Chapter 85: Vander Decken, Caught!
Meeting with the world’s most dangerous criminal was just a small interlude on the journey. Elus rejected the invitation to join the Revolutionary Army, but reached a verbal cooperation agreement with Dragon. As long as the upcoming negotiations don’t fall apart, the Eckmond Kingdom will likely supply the Revolutionary Army with supplies to support Dragon’s rebellion against Celestial Dragon rule.
Detailed negotiation work is handled by specialists. Dragon, as the leader, has no extra time to waste on such trivial matters. These things can’t be finalized in a short time, and Elus also lacks relevant officials.
Such matters are better handled after returning to the country.
“Mister Dragon, I’m coming in.”
The coated ship sailed out of Fish-Man Island, leaving the island wrapped in bubbles behind. Sabo carried a pot of hot water into the Captain’s Room.
“The hot water is here!”
“Sabo, thanks for your hard work.”
“This is nothing? It’s just a few extra steps.”
Dragon sat at the desk, flipping through documents sent from below—via Den Den Mushi fax machine. The Revolutionary Army’s operations span widely: New World, Paradise, Four Seas, with Revolutionary Army Officers active everywhere. He, as the leader, was naturally swamped,
Even with the help of numerous Army Commanders and Staff Officers to share the load, the documents requiring Dragon’s personal review were still piled like a mountain.
Dragon finished reviewing a document, confirmed no issues, signed his name at the bottom, and placed it in another stack of processed files. As he reached for a new one, he noticed the young man standing at the door without leaving.
“Sabo, is there something else?”
Seeing Sabo’s hesitant and uncertain expression, Dragon put down the sign pen and turned around.
“Mister Dragon.”
“Cooperating with the Black Prince······ is there no problem?”
Sabo mustered his courage and finally voiced the question that had been troubling him since leaving the coffee shop.
“The Black Prince is a Seven Warlord, a lackey of the World Government······ Even if he has hidden ambitions, we can’t guarantee he won’t betray us to the World Government. And for long-term cooperation, it feels like bargaining with a tiger— the risk······ is quite high!”
“······ Is this your own idea?”
Dragon asked.
“Ah? Yes, yes it is.”
Sabo nodded.
“Good!”
A smile appeared on Dragon’s face. “I like thinking things through; it’s a great habit.”
Sabo scratched his head, a bit at a loss, unsure how to react. He had thought asking such a question challenging Mister Dragon’s decision would earn him a scolding! Instead, he got inexplicable praise.
Truly inexplicable.
“I understand your concerns. To be honest······ I rushed this. I shouldn’t have been so hasty.” Dragon clenched his fist. “Just observe a bit longer. Now······ what a pity! Truly a pity!”
He was still regretting not recruiting Elus into the team.
Elus, the Fifth Overlord of the New World, not only had exceptional personal martial power, but his influence was also quite vast. If Elus could be won over, the Revolutionary Army’s forces could expand instantly.
“Sabo, don’t worry.”
Dragon restrained his emotions. Looking at this talented young man who excelled in martial training and handling affairs, his disappointed mood improved slightly. Failing to recruit Elus was regrettable, but with Sabo as a successor, there was no need to be too downhearted.
“Cooperation with the Black Prince doesn’t have to start immediately. We’ll negotiate slowly, observe slowly. We have plenty of time to confirm if the Black Prince is a suitable partner. And I didn’t say we must cooperate with him.”
“Right now, it’s just a verbal agreement. How far it goes afterward is uncertain—maybe it works, maybe not. For now, no need to fear the Black Prince pulling tricks.” Dragon explained patiently, sharing his considerations with Sabo.
Finally, he smiled and added:
“Besides, for such a major event, by the rules, we must solicit opinions from the Army Commanders and Staff Officers. Sabo, no need to worry I’ll make an irrational decision with a clouded head!”
“Heh heh!”
Sabo felt a bit embarrassed. “Mister Dragon, I was overthinking it.”
“No, I’m glad you’re willing to think so deeply.” Dragon encouraged him instead of discouraging, his mind turning to an idea. “Right, Sabo, how about you take charge of the negotiations with the Eckmond Kingdom?”
