"Joker?!"
The sudden mention of that familiar name made Cross widen his eyes in shock. He shot a sharp glance at General Humil but held his tongue.
He hadn't asked many questions earlier, he only knew that the high-ranking officials of the Tobias Kingdom had been referred to an underground arms dealer known as "the Postman" through a middleman. That connection was how they'd ended up in the Lvneel Kingdom for this transaction.
But he hadn't expected that the so-called middleman would turn out to be that guy—Joker.
It seemed that even at this stage, Donquixote Doflamingo was already weaving his underground network across the North Blue, gradually integrating the dark world under his control.
"Joker and the Postman, huh…"
At that moment, the shirtless man standing nearby gave them a strange grin. He swept his eyes mockingly over Humil, Cross, and the others before finally speaking.
"Come with me. 'Postman'… is just inside."
With that, he turned and walked toward the large red-brick warehouse.
General Humil hesitated, casting a nervous look at Cross. Only when Cross nodded in reassurance did he muster the courage to follow.
Though a general of the kingdom, Humil knew his strength meant little on this vast sea, especially here in the unfamiliar territory of the Lvneel Kingdom. With only a dozen royal guards accompanying him, he felt anything but secure.
As they walked, dozens, perhaps over a hundred, ruffians began to gather around the red-brick warehouse, laughing and jeering. Their faces were twisted with amusement and scorn, as if watching something hilariously pathetic.
The cruel sneers, exposed scars, and tattoos all over their bodies made the guards extremely tense, fearing they might be attacked at any moment.
"Hey~ you think they'll be shocked when they see who the Postman really is?"
"Since Hart-san's personally leading them in, things are about to get real fun!"
"Check it out, there's even a brat among them!"
"Heh, that kid's got a nice face. Sell him to some pervy noble or rich freak, and we'd make a killing!"
"…"
Cross's brow furrowed. He remained silent, but the fury in his heart blazed hotter with every word he overheard.
If not for the weight carried by the name "Joker," he would've drawn his blade and cut these bastards down right there.
Before long, guided by the shirtless man, Cross, General Humil, and the rest of their party stepped inside the red-brick warehouse.
The place was massive, easily the size of two basketball courts. Along the walls, hundreds of long wooden crates were stacked, likely filled with weapons. In the center of the space, large shapes covered in brown tarpaulin hinted at heavier artillery, probably cannons.
But what caught Cross's eye most was the dried blood staining the warehouse floor, now a rust-brown crust. Even more disturbing, a mutilated corpse still hung in midair a few meters ahead, blood dripping slowly from deep, bone-revealing gashes. A grimy white rope dangled the body from the rafters above.
"Kunhahahaha~!"
A loud, booming laugh rang out.
From the far end of the warehouse strode a towering man over three meters tall, a black coat with golden embroidery draped over his shoulders. His bare chest was crisscrossed with old battle scars. He wore dark blue jeans and black combat boots, his entire physique like that of a bipedal beast. Every step radiated raw dominance.
But the moment General Humil saw him, his expression turned ashen.
"No way… He's the Postman?! Are you kidding me?!"
"What is it?" Cross asked, lowering his voice as he noticed the general's reaction. "Who is that?"
Humil took a deep breath, steadying himself.
"He's a pirate. A notorious one, with a bounty of 68 million berries. That's 'Mad Bear' Onik, captain of the Mad Bear Pirates. He's infamous across the North Blue."
He continued in a harsh whisper, clearly rattled.
"Joker's out of his damn mind! How could he introduce someone like him as our contact?!"
"'Mad Bear' Onik… I've heard that name before."
Cross's eyes narrowed as the pieces clicked into place.
That man was indeed known for raiding Marine warships and disrupting trade routes across the North Blue. He frequently attacked merchant vessels, earning his reputation through ruthless, calculated strikes.
But what truly gave him his vile infamy, and what had Humil so rattled, was his penchant for deception.
Onik was known to promise mercy to those who surrendered, claiming he'd only take their goods and spare their lives. In truth, he often slaughtered entire crews after taking what he wanted.
Dealing with someone like this was a gamble with death, he could easily kill everyone just to steal the money and the weapons.
"And that's why this guy seemed familiar…" Humil muttered, glancing at the shirtless man who had led them here. "If I'm not mistaken, he's the combat captain of the Mad Bear Pirates, 'Mad Blade' Hart, with a bounty of 31 million berries."
"Mad Blade…"
Cross's brows arched slightly as his eyes drifted to the long katana hanging at the man's waist. An intrigued glint sparked in his gaze.
By then, "Mad Bear" Onik had reached them. General Humil forced a smile and greeted him politely.
"Postman-san, it's a pleasure to finally—"
"Ah, my bad," Onik interrupted, his tone mockingly casual. "I forgot to mention… that guy's the Postman."
He pointed to the bloodied corpse hanging from the ceiling.
Humil froze, his smile vanishing. He stood rooted in place, stunned.
So that was it.
Joker hadn't sent the wrong contact.
The real "Postman" was already dead.
Cross's eyes narrowed to slits. The truth was becoming clear.
"Mad Bear" Onik had murdered the arms dealer and seized his stockpile. Then, using the Postman's transponder snail, he lured them here. The only question now was whether he intended to carry out the deal as promised, or just rob them blind and eliminate the witnesses.
With that thought, Cross's wariness deepened. He subtly scanned the warehouse, noting the pirates leaning against the walls, all armed and watching them closely.
But didn't Onik fear the consequences of killing the Postman? Wouldn't that offend Joker, Doflamingo, who brokered the deal?
Especially in the North Blue. Aside from Germa 66, Cross couldn't think of anyone who rivaled Doflamingo's strength or influence in this sea. In the original timeline, even Marine HQ had sent Vice Admiral Tsuru to hunt him down, not just because of his royal status, but due to his terrifying control of the underworld.
"Kunhahahaha~!"
"Mad Bear" Onik let out another hearty laugh, clearly pleased by the shock on Humil's face.
"Relax. Yeah, the Postman's dead, but the deal's still on. After all, I, 'Mad Bear' Onik, am famous for keeping my word!"
He grinned wide, teeth glinting.
"As long as you've brought the cash… I've got plenty of weapons for you."
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