Pirate: I was just slacking off, do you really think I'm bad?

Upon hearing this, Gion felt as happy as if she had eaten honey.

His body involuntarily moved closer to Raleigh.

Raleigh also noticed the changes in Gion.

"Tsk tsk tsk, could this little girl have fallen for me?"

However, Raleigh didn't make it clear either.

If you guess wrong about something like this, the consequences can be severe.

Based on his experience as a seasoned lover in his previous life, the best course of action at this time is...

Neither take the initiative nor refuse.

Silently, her body felt the smoothness of Gion's skin.

"So awesome!"

He glanced at Gion without revealing his thoughts; right now, Raleigh's brain was completely blank.

Blub Blub... Blub Blub...

A Den Den Mushi ringing brought Raleigh back to reality, who had been imagining the plot.

Upon hearing the Den Den Mushi, Gion immediately changed her position from leaning against Raleigh to go fishing on the other side.

"Damn it, which idiot called me on the phone? You better have something to say."

Rory grumbled as he pulled a Den Den Mushi from his pocket.

"Hmm? A flying squirrel's Den Den Mushi."

Raleigh knew the flying squirrel's personality; the flying squirrel usually wouldn't call him unless it was something important.

-------------------------------------

In the East Sea, a secluded place in a lush forest, far away from Branch 133.

Bellemere, who had no regard for her image, was eating her food in large mouthfuls.

The flying squirrel sat cross-legged on the ground, handing Bellemere food and water while making a phone call to Raleigh.

"Moshi Moshi, Raleigh, I received a call from an unknown number. It's from Bellemere, a Marine from Branch 127. She claims to have met you once before."

The flying squirrel glanced at Bellemere and then said with certainty.

"I just heard her say that the World Government has sent members of CP9 to investigate the massacre of the Kingdom Guard by the Mad Blade Pirates. Moreover, their target seems to have been identified, and they believe that you were behind it."

"I don't know if this news is true or false, but based on my understanding of you, it's very likely. That's why I'm calling to verify it."

After hearing what the flying squirrel had to say, Raleigh's first reaction was that the information had been leaked.

A feeling of horror suddenly spread throughout my body.

However, Raleigh has a naturally strong heart.

He rubbed his temples, glanced at Gion, and said nothing.

Raleigh was internally calculating whether he had given himself away and attracted the attention of a CP9 member.

First, exclude yourself; second, exclude Bellemere.

Because he was certain that he could not have leaked the secret, and besides, Bellemere was only guessing what he had done.

The only group that the World Government could obtain concrete evidence against is the Mad Blade Pirates.

But Raleigh knew that the Mad Blade Pirates' Niwa and Sugiki wouldn't usually betray him.

Gion noticed that Raleigh seemed to be pondering some very private matters, so she proactively put away her fishing rod and jumped off the ram.

She also ordered the naval soldiers near the ramming point to leave the area.

We went back to the cabin to rest for a while.

Where exactly did the problem lie?

Raleigh was quite unaware that his deal with Nisugan and Itsuki was unlikely to be leaked.

Both Nissan and Itsuki call him Shinatobi, which is a fake name.

The crew of the Mad Blade Pirates were mostly unaware that the so-called Zhi Na Du Bi was actually Christine Rowley, the former branch leader of Branch 133.

"Just give them a call and you'll find out."

Raleigh activated his Observation Haki to its maximum to ensure that no creatures were monitoring or listening to him nearby.

Then he took out an anti-eavesdropping Den Den Mushi from his pocket and called Nisan Kazuki, who was far away on the Peking University flight route.

Blub Blub... Blub Blub...

The distinctive sound of a Den Den Mushi rang out, and Raleigh waited patiently.

"Hey, Zhi, you're so annoying. Didn't I tell you to leave me alone after I finished that thing for you?"

As the Den Den Mushi transformed into the form of Futsugi Kazuki, a familiar voice came from within.

Raleigh felt calmer.

It seems that Nisugi and Itsuki were not captured by the World Government.

But thinking about it, it makes sense; Futaba Kazuki's strength is not low.

In this era, the navy's combat power was still somewhat inferior to that of pirates.

Unless he's extremely unlucky, no one can really do anything to him in the first half of the Grand Line.

"Heh, have any World Government intelligence agents clashed with you recently?"

Raleigh simply rephrased the question.

Because after hearing Futsugi and Itsuki's voice, he judged that Futsugi and Itsuki's surroundings were safe.

Therefore, he was probably not betrayed by Nissan and Itsuki.

However, this matter needs to be verified again.

"No, I'd love to run into them. I've been sailing on the Grand Line for half a month now and haven't even seen a bird."

"But to be fair, there are quite a few strong individuals on the Grand Line. Although none of them can beat me, their level is much higher than that of the East Blue. That's where I can improve."

Even through the Den Den Mushi, Raleigh could hear the excitement in Futsugi and Itsuki's voice.

That's understandable, though, as Kazuki Nisugi is a man with a fervent pursuit of improving his skills.

If it weren't for Raleigh in the East Blue, he would have already sailed into the Grand Line.

Raleigh was transferred to the North Blue, and only when he had no rivals did he think of going to the Grand Line to train.

"Zhi Na Du Bi, when are you coming to the Grand Line? I can't wait to fight you again. I've improved rapidly on the Grand Line, and this time I'll definitely give you a good beating."

"Heh, the Grand Line, even a dog wouldn't go there."

"Sihai is great, you can slack off peacefully."

Not wanting to hear Kazuki Nigane continue rambling on about how great the Grand Line was, Raleigh hung up the phone immediately.

Anyway, he didn't care about progress on the Grand Line; he just wanted to verify things.

Raleigh's mind was a bit of a mess. The problem wasn't with Nisaki and Itsuki on the Grand Line, nor was it with himself or Bellemere.

But the question is, why would members of the World Government's CP9 organization focus their attention on him?

Blub Blub... Blub Blub...

Another Den Den Mushi called.

Raleigh is very irritable right now.

When there's nothing going on, I might not receive a phone call for three days.

When something happens, it's a whole bunch of things all at once, which really annoys Raleigh.

Rory glanced at the Den Den Mushi and saw it was Borsalino calling. He tapped the Den Den Mushi to answer.

"Rayle, I heard what you did on Ralotunga Island. You even managed to subdue Doflamingo. That's terrifying."

"However, government officials have made confidential comments to our North Sea, believing that our navy should not allow a former Celestial Dragon of noble lineage to suffer such humiliation, and they have strongly protested against it."

"They also said that if we take action against Doflamingo without informing them, they will impose economic sanctions on the Navy."

Navy...economic sanctions?

A sudden flash of inspiration opened up a way of thinking that Raleigh had been struggling with.