Chapter 342: The Dark Clan Spans the World

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When Chonghao finally finished cleaning himself up and returned to the main hall, he found the previously suffocating atmosphere replaced by something decidedly bizarre.

Beneath the strange quiet lingered an unmistakably subtle tension.

"Did... something happen to you guys?" Chonghao scratched his head, genuine confusion written across his green face.

The crew nearly burst out laughing on the spot, using every ounce of willpower to swallow their snickers.

You, the sole perpetrator of this biochemical disaster, actually have the nerve to play dumb?!

"Ahem!" Drake coughed forcefully, fixing Chonghao with a stern stare. "Can you finally explain what method you were talking about?"

"Actually, it's not that I have a solution—the person with the solution is you, Lord Drake," Chonghao said, rubbing the back of his neck. "If our goal is simply tracking down that woman's location, it shouldn't be all that difficult."

"After all, someone capable of annihilating an entire island isn't going to stay quiet wherever she goes."

"Chances are, wherever she landed next is already experiencing the same catastrophe as this place. How could an incident of that scale generate zero news?"

"We don't even need to search for her—she'll expose herself."

"In short, all we have to do is wait for her to make her next move." Feeling the unblinking, heavy stares of the entire crew, Chonghao shifted uncomfortably, fidgeting on his webbed feet. "Did... did I say something wrong?"

"We obviously know that much. The core dilemma is that by the time intelligence reaches us, it will already be too late," Drake replied.

The reality was harsh. Im's operational speed was terrifying; the window between receiving a report and arriving on the scene was more than enough time for her to butcher an entire populace.

That was their primary bottleneck.

Even the System could only register her precise coordinates when she unleashed massive bursts of dark mist during active combat.

That approach was simply too slow.

"That shouldn't be an issue," Chonghao said, tilting his head. "The timeline should match up. Even with her killing efficiency, completely scouring an island like this one down to the bedrock should take her at least thirty minutes."

"That ought to be enough time."

"Even if that's true, we have no way of receiving instantaneous intel the exact moment she appears," Drake said, shaking his head.

That was the crux of the problem. The System only pinged her coordinates after she had already initiated full-scale destruction.

"We can, though! By utilizing our Dark Clan's regional branches and specialized reconnaissance networks in the East Blue, it won't be a problem at all," Chonghao stated matter-of-factly.

"What?!" Drake's eyes widened in surprise.

"You're saying the Dark Clan has active intelligence operatives stationed right here in the East Blue?!"

"Of course! Our Dark Clan is currently expanding across the entire globe—our personnel are embedded everywhere," Chonghao declared proudly.

"While our East Blue presence hasn't grown into a massive standing army yet, gathering localized regional intelligence is entirely within our capabilities."

"However, mobilizing the Dark Clan's network in the East Blue will require you to contact the Boss Lady personally, Lord Drake."

"That's why I said the solution doesn't lie with me—it lies with you, Boss!"

"The Dark Clan... has already expanded to this scale?!" Drake was genuinely astonished.

Not just him—the entire Dragon Flag Pirates crew looked on in sheer disbelief.

Two years ago, the Dark Clan had been nothing more than an obscure, minor faction struggling for relevance.

In such a short span of time, how on earth had she pulled this off?

It was practically a miracle.

"Boss, I have a miniature Den Den Mushi linked directly to the Chief. Would you like to..."

"I'll call Bernice immediately." Setting all hesitation aside, Drake took the baby Den Den Mushi and dialed the frequency.

Looking back, he hadn't spoken to her once since leaving the Dark Clan's headquarters.

He had never imagined the organization would balloon to this scale; it seemed he had drastically underestimated her capabilities.

That woman's leadership talent had finally been unleashed in full force.

Purupurupuru... Purupurupuru...

The rhythmic ringing of the transponder snail echoed through the silent hall.

Bell stared at the snail without blinking. It had been a very long time since he had seen his sister.

Come to think of it, ever since setting sail with Drake, he hadn't maintained regular contact with her either.

Not that there had been any urgent reason to call.

Kacha!

The call connected.

"Who is this?" A cool, detached voice drifted from the receiver.

The tone was measured, carries a sharp, regal chill—nothing like a naive young maiden, and brimming with the natural aura of a sovereign ruler.

"It's me," Drake said with a faint smile. Hearing that voice, he knew instantly it was her.

Even if her tone had grown significantly more authoritative, the underlying timbre belonged unmistakably to Bernice.

"Boss?! It really is you!" The demeanor of the snail instantly underwent a complete, earth-shattering shift. "My, my, to think the legendary God of War Drake, titan of the Legendary Four Brothers whose name shakes the heavens, would deign to call a humble maiden like me. I am truly overwhelmed with honor."

"It seems the Boss has finally remembered that a poor, overworked woman has been toiling away behind your back this entire time."

The frosty detachment was gone, replaced by a smooth, seductive cadence tinged with shameless coquettishness.

Drake could even detect a sharp undertone of deep, simmering resentment.

The sudden shift left him thoroughly flustered, forcing him to clear his throat in embarrassment.

"Bell is standing right beside me."

Your own brother is listening in, so keep it dialed back! What kind of shameless nonsense are you spouting?

Drake glanced sideways to find Bell scratching his head, wearing a sheepish, knowing grin.

"Let's talk business. I'm calling to mobilize the Dark Clan's intelligence operatives stationed in the East Blue. We need their immediate cooperation."

The voice on the other end finally turned serious, rapidly exchanging operational details and clearance codes with Drake.

Beside them, Chonghao stood paralyzed in absolute shock. As a regional cadre, he had been fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of Chief Bernice in the past.

Her icy elegance and terrifying commanding presence had left an indelible mark on him—when had their supreme leader ever shown such a tender, vulnerable side to anyone?

Yet he would never mistake her voice; the woman on the other end was unequivocally their supreme leader, Bernice.

His worshipful gaze toward Drake intensified tenfold. The Boss is truly a god among men.

"Understood. Thanks," Drake said, nodding before abruptly hanging up the snail.

"Boss, wait, you—" Back at the Dark Clan's sprawling headquarters, Bernice had just leaned forward, eager to transition into a personal conversation, when the snail's head drooped limp.

He hung up on me?!

CRACK!

Gritting her silver teeth, Bernice crushed the receiver into fine powder, pure indignation flushing her gorgeous face.

"Not a single wasted word, as always! Seriously... don't you have any idea how worried I've been about you?!"

Her chest heaved violently with frustration. She forced herself to take several deep, measured breaths before slowly regaining her icy composure.

Aboard the Demon Warder, Drake adjusted the frequency and dialed into the East Blue regional hub.

Kacha.

The line opened.

"This is Drake. I am issuing an emergency command: all Dark Clan assets across the East Blue are to operate under my direct authority with maximum priority. Is that understood?!"

The other end went dead silent for a fraction of a second, followed by a sharp intake of breath. The operative could hardly believe her ears—was that truly the supreme sovereign of the Dark Clan, the God of War Drake himself?

Lord Drake is personally issuing a mobilization order?!

Organizing her thoughts in a single heartbeat, the chief intelligence officer for the East Blue sector snapped to attention, roaring back with absolute devotion:

"Understood!"

"This subordinate and every operative across the entire East Blue Dark Clan await Lord Drake's command!"