"For this mission, only Shalnark and I will go," Chrollo announced to the group.
The task of stealing the Heavenly Tribute was too dangerous for a head-on assault. Intelligence indicated that the transport consisted of five warships carrying 400 elite Marines and Cipher Pol agents. This meant at least 2,000 soldiers and five officers of Captain rank or higher were guarding the perimeter. Smoker and Hina were only part of the equation.
Worse yet, there were members of CP0—the strongest and most secretive branch of the Cipher Pol organization, reporting directly to the Celestial Dragons. Every CP0 agent had mastered the Six Powers (Rokushiki), possessing combat strength easily rivaling a Marine Captain.
Chrollo had no intention of barging in blindly. Furthermore, Uvogin and Smoker had already developed a grudge; Chrollo feared that the big man might see red and ignore orders if things got heated. Uvogin wasn't Smoker's match yet—now wasn't the time for a rematch.
"No way—I'm going too!" Bonney waved her arms frantically from the back of the crowd, terrified of being left behind.
"You?"
Bonney put her hands on her hips. "How can the one who provided the intel miss out? Besides..." She rolled her eyes playfully. "Without me, do you even know the secret location where the transaction is happening?"
Chrollo admitted she had a point and nodded. "However, Shalnark and I both have ways to stay hidden. Do you have a way to avoid detection?"
A look of supreme confidence crossed Bonney's face. "Of course~ That's what I'm best at!"
---
A secret harbor on the west coast of the Sorbet Kingdom.
Five white warships flying the peace dove flag were docked at the pier. Marine soldiers were busy carrying crate after crate of treasure from the shore to the ships under heavy guard. These riches were the lifeblood of the common people, squeezed out through agonizing taxes. The Celestial Dragons relied on this "blood bread" to maintain their grip on the world.
"How many crates left?" a Sergeant Major asked, opening a box to inspect it. He nodded in satisfaction only after seeing the golden glint inside.
"Just... finished the treasure," a soldier replied.
"Next... is gold... and iron ore." The soldier's expression was strangely dull, his movements wooden.
"What's with you? Look like you haven't slept in a week. Snap out of it and get moving," the Sergeant barked, waving him through.
The Sergeant didn't notice a small antenna-like object stuck into the back of the soldier's neck, hidden by his collar.
About 500 meters away in the tall grass, Chrollo's team was watching. Shalnark was busy checking data on his phone.
"Well?" Chrollo asked.
"Treasure is on the first ship. Fine wine and gold on the second. The Sea Prism Stone we're after is classified as mineral ore; it's being loaded onto the third ship. The last two have miscellaneous goods," Shalnark reported, ticking them off on his fingers. "By the way, the smoke guy and the cage lady are on ships two and three. I also sense about a dozen enemies with significant auras across the fleet."
Chrollo narrowed his eyes. As expected. It was a good thing they hadn't chosen a frontal assault.
While they talked, Bonney was leaning over Shalnark's shoulder, staring at his phone. "What is that thing? Let me see! Let me see!"
"This?" Shalnark smiled and held the phone out. "This is my ability: [Black Voice]. One of its sub-functions is called 'Carrying the Fate of Others.' By sticking an antenna into someone, I can turn them into my puppet."
Bonney took the phone, poking and prodding it. "What's a 'phone'?"
Shalnark looked at her with genuine pity. "They don't have phones on the Dark Continent? You poor thing... It's a device used to dial numbers and communicate with people far away."
"Oh!" Bonney realized. She used her hands to mimic a shape. "Like a Den Den Mushi! We use snail-like bugs that do the same thing. They even make the same facial expressions as the person on the other end."
"A bug... used for calling?" Shalnark tilted his head, looking like a confused Psyduck.
Chrollo stepped in to stop the conversation before it derailed further. They were here to steal, not to discuss telecommunications.
"Bonney, you said you had a way to lure the officers off the ships. You're up."
Bonney handed the phone back, patted the dust off her overalls, and stood up. "Watch and learn~"
Poof—
Accompanied by a swirl of smoke, her body began to shrink. Under their watchful gaze, she transformed into a frail, elderly woman. She wrapped a cloak around herself, leaned on a cane, and began hobbling toward the Marine perimeter.
Chrollo watched with a look of recognition. He remembered that in the original story, Bonney had infiltrated Mary Geoise by disguising herself as her own grandmother, the Queen Dowager Connie of the Sorbet Kingdom. With such a noble identity, Smoker and the others would be forced to disembark to greet her.
"Using her grandmother's identity to cause trouble... what a filial granddaughter," Chrollo remarked.
---
"Who goes there?!"
As the Marines saw a figure slowly approaching the warships, they raised their rifles.
"Ah! It's the Queen Dowager Connie! Your Majesty, what brings you here?" A soldier recognized her and rushed back to the ship to report.
"Captain Smoker, Queen Connie has arrived."
Shortly after, Smoker and Hina, followed by three Lieutenants, disembarked and walked over.
"What brings you here, Your Majesty?" Smoker asked, bowing slightly out of respect for the ruler of the Sorbet Kingdom. Marines like Smoker were brutal toward pirates, but they maintained proper etiquette toward the elderly—especially Kuma's mother.
The CP0 agents, however, remained hidden. They reported only to the Celestial Dragons and felt no reverence for the rulers of lesser kingdoms.
"I... cough... I suddenly remembered," Bonney said in a raspy voice. "There is one more treasure in the kingdom that should be offered to the Great Descendants of the Gods. I came as fast as I could."
"Is that necessary?" Smoker picked at his ear. He already disliked the collection of the Heavenly Tribute and was only here to catch that "giant ship." He didn't want to see the Sorbet Kingdom lose even more. "My men have already tallied the amount; it's more than enough for this year."
"No, this treasure must go to the Celestial Dragons... the Sorbet Kingdom cannot afford the consequences of keeping it."
Bonney slowly lifted her head. "The treasure is... a Poneglyph."
"..." Smoker's lazy attitude vanished instantly.
"!!!"
---
Bonney has dropped a bombshell!