Inside the captain's cabin, the lamp stand equipped with a Dial emitted a soft, warm glow, its faint rays filling the spacious room.
Sitting on the sofa, Allen stared at the Transponder Snail on the table and said calmly, "Those minor details don't matter. Let's just get straight to the point. I will take over Crocodile's position as a Warlord of the Sea, but I have one condition."
"Straight to the point, is it? It sounds like you have been planning this for a long time. However, I am not opposed to it. Tell me your condition."
The Transponder Snail mimicked Saturn's composed demeanor as it spoke in a low voice.
Biting down on his cigar, Allen let a slow grin spread across his face. "This makes negotiations much faster. It's very simple. I want some of the research results from the world's greatest scientist, Vegapunk."
"Some...? Setting aside what specific research you are looking for, this request in itself can hardly be considered a single condition."
The Transponder Snail's expression shifted. Its half-drooping eyelids narrowed slightly, revealing a hint of dissatisfaction. After a brief pause, it continued, "Of course, we will allow you to state your terms first. As for whether we agree, we will consider it."
"I want Devil Fruit weapons, Lineage Factor, Artificial Devil Fruits, and laser weapons—either the technology or the finished products," Allen demanded, making an exorbitant request right out of the gate.
Asking for so much all at once, he didn't even need to hear their answer to know they would never agree.
But haggling was haggling, and a deal was a deal. The amount of profit you could squeeze out depended entirely on your negotiation skills, not on the charity of others.
Sure enough.
The moment his voice fell, the Transponder Snail flatly refused.
"Impossible. Every single thing you mentioned is a vital research achievement of the World Government. Those resources alone would be enough to cultivate a Warlord of the Sea."
"Don't speak too soon. I don't doubt your ability to cultivate a Warlord, but it can't be as easy as you make it sound. Otherwise, the Warlord system would have been abolished a long time ago," Allen chuckled with a cold expression.
This time, the Transponder Snail didn't retort. It fell silent for a moment before saying, "The research technology cannot be leaked. We can only give you finished products. We can provide you with three Devil Fruit weapons, or you can provide the fruits yourself and have Vegapunk custom-make them."
"For the remaining conditions, we will allow you to choose one more. That is our biggest concession," the Transponder Snail added finally, its tone resolute, clearly not intending to give him any chance to push for more.
Allen didn't speak. He mentally calculated the deals other Warlords had made with the World Government. Getting them to agree to two of his demands was already quite good.
However, he still didn't agree. He truly wanted everything he had just mentioned.
Allen knew they wouldn't agree, which was why he hadn't aimed to get them for free from the very beginning.
"No matter what I choose, it's hard to give up the rest. After all, these things are truly tempting. If you find this too difficult, let's try a different approach."
"I want to make trades with Vegapunk. It won't involve technology, only finished products. You can limit the number of transactions," Allen finally proposed.
He had actually thought of this condition long ago, and he knew there was a high probability they would agree. After all, a moment's thought made it clear that they were the ones holding the initiative in the trade.
It might look like Allen was picking and choosing what to buy, but in reality, whether to sell or not was entirely up to them.
They could jack up the prices for things they were willing to part with, and for things they weren't, they could set astronomical prices or simply claim they didn't have them. Not to mention the transaction limit set from the start.
Meanwhile, in the Holy Land of Mary Geoise.
Inside a spacious hall, several sofas were arranged in a circle. The Five Elders were either sitting or standing, their eyes all fixed on the Transponder Snail resting on the small round table in the center.
The entire hall was incredibly quiet. After using a Jamming Snail to block the call signal with Allen, Saturn finally spoke, "What do you think of this condition? Should we agree?"
"It is barely acceptable. At the end of the day, Egghead is constantly under our surveillance. The transactions will be controllable," Saint Warcury said in a deep voice, his arms crossed over his chest.
Saturn nodded slightly, agreeing, "Indeed. Although everything he wants are items that can increase combat power, as long as we strictly limit the quantity, it won't be a major issue."
"In that case, I have no objections." Saint Nusjuro, resting his long sword against his shoulder, adjusted his glasses. A cold glint flashed across the lenses as he spoke, "It's a pity. If the research on the Seraphim had progressed a bit faster, we wouldn't have to negotiate terms with a pirate right now."
"The research on the Pacifistas is nearing its end. Once enough combat data is collected, the Seraphim can enter the next experimental phase. Vegapunk estimates it will take two years to complete," Saturn replied.
"Two years is but the blink of an eye to us. The day we abolish the Warlords of the Sea will soon arrive," Saint Mars, standing behind the sofa, said with his eyes closed.
The Holy Knights could not be easily revealed to the public. Currently, the only forces the World Government could use to intervene in the seas were the Marines and the Warlords of the Sea.
The target they had chosen this time was also the result of careful consideration.
Allen had briefly joined the Marines, so his background was clear. After setting sail, he had displayed impressive combat prowess, and the speed at which his strength improved was astonishing.
Upon first entering the Grand Line, he fought Drake to a draw, and not long after, he reached a level where he could defeat Crocodile.
As soon as his new bounty and the reports from Alabasta came out, Allen became a rapidly rising Super Rookie overnight.
His comprehensive evaluation in terms of combat power, potential, battle record, and reputation was excellent. Moreover, he had stepped over Crocodile to rise to power, making him undoubtedly the best candidate to take over the Warlord position.
Saint Mars slowly opened his eyes and said calmly, "Since there are no issues, I say we just agree to his terms."
...
Boin Archipelago. The Freewill was quietly anchored by the coast. Inside the captain's cabin.
"Then ten times. No less."
"Acceptable. But you cannot trade for the same type of item more than three times."
"Deal."
"Then it's settled. I will have Vegapunk contact you later."
...
Click.
Hanging up the Transponder Snail, Allen's composed face slowly relaxed, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.
A total of ten opportunities to trade with Vegapunk.
Among them, the custom Devil Fruit weapons (providing his own materials), Artificial Devil Fruits, technical services for Lineage Factor, and laser weapons he had initially proposed were all included in the tradable scope. Now, he just had to wait for Vegapunk to provide him with a product list tonight.
These were all extremely important research achievements. However, as long as the technology wasn't leaked, letting a few finished products slip out wouldn't harm the World Government.
For things like laser weapons, there was a world of difference between having two or three and having two or three hundred. The latter could easily wipe out the armed forces of a small to medium-sized country.
The Five Elders agreed to this condition precisely because he had taken the initiative to propose a limit on the number of transactions.
"Still, I'm definitely going to get ripped off."
Allen let out a long sigh and turned his head to look at the armrest of the sofa beside him, where an ear had sprouted out of thin air.
"Next time you want to listen, just come in. Eavesdropping on your captain's conversations is very impolite," Allen said softly. He reached out and flicked it hard with his finger, causing the ear to instantly dissolve into flower petals and vanish.
In the library tucked away in a corner on the third floor.
"How rude..."
One of Robin's ears slowly turned red as she gently lowered her crossed arms from her chest.
'It sounds like the higher-ups of the World Government don't know I'm on this ship. Did Kuma not report my presence?'
Now that Allen had joined the Warlords of the Sea, it was inevitable that he would have to deal with the World Government in the future. It was only a matter of time before her identity was discovered by their agents.
When that time came, would Allen hand her over to the World Government to maintain his status as a Warlord...?
Robin unconsciously clenched her fists, a hint of fear faintly revealing itself in the depths of her eyes.
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