A Deal with the Government! Artificial Azure Dragon Fruit

Hmm--

The darkness receded.

Gion slowly opened her eyes.

Pass.

My first reaction was pain.

My head hurts, my stomach hurts.

Heartbreaking.

Lost?

They lost so easily.

They were completely helpless against that guy.

But how come I'm still alive?

Gion struggled to sit up, but found she couldn't.

Thick chains bound her tightly, making her look like a dumpling.

Gion tried to break free of her chains.

Although she is not skilled in strength, the power she can unleash is not something that mere steel can withstand.

As the saying goes, how can mere steel compare to a body forged through countless trials?

However, this is clearly not a simple chain.

Even though Gion felt a tearing pain in her stomach and her muscles were trembling, she was still powerless against the chains.

"Stop struggling. These chains are made of a special alloy by Father. They can't be broken by brute force."

Just then, a little girl with pink hair walked in. The little girl looked calmly at Gion, "The wound on your stomach can't be repaired with simple stitches. Your father used some artificial tissues and organs to fill it. If you struggle any longer, these tissues will fall off."

Gion finally realized her actions were futile and stopped. "Who are you?"

"Reiju, Vinsmoke Reiju."

The little girl picked Gion up and said, "Father said that if you wake up, he will take you to see Lord Ian."

That girl is incredibly strong!

Gion was slightly surprised.

Then.

Ian.

So she really was captured by him?

Sister He, it seems I've caused you trouble.

Reiju carried Gion through the complex buildings of the Germa Kingdom and soon arrived at a spacious terrace.

Ian and his group, along with the Donquixote Family's executives, were having a barbecue here.

The weakened Gion looked up at the sun.

The sun was setting in the west; was it already the afternoon of the second day?

"Are you awake?"

Ian was grilling a large skewer of meat, didn't even look up. "Remember to thank Judge. Most doctors can't handle that kind of injury."

Struck by the Sword of Destruction, Gion's belly was completely wiped out, along with part of her intestines.

"I don't have the habit of thanking sinners."

Gion sneered.

"Snort."

Judge sneered.

If it's for the sake of reviving the family, then becoming a sinner is no big deal.

Sanji next to Ian, couldn't help but look up at Gion.

What an ungrateful person.

It was clearly her father who saved her.

"Sinner?"

Drake snorted coldly.

He has completely turned to the dark side.

There is absolutely no trust left in the Navy and their sense of justice.

"You woke up at just the right time."

Ian picked up the kebab in his hand.

They smell delicious from baking.

Oh, my cooking skills are pretty good too.

Ian handed the skewer of meat to Yamato, who was drooling over it.

Wiping his hands, Ian looked at Gion. "I'm about to contact the World Government to discuss what we can exchange you for."

"Exchange?"

Gion was taken aback. "You want to use me in exchange for the government?"

"So you should thank me too."

Ian slowly pulled out a Den Den Mushi), "I'll let you off this time."

The first time was yesterday when I was about to leave, but Gion chased after me.

Gion felt no gratitude whatsoever; her only emotion at that moment was shame.

Should the government pay an even higher price for her sake?

"Etc!"

Gion suddenly realized something, "You mean the government?"

How did this guy get in touch with the World Government?

She watched Ian skillfully make the call, somewhat bewildered.

"Brubrubru"

The Den Den Mushi) started ringing.

"Quiet down, everyone."

Ian said.

The call was answered quickly.

"Your Majesty Ian?"

A man's voice came from the other end of the phone.

"So, old friend, what are they saying over there?"

Ian said, "What price are you willing to pay to bring Major General Gion back?"

"You're incredibly audacious to kidnap Rear Admiral from the Marine Headquarters, and now you even want to use her to make a deal with the government?"

government?

Gion's eyes widened.

Is this guy an old acquaintance of the government?

"Don't say that, Goat,"

Ian said leisurely, "You can't blame me for this. I was already preparing to leave, but that Major General Gion insisted on chasing after me. What could I do?"

"How could this have happened if you hadn't gone to find Doflamingo?"

The Goat on the other end of the phone was the CP0 underling who went to Wano Country to discuss the Seastone trade with Ian back then. He's been handling all the business with Ian for years, and the two are old acquaintances.

"That's enough of the nonsense, Goat,"

Ian smiled at Gion, "Just tell me directly what you're willing to give up for Major General Gion. We've been doing business with your World Government for so many years, there's no need for us to test each other."

Gion could hardly believe what she was hearing.

Doing business with the government?

Drake sneered repeatedly.

