Luffy had no real intention of giving the government the 40% share they had negotiated. The factory was situated in Wano Country, under the supervision of his Marines. He alone controlled how much seastone was produced and how it was distributed.
As far as Luffy was concerned, the government would receive a mere 20%, while the Marines would take 30%. The remaining 50%? Luffy planned to sell the bulk himself, with a small portion reserved for the residents of Wano Country. Local craftsmen skilled in working with seastone would be encouraged to create products, which could then be sold on Onigashima to boost Wano's economic development.
This strategy had already been communicated to the craftsmen and merchants of Wano. Upon hearing the news, many were overjoyed and deeply grateful to Luffy. Even if they ended up with only a fraction of the seastone supply, it was still a lucrative opportunity. Their appreciation for Luffy only grew, leading them to rally the residents of Wano in support of his leadership.
Some went to great lengths to win his favor. Offers of gifts, bribes, and even women—prostitutes, geishas, and sometimes their own wives or daughters—poured in. If Luffy weren't such an upright person, the base would have been overrun with those attempting to curry his favor.
With the major points of the negotiation settled, the conversation turned to less critical matters, such as the CP's request to station agents at the factory for supervision. Luffy, unconcerned, agreed to these terms readily.
Alpha, relieved by his apparent cooperation, felt her resentment toward Luffy diminish slightly. She had no way of knowing that Luffy had no intention of fully complying with these agreements. The CP agents might think they had oversight, but in reality, they would only see what Luffy allowed them to see.
"Cause trouble in my territory? Dream on," Luffy thought, his resolve unwavering.
The trio continued their conversation over drinks, and the atmosphere grew lighter. Alpha, her cheeks flushed from the wine, began to let her guard down. Luffy, observing her closely, found his thoughts wandering to her role in the greater scheme of things.
In the original timeline, Alpha had only appeared briefly in the Kingdom of Sorbet, the hometown of Bartholomew Kuma, also known as the "Big Bear." At that time, Kuma had entered into a tragic agreement with Vegapunk, allowing himself to be transformed into a pacifista. His daughter, the future pirate Bonnie, had been sent to the South Blue, where Alpha, disguised as a nurse, was assigned to oversee her.
During her time in Sorbet, Alpha had destroyed letters Kuma had written to Bonnie, effectively cutting off their communication and deepening the divide between father and daughter. It was an act that cemented her as a cruel and complicit agent of the government.
But in this timeline, things were different. Punk Hazard was still intact, and the events leading to Kuma's downfall had not yet occurred. Luffy's thoughts darkened as he reflected on the gentle, selfless man who had endured so much pain for the sake of others.
"As long as I'm here, Kuma, those tragedies won't happen again," Luffy vowed silently.
Lost in thought, Luffy glanced at Alpha, who was hiccuping softly and looking increasingly disoriented from the alcohol. The memory of her past actions—the cruelty she had shown toward Kuma and Bonnie—stirred an anger deep within him. A fleeting but intense urge to end her right there flashed through his mind.
Alpha seemed to sense the shift in Luffy's demeanor. Though tipsy, she sobered quickly as a chilling aura of murderous intent mixed with Luffy's overwhelming haki filled the room.
"What's happening?!" Alpha's mind raced. "We were drinking peacefully, so why is he angry all of a sudden? This aura… Does he actually want to kill me?!"
Luffy's voice cut through her panic like a blade. "Hey, how many years have you been with CP8? What's your position there?"
The sudden question only heightened Alpha's anxiety. Sweat beaded on her forehead and trickled down her neck. Desperately trying to maintain her composure, she loosened two buttons on her shirt to fan herself.
"Well, uh… That's classified information, but…" She hesitated before forcing a weak laugh. "I suppose it's fine to share, considering the circumstances."
She adjusted her posture, pretending to relax, and began her explanation. "I'll admit, I'm not qualified to join CP9. I haven't mastered the 'Paper Art' technique yet, so I'm stuck in CP8. But my abilities are still above average. In fact, I'm considered upper-middle rank within CP8, with the authority to mobilize local Marines when necessary during missions."
Alpha straightened her back slightly, a flicker of pride breaking through her nervousness. "I've been with CP8 for three years now. I started training with them at age six and officially joined at 17. In just three years, I've risen through the ranks. You could say I'm a bit of a genius."
She finished her speech with a triumphant smirk, clearly pleased with herself. However, Luffy's expression remained unimpressed.
"Three years, huh?" he said, leaning back. "And you're only upper-middle rank? Doesn't sound that impressive to me."
Alpha's smug demeanor faltered. "Excuse me?" she snapped.
Luffy smirked, his tone turning sharper. "CP8 is just one of ten CP departments, and it's hardly special. Compared to CP0, it's insignificant. Honestly, your so-called 'genius' achievements aren't much to brag about."
==============================================
Support me at p@treon.com/goldengaruda and check out more chapter of this or more early access chapter of my other fanfic translation.
=============================================