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"What do you mean...?"
Graeme's pupils widened slightly, and he asked with uncertainty, "Do you want to help Impel Down?"
"That's right," Akira replied with a slight glance towards the office, a subtle smirk forming at the corner of his mouth. He smiled lightly, "Impel Down will be of great use to me. I plan to use this situation to completely take control of the place."
"Even if I can't go that far, at the very least, I want to make sure I can open doors of convenience here in the future."
Upon hearing this, Graeme didn't hesitate for a moment and immediately nodded, "Understood, sir."
"Rest assured, today's events at Impel Down were just a minor disturbance. No pirates escaped."
"As for the CP agents who died here, I will handle everything properly."
If Magellan and the chief wardens had been present, they would have been shocked by the situation.
Graeme, who had once been selfless and fiercely loyal to the Five Elders, now agreed without hesitation to the same request from Akira.
This was a clear double standard.
But the Graeme standing here was not the same person as before.
As a living dead man brought back from the past, he now followed any command given by Akira without question, willing to sacrifice his life to carry it out.
Compared to his master, the Five Elders meant nothing!
Covering up this incident was minor. If Akira asked him to assassinate the Five Elders in the dead of night, he would do it without a second thought.
"Well, but don't agree so easily next time. Let's put on a show later," Akira said, exhaling a puff of smoke as he gave his instructions.
People tend not to appreciate things that come too easily. Only if Magellan and the rest of Impel Down believe that Akira had invested a lot of effort and paid a great price would they regard him as a true benefactor.
Graeme wasn't some naive rookie either. As someone who had led the powerful CP0 for decades, he understood how to play the game of favors. He nodded, signaling that he knew exactly what to do.
In just a few words, an event serious enough to threaten Director Magellan's position and Impel Down's dignity was quietly swept aside by the two.
After wrapping up the topic, Akira turned to Graeme and asked, "How's everything in the Holy Land?"
Since bringing Graeme back from the past, for safety and secrecy, the two had largely cut off communication. This meeting was a good chance to exchange updates.
Graeme understood Akira's concern and responded immediately, "Rest assured, sir. Everything is running smoothly. The Five Elders haven't suspected a thing."
"As for the other members, I've already set the stage for their tasks. Over the next year, they'll meet their ends, one after another, due to various 'legitimate' causes. The Five Elders and the others won't notice anything out of the ordinary."
Akira nodded, pleased with Graeme's meticulous planning.
When Akira had first turned other CP0 members into living dead, his skills weren't refined enough, and their lifespans were capped at about one month. To extend their existence, Akira would need to exert even more physical strength and energy, pulling them back from further in the past—a costly and exhausting process.
For someone like Captain Graeme, this effort was worth it. But for regular members, it wasn't necessary.
"Anyway, there are plenty of CP reserves, and they can be replenished as needed," Akira remarked casually. "For now, just make sure the CP leader is one of our own."
Akira took a deep puff of his smoke, his mind already calculating the next steps. "Once Muzan Kibutsuji graduates and takes over as CP0, we'll start gradually replacing the rest of the members and subordinates from top to bottom. Make sure the entire CP organization is filled with our people. We want the Five Elders and the Celestial Dragons to be blind to what's happening right under their noses."
Speaking of Muzan Kibutsuji, Akira grew curious about his progress and asked, "How's Muzan doing? What's the situation over there?"
The Marines were the largest military force under the World Government, and to avoid raising suspicions from the Five Elders, Akira had deliberately avoided prying into CP matters, even through secret channels. Any updates on the situation had to come from Graeme.
Graeme immediately provided the update. "Brother Muzan has been doing exceptionally well. He's already gained quite the reputation in the training camp..."
"The instructor who oversaw his training even sought me out a couple of days ago to tell me he's the greatest genius the CP has seen in 800 years."
"If all goes as expected, he should be able to graduate in two years and directly join CP9."
"At that point, I'll make sure he gets a few major tasks that will allow him to shine in front of the Five Elders."
"He's definitely on track to be the next CP0 captain."
"Very good!" Akira's eyes gleamed behind his glasses upon hearing the news.
Once Muzan graduates, Akira can initiate the complete takeover of CP. A few more years of careful planning and patience would allow him to achieve his ultimate goal.
Akira smiled, pleased with the progress. "You've done a great job."
Akira snapped out of his thoughts and smiled, saying with admiration, "If you ever need help in the future, just come to me."
"Actually, I do need your advice on something important," Graeme responded.
"Oh? What's the matter?"
Graeme looked a bit embarrassed before explaining, "Recently, Saint Nusjuro, the Warrior God of Finance, issued a mission. He wants the CP department, which has taken over all of Marine's assets, to start generating profits—just like you do. But... well..." Graeme hesitated.
If Graeme had been able to make money easily, he wouldn't have struggled so much during the Great Pirate Age. He had often relied on Akira's financial help to stay afloat. CP, after all, was the most trusted by the Five Elders, and it had fewer restrictions compared to other organizations. If Graeme had any financial acumen, he could have leveraged that platform to make vast sums of money with ease. But the reality? He hadn't earned a single berry.
In fact, this task from the Warrior God of Finance was completely overwhelming for him. The worst part was that Akira, in front of the Five Elders, had effortlessly generated trillions of berries through banks and investments like Akatsuki. This success made it seem like Graeme could do the same thing, which only added to the pressure.
Graeme was so stressed he could hardly eat.
Akira raised an eyebrow, amused. "So, you're asking me to help you make money?"
Graeme quickly nodded. "If you have the time and don't mind."
Akira suddenly burst into a chuckle. "You've really got yourself in a tight spot, haven't you?"