"Lord Demon Dragon, you jest. Everyone who comes to purchase intelligence from the Theta Intelligence Organization for the first time finds our fees expensive," Taylor Warren replied with an unchanging smile.
Bege narrowed his eyes, staring intently at Taylor Warren without blinking, leisurely puffing on his cigar.
Under his unwavering gaze, Taylor Warren's expression began to shift, becoming subtly unnatural, even a little strained. Her eyes quickly darted away.
Suddenly, Bege burst into laughter. "Hahahaha! Interesting, very interesting! It seems Miss Taylor really can read my mind."
Just moments before, he had deliberately tested her, filling his mind with lewd and inappropriate thoughts directed at Taylor Warren, a barrage of absurd fantasies. And just as he'd suspected, her composure had momentarily slipped, revealing a crack in her facade.
The ability to read others' thoughts either meant Observation Haki developed to an extraordinary level, like that of Queen Otohime, or, more likely, Taylor possessed a Devil Fruit that allowed her to perceive inner thoughts.
Taylor swiftly regained her composure, offering another practiced smile. "Lord Demon Dragon, you have quite the sense of humor."
Bege gave her a long, meaningful look, which only made Taylor Warren appear more uncomfortable.
"I agree to the fifty million commission," Bege finally said, exhaling a thick plume of smoke. He then added, "Aside from the first request, I have another. I need your organization to find someone for me. His name is Caesar Clown, likely a Marine scientist. I need his current location."
"This request is somewhat complex," Taylor replied. "As you know, the Marines guard their scientists closely, and without knowing this particular scientist's rank or importance, determining the commission fee isn't straightforward. We will need to investigate before finalizing the price. For now, a deposit of ten million Belli will suffice."
Bege nodded. A castle gate opened on his chest, and a bag filled with Belli flew out, landing on the desk.
"Here's thirty million for the deposit on both commissions. I expect a prompt response from your organization."
Smiling, Taylor Warren retrieved a small Den Den Mushi from a desk drawer.
"Lord Demon Dragon, please take our contact Den Den Mushi. We will notify you immediately once we locate your targets."
Bege took the Den Den Mushi, examined it briefly, then stored it away. His gaze fell upon Taylor Warren once more. "Miss Taylor, are you truly unwilling to join my pirate crew?" he asked with a smile.
Taylor smiled back and shook her head, politely declining his invitation again.
"Miss Taylor, my offer stands indefinitely. If you ever change your mind, feel free to seek me out," Bege said, leaving her with those parting words before departing the office.
"Go outside. Don't let anyone approach this room." Taylor waved dismissively at the small giant guard, who promptly left.
Alone, Taylor sat down in her chair, crossing one snow-white leg over the other. She retrieved a different Den Den Mushi from her person and dialed.
Once the call connected, Taylor's expression turned serious.
"Demon Dragon Capone Bege has arrived in the New World. His current location is Mozzodo Island," she reported, proceeding to relay the details of Bege's commissions as well.
"Understood. I will contact you again later. Do not compromise your identity," a deep male voice responded from the other end before the call was disconnected.
Bege likely had no inkling that the largest underground intelligence organization in the New World had ties to the World Government.
The efficiency of the Theta Intelligence Organization was indeed astonishing. In just three short days, they located Merveille Island. After settling the remaining commission fee, Bege set off immediately.
While sailing across the open sea, he happened to encounter a pirate crew.
"The Desert Wolf Pirates. Captain Lilos has a bounty of 200 million, and one subordinate over 100 million," Bege observed, a smile spreading across his face as he eyed the distant pirate ship.
"Accelerate and approach them," Bege ordered immediately. Wind burst from the Breath Dials at the stern, propelling his small ship forward at increased speed.
"Captain! A small ship is approaching us!" a lookout on the Desert Wolf vessel quickly reported Bege's ship.
