Hearing Ortoren's words, Shakky let out an awkward, embarrassed laugh. "Haha, young man, you make it sound like we're strangers..."
Ortoren walked over to a stone block at the harbor pier, sat down, and said, "So what, this call is just to catch up with me? Nothing you actually need help with?"
Shakky gave a weary sigh, adjusted her tone, and finally said, "Alright, I'll be honest. We do have something we'd like your help with..."
"Two hundred billion," Ortoren said flatly.
Shakky: ???
After a stunned pause, she asked incredulously, "I haven't even said what the favor is, and you're already asking for two hundred billion Berries?"
"Hey, let's get this straight. One of you is the former captain of the Kuja Pirates, and the other is none other than Silvers Rayleigh, the Dark King, right hand of the Pirate King himself. You're both big-name pirates. Last time we crossed paths, I didn't arrest you—that was already giving you plenty of face, wasn't it? I promised not to bother you afterward, and I kept that promise. Now you two pirates come asking a Marine like me for help, and I'm supposed to do it for free? Asking for some money is hardly unreasonable!" Ortoren said with righteous confidence.
Then, before Shakky could respond, he added, "And don't forget—helping pirates is a direct violation of Marine regulations, not to mention a betrayal of my own sense of justice. If I go through with this, I'll have to face both my conscience and Marine Headquarters' scrutiny. Without two hundred billion, I couldn't even convince myself to do it..."
"This extortion tavern should have you as its boss instead of me..." Shakky muttered through gritted teeth after a pause.
"This little sum isn't something Madam Shakky would lose sleep over, is it?" Ortoren teased with a smile.
After all, Shakky had been running her rip-off bar in Sabaody for years, dealing in intelligence, and before that, she was a Great Pirate herself. There was no way she didn't have savings. Two hundred billion wasn't pocket change, but it wouldn't cripple her either—it was just the insult that stung.
The Den Den Mushi went silent. Ortoren wasn't in any rush. Calmly, he said, "Why don't you think it over. Once you've made up your mind, call me back."
He was about to hang up when Shakky finally spoke again. "Two hundred billion isn't impossible. But I can't just agree blindly. You'll have to hear me out first. If you can actually get us the information we need, or resolve this matter, then I'll have Old Ray deliver the two hundred billion to G-5 personally!"
Ortoren casually pulled a cigarette from his pocket, placed it in his mouth, lit it with a flash of sparks, and exhaled a slow stream of smoke before replying with a smile. "Madam Shakky, you're well connected in the underworld. If there's one thing I take pride in, it's my business reputation. You should know that by now, right?"
"Exactly. That's why we came to you," Shakky answered with a light laugh.
It was true. Ortoren had plenty of flaws—he was greedy, extortionate, shameless, and far from the image of a just Marine. But everyone who had ever worked with him knew one thing: once paid, he delivered. His business credibility was solid.
"Well then, let's hear it." Ortoren raised an eyebrow. "What do you need my help with?"
Shakky didn't waste any more time. She said softly, "You know who I am, so you also know I come from Amazon Lily. This matter concerns Amazon Lily..."
At that, Ortoren immediately realized—most likely Boa Hancock had gone missing.
Sure enough, after he exhaled another puff of smoke, Shakky continued, "To be frank, the Crown Princess of Amazon Lily disappeared on Kuja Island. Our investigation suggests she was captured by a passing slave-hunting crew, but after that, we lost the trail. Word has it, Vice Admiral Benn, that you have deep connections in the underworld and strong influence with the World Government. You're well-informed. So we're asking for your help—to confirm the Crown Princess's condition and find out where she is now..."
Ortoren gave a short acknowledgment, but didn't say anything more.
Madam Shakky went on to explain: the royal heirs of Amazon Lily were three sisters—Boa Hancock, Boa Sandersonia, and Boa Marigold.
Hancock, the eldest, was only twelve years old. Exceptionally gifted, she had been personally named by the recently deceased Empress of Kuja Island as her successor.
The information Shakky shared wasn't particularly detailed. Ortoren already knew most of it, so he simply responded here and there without showing much surprise.
When she finished, Shakky asked, "I want to confirm her whereabouts and condition. Can you help with that?"
"I can't promise you anything... wait for my word," Ortoren replied casually before cutting the Den Den Mushi connection.
On the Sabaody Archipelago, Shakky stared at the now silent Den Den Mushi, then glanced at Gloriosa before finally turning to Rayleigh. "Do you think he can manage it?"
"Whether he can or not, it's still worth a try... We don't have a better option, do we?" Rayleigh said, taking a swig of his drink and shaking his head.
...
Meanwhile, after hanging up, Ortoren quickly placed a call to Doflamingo.
At that moment, Doflamingo was happily eating hotpot and singing in Dressrosa. The instant he saw Ortoren's call, his whole body tensed. He immediately turned to Trebol. "What about the thirty billion Berries we arranged to send to G-5?"
"It's already been sent along with the last shipment. Diamante is escorting it personally, and with our flag plus G-5's deterrence, there shouldn't be a problem," Trebol replied in his trademark sticky drawl.
Doflamingo finally exhaled in relief. After composing himself, he picked up the Den Den Mushi and said with a smile, "Fufufufufufu... Vice Admiral Benn, what can I do for you?"
"Ahahaha..." Ortoren greeted with a booming laugh before speaking. "Doffy, I need to ask you something..."
Hearing that, Doflamingo completely relaxed. At least it wasn't another request for money. His Donquixote Family might have been wealthy, but even they couldn't endure endless loans that were never repaid.
Since it wasn't about money, he felt much lighter and replied cheerfully, "What is it?"
"If I'm not mistaken, your Donquixote Family used to dabble in the slave trade, didn't you?" Ortoren asked offhandedly.
From what he remembered, they had indeed been involved, even backing a so-called "employment agency" on the Sabaody Archipelago.
Hearing that, Doflamingo's first thought was that Ortoren was calling him out. While he had collaborated with Ortoren in slave-related dealings, those had been Impel Down convicts—pirates stripped of all rights, free to exploit however they pleased.
But Ortoren was a Marine bigwig, and Doflamingo had been trying to clean up his image. If the Marine brass took issue with the trade, it could be trouble.
So Doflamingo quickly said, "That's all ancient history, Vice Admiral Benn. Back in the North Blue, I was young and arrogant, didn't know what lines could and couldn't be crossed, so I got involved in the slave trade. But ever since being inspired by you and gathering under the banner of justice, I've never touched that business again. These days, the Donquixote Family deals mainly in smuggling and brokerage..."
Seeing him rush to explain, Ortoren interrupted, "You've misunderstood. I'm not here to settle old accounts. I just want to ask—have any of the slave-hunting crews you know recently captured anyone from Amazon Lily in the Calm Belt? Help me check. I'm looking for three sisters."
Relieved, Doflamingo immediately agreed. "I have plenty of connections in that area. I'll make some inquiries right away and track them down for you."
"That would be a big help," Ortoren replied with a smile.
He knew the Hancock sisters were destined to end up in Mary Geoise, but that was only based on memory. With all the changes caused by his interference, who could say? Doflamingo wasn't even running the slave trade anymore—unexpected outcomes were entirely possible.
What if the sisters never made it to Mary Geoise at all?
That was why, while keeping his original knowledge in mind, Ortoren chose to start with Doflamingo and see what could be uncovered.
But there was one concern that lingered in his mind... if he interfered and changed the Hancock sisters' fate, would Hancock still end up obtaining the Devil Fruit that suited her so perfectly—the Paramecia-type Mero Mero no Mi?
...
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