Worth This Price

Leaving a deposit of 300 million Beli, Seven stored the remaining 3 billion Beli in his system warehouse.

That was just a small part of the Golden Pillar's base, worth 3.6 billion Beli. The original Golden Pillar itself... was worth at least several trillion.

Looking at it that way, that Iron Dummy from the Teyvat Continent didn't actually lose out—he made Inazuma the second-richest nation in Teyvat in one go.

Of course, Seven didn't lose either.

At least he got the Divine Artifact Dream One Heart. Even though it was downgraded from a Divine Artifact to a Supreme Grade Sword due to the dimensional constraints of the Pirate World, it still came with the Thoughtless Sword as compensation.

Besides, the remaining base of the Golden Pillar alone weighed over three thousand tons.

That money was more than enough for Seven to buy Devil Fruits, convert them into points, and use them as fuel to climb to the top of the world.

"King of Sea Transport, do you have any rare items like famous swords? Bring them out too."

Umit laughed. "Of course I do, brother. But I haven't asked—what should I call you?"

"Barzeb Seven."

The moment the words left his mouth, Umit sucked in a sharp breath: Damn, no wonder he felt oddly familiar. He's a former member of the Roger Pirates who hijacked a World Government prisoner two years ago.

Then these gold coins... could they... could they be...

Umit's normally steady breathing suddenly turned ragged: The legendary great treasure, the ultimate dream of the seas—ONE PIECE!!!

"What's wrong?" Seven's smile was teasing.

"Want to arrest me?"

Seven honestly wouldn't mind snatching back the gold he'd just sold and indulging in a pirate's favorite pastime—robbery, backstabbing, the works.

If he didn't need someone to collect Devil Fruits for him, Seven would have cleaned out the King of Sea Transport's entire stash without hesitation.

After a brief internal struggle, Umit forced a flattering smile. "How could I? A man like you—I wouldn't dare."

"Brother, wait right here. I'll go get the items myself."

While Umit was gone, Seven submitted the two Zoan Devil Fruits to the system for sale.

"Sell Rat-Rat Fruit for 1200 points?"

"Sell Fly-Fly Fruit for 1000 points?"

After a moment's thought, Seven chose to list these two trash Devil Fruits on the Trading Platform instead.

[Rat-Rat Fruit: 3000 points. Earth-and-Wood Saint Body, exclusive to grave-robbing specialists. Seller's note: Which excavator tech is best? Rat-Rat Fruit rules underground.]

[Fly-Fly Fruit: 5000 points. Home travel, revenge essential—the must-have Devil Fruit. Seller's note: Love them? Feed them the Fly-Fly Fruit.]

To be honest, the system's buyback price was too low. Both fruits together only netted 2200 points, which completely went against the Profiteer King's trading philosophy.

Better to package them up, list them on the Trading Platform, and take a gamble. What if?

What if someone actually bought them?

And Seven was confident the Fly-Fly Fruit would be more popular with platform users than the Rat-Rat Fruit.

He knew the mindset of transmigrators all too well.

These days, transmigrators were always spouting nonsense like: "You've already earned death," "A family should stay together," "Anyone who angers me, I'll wipe out their entire clan."

Spending 5000 points for revenge? That was peak cost-effectiveness.

Turning an enemy into a buzzing fly was way more satisfying than simple revenge.

That's why Seven priced the Fly-Fly Fruit at 5000 points, higher than the Rat-Rat Fruit.

Vengeance was worth that price.

A moment later, Umit returned with a few black-suited bodyguards.

"Brother, this is all the rare stuff I've got for now. Take a look. If anything good comes in later, I'll contact you right away."

Seven gave them a quick glance—all mediocre weapons.

As expected, he'd been too optimistic.

He'd hoped to run into a Paramecia like the Slippery-Slippery Fruit, or maybe even a Great Fast Sword or Good Fast Sword.

Seeing Seven's lack of interest, Umit picked up a catalog. "All top-quality goods, I guarantee they're untouched and unopened."

"Take a look—this is a beauty that just arrived."

As Umit narrated, Seven's eyes landed on a photo of a blonde woman: Stella.

"It's her."

Oda, the old hack criticized for not knowing how to write love, still managed to craft tragedy after tragedy.

So-called pirate love—nine out of ten end in sorrow. That included Stella and the fallen Golden Emperor, Gild Tesoro.

Ten fingers, nine gold rings, but none left for you.

When he needed money most to buy her freedom, he had the least. When he no longer needed money after losing her, he had the most.

"I'll take her."

"No problem, I'll have someone—"

Seven cut him off with a wave. "Not yet. Keep her in the cage for now."

Compared to a woman, what Seven valued was Tesoro's rise from slave to the Golden Emperor who controlled the world's economy within twelve years, along with the wealth he had amassed.

With the Golden Emperor in hand, wouldn't that match up with the big-headed Vegapunk?

If he wanted to take over Wano Country and do what he planned, it wasn't just empty talk.

Wealth, resources, and manpower were all indispensable.

But at this point, Tesoro had no awareness of becoming the Golden Emperor yet. Someone needed to give him a push, which was why Seven didn't release Stella right away.

He wouldn't play the villain, but someone else would.

"Fine." Umit nodded in agreement, muttering inwardly: What a weirdo.

Having decided to recruit Tesoro, Seven had to postpone his return to Foosha Village.

He'd wait a couple of days. If those pig-like Celestial Dragons didn't show up, he'd take Stella away then, and Tesoro would follow on his own.

After exchanging contact info with the King of Sea Transport, Seven found a nearby hotel to stay in.

"I've already exchanged the gold for Beli, and even bought the Slippery-Slippery Fruit by chance. Once this business is done, I should start looking for crew members."

Between the blue fatty Jinbe and Kuma, Seven decided to head to the South Blue first to find Kuma.

Mainly because Jinbe was too difficult. With Fish-Man Island constantly plagued by pirate raids, unless the crisis there was resolved, Jinbe would absolutely never join the crew.

Even Straw Hat Kid had invited Jinbe several times, and Jinbe only finally boarded after the Fish-Man Island crisis was over.

As for Kuma, he was currently serving as a priest in the Sorbeth Kingdom in the South Blue with Ginny, treating the sick.

Relatively speaking, that was easier.

Any later, and Kuma would join the Revolutionary Army with Ginny—what would later become the Revolutionary Army.

By then, he'd have to poach from their ranks.

If he could invite Kuma aboard early, that would be best. Seven believed in his own silver tongue to trick... invite Kuma and Ginny onto the ship.

In front of a shop along the slave market street, Stella sat quietly in her iron cage.

The explosive collar around her neck was cold and chafing, but a clean smile lingered on her face as she spoke softly with Tesoro through the bars.

Tesoro had just finished one job and came over during his break to talk with Stella, even though he still had several more shifts ahead.

He... was afraid she'd feel lonely.

A slave and a gambler drunkard—in that moment, they were saving each other's souls.

"Stella, wait two more days. Once I save up enough money, you'll be free."

"Thank you, Tesoro."

They exchanged a smile, seeing in each other's eyes the beautiful future they shared: growing old together, raising children.

Tesoro's eyelids suddenly grew heavy. "I'll come see you tomorrow morning."

"Mm, get some good rest."

Tesoro reluctantly turned and walked away: Stella, I can't rest. Wait for me. I'll free you as soon as I can.