“Eh? Me in charge?”
Sabo was stunned.
“Such a big matter, I’ve never tried it before.” As one of the most outstanding young people in the Revolutionary Army, Sabo had not only received Dragon’s guidance in martial training but had gradually begun participating in Revolutionary Army work two years ago, no longer just a child being groomed.
In over two years, Sabo had accumulated considerable work experience, but mostly as a participant under command, never fully in charge.
“What? Scared?”
“How could I be?”
Sabo puffed out his chest, a brilliant smile like the sunrise on his face. He wasn’t one to get stage fright; on the contrary, being directly responsible for a mission excited him, his heart racing with eagerness. “Mister Dragon, I’ll handle this well.”
He declared confidently.
“I look forward to your results.”
Dragon chuckled and waved his hand.
Sabo didn’t linger this time; he left the Captain’s Room and closed the cabin door.
The small room was left with only Dragon.
“Sabo······ has grown up!” Dragon stood, stretching his stiff neck. He picked up the empty teacup, went to the hot water pot, refilled the cup with hot water, and sipped the scalding boiling water slowly.
Back when he rescued Sabo in the East Blue, he was just a tiny little kid.
In the blink of an eye, seven years had passed, and Sabo was already 17.
Dragon gazed at the steaming hot water, his wandering thoughts drifting further, recalling his son left in his hometown. Luffy should be 14 this year, right? All these years, he’d poured all his energy into Revolutionary Army work, never able to visit his son······
Actually, at first, he planned to keep Luffy by his side and raise him personally.
But his stubborn father stopped him. Unwilling to oppose his father, he wasn’t a match for his monster of a father back then. The nascent Revolutionary Army couldn’t withstand punches from a Navy Hero.
With no choice, he left Luffy in his hometown Windmill Village.
Of course, though he had no time to visit personally, he asked hometown friends to look after Luffy and regularly checked his latest situation via Den Den Mushi····· From the intelligence he had, Luffy wasn’t being groomed into an excellent Marine; instead, he wanted to become a Pirate······
Speaking of which,
That Fire Fist recently seems to be Luffy’s sworn brother?
Perhaps he could provide a little help to this Fire Fist in the New World?
————
Fish-Man Island.
Mermaid Coffee Shop.
With the Revolutionary Army leader and officers gone, many seats opened up. As expected of Coral Hill’s famous shop, the empty seats were quickly filled by new customers. Elus was still at his original spot, tackling a new serving of eel pie.
He was conquered by this plainly presented but delicious gourmet food.
This was already his fifth eel pie. Fortunately, there were plenty of big-eater types among the Fish-Men, and the beautiful mermaid waitresses weren’t surprised at all, thoughtfully refilling his cup several times. The coffee milk made with Sea Cow’s Milk was quite tasty too.
At that moment—
The Den Den Mushi rang.
“Bru Bru!”
Fran took the Den Den Mushi from her maid outfit pocket, glanced at it, and said: “It’s Miss Isca.”
“You take it.”
As he spoke, Elus waved his knife and fork, continuing to focus on eating the eel pie.
Fran picked up the microphone on the Den Den Mushi’s back and said softly: “Miss Isca, have you found something?”
“······Fran?”
Isca on the other end paused slightly before matching the voice to her memory.
“It’s me, Miss Isca. Do you have a message for Your Highness? If it’s not convenient for me to relay, please wait a moment; I’ll bring the Den Den Mushi to His Highness······” Fran’s words were cut off by the wine glass.
“No need.”
“It’s not a big deal.”
Isca said gravely: “We’ve already captured Vander Decken. We’re now heading back to the island; it’ll take a bit over an hour to return to Fish-Man Island.”
“Already captured?”
Fran blinked, a bit surprised.
She knew what Isca had gone to do. Vander Decken, the criminal wanted by Fish-Man Island for five or six years without capture······ How was he caught so fast? They set out just yesterday, less than a day had passed······
“Yes, Vander Decken. The Sea King Army of Ryugu Kingdom confirmed the target; it should be correct.”
