Brrr-brrr-brrr.
Ian's Den Den Mushi suddenly rang.
He raised his hand to answer.
"Ian!"
It was the voice of an old friend, "Someone has ordered your bombers again."
"Well, answer them the same way as before, Umit,"
Ian replied calmly, "They're not for sale."
In the two years of war in the New World, the bombers and the Fish-Man army have truly shined.
At least Ian knew that Charlotte Linlin had immediately sent people to Fish-Man Island to recruit forces, and she had actually managed to form a crew.
However, in terms of scale, it was far smaller than the Fish-Man forces of the Beast Pirates.
The appearance of the bombers had captured the attention of the entire world.
They nearly completely revolutionized the form of warfare.
It shifted from flat combat to three-dimensional warfare.
The skies were now something that humanity was set to conquer!
Anyone with a brain could understand the potential of such a weapon. Almost the very next day after the bombers made their debut, dealers from all over the world were flooding Ian's phone with calls, all wanting to purchase this weapon.
Even Ochoku and Charlotte Linlin attempted to acquire it through various channels.
Ian's response was always the same—no sale.
After all, this was the cutting-edge technology of the Beast Pirates. How could he just sell it?
But Ian knew that the blockade of this technology was aimed at pirates only.
For the true enemies, for the World Government, it wouldn't be hard for them to replicate these flying machines.
With Vegapunk around, that guy could probably understand the principles just by looking at pictures of the bombers in the newspaper.
It's possible that the World Government's fighter jet factories had already started production.
So, after completing the research on the underwater torpedoes, Uncle Queen immediately began working on the iteration of fighter jets.
Energy issues? Fossil fuels would be sufficient; they just needed to work on internal combustion engines.
Before Vegapunk managed to develop the Mother Flame, he didn't have any better energy sources, so both sides were starting on the same footing.
"That's really too bad,"
Umit sighed. "If you were willing to sell, it would be a huge order."
"Let's talk about it later."
Ian answered indifferently.
If more advanced fighter jets were developed, then selling the older models wouldn't be out of the question.
"Well, I'll be waiting!"
Umit seemed a bit excited, then said, "Oh, I almost forgot about the main thing. Ian, didn't you ask me to keep an eye on the North Blue? Doflamingo's back there."
"Oh?"
Ian raised an eyebrow. "Do you know what he's going back for?"
"I don't know about that," Umit replied. "But I heard that in the underground world of the North Blue, someone seems to be auctioning something. It seems like a Devil Fruit."
Ian instantly straightened his back. "A Devil Fruit?"
"Yeah, but I don't know what kind it is," Umit said. "Should I go ask someone for you?"
"No need," Ian replied. "I'll ask someone myself."
"Alright."
The call with Umit ended.
Without wasting a moment, Ian dialed a number.
"Hehehe, Ian! Congratulations! Ochoku's Third Fleet has been completely crushed by you. When are you attacking Hive Island? I could come do a live broadcast," a familiar voice came through the transponder snail.
"Cut the crap, Morgans," Ian interrupted. "Answer me, what's the Devil Fruit being auctioned in the North Blue's underground world?"
"Huh?"
Morgans sounded a little surprised. "Ian, you're pretty well-informed, huh? Did Doflamingo tell you about it?"
"Answer me."
Ian's tone was stern.
"Hehehehe, yes," Morgans paused deliberately, then continued, "It's the Ope-Ope no Mi. What's this, Ian? Are you interested in this Devil Fruit too?"
"But you might be a step too late. The lucky one who got their hands on the fruit, the traitor navy officer Diez Barrels, has already made a deal with the Navy. He sold the fruit for an astronomical price!"
On the side, Drake, who was training, suddenly froze. He had heard a familiar name.
Ian wasn't surprised. He just continued asking, "Where and when is the meeting?"
"Don't make it too difficult, Ian," Morgans complained, "That's classified Navy information. How would I know?"
Ian didn't doubt it.
Doflamingo could know because he had an undercover agent in the Navy who was tipping him off.
Morgans was a gossip, well-informed but not all-knowing.
"Then help me track Doflamingo's location. He knows."
Ian said.
"Eh? Hehehe, sounds like you're saying something interesting," Morgans chuckled, "Everyone knows that the Donquixote family and your Beast Pirates aren't exactly allies, right? Doflamingo is your good friend, Ian. Why don't you just give him a call about it?"
Ian didn't respond.
The Ope Ope no Mi represented the immortality surgery, which was a celestial dragon's national treasure.
Doflamingo would never give up on it, even if it meant turning against the Beast Pirates.
He would definitely play dumb about it.
"Just do as I say."
"Ohhh, you're ordering me now, hehe, but that's fine. The big news is going to happen in the North Blue, right? As long as there's big news, I'm okay with it."
After ending the call with Morgans, Ian carefully thought it over and finally dialed another number.
This time, the transponder snail rang for a long time.
Finally, the other side picked up.
"Who is it!"
It was a drunken voice, "Which bastard disturbed my fun?"
Hearing this voice, Drake's body shook.
Ian spoke, "Diez Barrels, it's me, Ian."
"…Eh!"
The person on the other end sounded like someone had grabbed their throat, letting out a sharp cry before saying, "I-I-I-Ian-sama!"
"Barrels," Ian said, "Do you remember our agreement from two years ago?"
"...Of course, of course!"
Diez Barrels paused, then quickly said, "But Lord Ian, I'm sorry, after searching for two years, I haven't found anything worth reporting to you."
Ian's lips tightened, "I see. Well then."
"...Uh, Lord Ian, I have some things to take care of, so I'll hang up now."
The phone call ended abruptly.
Ian stared at the phone bug, now closed, and let out a sigh with a hint of melancholy, "Drake, I think I've been deceived."
Drake's voice turned serious, "Leave it to me, Lord Ian. It just so happens, I've been wanting to repay the favor from those years."
Ian nodded lightly, then said loudly, "Then turn around! Head to the nearest base to resupply, and then proceed at full speed to the North Blue!"
At the same time, in the North Blue, on an island.
Diez Barrels still looked rattled after hanging up the phone, his face pale as he stared at the phone bug as if it were some kind of monster.
"Captain!"
Around him, the pirate crew was equally stunned, their mouths agape, "That's Ian the Skyfire!"
That's the Beast Pirates! The pirate crew led by Kaido, one of the Emperors of the New World!
How dare they deceive them!
"I don't care who he is!"
Diez Barrels panted heavily, his face flushed, perhaps from alcohol, but he carefully pulled out a heart-shaped fruit from a nearby box, almost lovingly rubbing it.
"This is my treasure! It's worth fifty billion Berries! With this money, what do we need to be pirates for? We can retire, find an island to live on, and who the hell is that little brat Ian to track us down?"
The surrounding pirates also considered this.
Would the Beast Pirates really give them this much money?
Compared to this huge fortune, what's their fear of the Beast Pirates?
Even businessmen would risk it all for huge profits, let alone pirates like them who are used to putting their lives on the line!
**********
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