and post-event accountability meant.

The Light Army's patrols began collecting evidence of illegal and irregular activities by merchant groups many years ago!

With one series of maneuvers, everyone was stunned and mobilized to the army. The Light Army's strength was instantly replenished. Coupled with the influence of the Wan Gang Ascension Funeral, the war against the Demon Clan was no longer short of manpower. When Figo learned of the Skeleton Emperor's preparations, he had to give him a thumbs up.

This is a disguised form of entrapment.

Several merchant groups near the area controlled by the Lynch Merchant Guild were reduced to skeletons as a result, while the Lynch Merchant Guild, which was unaffected, took the opportunity to absorb them.

As their territory expanded, some chaos naturally arose within the merchant group, but it gradually subsided after Nami returned from the Mermaid Kingdom.

At first, the members of the merchant group were not very convinced by Nami, who was "parachuted" in as the financial manager.

Although Nami is very beautiful, she is ultimately a girl who is not yet 20 years old, and her strength is almost negligible. Can she manage the entire finances of a growing merchant group?

The result was completely unexpected.

After Nami officially took office, she first learned about the wealth possessed by the merchant group, as well as its territory and ongoing activities, and then took a series of decisive actions.

The number of free lights given away during the event has increased significantly.

The discounts have been increased.

They even gave some guards an advance on their wages so that they could begin their cultivation with the lamplight sooner.

Everyone thought this wouldn't work, that the merchant guild would go bankrupt due to imbalance, but Nami silenced the doubters with the statement, "Lord Figo said that I can freely dispose of all the merchant guild's assets."

After half a month, everyone had no more doubts about Nami's abilities!

Under Nami's allocation, every lamp wick and every cash coin in the warehouse was fully utilized. The increased activity also increased the guards' workload and commissions. The lamp wicks consigned by the cooperative lamp fishermen were often disposed of in the fastest possible time!

What's even more amazing is that the merchant guild's finances are perfectly balanced. It may seem like they're not making a profit, but the daily increase in stability, the improved cohesion of the guards who are all getting their share of the benefits, the expanding territory of the merchant guild, and the residents' acceptance of the merchant guild are all more important for a newly established merchant guild!

Such a thing cannot be explained by mere coincidence.

Capable people are often respected.

If Nami didn't feel awkward about it, some people would call her 'Lady Nami'!

Although she didn't become the bank manager, Nami was more satisfied with her current job. Responding to the greetings, she knocked on a door.

"Sister Lucilia, I'm leaving!"

"Leaving early again." Vice President Lucilia looked helpless in the office. "Go ahead."

"Bye~" Nami's steps became even lighter.

She continued down to the first floor until she saw a guy dressed like a flamingo, at which point her smile faded slightly.

She nodded slightly in greeting, then passed by Doflamingo, secretly pursing her lips.

'This guy always looks at me with those shifty eyes, like he has ill intentions.'

Ming heard her thoughts clearly, and his eyes twitched slightly.

"This woman..." He didn't have any ill intentions towards Nami, but he was slightly annoyed.

The merchant group had been 'passively expanding' for a while, which caused some chaos. Figo didn't have time to manage it, and Lucilia's abilities were clearly not up to par. He felt that he had a chance to rise to a higher position.

But to everyone's surprise, this girl who was originally looked down upon suddenly interfered.

The position of vice president of the chamber of commerce has once again slipped away.

The only good thing is that after Charlotte Linlin returned, Kizaru, who had been slacking off in the merchant guild, seemed to have been given a mission and disappeared.

His position as deputy was equivalent to that of the head. With the arrival of Chuba and Yana, the merchant group's leadership was not lacking. Figo was also busy outside and not keeping an eye on things, so he no longer needed to personally escort the lamp wicks and act as a transport team member.

Thinking about all this, he arrived at Lucilia's office. Just as he placed his hand on the door, a blinding bright yellow light suddenly burst forth from the side!

His hand that had been pushing the door instantly transformed into a knock, and as he knocked, the light coalesced into Kizaru. Kizaru, looking travel-worn, smirked as he looked at Doflamingo, his expression as enigmatic as ever, his eyes seemingly able to see through everything.

"Doflamingo~"

"Admiral Kizaru," Doflamingo greeted.

The door opened, and Lucilia bowed and greeted, "Admiral Kizaru, you're back."

“Hmm~ I’m the Transport Minister of the Lynch Merchant Guild now, not a Marine Admiral~” Kizaru reminded her, and said to Lucilia, “Contact Lord Figo and ask him to come back. I’ve completed the task he gave me.”

Lucilia didn't know what the mission was, but she immediately agreed.

Doflamingo's eyes flickered. Was Lord Figo coming back again? Should he... take on a transport mission and go out to deliver lights?

It's not shameful to work hard for Figo.

……

Soon, Figo, who had left the Holy Demon King's City and was on his way back to the merchant guild, received a phone call.

