Under the high, smog-stained walls of the steel factory, dozens of well-equipped soldiers patrolled continuously.
Their task was twofold: monitor any outsiders trying to get in, and monitor the miners inside to make sure they didn't get out.
Aside from blending in as a worker—a fate worse than death in Raleigh's opinion—there was hardly any other way to enter the high walls.
However, as the old saying goes, money makes the devil turn the millstone.
Or in this case, it makes a gullible Mafia boss do it for you.
Raleigh's "human resource redistribution" business—a lie so absurdly corporate he was proud of it—had ultimately won over Barena.
The Mafia boss, smelling a massive profit, had personally arranged for passes to enter and exit the high walls, as well as equipment to filter the toxic air.
Cleveland took the simple, bird-beak-like respirator mask handed to him by a member of the Mafia family.
He leaned in and whispered quietly to Raleigh, his voice vibrating with suppressed confusion.
"Boss... this Mafia leader... he really, genuinely seems to think you're a slave trader."
Hearing this, Raleigh said nothing.
He just gave Cleveland a long, slow, sidelong glance that clearly communicated, 'Yes, that's the point, you idiot. Now shut up before you blow it.'
"Raleigh-san, everything is arranged," Barena's voice rasped. "Let's set off."
The voice coming through the simple equipment had already changed.
They had all put on the respirator masks, and from their appearance alone, no one could recognize Raleigh now.
He just looked like another one of Barena's high-level, anonymous thugs.
The three of them, escorted by a few Mafia underlings, surged toward the high walls.
This was Raleigh's first time seeing this infamous structure up close.
He activated his Observation Haki, not out of fear, but out of professional curiosity.
He calmly observed and memorized the positions of every soldier, every mounted cannon, and the structural shape of the high walls.
"Halt! Who goes there?" A guard stationed at the massive city gate raised his flintlock rifle and aimed it at the group, shouting.
"Stop right there! If you don't, I'll kill every last one of you!"
The ever-defiant Joseph, Barena's minion who had been forked by Cleveland, stepped forward.
He pointed with the hand not wrapped in thick, bloody bandages.
"You bastard, can't you see? The Carlos family is handling business here!"
Upon hearing it was the Carlos family, the soldier quickly lowered his musket, his posture becoming much less aggressive.
But then, as if recalling a company handbook, he said with a troubled, almost pained expression.
"I'm... I'm sorry, sir. But our squad leader has a new rule. Any supervisor who misses both the morning and evening check-ins must have a day's wages deducted."
Barena, the supposedly feared Mafia boss, looked like he was about to have an aneurysm. He cursed repeatedly.
"Are you kidding me? Don't push your luck! Open the damn gate and let us in, or you'll regret it!"
"I know your squad leader! He just relies on his noble connections! I, Barena, wasn't raised to be scared off by threats about paychecks! Hurry up and open the gate!"
Raleigh, watching this all unfold, had to actively suppress a laugh.
A heavily-armed guard at a fortress of oppression, arguing about docked pay.
jThis place was a circus.
Under the immense pressure of Barena's tantrum, the soldier guarding the high wall had no choice but to let Raleigh and the other two in.
The area Raleigh entered this time was the steel factory, which was, in a relative sense, slightly "better" than the coal mining district.
Although the air was still heavily polluted, the people here had generally grown accustomed to it.
In fact, the mask Raleigh wore was something almost no one else had on.
Interestingly, the people here showed no fear toward supervisors.
They were sullen, but not cowed.
Even when Raleigh and Barena's group suddenly appeared before them, workers who were clearly lazing around didn't immediately jump to their feet.
They just... sort of... glared.
"Stubborn peasants," Barena complained to Raleigh, gesturing at the workers.
"All they know is slacking off and eating. They're so difficult to manage."
A flicker of surprise—and perhaps, respect—crossed Raleigh's face.
Just moments ago, he had used his Observation Haki to assess the surroundings.
The strongest individuals, in terms of sheer physical conditioning and latent power, were actually these very workers slacking off right in front of him.
'Why was that?' Though Raleigh pondered this internally, on the surface, he maintained his role as the slimy slave trader.
"Barena, you can't say that," Raleigh said, putting a "business-like" arm around the Mafia boss's shoulder.
