Negotiations with the Big Mom Pirates

Eight months after the God Valley Incident.

When the Big Mom's fleet appeared on the waters off Hachinosu, Ginny was sitting in the Intelligence Room eating an orange. She drew a circle in front of her eyes with her finger, and a pale purple light flashed by.

"They've arrived. Five ships. They're expected to dock in half an hour."

Lin Yuan stood at the Castle gate, his hands in his pockets.

"Accompanying personnel?"

"Six officers: Perospero, Katakuri, Smoothie, Cracker, and two new faces. The Big Mom is on the top deck of the main ship, eating cake."

"Knew."

Lin Yuan turned and walked into the hall. Kaido leaned against the wall, gnawing on meat; Bullet sat on the windowsill, rubbing his fists; Kuma stood Kuma in the corner; King peered out from the doorway; Moria emerged from the dark room, his eyes still adjusting to the light.

"Is everything ready?" Lin Yuan asked.

"Ooh ho ho..." Kaido threw the bone away, "I've been waiting a long time."

"Don't cause trouble."

"I don't cause trouble. I eat meat."

Bullet jumped down from the windowsill and stretched his wrists.

What if she causes trouble?

"Then let's fight again."

Bullet grinned.

Half an hour later, the five ships docked.

The gangway was lowered, and the Big Mom stepped down. She was a head taller than the tallest building on Hachinosu, her long pink hair fluttering in the sea breeze, a Homies perched on her shoulder, and a Candy Cane in her hand. Behind her followed six people, lined up in a row.

Perospero, with long blond hair, Devil Fruit User. Katakuri, with a scarf covering half his face, Devil Fruit User. Smoothie, with long legs, Devil Fruit User. Cracker, wearing a mask, Devil Fruit User. There are also two executives, a tall man wearing a top hat and a short, stout man wearing armor.

"Well..." The Big Mom glanced at Lin Yuan and the people behind him standing on the dock, "Little brat with the spatial ability, how about making up for the drinks you didn't get to have on Pirate Island last time?"

"I don't drink." Lin Yuan stood still, neither advancing nor retreating. "Welcome to Hachinosu."

"Not drinking? Then what do you drink?"

"Let's have tea and talk business."

"Well... okay, let's talk business."

The Big Mom strode towards the island. Perospero followed behind her, pausing briefly as they passed Kaido, licking his lips.

"Kaido, it's been a long time."

"Oh dear... Perospero, your tongue is still as long as ever."

"As long as it's longer than yours."

The two looked at each other, but neither of them smiled.

A long table was set up in the Castle hall. A white tablecloth covered the table, and in the center was a three-tiered cake, with tea sets and pastries placed around it.

The Big Mom sat down, with six officers standing behind her. Lin Yuan sat opposite her, with Kaido, Bullet, and Kuma standing behind him. King stood by the door, Moria stood by the window, Ginny stood next to Lin Yuan, holding an account book.

"The cake is good." The Big Mom cut off a large piece, stuffed it into her mouth, and said, "It's better than what my chef makes."

"If you like it, that's fine." Lin Yuan picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "Let's get down to business."

"Come on... what's the rush? Eat first."

"Let's eat first and then talk."

The Big Mom ate three pieces of cake and drank five cups of tea. Then she put down her fork, leaned back in her chair, and looked at Lin Yuan.

"Okay. Let's get down to business."

Lin Yuan put down his teacup.

You go first.

The Big Mom tapped her fingers on the table.

"I've come to you with three things. First, Seastone. You have the largest supply of Seastone in the New World, and I want it. Second, Fruits. I heard you have a few rare ones, and I want to see them. Third, Intelligence. You managed to escape from Rocks and the Navy right under their noses in God Valley, so you must have an intelligence network. I want that too."

You have quite a lot to ask for.

"Well... I'm Big Mom woman, of course I want a lot."

Lin Yuan didn't reply. He picked up his teacup, took another sip, and then put it down.

"Before discussing price, let's talk about the overall market trend."

The Big Mom raised an eyebrow.

"The overall trend?"

