"You all know, right? Recently, our Beast Pirates have been expanding, but there are two World Government allied countries near our sea territory, and even a Navy base. It's all too much of an eyesore."
Ian said this, "Let's use them as a trade. Hand them over to me."
Smoker's eyes suddenly widened.
Two allied countries? A Navy base?
"What kind of joke are you playing, brat! G-14 base is not an issue, but two allied countries? Are you serious? How could the World Government ever take action against an allied country!"
The Five Elders' response made Smoker breathe a sigh of relief. As expected, such an extreme demand—
"Don't treat me like a fool. Just look at the North Blue, you all know better than me how Flevance was destroyed. What is a mere allied country to you? Just issue a statement in the newspaper, say those two countries didn't pay their Heavenly Tribute this year, and remove them from the World Government. That's all, isn't it?"
This was Ian's response.
Flevance?
Smoker tried hard to recall.
He had some impression.
But wasn't that country destroyed by a neighboring country due to an epidemic?
The Five Elders fell silent.
But this silence made Smoker feel a wave of fear in his heart.
He would rather die than let the World Government agree to this condition!
This kind of shame was a hundred thousand times more terrifying than death!
But…
"We agree."
The Five Elders said this.
Smoker's body trembled, gritting his teeth.
"Good."
Ian's voice carried a smile, "At least you World Government are straightforward. All our previous negotiations weren't in vain."
"Since we've made a deal, let's go all the way."
The Five Elders continued, "The Op-Op Fruit, kid, hand over the Op-Op Fruit to us. You can directly tell us your demands."
"The Op-Op Fruit?"
Ian feigned ignorance. "What's that? Never heard of it. I'll give you one day to withdraw the people from the G-14 base and announce the expulsion of those two countries from the World Government's list."
Then, Ian hung up the phone.
He smiled, lowering his head to look at Zephyr, still being held by him. The man was glaring at him fiercely. "Oh, such a scary look. But Mr. Zephyr, shouldn't you thank me? I did let you off easy."
Zephyr didn't speak, only his eyes seemed ready to burn with fury.
"You're not as experienced as your disciple."
Ian casually released Zephyr back into the Navy ranks, turning to smile at Gion, who was tightly bound by specially made chains.
"Right, Rear Admiral Gion?"
She had been tied like this before.
Gion didn't speak, only lowered her head in a despondent manner.
"Then we'll just wait here for a day."
Ian stretched lazily.
Let's leave it at that.
These Navy men were like hot potatoes.
Letting them go would be too much of a loss.
Killing them would drive the Navy crazy.
Exchanging them for two countries with a ready-made fortress base wasn't bad either.
Those were two allied countries of the World Government, and their economic strength was incomparable to the poor, nearly starving non-World Governmental allied countries under the Beast Pirates.
Ian looked toward the mountain in the distance.
The Donquixote family ran off as soon as the battle ended. Doflamingo only waved from afar, looking genuinely frightened.
Then, a day later.
"I've arrived at the Navy's G-14 base."
Ian was on the phone with someone. "The place is completely empty now, and the fleet is on its way. This can become the biggest base for the Pirate Crew overseas."
"Good job, Uncle King."
Ian sincerely expressed his gratitude.
After receiving his communication yesterday, Ian immediately rushed over and is now sending the firsthand information.
After finishing the communication with King, Ian opened today's first-hand newspaper.
It reported that two newly joined countries in the New World had falsified when submitting Heavenly Tribute and were directly removed from the World Government's ranks by the World Government.
Ian had already confirmed that this news was not exclusive to this sea area; it was published in newspapers worldwide.
The World Government did not try to fool him.
Good. This way, the recording will be of no use.
Well then.
"We must stick to the agreement too."
Ian crumpled the newspaper in his hand and stood up. "Let's go. It's time to head back."
The transaction was complete, so there was no need to stay here any longer.
Ian casually tossed the keys to the Sea-Prism Stone handcuffs and chains to the Navy. "Consider this a gift. Let's work together again next time, Navy."
The Navy, who had been sitting in the snow all night, were now extremely sluggish.
