To lower the Sori family's guard, Colonel Hammond refrained from sending anyone to confront them again, making it seem as if the matter had been dropped.
Half a month later, Jay changed his outfit, concealing his Marine identity, and returned to his hometown, the Rose Kingdom.
Following Colonel Hammond's prior instructions, he found the hidden markers left along the way, leading him to a lively tavern.
Jay pulled down his hood, sat at the bar, and spoke casually to the bartender wiping a glass:
"A whiskey, three-quarters cola, extra ice."
The bartender responded with a neutral expression,
"Too many customers today, the ice is in the back."
With that, he got up and left, and Jay immediately followed.
Behind the door, a staircase extended downward. Jay took the oil lamp handed to him by the bartender and descended.
At the bottom was a spacious underground room.
There, a short man wearing a hat and scarf, clad in his favorite pinstripe suit, was dining with a knife and fork in hand, a classic mafia getup.
His meal consisted of steak and red wine, with a lit cigar resting beside him.
His eating manners were somewhat rough, ripping into a large piece of steak with just a few bites, then gulping down a glass of red wine.
Afterward, he yanked off the napkin from his chest, wiped his mouth, and tossed it onto the table before sticking the cigar back between his lips.
Only after all this did he finally look up at Jay, his eyes carrying a hint of disdain.
"Hammond only sent you alone?"
Screech!
Jay pulled out a chair without hesitation and sat down.
"Too many people, and you might piss yourself in fear."
"Kid, you're pretty arrogant. Even your superior wouldn't dare talk to me like that."
"Really? I don't believe it."
"..."
Capone Bege's tone faltered, and he started to regret coming in person.
For a moment, the atmosphere became eerily silent.
"Kid, what's your name?"
"Before asking someone else's name, isn't it polite to introduce yourself first? How utterly inelegant."
Creak... Creak...
Capone Bege, visibly displeased, bit down on his cigar so hard that it snapped, his teeth grinding audibly. He was itching to put a bullet in this irritating guy's head, but he couldn't gauge what Jay was relying on, so he dared not act rashly.
After all, the Capone family had always had a smooth and cooperative relationship with Colonel Hammond.
Ruining their partnership and trade over something so trivial would only benefit others.
At this crucial stage of consolidating control over the West Blue's underworld, he didn't want any unnecessary disruptions.
"Listen up, kid, I am the infamous Capone Bege!"
"Oh? Never heard of you. But it doesn't matter. I'm Nova Jay. Cherish this moment, this will be one of the few times in your life you get to talk to me as an equal. And one day, when you're old, this will be your proudest memory."
When it came to talking big, Jay feared no one.
Even Capone Bege was momentarily stunned, wondering just who the hell this guy was.
But then, he scoffed.
"If you ever join a circus, you'll be a star performer, clown."
"Say whatever you want. Three years… No, in less than two years, this name will make you tremble in fear and flee for your life. If you don't believe me, just wait and see."
Jay exuded an overwhelming confidence from within.
A mere Marine brat…
Capone Bege originally wanted to mock him further, but for some reason, he let it go.
"The operation will take place three nights from now. Someone will notify you then."
Capone Bege lit another cigar, signaling the end of the conversation.
Jay had no interest in lingering and left immediately.
It was clear that the plan Jay initially proposed had already been refined by Colonel Hammond.
Capone Bege had been recruited by Hammond to play the role of a 'pirate.' And to ensure everything went smoothly, entrusting the task to the Capone family, one of the five great mafia syndicates of the West Blue, was the safest bet.
This way, they could guarantee that not a single member of the Sori family would survive.
As for how Hammond and Bege planned to split the Sori family's wealth afterward, no outsiders would ever know.
Jay's role in all of this was simple:
He was the intermediary, facilitating communication between both parties.
And he would act as a witness when the spoils were divided, his presence meant to prevent the Capone family from pocketing too much for themselves.
Not that Jay alone could truly stop them. His presence would at most serve as a deterrent, keeping them from getting too greedy.
Once he understood this, Jay knew exactly what to do.
If they were going to skim off the top…
Perfect!
If they take some and he takes some, how could he take anything if nobody took anything?
Right?
Jay waited quietly at an inn for three days.
Finally, the time for action arrived.
Upon reaching the Sori family's estate, he immediately understood why the attack was scheduled for this specific night.
It was the Sori family's annual gathering!
Nearly every member of the Sori family had come together, strengthening bonds, consolidating resources, and expanding their influence.
It was clear why the Sori family had been able to rise in power.
But after tonight, they would cease to exist.
"Hold it right there! This is private prop"
Bang!
Capone Bege pulled the trigger without hesitation, killing the man on the spot.
Naturally, his brazen action triggered a wave of screams and alarmed shouts.
The Sori family's hired guards immediately drew their weapons, aiming at Bege and Jay.
A playful smirk spread across Capone Bege's face.
It was a smile directed at the guards, and at Jay.
He wanted to see if this kid would piss himself now that he was staring down the barrels of so many guns.
After all, their first meeting three days ago had left Bege feeling extremely annoyed.
But Jay's reaction both disappointed and surprised him.
Despite the many gun barrels pointed at him, Jay showed no fear, if anything, he looked around with curiosity.
Was he fearless because of his skill, or just plain reckless?
Bege was taken aback. More importantly, there was no time to hesitate.
"Open fire!"
A deafening barrage of gunfire erupted, accompanied by screams, as the guards fell one by one.
Jay noticed something peculiar, all the bullets were coming from Bege himself.
Capone Bege… so he already possesses the Castle-Castle Fruit's abilities.
Jay's lack of reaction earlier had a simple reason:
If Bege dared to storm the place alone, then he definitely had something up his sleeve.
The most likely explanation?
He had hidden his entire army inside his body!
T/N: Here the second extra chapter