After listening to Bellamy and his gang's story, Rhodes finally understood the situation.
All of them were born in Notis, a fairly affluent town.
However, these individuals, who had grown up in wealthy families, became bored with their monotonous lives and yearned for something different.
So, led by Bellamy, they had formed a small group. They idolized the great pirate Donquixote Doflamingo, who hailed from the North Blue. They regarded him as an icon and aspired to become great pirates like him.
Their ultimate ambition was to join the Donquixote Family.
Some time ago, they had come across a piece of information through local gang networks.
The Felke family, entrenched on Mignon Island, apparently intended to delve into the arms trade in the North Blue and had been making intensive preparations recently.
Before this, the arms business in the North Blue had always been under the control of the Donquixote Family.
Even while they were still in the North Blue, they had already expanded their arms business to encompass the entire region, and all other competitors had been eliminated by the Donquixote Family.
After Doflamingo became one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, he utilized the World Government's authority to firmly regulate all underground transactions.
Now, other forces dared to intervene in this business. Even if it was only a minuscule share, it constituted a direct provocation to that esteemed figure!
Bellamy and his companions, eager to prove their worth, decided to take the initiative and eliminate those attempting to encroach upon the Donquixote Family's arms trade after learning this information.
They hoped that their commendable actions would earn them the privilege of joining the Donquixote Family.
Who knew they would stumble upon such a formidable opponent?
"I have no interest in punks like you. Get lost."
The group of young men turned pale as Rhode's gaze swept over them. They didn't dare utter a word and hastily prepared to depart.
A blue-haired kid bravely approached Rhodes and prepared to lift the unconscious Bellamy.
"I didn't say you could take him."
Glancing at the other party, Rhodes spoke softly.
Hearing Rhodes' voice, the other boy's body froze slightly, and he trembled subtly, but he still raised his head a fraction, his eyes filled with internal struggle.
"Go ahead, Sarquiss, leave Bellamy alone!"
Hearing his companion's voice, a complex look flickered in Sarquiss's eyes, and his mouth parted slightly, as if he wanted to say something.
But in the end, he remained silent. He slowly lowered Bellamy back to the ground, turned around, and quickly left with his companions.
"I thought he would plead with you."
Watching the group of boys and girls leave in embarrassment, a trace of disdain flashed in Nia's eyes.
"They can even abandon their companions so readily. They are truly just a bunch of thugs."
"But why are you keeping this little spring-like kid?"
"There is something I want to try."
Looking at Bellamy lying on the ground, the image of his companion flashed through Rhodes's mind.
I wonder how that guy's abilities have progressed, and whether my idea can be realized.
While Rod was lost in thought, Jason approached him respectfully with a box and handed it over.
Looking at the gangster before him, Rhodes raised his eyebrows slightly.
He had been brutally beaten by Bellamy and his gang just moments ago, yet he had recovered so quickly. It appeared that he was quite capable of being a gang leader. At least his vitality was remarkably strong. Rhode accepted the box offered by the other man, a strange glint in his eyes.
"This weight should be more than five million."
"Our lives were spared by your generosity. This meager sum is insufficient to express our gratitude. Moreover, if you hadn't rescued us, we would have been killed by that vile gang just now."
Having said that, Jason's eyes involuntarily flickered towards Bellamy, who lay prone at Rhodes's feet.
The enemies who had defeated them all in a single encounter were unable to withstand even a single move from Rhodes. The disparity in strength between these gangs and the enemy was simply immense.
"If you count it up, we already owe you two lives!"
"Don't mention it. I'm simply not interested in guys who are too weak."
Rhodes cut Jason off, not wanting to delve into further explanations.
"I'll take the money! --I'm leaving!"
Weighing the cash box in his hand, Rhodes nudged Bellamy, who was lying on the ground, towards Nia with his foot. He called out to Nero and watched him carry Gray on his back. Then the group walked towards the coast.
We are too weak!
Watching the backs of the departing figures, Jason thought silently to himself.
They had been merely obsessed with underworld dealings and content with immediate gains. Reflecting on it now, their perspective had been far too narrow.
"Boss Jason, what should we do next?"
After the figures of Rhodes and his companions disappeared, several gangsters gathered around Jason and inquired.
The head of the family had been killed and his remains scattered, and the other important leaders had also been killed by Rhodes and his men in the preceding battle. Now, Jason was the highest-ranking individual among the survivors.
Moreover, the other party had always been the intellectual backbone of the Felke family, so no one objected to him becoming the new leader.
Jason surveyed the remaining members. Confusion was etched on everyone's face. Some brothers who had sustained injuries in the previous conflict lay on the ground, groaning in pain.
"First, tend to the injured brothers, spread the news, and consolidate the family's remaining power."
Jason issued the order in a deep voice, and the younger thugs around him quickly sprang into action upon hearing it. With a sense of direction restored, they temporarily set aside the confusion in their hearts.
The mafia business is meaningless...
Jason watched his younger brothers busying themselves around him, and his thoughts drifted to the two groups of people he had encountered earlier. Whether it was Rhodes and his group or Bellamy and his group who had arrived later, they all possessed a formidable strength that rendered them utterly defenseless.
The sea, perhaps, is the realm truly worth exploring!
Coast
"Are you not going to wait until daybreak before setting sail?
I've heard before that there are always strange noises in the middle of the night on the route between Swallow Island and Mignon Island.
Someone once witnessed a man desperately rowing a small boat on the sea, with several white waves chasing him relentlessly. The strange thing was that after the boat reached the shore, it couldn't dock, so it had to turn around and continue rowing on the sea until dawn. The rower was almost exhausted to death. It was said that there was a sea monster causing trouble in the sea."
After listening to Nia's words, Rhodes and Naylu exchanged strange glances.
"There's a sea monster? Then let's wait until daybreak before going over!"
Gray shrieked, his face appearing even paler as his injury seemed to worsen with his agitation.
"It's just a boring rumor."
Rhodes stowed the anchor and looked towards Swallow Island.
"Set sail!"
(End of this chapter)