One Piece: The True Codex

After finishing his dinner, Arcadio gently dabbed his mouth with a napkin.

His only son, Aureliano, seated across the table, quickly sprang to his feet and hurried over to the liquor cabinet. He retrieved a bottle of golden honey mead, his movements eager and attentive.

Recently, a rumor had been circulating, claiming that honey mead was exceptionally nutritious. It was said to help the body resist diseases, enhance immunity, protect cardiovascular health, improve sleep, and even prolong life—praises that seemed almost exaggerated.

The rumor gained so much traction that even newspapers across the East Blue began reporting on it. Experts on these papers explained to readers that it wasn't the alcohol itself that was miraculous but rather the properties of honey. Studies showed that honey-based meads contained essential bioactive substances that could promote metabolism and combat aging.

As a man of significant power and age, Arcadio cared little about the high price of honey mead or the scientific jargon in the articles—terms like "fructose" and "minerals" meant nothing to him. What mattered to him were the claims that it was beneficial to his health and could extend his life.

Moreover, the inherently luxurious and expensive nature of honey mead suited Arcadio's status. Ever since he read the news, he had made it a habit to drink a small glass of honey mead after dinner every evening, a routine he had maintained for months.

Living under the same roof, Aureliano was well aware of his father's habit. However, such attentiveness was rare from him.

Arcadio squinted at Aureliano as the latter poured honey mead for both of them. Finally, he spoke in a calm tone, "Why are you being so attentive? Did you get into trouble again?"

"No, absolutely not!" Aureliano hastily assured him.

"If you didn't, why are you suddenly so considerate?" Arcadio didn't touch his glass but pressed further, "Speak up—what did you do this time?"

"I really didn't cause any trouble," Aureliano muttered awkwardly, taking a sip of his honey mead. "It's just... I had a conflict with someone and wanted to ask you to step in. Maybe let Kro handle it for me."

"You? A conflict?" Arcadio chuckled. "Your petty squabbles warrant the involvement of Kro and the Bureau of Alcohol Smuggling Investigation? And you want me to intervene?"

"If I could handle it myself, I wouldn't need to ask you," Aureliano grumbled.

"You've already approached Kro?" Arcadio frowned upon hearing this. "And he refused?"

When Aureliano nodded, Arcadio felt a flicker of displeasure—not because Kro had refrained from acting on Aureliano's behalf, but because Kro hadn't reported the matter to him afterward.

Though Aureliano was idle and incompetent, he was still Arcadio's only son. Kro's apparent disregard for Aureliano's issues didn't sit well with Arcadio. Someone like William might have appreciated Kro's cautious behavior, but Arcadio saw it as disrespectful.

In Arcadio's eyes, everything Kro had was bestowed by him. Even if Aureliano's issue didn't warrant the Bureau's involvement, Kro should have shown proper attention out of respect for Aureliano's status.

"A dog that doesn't concern itself with its master's affairs needs to be disciplined," Arcadio snorted, picking up his glass. But as he glanced at Aureliano, his hand froze mid-motion.

Aureliano's face had turned ashen, his eyes bulging, veins popping on his forehead. He clutched his throat tightly with both hands, struggling to breathe.

Crash!

The glass in Arcadio's hand fell to the floor, shattering into pieces.

...

The atmosphere in the noble district had been tense and strange over the past two days.

The poisoning of Arcadio's son, Aureliano, was no secret. Although doctors had managed to pull Aureliano back from the brink of death, the incident had caused ripples that couldn't easily be smoothed over.

Investigations revealed that the poison had been in the honey mead—specifically, the same honey mead that Arcadio regularly drank.

Additionally, rumors began to spread that William had seemingly disappeared in the past couple of days. Linking this to the poisoning incident, where Aureliano had been poisoned by drinking Arcadio's usual beverage, many couldn't help but let their imaginations run wild.

At the Finance Minister's residence, Arcadio sat imposingly on the sofa in the reception room, leaning on a cane. His expression was grim as he listened to Kro's report.

"Actually, two days ago, someone tried to poison me as well," Kro said, wiping the cold sweat from his brow and feigning nervousness. "But, as you know, ever since I became the director of the Bureau of Alcohol Smuggling Investigation, I've made plenty of enemies. Without a noble title, I'm an easy target. Incidents like this have happened before, which is why I wasn't harmed this time and didn't think it necessary to report it to you."

"I just never expected someone to target you, my lord. It's truly... truly..." Kro stammered, appearing both flustered and anxious, the perfect image of a subordinate worried about his benefactor's downfall. "Monstrous!"

Arcadio's expression grew darker. At that moment, the door suddenly opened, and his butler, Eaton, entered. Seeing Arcadio turn his head to look at him, Eaton shook his head.

"Master, Stolt's men say he's not in Kalmar City," Eaton reported cautiously.

"Even Stolt has disappeared," Arcadio said with a bitter laugh, his anger boiling over. "Just two days ago, he was still here! Has he avoided being poisoned but been frightened out of his wits? Or has he been poisoned and is now hiding from everyone?"

Arcadio slammed his cane against the floor with force. "These people aren't just trying to kill me—they want to uproot my entire influence!"

"My lord, what should we do next?" Kro asked.

"Find them! You must find whoever poisoned us!" Arcadio growled through gritted teeth. This time, it was Aureliano who had been poisoned. But who could guarantee that next time, it wouldn't be him? And if it were him, would he be as lucky as Aureliano to survive?

Turning to Eaton, Arcadio ordered, "Do whatever it takes to contact Stolt. I need to know if he's alive or dead."

"As for myself, I'll go to the palace and meet with His Majesty. He must understand the risks I've taken to uphold the supreme royal authority and how loyal the Buendía family truly is!"

...

While Arcadio was consumed by rage over the poisoning, the William he had been searching for was calmly sitting aboard a ship, reviewing documents.

The ship was en route to Maple Leaf Village. Over the past year, William's focus had been on Kalmar City. This trip was an opportunity to inspect the progress in Maple Leaf Village, particularly at the shipyard. William had high expectations for the shipyard, having invested a fortune in its location, construction, and recruitment. He wouldn't be satisfied with merely reaching the average shipbuilding standards of the East Blue or achieving slight improvements.

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