One Piece: Transmigrated as Crocodile-Chapter 266 - CHAPTER 266 - Merchant Aristocrats’ Gathering, Hidden Currents

Paradise was unusually lively that evening. Many wealthy people had gathered, mostly nobles of the Andia Kingdom. Rosen had already seen more than a dozen groups of drunken nobles.
Nobles rarely appeared in taverns or inns where pirates or hunters gathered. Deep down, they looked down on anyone outside their own class, offering favors only when they needed something done.
Such was the charm of power—the kind that could make even the strongest warrior bow.
Rosen's group occasionally drew the attention of pirates, but with so many guards around Xia, few dared to stir trouble. After all, people instinctively bully the weak and fear the strong.
"Seems Paradise is especially lively tonight. From what I overheard, there's an auction, and even some kind of royal death match. Sounds entertaining." Rosen's Observation Haki picked up on the chatter around them.
"Yes, the auction is held once every three months. People from nearby islands and nations come to take part. Do you have anything in mind?" Xia asked.
"No rush. Let's confirm the plan first. Are you sure killing Aberdeen will let you take control of the AKS Chamber of Commerce?" Rosen wasn't doubting Xia's word—he just thought that problems solvable by force were never truly difficult.
"You think it's that easy? Aberdeen has many powerful guards. And who knows how the Lord of War will react afterward? If he decides to retaliate, we'll be in real trouble." Xia sighed. Why was something she found nearly impossible treated by Rosen as if it were a trivial task?
"Who's the president of the Felomont Chamber of Commerce?" Rosen considered. Their plan was only to eliminate a branch leader and raise Xia to power. But if the Felomont Chamber itself wasn't as strong as he imagined, perhaps he could settle things at the gathering all at once.
After all, his real target was the Andia Kingdom. The dominant local trade guild could be useful for that. But undermining Andia required intelligence and a carefully crafted strategy—not just brute force.
If only Robin were here. She could have handled intelligence collection—quickly, precisely, and with insightful analysis. That would have saved Rosen much effort.
Instead, he had to rely on his Observation Haki to filter useful information.
"The president is Duke Remont, a high noble of Andia. He controls four strongholds of the kingdom. Incidentally, the Iron Fortress—the city where the king once put a bounty on your head—is his territory." Xia's tone grew heavy.
As Felomont's current leader, and a duke with land and his own army, Remont's influence far exceeded that of any branch. And behind him stood both the king of Andia and the World Government.
"Oh? Seems even the king doesn't fully trust him."
"The king of Andia trusts no one. He is deeply suspicious by nature," Xia explained.
"You've met him?"
"A few times, when accompanying my father to the palace to pay taxes and liaise with nobles. But if you have no solid plan, you'd better not appear within the kingdom. If discovered, the king's 200,000 troops are no joke." Xia warned him sincerely.
"A few hours left. Instead of idling, let's go wait at the venue. I imagine people will arrive early to mingle before the meeting begins. Merchant nobles love their socializing." Rosen smiled calmly.
"Mm."
As expected, Rosen was right. On the top floor of a tall building, members of the four major chambers of commerce were already gathering.
Though high up, they feared no attack—the building's defenses were famous throughout Andia.
Felomont presided over the AKS Construction Chamber, the Trolom Grain Chamber, the Naska Arms Chamber, and the Yordel Slave Chamber.
Officially, all four fell under Felomont's authority.
In truth, Felomont had no direct business of its own. It collected shares from each chamber and mediated cooperation—an intermediary that served as the visible pillar of all trade guilds.
In the grand, luxurious banquet hall, more than a hundred prominent merchants raised their glasses, all smiles and politeness.
Men and women alike dressed in splendor. Extravagant food and wine filled the tables. Individually, these merchants might lack martial strength, but in networking, resources, and wealth, they were formidable.
Yet this was only the surface. Above the hall, and in the floors below, over a thousand fighters of various backgrounds were gathered.
Some were hired muscle, others trained in-house. In this world, there was no shortage of people willing to kill for money.
"Clink!" A refined, confident middle-aged man suddenly received a . His face darkened, and he crushed his glass in one hand.
"Gil was talentless and useless, but he was still my elder brother—the one who stayed by me when I was cold and starving. And that fallen AKS heiress dared to kill him!" Kit's grief was heavy.
"They've just entered the building. Shall we intercept now? It'll be harder once the meeting begins," his subordinate asked.
"No. I'll make that woman suffer worse than death—together with the man who killed my brother. In front of all the nobles, they'll be humiliated…" Kit's tone shifted. "Has Aberdeen arrived?"
"Yes, over there. President, do we side with him?"
"At first, I only meant to watch. If that AKS girl and Aberdeen tore each other apart, we could swoop in for the spoils. But now… she can't be allowed to live. Send more men, just in case."
"Yes, President."
"Lord Aberdeen, Xia has arrived. Shall we approach? She has a strong guard with her—the one who killed President Kit's brother." A bounty hunter ed.
Dehn listened expressionlessly.
"No need. We hold the advantage. She'll come to us—perhaps even to kill me. That would be the easiest way out for her. But her loved ones are in my hands. Let's see if she dares… heh." Aberdeen smirked, confident of victory.
"How dull. Just a hall of wine-soaked parasites. And yet these parasites control most of the kingdom's wealth, while we soldiers suffer." A weary man in his fifties emerged from another room, sweeping a tired gaze over the gathering.
"President, everyone has their role," a subordinate replied calmly.
"Colson, I hear the world's greatest swordsman is fighting Yordel's new president at the harbor. I'd like to see it myself… but alas, I must maintain Felomont for His Majesty."
This weary-looking middle-aged man was none other than Duke Remont, president of the Felomont Chamber of Commerce.
(End of this chapter)