One Piece: Sticky fingers

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In the grand Coral Mansion on the western edge of Alghero Town, an air of quiet luxury enveloped the third-floor suite. The room had ornate furniture and finely woven carpets, where account books, rare antiques, and unusual weapons were strewn in a tidy yet deliberate display.

Seated at the round table was Victor, his golden hair falling casually to one side. His usual stern demeanor had softened into one of calculated ease. Beside him stood Perona, her petite frame exuding a rare, mischievous energy as she playfully massaged his shoulders.

Standing before them was Wendrew, a thin, sharp-featured man in a crisp black suit. Bowing slightly, he delivered his report in a precise tone.

"The restoration of the town center is progressing smoothly, boss. Mr. Tarou and Little Jack have taken charge, and the townsfolk are actively participating."

Victor closed the ledger he'd been reviewing and gave a slight nod. "Good. Keep overseeing the work, Wendrew."

The older man smiled, his hands resting over his chest in a respectful gesture. "Of course. A reminder, boss: the mayor has arranged a reception for you this evening at Coxillo Restaurant. 6 PM. I'll leave you to prepare."

As Wendrew exited, Perona abandoned her pretense of decorum, gleefully flopping onto the enormous bed with a soft bounce. "Woohoo! This bed is amazing!"

Victor chuckled at her antics. "If you like it, the house is yours—at least for now."

"For now?" Perona's tone turned curious. She sat up, her bright eyes wide. "Are we really leaving for the Grand Line, brother? West Blue feels pretty cozy to me…"

Victor's gaze softened as he tousled her pink hair. "If you're satisfied with comfort, you'll never grow, Perona. Staying here would make us like Pipping—small-time. We're aiming for something far bigger. Together."

A flicker of hesitation crossed her face but vanished just as quickly. She nodded resolutely. "Fine. As long as I'm with you, I'll go anywhere!"

She skipped to the table, grabbing a matcha cake and eating happily. Between bites, she asked, "By the way, why did you tell me not to mess with that middle-aged Marine? He looked so out of place, just standing there watching the fight."

"That's Marine Commander Crohn of the 91st branch," Victor replied, accepting a spoonful of cake Perona offered him. He savored it briefly before continuing. "He's not as harmless as he seems. They call him 'Inspector Crohn.' He's well-connected, intelligent, and, most importantly, a former student of Zephyr—'Black Arm' Zephyr."

Perona paused mid-bite, crumbs on her face. "That scrawny guy? No way!"

Victor handed her a handkerchief, suppressing a smile at her messy eating habits. "Looks can be deceiving. Crohn plays his cards well. He's managed to stay in Zephyr's good graces for years, despite several…incidents."

He crouched, examining an ornate long sword among the antiques. "Two months ago, Crohn crossed someone higher up in Marine Headquarters. Only Zephyr's intervention saved his rank. His transfer to West Blue was punishment."

Perona listened intently, her admiration for her brother growing. "How do you know all this?"

Victor smirked, setting the sword aside. "Information is easy to come by—if you know where to look and have the coin to pay for it."

He straightened and crossed his arms. "Crohn's stuck in West Blue, but he has one path back to headquarters: results. He needs to prove himself. And to him, I'm the perfect ticket."

Her eyes widened. "So…you let him see you fight? Was that part of the plan?"

Victor nodded. "Precisely. I ensured Cartman crossed paths with Crohn, so when I showed up and took him down, it would look like a coincidence. I knew Crohn would report my abilities to Zephyr, including my mastery of the Chain-Chain Fruit and Observation Haki."

Perona gasped, dropping her cake. "Zephyr will come here, won't he? He's an Admiral! What if he—"

Victor interrupted with a reassuring wave. "Relax, Perona. Zephyr won't have the chance. The timing isn't in his favor. He has bigger problems looming at headquarters."

She looked skeptical. "And what about Crohn?"

"Crohn's dreaming of promotion. He thinks I'm a naïve prodigy ripe for Marine indoctrination. Zephyr's love for 'saving' potential recruits will work to our advantage." Victor's tone turned cold. "And while they're busy underestimating us, we'll execute the second phase of our plan."

He strode toward the door, the long sword in hand, gesturing for her to follow. "Come on. It's time to meet Mr. Bege."