"You should know the situation on this sea better than anyone else." Lin Yuan leaned back in his chair. "Rocks's ship has disbanded. Whitebeard left, Golden Lion went solo, and you left too. The Rocks Pirates are no longer the Rocks Pirates of a year ago."

The Big Mom's smile slowly faded.

What are you trying to say?

"I want to say that times are changing," Lin Yuan said. "Rocks is planning one last big move. Whitebeard is looking for his territory in the New World. Golden Lion is expanding his power, and his conflict with Rocks is already out in the open. On the Navy side, Sengoku ate the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Daibutsu, and although Garp didn't get a promotion, his strength hasn't declined. The Five Elders have been meeting twice as often lately."

The Big Mom's pupils contracted slightly.

How did you know?

"I told you, I have an intelligence network." Lin Yuan didn't answer directly. "Don't you have one too? You have people on the Rocks ship, and you have spies in Golden Lion territory. You know what I'm saying is true."

The Big Mom remained silent for a moment.

"Well... you little rascal, you know more than I thought."

"The more you know, the better you live," Lin Yuan said. "Right now, three forces are waiting for Rocks to die. The Navy wants to take advantage of his illness to kill him, Whitebeard wants to seize territory while he's down, and Golden Lion wants to prove he's stronger Rocks. And you? What are you waiting for?"

The Big Mom stopped tapping her fingers on the table.

"I'm waiting..."

She didn't continue.

Lin Yuan spoke for her.

"You're waiting for an ally. Someone who isn't under your command, isn't on your side, and can lend you a hand when Rocks falls."

The Big Mom stared at Lin Yuan for a long time.

"Do you see yourself as that person?"

"It's not that I think so," Lin Yuan said, "It's that you came to Hachinosu, not that I went to Whole Cake Island."

The hall was silent for a few seconds.

Perospero's tongue trembled slightly at the corner of his mouth. Katakuri's arm returned to its normal color. Smoothie's hand loosened its grip on the sword hilt. Cracker's fingers stopped tapping.

Kaido grinned. Bullet stretched his neck. Kuma remained expressionless. The flames on King's back flickered. Moria gripped his scissors tighter.

Ginny wrote a line in the ledger, but no one saw it.

"Well, well..." the Big Mom laughed, "You little rascal, you really don't know how to talk back."

"Save those polite words for the Five Elders."

"Alright. Then I won't stand on ceremony." The Big Mom sat up straight. "Seastone, twenty tons per year, 20% lower than the market price. No exclusivity agreement, but I want the right of first refusal."

"You can have a 10% first-mover advantage."

"One and a half percent."

"Make a deal."

The Big Mom held up two fingers.

"Fruit. How many do you have? I want them all."

Lin Yuan glanced at Ginny. Ginny opened the account book.

"Three. Paramecia Gold-Gold Fruit, Paramecia Dark-Dark Fruit, Paramecia Op-Op Fruit."

The Big Mom raised an eyebrow.

"The Op-Op Fruit? The one with the fifty billion?"

"Right."

Are you willing to sell it?

"It depends on what price you offer."

The Big Mom remained silent for a moment.

"The Gold-Gold Fruit, I'll take it. Ten billion Beli."

"1.5 billion."

"1.2 billion."

"1.4 billion."

"1.3 billion. That's the most we can go."

Lin Yuan thought for a moment.

"Make a deal."

"What about the Dark-Dark Fruit and the Op-Op Fruit?"

"Not for sale."

The Big Mom asked, "Do you have any other fruit in your hand?"

Lin Yuan: "There are two more, but I don't know what their abilities are. They're not listed in the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia; they might be new fruits."

The Big Mom said, "New fruit? Well... I'll take it. How much?"

Lin Yuan: "One costs 300 million. Two cost 500 million."

The Big Mom, "Too expensive. Two for 300 million."

Lin Yuan: "Two of them, four hundred million each. That's the lowest I can go."

The Big Mom said, "Deal."

The Big Mom's lips twitched.

The Big Mom stared at him for a few seconds, then laughed.

"Well... you little rascal, you're really good at scheming. Okay, where's the intelligence?"

"Intelligence for intelligence. You take yours, I take mine. An equal exchange, nothing given away for free."