“Miss Isca, please wait; I’ll relay to His Highness right away.”
Fran covered the microphone with her hand and looked at Elus still eating eel pie. “Your Highness, Miss Isca has successfully captured Vander Decken and is returning to Fish-Man Island······ Should we do something?”
“Pretty fast!”
Elus remained calm.
This outcome was destined from the start. With Observation Haki, as long as Isca patiently spent time sweeping around Fish-Man Island, she would eventually track Vander Decken. But according to Elus’s prior estimate,
If lucky, maybe three to five days to find Vander Decken; if unlucky, ten days to half a month for results.
Turns out Isca’s luck was exceptionally strong; less than 24 hours and she’d already brought Vander Decken back······ Unbelievably fast.
“Have her bring him straight back.”
Elus swallowed the last piece of eel pie, picked up the cup for two sips of coffee milk, and continued: “Ignore other matters; bring Vander Decken back intact to Fish-Man Island. Right, if the Sea King Army wants to take custody, hand him over to them for safekeeping.”
Vander Decken was originally a gift to Ryugu Kingdom to show alliance sincerity. This pervert trash who liked little girls— Elus didn’t care about him. If not handing him to Ryugu Kingdom, he’d have told Isca to kill him outright.
Fran relayed Elus’s opinion verbatim.
······
Southeast of Fish-Man Island, at a position about an hour-plus voyage away, a massive Bald Sea Monster was dragging over ten warships flying the Golden Coffee Tree Flag forward.
Isca stood on the flagship’s deck. Before her was a four-legged, ugly broad-striped tiger shark Fish-Man bound in Seastone Handcuffs. This guy was Vander Decken, Ability User of the Target-Target Fruit, who used his Devil Fruit power to terrorize the mermaid princess for years, keeping her from going out.
Too bad his ability threatened the unawakened mermaid princess, but was useless against Isca.
One sword,
Just one sword sliced Vander Decken’s pirate ship in half, even splitting the coating. The surging seawater flooded in, draining the dumbfounded Vander Decken of his strength to use his ability. Sea King Army soldiers swarmed him and cuffed him with Seastone Handcuffs.
Bald Sea Monster,
The giant tiger puffer Fish-Man currently towing their ship for Isca seemed to be Vander Decken’s subordinate, tried to rescue him, but got thoroughly thrashed by Isca with her Armament Haki-infused sword scabbard, tamed on the spot. This dim-witted brute ended up replacing the sea beasts to help tow the ship.
“Humans, damn humans, daring to ruin my fun. I’ll curse you all; I’ll curse you to a miserable end.”
With his ability and strength suppressed by Seastone, Vander Decken could only curse verbally. He glared at Isca who severed his pirate ship with one sword, racking his brain for curses. But as a shut-in Fish-Man bad at interacting, hiding in corners plotting all these years with only the dim Bald Sea Monster as a subordinate······
Truthfully, he truly didn’t know many curse words.
Just repeating “curse you to a miserable end” and such. To Isca, accustomed to battling pirates spewing filth, it was like a spring breeze.
She ended the call, pocketed the Den Den Mushi, considered Elus’s orders, shifted her gaze from Vander Decken to the Sea King Army officer standing nearby, repeatedly glancing sneakily at Vander Decken.
“General Hatel.”
She greeted the ribbonfish Fish-Man.
“Second Lieutenant Isca.”
The ribbonfish Fish-Man named Hatel hurried over, nodding and bowing politely. By rank, Hatel was a General while Isca was just a minor Second Lieutenant, but unfortunately not the same country— Hatel’s general rank didn’t apply over Isca’s head.
Especially after seeing Isca’s one-sword ship-breaking power in these deep seas, he dared not act superior, speaking carefully.
“Vander Decken, trouble you to take custody.”
She handed over the captured prey.
Hatel blinked, confirmed Isca wasn’t joking, then excitedly directed his subordinates to securely restrain Vander Decken. He couldn’t wait to “entertain” this bastard who kept Princess indoors for so many years.