The captain of the Desert Wolf Pirates, Lilos, was a lean man with two curved swords strapped to his waist. His fierce gaze narrowed as he watched Bege's vessel draw near.
"Let them come closer, then kill them," Lilos ordered with a cruel smirk. His crew raised their weapons, cheering wildly.
"They're actually letting us approach willingly? Interesting," Bege chuckled, a sharp glint in his eyes. As the two vessels rapidly closed the distance, Bege leaped effortlessly across the gap, landing squarely on the deck of the Desert Wolf pirate ship.
Lilos's face instantly contorted in shock the moment he saw Bege. "Demon Dragon Capone Bege!"
"It's the Demon Dragon! Captain of the Fire Tank Pirates, Capone Bege!"
"What's a big shot like him doing here?!"
Panic spread through the pirate crew as they scrambled backward in fear.
"Lord Demon Dragon," Lilos stammered, quickly bowing his head respectfully. "I am Lilos, captain of the Desert Wolf Pirates, currently serving under Big Mom. How may we assist you?" Faced with such a notorious figure, Lilos dared not make a wrong move, desperately hoping Big Mom's name might offer some protection.
"Under Big Mom, are you?" Bege raised an eyebrow. While Big Mom wasn't yet officially one of the Four Emperors of the New World at this time, she was already a massively powerful force in these seas.
Bege's expression remained unchanged. "I'd like to borrow something from you."
"Anything we possess is yours for the taking, my lord," Lilos replied quickly, though his face flickered with apprehension before settling back into a respectful mask.
"I want your shadows," Bege said with a grin. He explained that the shadows he and Moria had collected were lost during the battle on the deserted island, and visiting the New World presented an opportunity to replenish their stock.
Lilos's expression turned grim, his demeanor darkening instantly. "Lord Demon Dragon," he said in a low, serious tone, "we serve Big Mom. If you kill us, she will not let you go unpunished."
"Out here on the vast sea, who's going to know it was me who killed you?" Bege replied dismissively.
Murderous intent flared in Lilos's eyes. He drew his curved swords, roaring, "Brothers! He plans to kill us! If we don't fight back, we die! We might as well take him down with us! There are enough of us; we can definitely kill him!"
"Kill him!" The pirates, living life on the edge, knew their situation was hopeless. If they were going to die, they might as well try to take their enemy with them. The crew frantically raised their guns and opened fire on Bege.
Hundreds of bullets rained down. Bege's figure flickered, effortlessly weaving through the barrage. Not a single bullet touched him.
Lilos roared and charged, slashing with his curved swords.
CLANG!
Lilos's eyes widened in disbelief. Bege had caught the incoming curved blade effortlessly in his bare hand.
Bege looked down at Lilos with utter contempt, as if observing an ant.
The next moment, a chilling cold swept over Lilos. A leg whipped through the air—a powerful roundhouse kick—slamming heavily into Lilos's stomach before he even had a chance to react.
"Puh..."
Blood sprayed violently as Lilos doubled over like a cooked shrimp, eyes bulging, face twisted in agony. He shot backward like a cannonball, smashing through the main mast on deck and crashing deep into the ship's cabin below.
"Pathetically weak," Bege scoffed.
The remaining pirates on deck stared, mouths agape, terror spreading rapidly through their ranks. Some of the more cowardly ones immediately leaped overboard into the sea.
A castle gate opened on Bege's chest, and Moria and several other crew members stepped out.
"These small fry are yours to practice on. Leave no survivors," Bege ordered, showing no desire to engage them himself. "Moria, cut down their shadows."
Bege's crew swarmed forward. Within moments, the deck was littered with mangled corpses, a gruesome, bloody scene.
Moria approached Bege, holding dozens of writhing shadows – those belonging to the stronger pirates aboard the ship. Bege took the few most potent shadows for himself. Moria expertly rolled the remaining shadows into compact balls and stuffed them into his pockets.
After thoroughly looting the ship's treasure stores, Bege and his crew set off once more.