After leaving a deposit of 300 million Beli, Seven put the remaining three billion Beli into his system inventory.
That was only a small part of the base of the Golden Pillar, yet it was worth 3.6 billion Beli. The Golden Pillar itself, back then... must have been worth at least several trillion.
So the Iron Dummy on the Teyvat Continent hadn't actually lost out. With one move, he'd made Inazuma the second-richest nation in Teyvat.
Of course, Seven hadn't lost out either.
Dream One Heart was a Divine Artifact, after all. Though it had been downgraded from a Divine Artifact to a Supreme Grade Sword due to the Pirate World's dimensional limits, at least he'd received Thoughtless Sword as compensation.
What was more, the remaining base of the Golden Pillar alone weighed over three thousand tons.
That money would be more than enough for Seven to acquire Devil Fruits and exchange them for points, giving him the resources he needed to reach the top and become the World's Strongest.
"King of Sea Transport, do you have any Famous Swords or other rare items? Bring them out, too."
Umit smiled. "Of course, brother. But I haven't had the pleasure of learning your name."
"Barzeb Seven."
The instant he heard that, Umit sucked in a sharp breath. Good grief! No wonder the name had seemed familiar. This was the former Roger Pirates member who'd stolen a World Government prisoner two years ago.
Then these gold coins... could they... could they be...
Umit's even breathing suddenly turned ragged. The legendary treasure, the ultimate dream of the seas—ONE PIECE!!!
"What is it?" Seven asked with a playful smile.
"Thinking of capturing me?"
Seven wouldn't mind taking back the gold coins he'd just sold, by force if necessary. He could even indulge in one of the pirates' favorite pastimes: a good old-fashioned robbery—or stealing from a thief.
If he didn't need someone to help him collect Devil Fruits, Seven would definitely have emptied the King of Sea Transport's coffers.
After a brief internal struggle, Umit chuckled ingratiatingly. "How could I? I wouldn't dare lay a finger on a man like you."
"Brother, wait here a moment. I'll bring the items over myself."
While Umit was away, Seven submitted the two Zoan Devil Fruits for sale through the system.
"Sell the Rat-Rat Fruit for 1,200 points?"
"Sell the Fly-Fly Fruit for 1,000 points?"
After a little thought, Seven decided to list these two lousy Devil Fruits on the Trading Platform instead.
[Rat-Rat Fruit: 3,000 points. Earthmoving powerhouse, perfect for tomb raiders. Seller's message: Want to know where the best excavator technology is? The Rat-Rat Fruit rules underground!]
[Fly-Fly Fruit: 5,000 points. The perfect Devil Fruit for home, travel, and revenge. Seller's message: If you love them, feed them the Fly-Fly Fruit.]
What could he say? The system's buyback price was too low. The two Devil Fruits together were worth only 2,200 points—not at all in keeping with the Pirate World's Profiteer King's trading philosophy.
He might as well dress them up and list them on the Trading Platform. Maybe he'd get lucky.
Maybe someone would buy them.
Besides, Seven was sure the Fly-Fly Fruit would be more popular with platform users than the Rat-Rat Fruit.
He knew exactly how transmigrators thought.
These days, transmigrators were always saying things like: "You've earned your death"; "Family should stick together, even in death"; "Cross me, and I'll wipe out your whole family."
Spending 5,000 points on revenge was excellent value.
Turning your enemy into a buzzing fly would be far more satisfying than simply getting revenge.
That was why Seven had priced the Fly-Fly Fruit at 5,000 points, higher than the Rat-Rat Fruit.
Revenge was worth every point!
A short while later, Umit returned with several bodyguards dressed in black.
"Brother, these are the only rare items I have on hand right now. Take a look, and I'll contact you as soon as I get anything good."
Seven gave them a quick once-over. They were all second-rate weapons.
He'd definitely been getting ahead of himself.
He'd thought he might find a Paramecia like the Slippery-Slippery Fruit, or perhaps a Twenty-One Great Grade Sword or a Good Fast Sword.
Seeing that Seven wasn't particularly interested, Umit picked up a catalog. "These are all top-quality goods, guaranteed pure and unopened."
"Take a look. This is a beauty who just arrived."
As Umit explained, Seven's gaze settled on the photograph of a blonde woman.
Stella.
"So it's her."
Oda, who was often criticized for being unable to write romance, had nonetheless created one tragedy after another.
Pirate love stories ended in heartbreak nine times out of ten. Stella and the fallen Gild Tesoro were no exception.
Nine fingers wore gold rings; the tenth was left bare for you.
When he most needed money to buy her freedom, he had none. After he lost her, when he no longer needed money, he had more than he could ever spend.
"I'll take her."
"No problem. I'll have someone—"
Seven raised a hand to cut him off. "Not yet. Keep her in the cage for now."
More than the woman herself, Seven was interested in how Tesoro would rise from slavery to become the Golden Emperor, controlling the world's economy within twelve years—and in the fortune he'd amass along the way.
With the Golden Emperor on his side, he'd have the perfect counterpart to that big-headed Vegapunk.
If he wanted to take over Wano Country and do the things he had in mind, he couldn't just talk about it.
He needed wealth, resources, and manpower.
But Tesoro didn't yet have the makings of a Golden Emperor. Someone would have to give him a push. That was why Seven didn't immediately free Stella.
If he didn't play the villain, someone else would.
"Fine." Umit nodded, though he couldn't help thinking: What a strange man.
Now that he'd decided to recruit Tesoro, Seven had to postpone his return to Foosha Village.
He'd wait for two days. If no Celestial Dragon came, he'd take Stella away then. Tesoro would follow soon enough.
After exchanging contact information with the King of Sea Transport, Seven found a nearby hotel and checked in.
"I've already converted the gold into Beli, and I even managed to buy the Slippery-Slippery Fruit. Once I'm done here, it'll be time to look for crewmates."
Between Blue Fatty Jinbe and Kuma, Seven decided to head to the South Blue for Kuma first.
Jinbe would be much harder to recruit. Pirates often caused trouble on Fish-Man Island, and unless Seven could resolve the island's crisis, Jinbe definitely wouldn't join his crew.
Even the Straw Hat kid had to invite Jinbe several times. Jinbe only joined after the crisis on Fish-Man Island was over.
As for Kuma, he was currently working as a priest with Ginny in the Sorbeth Kingdom in the South Blue, treating the sick.
He'd be easier to recruit, comparatively.
If Seven waited too long, Kuma and Ginny would join the Revolutionary Army together.
Then Seven would have to poach them from the Revolutionary Army.
It would be best to invite Kuma aboard sooner rather than later. Seven believed his silver tongue could surely persuade Kuma and Ginny to join his crew... or, rather, invite them aboard.
In front of a row of shops along the street at the slave market, Stella sat quietly inside an iron cage.
The explosive collar around her neck was cold and hard, digging into her skin, but her smile was pure and bright as she spoke softly to Tesoro through the bars.
Tesoro had just finished a job. He'd come to see Stella during his break, even though he still had several more jobs to do afterward.
He... was afraid she'd feel lonely.
A slave and a gambler who drank too much, at that moment, were saving each other's souls.
"Stella, wait two more days. Once I've saved enough money, you'll be free."
"Thank you, Tesoro."
They smiled at each other and saw in each other's eyes the beautiful future that belonged to them alone: growing old together and raising a family.
Tesoro's eyelids began to droop.
"I'll come see you again tomorrow morning."
"Mm. Get some rest."
Tesoro turned to leave, reluctant to go. Stella, I can't rest. Wait for me. I'll buy your freedom as soon as I can.
Before you continue