The pinnacle of pirates begins with deceiving fate!

Vegapunk wanted to ask Jinbe for his opinion, as he did happen to have a design for modifying fish-men or mermaids, but the process would be extremely painful.

"Then go ask him. I believe he won't refuse."

John gave the opportunity to speak to Begabank, explaining that the existence of these fish-men and mermaids was actually for their companionship.

Otherwise, a person in the oppressive depths of the ocean, facing cold, impersonal machines all day long, would eventually suffer a mental breakdown and go insane.

"it is good."

Begabank nodded, accepting the task of the conversation, and then changed the subject.

"Clover has returned to Ohara and sent me all the translated contents of the Roadmark History."

"The content mentions a 'domineeringly tempered black blade,' which is something you're very interested in."

Before John could even express his delight, Begabank added further.

"However, Clover said that when he went back this time, he found several unfamiliar faces on Ohara Island, and he always had a feeling that he was being secretly watched."

"Clover speculates that it might be because being pursued by CP agents has attracted the attention of the World Government."

"The government has sent people to infiltrate O'Hara!"

Upon hearing this, John scratched the back of his head in annoyance.

He had said before that Clover was definitely not a peaceful guy, and sure enough, he got into trouble.

"I haven't been to Mary Geoise for over a year, so I don't know the exact whereabouts of the Five Elders. But with the time for the three-year period of massacring a country approaching, it's not a good thing to be targeted by the World Government at this critical juncture."

"So what do you plan to do?" Begabank turned to look at John.

John's eyes lit up as a bold idea formed in his mind.

"How about I use Ohara as my pledge of allegiance, and let me slaughter Ohara to gain Im's trust and completely enter the inner circle of the Celestial Dragons?"

Chapter 144 Swallowing the Goods

Recently, something happened that made Saint Satan very happy.

The scientist Begabank, whom he had been hunting down for researching "bloodline factors," finally revealed his true colors.

In the waters near Punk Hazard, a three-masted sailing ship used by the underground black market to transport goods is speeding across the churning waves.

On the deck, a man in a purple suit with a large belly was frowning as he looked at a small black dot on the horizon ahead, a cigar dangling from his lips.

He is Dufeld, who has recently risen to prominence in the underworld and started out as a loan shark.

Why do I always feel restless?

Feld took a bite of his cigar, his brow furrowed.

He hadn't visited the Punk Hazard research institute he funded for a long time, partly because he was afraid of being discovered by the World Government if he showed up, and partly because Vegabank had warned him that they were being watched.

This time, however, Begabank placed a large order on the black market and had it transported by merchant ships.

In the past, after placing an order, the goods would be left in one place, and soon they would fly into the sky and disappear on their own.

The stark difference before and after forced Feld to take the risk and come see for himself.

"Be on alert! There's a naval warship!"

The sound coming from the masthead made Feld and his crew tense up, and they quickly worked together to lower the sails.

This is a clever aspect of the underground black market: the crews transporting goods never have wanted personnel, and they also bribe and curry favor with high-ranking officials in the World Government.

Therefore, even though they are very nervous when they encounter the navy, they will stop their ships and allow the navy to board and inspect them without any hesitation.

However, usually, before the navy even boards the merchant ship's deck, the captain will receive orders to abandon the inspection and leave quickly.

"Have you figured out which branch's warship it is?"

Feld pulled out a Den Den Mushi from his pocket, ready to make the announcement, and then looked up at the lookout tower on the mast.

The sailors on the lookout tower, using binoculars, carefully observed the approaching warship's side. Upon seeing the large "G-10" painted in dark blue paint, they immediately reported:

"Lord Feld, it's a warship from the G-10 branch of the Navy!"

Feld nodded and dialed a Den Den Mushi to contact a high-ranking official in the World Government.

As soon as the call connected, he told the other party about the current situation.

"Hey, my ship has run into the G-10 branch's navy. There's something shady going on on board. Tell them to get out of here right away."

"G-10 Branch?"

However, the Den Den Mushi mimicked a furrowed brow.

"The base commander of this branch is Rear Admiral Bruglas, but the person currently in charge is the Navy's Grand Inspector, the Celestial Dragon Shepard John Saint. Even if the Fleet Admiral issues an order, he can't be controlled."

"I can only try it first. If this is not John Saint's order, then the warships can be allowed to leave."

