APJ CHAPTER 157 EXPOSED

Rather than taking direct action, Kin’emon chose to observe the area near the Udon mining camp. He noticed that members of the Beasts Pirates frequently enter and exit the area without any apparent pattern.

Occasionally, people inside would be taken away, while others would be brought in. This was a kind of work rotation, where well-behaved prisoners would be rotated to the factory from mines for lighter work where they wouldn’t be exposed to the scorching sun. Similarly, some of the people who made mistakes in the factory would be punished by being sent here, but Kin’emon was not aware of this.

At the same time, he also noticed that there were no Kurozumi Orochi’s men here. Everyone who came in and out were all members of the Beasts Pirates. This was also one of the few places that Kaido had completely captured.

Seastone mines are of great importance, and Kin’emon did not plan to let Orochi manage this place. Orochi was also aware that without Kaido, he had no way to intervene here, so he had to accept this fact.

This was the information Kin’emon gathered. Afterwards, he changed into a camouflage suit that was as hard as stone, and quietly lurked near the mining camp to eavesdrop on information, mainly the names of the sentry and the like.

For him, doing this kind of thing was not too difficult as he possesses a certain level of strength. Although the members of the Beasts Pirates brought here were elite among pirates, they were just slightly stronger cannon fodder, and there is still a disparity between them and Kin’emon.

He used to be a famous thug in Wano Country. To be a thug in Wano Country, you had to have some strength. If you couldn’t subdue others, you couldn’t recruit subordinates nor earn the respect of others.

If it weren’t for Kozuki Oden’s own strength, as well as his family’s status, he would have likely died many times over for his actions.

As a former famous thug from a few years ago, Kin’emon has spent the recent years continuously learning, and as a result, his strength has surpassed that of ordinary members. Once he confirmed some information, he began to implement his own plan.

He changed into the Beasts Pirates’ clothing again, took care of some details, and then walked over in a very casual manner.

“Oh, Reddy, you’re still on duty, huh?”

“Yeah. But who are you?”

“Huh? I’m Nate, we had a drink together at the banquet the other day. Have you forgotten?”

Just as he had guessed, the biggest difference between large and small pirate crews was their numbers. It’s impossible for everyone inside to recognize all the members, only those distinctive officers are recognized by everyone.

He pretended to be familiar with the other party and accurately spoke out the name and some matters. This was all information he had just heard and summarized.

He has always been quite skilled at things like swindling and bluffing.

In this situation, Reddy really thought he had forgotten the person. It would be awkward to say he didn’t recognize the other person, so he agreed instead.

“It’s you, last time you said we should drink together next time.” He had probably met this person just once, but he wasn’t very familiar with him. So, in his eyes, they must have met by chance when drinking at a party. It’s normal to make drinking buddies during banquets.

“Umm, I’m going in first.”

“Go ahead, go ahead.”

He didn’t check anything, being a bit lax in that regard. After all, not many ordinary people would come close to the Udon’s mining camp, and he didn’t expect anyone to have the audacity to come here with the intention of breaking out prisoners.

Once inside the mine, he saw the sweating prisoners and their supervisors. After a brief search, he also found the few of his former subordinates.

Coincidentally, someone came to take two prisoners away.

“I’m taking them to investigate some information. This is an order from Sir Babanuki.” A member of the Beasts Pirates came to the mine, pointed to two prisoners and produced a sheet of paper.

After looking at it, the supervisor didn’t check much and simply unlocked the prisoners’ handcuffs. This also let Kin’emon know who the manager here was.

He had successfully infiltrated here. The people inside wouldn’t naturally question someone who wasn’t handcuffed and wearing a uniform. He casually asked a lone person, “Have you seen Sir Babanuki? I just can’t find him.”

“Ah? Isn’t Sir Babanuki upstairs?”

“Maybe I just missed him, I’ll go check again.”

The Chief Warden’s position here was Babanuki’s, while the one in Mogura Port was under someone else’s, and the so-called upstairs was the room where the supervisors rested. They certainly wouldn’t live together with the prisoners.

“Sir Babanuki, I was ordered to take a few new prisoners away for interrogation.”

“Again? Why are they so hardworking recently?” Babanuki was only commenting casually, but Kin’emon’s next sentence exposed his identity.

“I don’t know much about it, but it’s a request from Boss Kaido.” As soon as he said that, Babanuki paused for a moment before punching towards Kin’emon’s face.

He flipped over the table in front of him and sent the files that were originally on the table flying through the air. The papers fluttered about as his fist swung, but it missed Kin’emon. Kin’emon watched the fist coming towards him and quickly jumped to the side, causing Babanuki’s fist to hit the ground instead.

Splinters of the wooden floor flew around, but Kin’emon seemed to not have noticed that he had been exposed. He still thought that he had accidentally violated some taboo of Babanuki’s.

“What are you doing, Lord Babanuki? Have I done something wrong?”

“Don’t play dumb, you bas*tard! How dare you impersonate a member of the Beasts Pirates! You’ve got some nerve.”

The reason why Kin’emon was exposed was simple. He claimed that it was Kaido’s request because Arceus rarely shows up in public. The people of Wano Country only knew of Kaido’s existence and were unaware of Arceus’ position in the Beasts Pirates.

Everyone in the Beasts Pirates knew that Kaido had left Wano Country a few days ago and had not returned. Moreover, even if Kaido hadn’t left, he wouldn’t care about the mining camp, rather it would be Arceus who handled it.

Claiming that it is Kaido’s request, they could only be a fake.

Kin’emon could not have imagined that the internal management of the Beast Pirates would be so unique.

But even without this statement, he would still be exposed when he failed to produce the necessary documents to take someone away. Although it was easy to enter here, it was not so easy to take someone away.

Seeing that he had been exposed, Kin’emon removed his disguise. He had always kept his sword with him, but it hadn’t been visible due to the Garb-Garb Fruit’s disguise.

Upon seeing Kin’emon’s true appearance, Babanuki was also surprisingly angry. Everything has been going well for the Beasts Pirates since they came to Wano Country, but now they have been duped in the face. So, his body began to expand and he gradually transformed into a giant ape.

It was not the Caveman fruit, but a modified form similar to Mandrell’s – Slaking.