One Piece: Transmigrated as Crocodile-Chapter 267 - CHAPTER 267 - Confrontation

All the major merchants present knew the situation of the AKS Chamber of Commerce clearly.
Construction was the most profitable trade in the Andia Kingdom. But ever since the Felomont Chamber rose, the four major chambers had begun overlapping in business, no longer confined to their original specialties.
In construction especially, the stakes were too high. Everyone wanted more.
The AKS president had only just died, yet Aberdeen, the second-in-command, swiftly took over as acting president. However, he had not yet obtained the contract or recognition from the central chamber.
Thus, most chose to wait and see. In the past, the four major chambers had fought repeatedly over conflicting interests. Internal and external struggles lasted more than ten years without pause, making it impossible for Andia's economy to truly prosper.
It was in this climate that the Felomont Chamber was formally established as the public pillar of support—an institution led by Remont to regulate and mediate the others.
To prevent further infighting and constant leadership changes, they created a contract system. Only when a transferor's name and the successor's declaration were clearly written on the contract could one be considered the rightful president, holding true ownership and authority.
Otherwise, neither the central chamber nor the other chambers would recognize the claim. In fact, they would unite to resist or even punish anyone who seized the position unlawfully.
Aberdeen was clever. Without the contract, he always called himself only the temporary manager, never the new president.
Privately, he had also struck deals with key figures in other chambers—promising to share profits if he secured the AKS presidency.
Thus, without Rosen at her side, Xia would have been a certain loser—both in personal strength and in the balance of power.
In truth, if Aberdeen did not need the contract, Xia would not have survived until now.
"Pitiful. Her father just died, and now she's forced to show up at this meeting. Tsk, tsk…" A wealthy middle-aged guest chuckled, eyes drifting toward the entrance. They already knew the news.
"Power struggles are nothing new. AKS once dominated, with high-ranking World Government officials giving them favors. But the seas are unpredictable." Many sighed. The four chambers had seen countless leadership changes, yet the audience still looked forward to tonight's spectacle.
Creak… the doors opened. Xia's guards were left on the lower floor. Only a few important bodyguards were allowed inside—two per person. Xia brought Alex and Rosen.
"They're here."
"That masked bodyguard—wasn't he the one who killed Gil?"
"Seems so. President Kit was furious just now. Things won't be calm."
"President, that masked bodyguard radiates killing intent. He's no ordinary man—we must be cautious." Colson had seen glimpses of his actions through the Den Den Mushi, like at the port.
But sometimes when a strong man killed, merchants looked the other way. Self-preservation and profit—that was their nature.
"Yes, his aura is unlike most in this hall. A fine talent. Perhaps I should see if he can be recruited into my Storm Unit," Remont mused, watching Rosen with interest. His instincts told him this bodyguard was extraordinary.
"Not to replace me as captain, I hope?" Colson smiled faintly.
"That depends on your own effort," Remont replied casually. Their familiarity made such words harmless.
"Why is everyone staring so warmly at me? A banquet should have a banquet's atmosphere, shouldn't it?" Xia said coldly.
She could feel the many mocking, calculating gazes. When her father was alive, none of them would have dared stare at her so rudely.
At her words, a few nobles quickly offered polite smiles. "Forgive us, Lady Xia, but you are simply too captivating."
Most turned back to their own affairs, though their sidelong glances betrayed curiosity about the night's outcome.
Before the meeting began, Xia spotted Aberdeen. With Rosen at her side, she walked toward him. Aberdeen, seeing this, lifted his glass and stepped forward with a gentle smile.
"Xia, you've come." His tone was as if greeting an old friend.
"What's this? You haven't even secured the presidency, yet you forget how to address me? Don't forget—I am the sole legal heir my father appointed." Xia's patience was thin. Her relatives and friends were still in his hands.
She had to find a way to free them. Meanwhile, Rosen waited for her signal. His Observation Haki told him there were many strong auras here—some quite powerful, though at most comparable to a Rear Admiral. A few, however, were harder to gauge.
"Heh, the lady jests. But tell me—did you bring the item? Have you decided yet?" Aberdeen's smile remained unchanged.
"No wonder you've grown the business so well. I thought you were all fools like Gil, but clearly not. So many tangled connections—it shows just how much profit is at stake. The four major chambers are famous not only in these seas but in the entire underworld." Rosen was unfazed.
There were plenty of fighters here, but each had their own allegiances. They would not all strike him at once. Rear Admiral-level strength might not make a true powerhouse of the seas, but for a chamber, it was already formidable. Combined with the World Government's protection, pirates rarely dared target such massive convoys.
"Tell me, bodyguard—why not remove your mask? Are you hiding something shameful?"
Kit appeared with several strong fighters, surrounding Rosen.
Rosen frowned. He didn't know Kit and had no way of knowing the man he killed earlier was his brother. Still, hostility was obvious enough.
"If the bodyguard won't remove it himself, then help him. After all, we can't have unidentified guests at our banquet," Kit said coldly, signaling his men. Hatred burned in his eyes.
The other guests instinctively stepped back, eager anticipation on their faces. A bit of bloodshed would make the evening more entertaining.
"Kit, what are you doing?" Xia scowled. Gil's death was one thing, but the timing of Kit's move was too perfect. She was certain he had coordinated with Aberdeen.
"Never mind. Continue your discussion. Since they're so curious, let them see for themselves," Rosen said calmly. Hearing the name, he pieced things together—it must be about the man he killed at the port.
That settled it. He only needed to wait for Xia to act before killing Aberdeen.
Rosen had told her before: if Aberdeen used the contract to reveal her friends and family, then Rosen could strike without needing to transfer it.
"Go!" Kit stepped back slightly as his fighters surged forward.
The onlookers remained cold and detached. Even Remont did not intervene. After all, at the end of the day, this was just a bodyguard.
(End of chapter)