Chapter 257

Although Sima Di controlled the casualties during the Summit War, the Marines still suffered a devastating blow to their vitality.

Smoker wouldn't have killed his way to the Marines' doorstep in such a hurry just to get first-hand intel, would he?

"We've met once." Sima Di smiled. "I even invited him aboard back then. If it weren't for Crocodile's interference... the casualties on both sides of the Summit War could have been even lighter."

Because the battle would have ended faster!

"I see... if there's nothing else, I'll hang up now. If you need anything in the future, dial this number. I'll call you back when I see it."

"Mm."

Sima Di hung up the phone and didn't bring up the matter of replacing Sakazuki again.

After all......

Right now, the only Marines cooperating with him were Seeing Kuzan and Sakazuki, with at most Garp added on.

And clearly, with a personality like Garp's,

he was even less suited than Sakazuki for this "robbery" business—not that Garp was particularly upright, but he would most likely make the whole thing known to everyone.

Just like Luffy,

the Monkey family loves nothing more than wrecking things.

After some thought,

Sima Di directly used the white Den Den Mushi to dial Dragon's number—one he had obtained from Bartholomew Kuma.

"Buluulu—Buluulu—"

"Kacha!"

The Den Den Mushi transformed into a square-jawed face, even faithfully replicating that shoe-horn brand mark.

The other side opened with......

"Seeing Kuzan? Why are you calling me?" Dragon asked.

Sima Di's brow shot up!

It seemed he had heard something rather extraordinary.

Sima Di and Robin exchanged a glance. Could Dragon and Seeing Kuzan also be...

allies?

Or even...

Seeing Kuzan was part of the Revolutionary Army?

Things were getting interesting.

Because Sima Di had once again turned the Den Den Mushi to face the sea, the other side showed no appearance, and combined with the long silence, fell quiet as well.

Sima Di didn't tease Dragon any longer and turned the Den Den Mushi toward himself.

"It's me, Dragon. Sima Di."

"Di?" Dragon said in surprise. "How did you get this Den Den Mushi? Who gave you my number?"

Dozens of possibilities flashed through Dragon's mind.

Could it be that......

"Alright, stop guessing. Seeing Kuzan and I have reached a consensus..." Sima Di said. "This time in Dressrosa, I'm planning to rob the Golden Emperor. The Revolutionary Army must be short on funds too, right? Want in?"

The more the merrier!

Besides...

Sima Di was very much looking forward to what the scene would be like when Dragon and Sakazuki met.

That was sure to be interesting!

Dragon clearly hadn't expected Sima Di to invite him to "rob" someone together.

After pondering for several seconds,

Dragon finally said, "Actually, we've had our eyes on the Golden Emperor for a long time now, and we've already planted an agent. I'll have him make contact with you."

"Oh? You're not coming?" Sima Di asked.

That won't do!

"I've been a bit tied up lately." Dragon said with a headache. "The Revolutionary Army absolutely must study that Haki Cultivation Method, otherwise we'll fall seriously behind the World Government. I can't get away!"

That's it?

Sima Di's expression turned interesting. He glanced at Usopp snickering on the side and slapped him on the head.

How could Dragon not know that the Haki Cultivation Method was pioneered by Sima Di?

With the massive crowd at the Summit War, could there really not have been a single Revolutionary Army spy among them?

Dragon was saying this on purpose.

"Alright, cut the crap and get over here quick. I'll give you the Haki Cultivation Method," Sima Di promised.

He would give it, sure enough.

But it definitely wouldn't be anything high-grade—at most some basics.

Dragon clearly hadn't planned to ask for anything too advanced either. Who asks for someone's trump card right off the bat?

He just wanted to understand these "epoch-defining" creations faster.

"Then I'll meet up with you in Dressrosa and wait."

"Kacha—"

Meet us in Dressrosa?

This guy was already in Dressrosa?

Oh ho!

The nerve to set me up?

Sima Di tucked the white Den Den Mushi back into his trouser pocket, a teasing smile hanging at the corner of his lips.

"When the time comes and Sakazuki is chasing you down with a blade, don't blame me for standing by and watching."

"That's incredible!" Usopp's eyes lit up as he said: "You can actually chat and laugh with a Navy Admiral, a Navy Vice Admiral, and the head of the Revolutionary Army! Is our Straw Hat Pirate Crew Already this strong? Hahahaha—"

He had no idea what this guy was so pleased about.

And besides......

"You lot are too noisy! Perfume Femur!"

The awakened Hancock was thoroughly annoyed, chasing Usopp around the ship kicking him, every kick a killing blow!

"Aaaah—help me, Di! Your woman is going to kill me!"

Sima Di ignored Usopp's plea for help; a bit of morning exercise right after waking up wasn't bad at all.

"Robin, go wake Vivi up," Sima Di said.

"Okay."

Taking advantage of this moment, Sima Di continued reading the newspaper.

Because he had spotted an interesting piece of news!

—《Straw Hat Crew Member 0.9 Ugly Buggy! Lurking in East Blue for Seventeen Years, Finally Becomes a Warlord of the Sea! 》

Sima Di read the contents with great interest.

It turned out that the clown Buggy "led" a group of prisoners "following" him, released by Teach to escape from Impel Down, and together with the departing Luo Jie Pirates from Marineford, "ambushed" the pursuing Warden Magellan and his forces. He became famous overnight and was invited to become a Warlord of the Sea!

Tch!

Although every line was praising Buggy, at a glance he could see the trick behind it.

Most likely......

Buggy, on the run for his life, couldn't shake the habit of bragging just like Usopp. Because of his identity as a "former crew member of the Pirate King," he gathered a large group of Impel Down prisoners who worshipped the Pirate King.

Magellan, as the warden,

if he didn't come after the biggest target, was he supposed to chase Teach and the others, who had no idea where they'd run off to?

It was just that Buggy's luck had exploded,

and he happened to run into the Luo Jie Pirates on their return voyage. Out of consideration for past companions, they lent a hand.

And instead, that built Buggy's reputation?

He wondered whether the World Government knew the trick behind it and went along with it,

or......

had also been fooled by Buggy?

"Tch! This thing called Conqueror's Haki luck... could it actually be real?" Sima Di stroked his chin.

His gaze drifted down,