Chapter 67: The So-Called Underworld Emperor is Just Part of the Rules
It wasn't just the assassins who fell utterly silent.
In fact, at that moment in the tavern, the one most taken aback was Miss Spider.
Unlike the other assassins present,
As the owner of the 'House of Death' tavern and the manager of Assassin Town,
Miss Spider was the true confidante of Drug Peclo, the Underworld Emperor of the Great Hand Undertakers.
Therefore, the intelligence she possessed was naturally extensive.
"It's definitely a CP9 related document, and..."
She couldn't confirm the identities of Blueno and Kumadori, but she recognized the unique insignia of the World Government and CP9 on the document Rat held.
More critically...
"That head, it really is King Wapol!"
She recognized Wapol — unlike the identity-secretive CP9 agents, the appearance of a King of a World Government-affiliated country was clearly no secret.
Therefore, she could almost confirm it.
"What this person in front of me says is very likely true, and his identity..."
The third member of the Twelve Zodiacs, 'Rat', actually appeared on Coffin Island!
"I must report this to Master Drug Peclo immediately!"
Miss Spider thought to herself.
Then, she heard Rat's words: "Miss, may I post a mission now?"
She subconsciously raised her head, then saw the slightly cold and indifferent gaze from beneath the rat-head mask.
This made Miss Spider, who had originally intended to stall, instantly break out in a cold sweat.
Her intuition, honed by years of dealing with assassins, told her — if she dared to refuse, she would die!
"...Of course."
She spoke with difficulty: "You can choose to post a mission, and at the same time determine the bounty you require, waiting for someone to make a request."
This was a privilege only truly top-tier assassins possessed — it wasn't them accepting missions, but people with needs requesting them.
"Very good."
Rat said softly.
"Then, please post the mission for me."
"The targets I accept for assassination can only be one kind: Kings and Nobles who oppress their people, or engage in human trafficking."
"For such unjust tyrants, whether they are members of World Government-affiliated countries or not, as long as they meet the conditions, I can take their heads."
After speaking, he reached out and took out a piece of paper.
"As for the reward for my services — each mission costs 200 million Beli. If these metals on the list can be provided, each type of metal can offset 30 million Beli."
"Of course, I only need one piece of each type of metal."
Having finished speaking, he directly handed the list to Miss Spider.
...
The entire tavern once again fell into a deathly silence.
"He's crazy!"
Almost all the assassins present, including Miss Spider, had the same word rise in their hearts.
Kings, Nobles — or, to put it another way, rulers!
As Rat said, such rulers were naturally tyrants, and those who wished to kill them were countless.
But no one had ever dared to openly put a price on their heads like Rat.
Because rulers themselves represented power, representing the order of the world.
And what Rat was saying now was almost equivalent to challenging this order with the power of one person.
Didn't he know how much danger publishing such a mission would bring?
Once his whereabouts were exposed, what he would face afterwards might not just be the World Government or the Marines, but also other assassins hired by those Kings!
"Is this guy crazy?"
Even the assassins, who lived on the edge of a blade year-round, didn't know how to describe Rat.
But at this moment, beneath Rat's mask, Loy's expression was calm.
The mission he posted at this moment was something he had already thought through.
He had long ago learned the coordinates of Coffin Island from MR.1 at Baroque Works.
And after learning of the existence of 'Pluton Alloy' through Vegapunk's research, he knew he had to come here.
Because the time and expense required to acquire those nineteen rare metals for refining the alloy through normal means was simply too great.
Rather than searching for them one by one, posting a mission and having them delivered directly through the Underworld's channels was undoubtedly the better option.
Besides this...
"After collecting the metals and refining the 'Pluton Alloy', I also need a qualified buyer."
This was also the key to Loy posting this mission.
For a precious strategic-level resource like 'Pluton Alloy', there were only so many forces in the entire world with the qualifications and financial means to purchase it.
Sell it to the World Government so they could more easily turn everyone into Slaves? Or sell it to Kaido to drag the entire world into war?
Loy would naturally not consider such things.
But coincidentally, among the potential trade targets, there was indeed one buyer who was highly qualified, whether in terms of trustworthiness, strength, or urgent need for the 'Pluton Alloy'.
And the content of the mission Loy posted at this moment was precisely for this purpose.
He was certain that as long as he posted and executed this mission, the other party would eventually come knocking.
As for what the assassins thought, whether it was possible retaliation from those Kings, or potential pursuit from the World Government, Loy didn't care in the slightest.
Rat's Clones ability characteristic determined that as long as Loy didn't want to be found, it would be almost impossible for anyone to track his whereabouts.
What's more...
When the sky falls, there's a tall person to hold it up.
In their assassin world, wasn't there still a big boss?
"How is it, Miss Spider?"
At this moment, Rat looked at Miss Spider: "I posted the mission according to the rules set by the Great Hand Undertakers. There shouldn't be any problem, right?"
"Or rather — the Great Hand Undertakers'... no, the Underworld's rules aren't actually that important, are they?"
He said softly.
...
Miss Spider fell silent.
She naturally knew that if the mission Rat posted truly succeeded, it would inevitably cause enormous repercussions.
Even Drug Peclo of the Great Hand Undertakers would find such repercussions troublesome.
But just as Rat said.
In the Underworld, rules were rules.
The six great Underworld Emperors ruled this lawless world, setting these regulations.
But these rules also bound them.
'Big News' Morgans controlled the world's media, able to influence the world with truth and lies to achieve his goals.
But as a price, he also had to ensure he wouldn't be completely controlled by the World Government. Some necessary truths, even those opposing the World Government, he had to publish.
The warehouse of 'The Concealing Master' Giberson was filled with contraband, and all clients had to pay a huge price for him to safeguard them.
But as a price, he had to ensure the safety and secrecy of this contraband.
And Drug Peclo of the Great Hand Undertakers was also like this.
He was the 'King of Assassins', monopolizing the assassination industry, making assassins abide by the rules he set.
But at the same time, he also had to protect the assassins according to the rules, conceal their information, and post missions on their behalf.
Even the Emperors of the Underworld were part of the rules.
Once they dared to overstep the rules, the order of the Underworld would cease to exist, and their thrones would naturally crumble at any time.
Just like at this moment...
...
All the assassins' gazes turned towards Miss Spider.
And Miss Spider naturally knew she had no other choice.
The rules set by Drug Peclo could not be broken — at least, not openly broken.
So, she took out a Den Den Mushi: "Your mission will be posted tomorrow. This is your Private Den Den Mushi. It cannot communicate or be eavesdropped upon. It will only transmit a text message when there is a client's message, informing you of the time and location to meet the client."
(end of chapter)