“What if it was St. John himself who gave the order?” Feld raised the worst-case scenario.

The Den Den Mushi shook its head helplessly: "Then you'd better hurry up and throw the contraband into the sea to avoid further trouble."

As he spoke, a dial tone sounded on the other end of the phone; it was a high-ranking official pressuring the navy leadership.

As he listened to the conversation, Feld's face turned extremely pale; the situation he least wanted to see had occurred.

This was not just John Saint's order; it also involved the Five Elders Saint Satan, making it a massive joint operation!

"Damn it, how did I attract the attention of the Five Elders?"

"Quick! Throw all the cargo into the sea!"

After shouting, Feld took the lead, carrying a large wooden crate full of contraband from the cabin to the deck and throwing it forcefully into the sea.

Before long, dozens of large boxes fell into the sea, gradually sank after being submerged in water, and disappeared.

Unbeknownst to those on the ship, many mermaids and fishmen were already waiting beneath the surface, each carrying a sunken box towards Fishman Island.

Soon, naval warships approached and sailed alongside the three-masted sailing ship on the sea.

A strikingly handsome blond man jumped off the bow of the warship, wearing a naval justice coat and with a dense array of medals hanging on his left breast.

When Feld saw the epaulets on the blond man's shoulders, his pupils suddenly contracted.

The Grand Inspector!

So who is this man...?

Feld quickly threw away the cigar in his mouth, bowed, and greeted the other person with a fawning expression, but his eyes remained fixed on the deck, avoiding eye contact. He spoke enthusiastically:

"John Saint!"

"Ah."

John nodded, looking at Feld with a half-smile.

"We've received intelligence that this ship is carrying contraband strictly prohibited by the World Government. Would you mind having the Navy board and search the ship?"

"No problem at all! Please go ahead!"

Feld shook his head vigorously, then stepped aside to make way for them.

Before Feld could even say "I don't mind," John had already waved to the warship, and a gangplank was lowered from the ship's side, allowing marines to disembark from the merchant ship's deck.

Captain Reed, who was in charge, glanced at John and, after receiving a signal, led the marines in a thorough search of the merchant ship.

The actions were exceptionally rough, with frequent crashes and bangs of objects falling, making it sound like a pirate raid.

Feld, though furious, dared not speak out, forcing a smile and raising his head slightly.

"John Saint, may I ask what kind of terrible pirates have been discovered?"

He wanted to know where the news had leaked from.

John glanced at him sideways, still smiling, but his tone was icy.

"None of your business. Don't ask questions you shouldn't ask."

"Yes...it was my rudeness, please forgive my impoliteness." Cold sweat slid down Feld's forehead, and he dared not say another word.

Actually, this was a result of John's deliberate arrangement.

The real Vegapunk places an order on the black market, sending the goods to Punk Hazard to expose his tracks and lure Satan Saints to capture the clone Vegapunk.

It would be good to take this opportunity to swallow up this large shipment, so that the real Vegabank would have a lot of material about lineage factors, thus completing the plan to "destroy Ohara".

It was also thanks to Field's wisdom in throwing the contraband into the sea that John was willing to sink the entire three-masted sailing ship in order to obtain the goods.

In any case, the goods will sink into the sea and be taken away by the waiting fish-men and mermaids.

The shipment was swallowed up right under the noses of the supervisors sent by Satan.

"Oh, right."

John glanced at the white-cloaked figure stepping off the warship and asked Feld.

Where is your ship headed?

Upon hearing this, countless thoughts flashed through Feld's mind, and he ultimately decided to lie.

"I'm going to the Red Earth to take a bubble lift to see my friends in Mary Geoise."

"As for them..."

Feld looked up at the group of crew members who were waiting obediently not far away and shook his head.

"I'm just hitching a ride; I don't know where they're going."

He's currently in the Navy's hands, so they can't let the Navy know that he's secretly funding the research team led by Begabank. They can only make the crew take the blame.

Anyway, the families of these crew members were being held hostage by him, so they dared not betray him.

Chapter 145 Racing Against Time

"Is that so?"

Wearing a white cloak and an Easter bunny mask, CP0 stepped forward and waved to the group of crew members standing in a row.

Immediately, a tall, thin man who looked shy and even timid transformed into a completely different person, walking up to me with his head held high and standing straight.

"Sir, the ship's destination is Punk Hazard, and Feld is aware of this."