Chapter 221: Action
After discussing the details of their cooperation, Axel's brows furrowed.
There were only two points.
First, Tesoro would deal with Doflamingo and destroy his strongholds.
Second, Axel would expose Vergo's identity.
One condition each.
What worried Axel was the second point.
This was clearly Tesoro's way of preventing him from backing out. If Axel could not do it, then unfortunately, Tesoro and Doflamingo would deal with him first. After all, a partner who brought no benefit and only caused losses had no value.
But if Axel followed Tesoro's demand, the fragile false balance between him and Doflamingo would tilt completely.
The very leverage he used as a threat would disappear.
After that, only enmity would remain between the two sides.
Heh.
What a troublesome condition.
Although Axel had no real intention of cooperating with either side, he needed this false cooperation to mediate between them and incite their hostility.
No matter what, he had to make a decision.
And the answer to that decision was already clear.
Axel followed the corridor toward Vergo's office.
The other party seemed to have anticipated his arrival and was already waiting inside.
"What is your decision?"
Vergo had his back turned, looking out the window as he spoke.
It sounded like a casual question from a superior to a subordinate, but the air in the room was filled with a faint murderous aura.
Like a cat and dog locked in a fight, neither side had any intention of backing down.
Axel, however, ignored the unnatural atmosphere.
He walked in step by step as if he had noticed nothing.
"Does that even need to be asked?" Axel said. "Isn't my coming here the best answer?"
He looked at Vergo's back.
"Think about it. One is an immediate crisis, and the other is a crisis in the future. If you encountered that situation, would you solve the problem in front of you first, or the one that might come later?"
What Axel said was indeed true.
His choices were only two.
Either cooperate with Doflamingo, or cooperate with Tesoro.
Compared to the two, the threat posed by Vergo, who was right in front of him, was clearly greater.
Vergo slowly turned around.
His appearance was still the same as ever. Only the food stuck to his face had changed.
He looked at the child before him, whose height, build, and age were all far beneath his own, and spoke indifferently.
"You came here, which means you contacted that person, and he forced you to make a decision."
His voice remained calm.
"Obviously, your decision is to stand with us."
Then his tone sank slightly.
"But the Young Master once said that one should never trust a cunning person, even if what that person says is true."
Vergo's gaze sharpened behind his lenses.
"Because lies are often hidden within the truth."
Axel smiled meaningfully.
"So you're saying I'm lying to you?"
Vergo did not answer directly.
Instead, he said, "In about a month, you will go out to sea to carry out a mission."
"What do you mean?"
Axel thought for a moment, then asked, "Does this mission have something to do with your actions?"
"No empty words are more powerful than action," Vergo said. "This mission is one I fabricated."
He paused.
"An expedition against Tesoro."
Expedition?
Axel was stunned for a moment.
Then he asked, "Marineford approved it?"
For Marines stationed at Marineford, any expedition required approval from Marineford's command.
And an expedition against Tesoro, a man whose financial power could influence even the World Government, would undoubtedly face tremendous resistance.
"It was approved."
Axel frowned.
"Then it seems you reported false information."
"You're right," Vergo said. "With so many industries under the Young Master's name, finding an excuse is easy. All we need is to create some trouble deliberately."
Axel understood.
Most of Doflamingo's industries involved illegal businesses like human trafficking and gambling.
Creating trouble in one of them was simple.
And once the Marines were sent out, how the mission would be executed would be entirely up to Vergo.
"So you plan to take me out on that mission?"
Axel looked at him.
"But what will you do with the other Marines who go with us?"
Most Marines could judge things for themselves.
Even if Vergo hid everything perfectly, once the battle began, they would certainly notice something wrong.
That would expose his lies.
Axel wanted to know what Vergo planned to do then.
"Kill them."
Vergo's answer was calm.
As if killing was no longer killing when it came from his mouth.
Axel was not surprised by the answer.
He tried asking, "What if I don't go? What will you do then?"
"Suit yourself," Vergo said. "If you don't go, I cannot guarantee the lives of your two friends."
His voice was flat.
"And when the time comes, the Young Master will personally arrive."
Vergo looked at Axel.
"Since you know the Young Master so well, you should also know what kind of treatment your friends will suffer if they fall into his hands."
"Hehehehe..."
Axel laughed.
The sound was fierce.
He hated threats.
He hated that Vergo was using his friends to threaten him.
He remembered very clearly that he had once told Vergo not to touch those two.
Clearly, Vergo had not taken it to heart.
Axel looked at Vergo, his tone equally threatening.
"Aren't you afraid I'll expose the truth directly?"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"You know there's an Admiral stationed at Marineford. Do you really think you can escape an Admiral's pursuit?"
Vergo's expression did not change.
He still spoke calmly.
"I don't know."
Then he continued, "But before that, I will kill your friends and all the Marines here."
His tone remained steady from beginning to end.
"All their lives are in your hands. I hope you consider it carefully."
Axel had never truly fought Vergo.
He did not know the real gap between their strength.
In this situation, Vergo dared to gamble.
But Axel did not.
He could not use his friends' lives as the stakes.
At this moment, the desire to become stronger, which had somewhat slackened because of his peaceful life, surged up again.
If he were stronger, he could crush everything with sheer power.
If he were stronger, he would not have to be threatened.
After a long while, Axel slowly exhaled.
Then he spoke the words he was reluctant to say.
"I've considered it very carefully."
He looked at Vergo.
"I'll go with you."
Thinking Axel had compromised, Vergo said calmly, "That's good."
Then he added, "To prevent you from revealing anything, your friends will be monitored during these days. On the day of departure, they will also come with us to prevent you from escaping."
His tone did not fluctuate.
"Consider this your agreed condition."
Axel said nothing.
He only let out a foolish laugh.
It sounded sarcastic.
Or perhaps mocking.
Vergo remained poker-faced.
"Don't worry," he said. "The Donquixote Family never attacks its allies."
"Perhaps."
Axel only said that.
Then he silently glanced at Vergo.
Who was prey, and who was hunter?
There would be an answer soon.
Before Vergo could reply, Axel turned and left, walking out the door.
Vergo did not stop him.
He only watched Axel leave.
After a long time, he added softly, "As long as our interests are not harmed."
Clearly, Axel's existence had already harmed their interests.
And the order Doflamingo had given Vergo was simple.
Lure the brat out.
Then kill him.
So no matter what, during this voyage, Vergo would kill Axel.
.....
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