What kind of information do you want?

"Rocks' movements. Golden Lion's new territory. The Marine Headquarters' next deployment. The contents of the Five Elders' meeting. Whatever you can get, I want."

Why should I give it to you?

"Because I can give you the same things," Lin Yuan said. "For example— Rocks is gathering forces near Wano Country, targeting the World Government's supply lines. For example— Whitebeard has recently been in contact with a kid named Marco, who ate the Bird-Bird Fruit, Model: Phoenix. For example— Marine Headquarters is mobilizing its fleet, preparing to surround Pirate Island while Rocks is operating."

The Big Mom's smile vanished completely.

Where did you get this intelligence?

"I told you, I have connections." Lin Yuan picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "Connections in business."

Katakuri took a step forward from behind the Big Mom.

"Mom, this person—"

The Big Mom raised her hand to stop him.

"Shut up."

Katakuri retreated.

The Big Mom looked at Lin Yuan and remained silent for a long time.

"Well..." she suddenly laughed, "You little rascal, you're harder to deal with than I thought."

"They're not difficult to deal with. They're just reasonable."

"Fine. Intelligence for intelligence, I agree. But I have one more condition."

"Explain."

"Your men, fight my child."

Lin Yuan's fingers paused for a moment.

"Let's have a fight?"

"Yes." The Big Mom stood up, licking her lips. "I brought six children, and you have six people too. Pick three, three matches. If I lose, I'll agree to all your conditions. If I win—" She looked at Lin Yuan, "I decide the price of the Seastone."

Kaido laughed.

"Oh ho ho... Fine, let's fight!"

"Shut up." Lin Yuan didn't turn around, looking at the Big Mom. "Three rounds?"

"Three matches. Stop when it's time to draw blood, no one will be killed."

Lin Yuan remained silent for a moment.

"Okay. But I'll set the rules."

"You say."

"First, each match is one-on-one, with a third person outside the ring. Second, no weapons or dirty tricks are allowed. Third, the match ends when one side concedes or loses consciousness."

"Alright... let's go to the Training Ground."

The Big Mom stood up and strode out of the hall.

Six cadres followed behind.

Kaido, carrying his Iron Club, followed them out.

"Oh ho ho... finally there's a fight!"

Bullet stretched his wrists and followed them out.

Kuma walked silently at the back.

Ginny closed the ledger and looked at Lin Yuan.

Are you sure?

"Uncertain."

"Then why did you agree?"

"No way! You're not leaving this hall today!"

Lin Yuan stood up and walked towards the door.

Ginny followed behind him, secretly making a circle with her fingers behind her back. A glint of purple flashed in her eyes as she scanned the Big Mom's six subordinates—their abilities, weaknesses, and physical condition—memorizing them all.

This is her job.

But it's not the one we use now.

On the Training Ground, both sides stood at attention.

The Big Mom sat on a chair that had been moved in, with six officers standing behind her. Lin Yuan stood opposite her, with five people standing behind him. Kaido planted his Iron Club in the ground, bare-handed. Bullet tore off his sleeve, revealing an arm covered in scars. King landed in the center of the Training Ground, flames burning behind him in the twilight. Kuma stood at the very edge, his palms slightly open. Moria gripped the scissors, his knuckles white.

"Who's going to play in the first round?" the Big Mom asked.

Lin Yuan glanced behind him.

Moria.

Moria paused for a moment.

"I?"

"You."

Moria gritted his teeth, released the scissors, and walked onto the Training Ground.

The Big Mom glanced behind her.

"Perospero, go."

Perospero licked his lips and stepped out from behind the Big Mom.

"Well—let me handle the first round."

The two stood in the center of the Training Ground, twenty meters apart.

Moria is less than two meters tall, while Perospero is two heads taller. Moria's bounty is 200 million, while Perospero's bounty exceeds 700 million.

"Moonlight Moria," Perospero laughed, "I've heard your shadow is quite interesting."

Your tongue is also very long.

Perospero's smile froze for a moment.

Well, she's still pretty stubborn.

Lin Yuan raised his hand.

"Round One, Begin."

(End of Chapter 52)