This is the World Government, this is the World Government to which the Navy is loyal!

There was a moment of silence on the other end. "What do you want?"

See, Major General Gion, at least the World Government still values you.

Ian smiled at Gion again and said, "Then let me state my demands. First, Judge is a good person and hasn't done anything to wrong the World Government, so please don't hold him responsible."

Ian!

Judge, standing to the side, was so moved he almost cried.

Good brother!

This is a true brother!

"Hmph, it seems you've reached a deal. That's not a problem. Is that all?"

"Of course not."

Ian said.

Frankly, this request is meaningless.

Even if the government retains Germa Kingdom's status Affiliated Nation, it's just for show. Given the opportunity, the government will not let Judge go.

"Do you have any other requests?"

The Goat asked.

Yes, are there any other requirements?

The government won't give out things that are too important or too precious.

I have no interest in things that aren't important.

Ian thought for a long time and finally came up with something that might be somewhat useful.

Perhaps it will be quite useful.

Give me ten large warships.

Ian demanded an exorbitant amount.

"Are you kidding me? Ten warships?"

Unsurprisingly, a refusal came immediately from the other end. "Who do you think you've captured? Admiral?"

What does ten large warships mean?

This is the configuration for the Buster Call.

In terms of firepower alone, ten large naval warships would be more than enough to easily flatten a small island in a short period of time.

The Beasts Pirates that can rival the size of a large warship are Ian's Golden Flying Dragon, plus the flagships of Teacher Kai, King, Queen.

Three!

The Goat said, "We can accept this quantity."

"Three ships? Eight ships?" Ian countered.

"Impossible, Ian, you're not being sincere at all!"

"Sincerity? All I know is that this woman is a rising star in the Navy, she might even become a future Marine Admiral!"

"... four ships."

"Seven ships! That's my bottom line."

Five!

The Goat gritted its teeth, "This is our bottom line! If you're still not satisfied, then this deal is over."

"Tsk, how stingy."

Ian snorted, "Fine, it seems we're all old friends, five it is."

"Call--"

The person on the other end breathed a sigh of relief. "When will the deal be made?"

"Don't rush,"

Ian smiled. "You cut the price in half for me right away, so at least allow me to make one additional request, right?"

"Ian! Don't push your luck!" the Goat's voice suddenly rose.

"Don't worry, it's nothing special, in fact, it's worthless."

Ian's tone turned serious, even angry, "Back then, when Teacher Kai was captured by the government, you extracted his Lineage Factor, and then Vegapunk used it as a basis to create a Devil Fruit, right? You guys are incredibly audacious!"

"What?"

The Goat on the other end of the phone was completely stunned.

He had never even heard of such a thing.

"But the research on that fruit failed, so Vegapunk sealed it away. It's useless to you, so give it to me. The existence of that fruit is an insult to the Beasts Pirates, an insult to my most respected teacher!"

"Wait, I need to check first."

The Goat hurriedly hung up the phone.

On the other end of the phone, Mary Geoise, the Goat, looked completely bewildered.

Vegapunk?

How did Ian know what Vegapunk did?

Vegapunk's research is classified even within the government!

This is getting really serious!

On Ian's side.

The warships and such are just a smokescreen, of course.

The real focus is on the Artificial Azure Dragon Fruit.

Ian thought that fruit would be the most suitable.

The government considered it a failure, Vegapunk also considered it a failure, so they didn't pay much attention to it.

The chances of getting it are quite high.

Although we don't know who it's for yet, getting it first can't be a bad thing, right?

While waiting for the Goat's response.

Gion asked Ian incredulously, "What happened?"

Does this guy have dealings with the World Government?

Ian shrugged. "Did I already say that the Navy is justice and pirates are evil?"

Gion was speechless.

Punk Hazard, Marine Science Unit Research Base.

The managers at a certain base received a phone call from their superiors.

"Yes, the Doctor did create a Devil Fruit using Kaido's Lineage Factor, but it was a failure. After it was made, the Doctor simply threw it into the storage room without even glancing at it."

"Yes, of course we're sure! It was definitely a failed product!"

"What? Find that fruit? Someone wants it? Wants a failed Artificial Devil Fruit?"

"What do you mean by 'internal reorganization'? You're saying there are pirate spies in the base? How is that possible?"

Let's leave Punk Hazard aside for now.

Ian quickly received a call back from the Goat.

"We agree to your request. Where shall the transaction take place?"

"New World, I'm returning to the New World soon."

Ian's lips curled into a smile.

Excellent!