"If your workers were diligent, capable, and hardworking... how would I ever sell you any slaves? Their laziness is our profit!"
"Hahahahaha! You're absolutely right, Raleigh-san! You really get it!"
At this thought, Barena resigned himself to the reality of the workers' laziness.
However, while Raleigh didn't mind, Barena still felt his authority had been challenged.
He stepped forward and, with a snarl, lashed out with the steel whip at his hip.
"Get the hell back to work!"
CRACK!
The steel whip snapped out... but was caught firmly in the bare, calloused hand of one of the workers.
The hatred in the worker's eyes, cold and deep, stirred a sudden, genuine sense of foreboding in Barena's heart.
"You... let go of the whip. Now." Barena ordered, his voice suddenly lacking its earlier bravado.
The worker didn't let go.
He pulled.
"Barena," the worker growled. "I thought it would take a while longer to get the chance to kill you. I didn't even know if I'd live to see that day." He grinned with a terrifying, bloody expression.
"Heaven has eyes you fool, for bringing yourself right to me. Die, you bastard!"
With a sudden, explosive burst of strength, the worker yanked Barena clean off his feet.
At the same time, the other "lazy" workers swarmed in, surrounding Barena, their movements fast and practiced.
Watching their seamless coordination from behind, Raleigh felt a twinge of genuine surprise.
'Oh, this is a professional job. Such teamwork couldn't have been honed in a short time. Impressive.'
If Raleigh wasn't mistaken, these were most likely the rebels.
Though Barena was strong for a North Blue mafia, being besieged by several powerful opponents at once left him struggling and overwhelmed.
"Ugh! Get off!" he screamed, before swallowing his pride.
Helpless, he had to turn to his new "business partner" for aid.
"Raleigh-san! Please, help me!"
Raleigh nodded thoughtfully.
Barena still had use.
It wasn't time for him to die. Yet.
"Cleveland," Raleigh said, his voice casual. "Go rescue Barena."
Without a word of hesitation, Cleveland charged into the crowd.
Despite the workers' considerable, surprising strength, they were no match for Cleveland, an elite Marine Captain.
In no time, the coordinated attack fell apart.
The workers were subdued, disarmed, and lay defeated on the ground.
"Phew... phew..." Barena straightened his torn, expensive clothes, his face pale.
"Barena, are you alright?" Cleveland asked, his voice flat. "Sorry... sorry you had to see that, Raleigh-san, Cleveland-san."
Although this incident didn't pose any serious threat to his life, it made him completely lose face.
Raleigh stepped forward, his expression thoughtful as he looked at the captured men.
"Is this the 'organization' you mentioned? The one that's been causing trouble?"
Barena, still breathing heavily, nodded and confirmed, "These guys... they're clearly from that organization."
Raleigh's interest grew.
He could tell these weren't ordinary, disorganized members.
These were trained fighters.
"Tie them up first," Raleigh said, deciding the fate of the workers with a wave of his hand.
"We'll take them for... interrogation... when we leave."
.....
As he continued his tour, members of the hidden Revolutionary army quickly found their leader, Karasu.
"Boss! Wali and the others... they've been captured by Barena! They're about to be taken to the High Wall!"
Hearing this, Karasu became extremely agitated, his high-pitched voice cracking.
"Wali? Captured?"
Wali was an old comrade, one who had survived with him for many years.
That he had fallen into Barena's hands was unbelievable.
"Wait, that's not right," Karasu squeaked, his mind racing. "Why would Barena dare to appear inside the High Wall? He's always been terrified of our organization!"
He turned to Dragon, who had been observing their network.
"Dragon-san, let's pause for now. I... I need to rescue my comrades." Karasu quickly followed the member outside.
After giving a few quick instructions to Swore and the others, Dragon followed right behind Karasu.
"If it's about rescuing comrades," Dragon's low voice rumbled, "then you wouldn't mind having extra help, would you?"
"Of course not, Dragon-san!" Karasu said, his reedy voice filled with gratitude. "I can't thank you enough!"
With the help of Karasu's Devil Fruit ability, both sides quickly closed in on Raleigh's group, moving through hidden tunnels.
Sensing the sudden, organized threat from beneath their feet, Raleigh, who had been lazily listening to Barena's bragging, suddenly called out.
"Watch your feet!"