However, not everyone was like this.
"Kid!!"
Even heavily injured, Zephyr still glared at Ian. "This won't end like this! It will never end like this!"
Ian didn't look back, only sneering. "Stop bluffing, Mr. Zephyr. That will only expose your weakness."
They walked away, leaving the Navy behind in the snowstorm.
Some of the weaker Navy personnel, who were not restrained, hurriedly picked up the keys Ian had thrown and unlocked everyone's shackles.
"Zephyr, are you alright?"
Vice Admiral Tsuru walked to Zephyr's side, asking with concern.
Although Ian had arranged for emergency treatment for Zephyr yesterday, his injuries were still too severe.
"…Why?"
Zephyr clenched his remaining left fist in pain and spoke, "Why did the World Government make a deal with him?"
Two entire countries!
Although he was saved because of it, the lives of millions of people from two countries were now going to fall into the hands of the Beast Pirates.
Vice Admiral Tsuru sighed but remained silent.
"No! We can't let the Beasts Pirates take over those countries!"
Zephyr suddenly said, "Tsuru, notify the headquarters and have Kong mobilize the troops! We must stop the Beasts Pirates from taking over those two nations!"
Faced with the hopeful gaze of his old friend, Vice Admiral Tsuru gently shook her head, "It's impossible, Zephyr. If we go back on this, Ian will bring the deal to the surface, and the World Government's reputation will collapse in an instant."
"Moreover, the World Government will never allow us to go to war with the Beasts Pirates over two abandoned allied nations."
The light in Zephyr's eyes gradually faded.
What exactly is justice in the eyes of the World Government?
Although it was all because of their defeat, and despite the immense shame and pain in his heart, Zephyr couldn't help but think about it.
While everyone in the navy was downhearted, the Golden Dragon had already set sail.
On the deck.
"So this is the Op-Op Fruit?"
Ian held the heart-shaped Op-Op Fruit, and his companions marveled at it.
"Five billion Berries?"
Viola almost wanted to use her ability to examine the fruit inside and out, "Is this it?"
"This trip was worth it just for this fruit," Ian said.
As for the G-14 base and those two allied nations, it could only be considered an unexpected bonus.
"Then, Brother Ian," Jack asked seriously, "Who will eat this fruit?"
The legendary immortality surgery, of course, only Brother Ian is qualified to live an immortal life! If he wasn't already a Devil Fruit user, Jack would have eaten it himself.
"I!!"
Yamato raised her hand high.
"Idiot," Ian rolled his eyes at her, "Eating two devil fruits will kill you."
"Ian, I can do it too!"
Hancock, upon hearing Yamato's words, couldn't wait to speak up.
"Don't cause any trouble."
Ian raised an eyebrow, then handed the fruit in his hand to Law.
Law was stunned for a moment.
"This fruit can only have its maximum effect if a doctor eats it," Ian said. "Law, you are a doctor, right? Even without the medical enhancement, the fruit's effect in battle is still quite impressive."
Although he wasn't the ship's doctor, Law had always been studying medicine.
"Me?" Law suddenly grinned, then without hesitation, took the fruit from Ian's hand and bit into it with no second thoughts. "Just what I wanted—"
Before he could finish his cool line, he started gagging.
"Ugh, it's so disgusting!!"
The group burst into laughter.
"You don't need to worry about the immortality surgery, Law," Ian said with a smile. "There are plenty of ways to achieve eternal life."
For example, pure gold.
Once Princess Shirahoshi awakens and can control Sea Kings, they could have her summon the lantern fish that had swallowed a massive amount of pure gold.
Pure gold can reduce the effect of time on the human body to the absolute minimum, and living for a few thousand years shouldn't be an issue.
"You don't need to tell me," Law grinned wickedly. "I'm not interested in self-sacrifice."
"That's good. Work hard and develop it. Don't waste this fruit."
"Of course!"
So, they were preparing to return to the New World.
However, it was at this moment that Ian received a phone call.
"Ian!!"
The person on the other end of the line sounded almost manic with excitement. "It's done! The research on the artificial Devil Fruit is finally complete!!"
**********
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