Back on the Ship
Weiss had returned to the ship, where the two men were locked in a heated scuffle. After getting the rundown from Karina—the bystander turned commentator—another spectator was added to the peanut gallery on deck.
"Jack, aim for the eyes! That's your chance, right there!"
"Kadun, quick—grab his ears, jab his nose! Ugh, too slow, too slow."
Weiss took a sip of coconut juice in disappointment, as if his advice hadn't made a difference, then joined in the cheering again. Karina, meanwhile, covered her face in embarrassment, pretending she didn't know who the captain was.
After a round of bickering and sparring, the two men finally stopped.
"You weakling. How do you expect to survive on the high seas like that?"
"You gloomy bastard. How are you ever going to find a girlfriend with that attitude? Want me to set you up?"
"Alright, alright! How long are you two going to argue? Are we eating or not?" Karina snapped, cutting them off before the bickering resumed.
---
Groo's Manor
Inside Groo's Manor, Matt stood before a villa. He pushed the door open, climbed the stairs, and paused at a corner landing. He tapped on the wall several times.
Click—
A mechanical whir sounded, and a hidden door emerged from the wall.
Matt took a deep breath and stepped through the concealed entrance into darkness.
In the narrow passage, only his footsteps echoed. A faint, dim light barely revealed the outline of a human figure.
Suddenly, the space lit up.
A grand underground hall appeared before him—ornate, dazzling, bright as day under the brilliant lights.
Groo was sitting on a sofa.
This was his hidden sanctuary beneath the estate.
They had lied to Weiss earlier. None of the above-ground villas were truly Groo's residence. This underground palace had always been the real one. Only two people knew of its existence. Even the builders had been… dealt with.
On the table before Groo sat a box.
Matt's pupils shrank the moment he saw it. He was shocked that Groo would leave that out in the open.
A Paramecia-type Devil Fruit—the Coordinate Fruit—meant as payment to Weiss.
"He refused," Matt said after a long breath.
"I expected as much," Groo replied calmly, unsurprised.
"Then it's time we move forward with the plan," Groo said, voice steady.
Matt's face changed drastically. "Are we really doing this? If we go that far and they find out, we won't have the slightest chance of surviving. The entire family will collapse in an instant."
"I'll do the assassination. I can guarantee it'll go off without a hitch," Matt insisted. It was just one Celestial Dragon's steward—did they really need to start a riot over that?
"No. You're my most valued subordinate. I won't risk you. If you're exposed, the Celestial Dragons will intervene directly. That won't just be destruction—it'll be annihilation."
"You're willing to sacrifice three hundred years of family legacy in one day?" Matt was stunned.
"There's no other way. That man—what he desires, he gets. Do you think someone like him could elevate his family to this level in just thirty years by being just a steward?"
"I knew from the moment I met him—he wasn't content with where he stood. I just didn't expect he'd ally himself with the Celestial Dragons."
"He even agreed to become their servant just to protect his advantage. That kind of boldness? Rare. You must understand—even a steward to the Celestial Dragons could be killed at any moment. But he's done it for twenty years."
"The risk paid off. With the Celestial Dragons' power behind him, he's done things others couldn't even dream of."
"During that time, his family grew rapidly—swallowing up other clans across the seas with ruthless precision."
"And now, he's set his eyes on the Groo family business. Do you think he'll just walk away? Everything he's targeted, he's acquired. The only option is to eliminate him. Even if it means dragging down the entire Canopy Island with him."
"Do you really think the Celestial Dragon came to this island to sightsee? This place isn't a tourist destination—it's just a materials production base."
"No, he came because that steward told him our headquarters is here. Who knows what trick he used to lure that pig here?"
"Mark my words—tomorrow, the moment that Celestial Dragon steps off the ship, he'll be headed straight for us."
Matt frowned. "But we don't have anything that would interest a Celestial Dragon. If they're disappointed, it's the steward who deceived them who'll die."
"Exactly. And that's his plan. He'll twist the story and tell them we're refusing to offer what they want. Then what do you think will happen?"
"That's such a stupid lie. Who would believe it?" Matt asked, skeptical.
"Hahaha. You're overestimating those pigs. They will believe it. Then he'll give them a grand firework show—enough to calm their anger."
"When we're dead, that bastard steward can simply step in and take over everything we built." Groo's voice remained calm, his eyes half-closed, as though he were discussing the weather—not a life-or-death plot.
"That's why we need chaos. We need everyone on Canopy Island to be part of it. A riot powerful enough to shake even the Celestial Dragons. If we can pull that off—he's dead, no matter what."
"But… no one would dare…"
"They just don't have enough incentive. Go to the third row of the bookshelf, lift the books, and bring out the box hidden behind."
Though puzzled, Matt did as he was told. Behind the row of books was a secret compartment. When he opened it, his pupils shrank and he gasped. "Impossible…"
Inside sat five Devil Fruits—Zoan-types—quiet and radiant, burning with allure.
For a moment, Matt was tempted. But that impulse was extinguished just as quickly.
He took out the five fruits and placed them on the table. The sheer impact of the sight defied description.
Devil Fruits were valued at a minimum of 100 million Berries—low-end. As far as Matt knew, none sold for under 300 million now.
This cache alone was worth 1.5 billion Berries.
Add the Paramecia-type Coordinate Fruit—that's over 2.5 billion Berries in total.
But it still wasn't enough.
"It's still not enough," Matt muttered. "The Celestial Dragons are too terrifying."
"I know. That's why we need a lie—a lie about stolen Devil Fruits. These six fruits will be the evidence."
"Soon, it won't just be Canopy Island. The entire Grand Line will be in an uproar. What does a single Celestial Dragon matter in that storm?"
"One of the 'All Stars' of the Beasts Pirates is already en route. When he sees his Devil Fruit being fought over, how do you think he'll react? He'll go berserk."
"With pirates rampaging, one of the All Stars present, and a rising young swordmaster caught in the fray… the Navy will be forced to send an Admiral."
"And when that happens—that steward is finished. That's when we move in and swallow their entire operation." Groo's voice fell silent.
Matt was utterly speechless. He had thought the plan was just to kill the steward—nothing more.
He never imagined that Groo intended to devour the entire empire behind him.
---
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