While Kenzo and Beckman discussed their plans, the North Blue Marines at a nearby base were already talking about them.
"Major Funk, we chased Spark for two months, and now some nobody named Kanzaki Kenzo takes him down? How are we supposed to explain this?" A Marine Captain stood before his superior, frustration dripping from his voice.
Major Funk's frown deepened. "Two months? And in all that time, you never even scratched him. Did you honestly think you could kill a fox like Spark?"
The Captain's face flushed.
It was true. Foxhunter Spark wasn't particularly strong—just cunning. His 29-million Beri bounty came from massacring two villages, not raw power. The Marines had cornered him multiple times, but he always slipped away.
Now, some backwater guard captain had beaten them to the kill.
"We had a plan ready," the Captain insisted. "We were waiting for him to make landfall before surrounding—"
Funk cut him off with a look. Lies. They hadn't even located Spark, let alone planned an ambush.
But the Captain knew his superior. Greed flickered in his eyes as he lowered his voice. "Major... that's 29 million Beri."
Funk's expression shifted.
"Kanzaki Kenzo... what do we know about him?"
Smart men didn't pick fights blindly. You checked who you were dealing with first.
The Captain grinned. "Just some guard captain from Ogolon Town. Shakes down merchants for protection money, runs a whaling operation—practically a pirate himself. Sixteen years old, some muscle, but nothing special. If he were really strong, he wouldn't be stuck in a nowhere town."
Funk considered this. A small-town thug. No connections. No real threat.
Maybe he'd grown too cautious with age.
"Bring me fifteen million," Funk finally said. "The rest is yours to handle."
The Captain snapped a salute, already calculating his cut. Even after Funk's share, eight or nine million would line his pockets nicely. And the grunts below? A few scraps would keep them happy.
Easy money.
***
Two days later, two Marine warships docked at Ogolon.
Kenzo stood at the pier, cigar clamped between his teeth, watching the vessels with disdain. "North Blue ships are garbage."
Beckman nodded. "Grand Line warships could sink us from miles out."
Kenzo exhaled smoke. "Different league."
The Marines had overwhelming firepower in the Grand Line. Here? Rust buckets.
Beckman suddenly raised his voice, addressing the gathered guards. "Looks like the Navy's delivering our money! Boss Kenzo says when we get that 29 million, he's taking only fifteen—the rest goes to you!"
Kenzo nearly choked. When did I say that?
But the men erupted in excitement.
"Captain Kenzo's the best!"
"We're eating good tonight!"
Kenzo grabbed Beckman's shoulder, hissing, "The hell was that? Since when are we giving up fourteen million?"
Beckman's smirk was razor-thin. "Two warships, Kenzo. You think they came to hand us cash?"
Realization dawned. Kenzo chuckled darkly. "So now it's not just our money—it's the whole crew's."
"Exactly," Beckman said. "And if we're going to sea... we'll need loyal men."
The trap was set.
Now they waited to see who'd spring it.