"I understand. It's about time. I'll be back soon."

That kid Kizaru, he doesn't let Linlin watch him work, and when he slacks off, it's really a headache.

There are reasons why Kizaru was brought to Lantern Star without anyone else; it's not just because Kizaru's Glint-Glint Fruit is more suitable for transporting people through Lantern Star.

There's something most people don't pay much attention to, but Figo remembers it very well—when learning to find veins, Kizaru was the first to complete it!

Even with Linlin, who is learning pulse diagnosis from Racha outside, Kizaru is still the fastest!

This doesn't mean that Kizaru is the smartest, but rather that he is closest to the source of the Seeking Pulse—he must be the direct descendant of one of the 13 kings from 10,000 years ago!

Of the 13 kings from 10,000 years ago, there was one each from the Merfolk, Fish-Men, Long-Armed, Long-Legged, Giants, Dwarfs, Oni, Snake-Headed, Barbarians, Raibul, and Lunaria, while the remaining two were ordinary human races.

Kizaru must be the one who inherited the bloodline of one of these two human ancestors in the Blue Sea the most deeply.

Only Shirahoshi can surpass him.

Figo's initial intention was to have Kizaru learn the merfolk's rituals and see if he could get something from the king from ten thousand years ago. Of course, Linlin couldn't miss out either.

But I never expected the sacrificial ceremony to turn out like that.

But it turned out to be a lucky accident.

If following the Mermaid Queen's light can lead to that giant beast, what about the other 12? Simply using Shirahoshi's bloodline as a sacrifice isn't enough to lock onto the beast. What if Shirahoshi, Linlin, and Kizaru were together?

Figo is going to give it a try!

Chapter 367 Found

"Gone? Not here?"

A few days later, Roger and his men, who had arrived at the Lighthouse Army's base at the sea border, looked at each other with some distress.

"I've missed it. Um, does Your Excellency the Duke have Lord Figo's contact information?"

Bambri looked at the people opposite her with a smile, but her heart was far from calm.

The only people from Qinghai she had ever met before, besides Figo, were the navy originally stationed in Capri. Even Doohuna's strength and talent were far inferior to hers, and she thought that the words "Land of Hope" only represented Figo as an outlier.

But the people in front of her changed her perception. They had the youthful vigor and energy of young people, as well as considerable strength. The guy in charge made her feel a bit of a challenge.

Are all the middle-level forces in Qinghai this strong?

These people are clearly on the rise. In another five or ten years, there may be quite a few Level 5 Light-Bright individuals. If their brilliance were not overshadowed by the dazzling King of the Stars, these people would be worthy of the attention of the Light-Bright Stars!

She shook her head and said, "I don't have a direct way to contact the King of the Stars, but I can help you find a way to contact his merchant group. Is there anything important that you need to contact him now?"

Roger grinned and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Your Excellency. We have urgent business to attend to."

Bambri: "Oh, I see. Just a moment..."

She made two phone calls and managed to get the number of Lucilia, the vice president of the Lynch Business Group, and dialed the number in front of Roger and the others.

Soon, Lucilia asked from the Den Den Mushi, "Is this Roger-senpai?"

"It's us. Me, Rayleigh, Jabba, they're all here," Roger confirmed.

Lucilia didn't doubt that someone would dare to impersonate a Qinghai person to contact Figo, but she paused and said with some difficulty, "Yesterday, yesterday Lord Figo returned, but this morning he went out again with Admiral Linlin, Admiral Kizaru, and the Mermaid Princess. Their whereabouts are unknown, and they didn't bring any Den Den Mushi with them."

"This... what a coincidence." Roger laughed and adjusted his straw hat. "Never mind, when Grandpa Figo comes back, just remember to tell him we've been looking for him."

"Yes, I understand."

After hanging up the Den Den Mushi, Roger and the others thanked Bambri and then asked her if she knew the approximate location of Ace and the others.

Having received a reply, the group said their goodbyes and left. As they reached the door, Roger Reilly stopped again, exchanged a glance with the others, and then turned back around.

“It’s always a bit unsettling,” Roger said. “Duke Bambri, I wonder if we can speak with the Skeleton Emperor. We have very important information to report to him.”

They hadn't expected to be unable to contact Figo. As a second choice, since the Skeleton King held such an important position, if there were any problems, he would have been killed by Figo long ago, so contacting him wouldn't be a problem.

It was only because the old man had been resurrected from the battlefield of the Skeleton Emperor that they were somewhat concerned and hesitant.

……

"My lord, I've found out the origins of that group." On a small island, the mermaid demon general, Shankabi, approached Rilen Torvor with a grim expression.

Rillen Torvald was sitting quietly in the secret room, seemingly resting, when he heard this and opened his eyes.

A different kind of charm made Dankabi catch his breath; he seemed to see a sun behind Rillentorff!

"What is this...?"

"It was only a level six lamp."