White Dragon's Verbal Barrage!

"Ruschired Island?"

Storm casually created a clay stand and placed the Den Den Mushi on it.

"Gorosei, you seem to really like this island?"

"Because the distance to Ruschired Island is 'close' enough!"

Saint Nusjuro's tone was very cold, as always.

"Furthermore, Kizaru has other matters to attend to, so he will not participate in this transaction."

"Then who is in charge of my transaction?"

Storm raised an eyebrow and asked curiously.

"The other Headquarters Admiral?"

"This transaction will be handled by the Cipher Pol in coordinating with you."

Saint Nusjuro replied indifferently.

"Remember your 'bargain chips' to shut Donquixote Doflamingo up forever!"

"So what about your 'Devil Fruit'?"

Storm nodded slightly, then asked in return.

"Five Devil Fruit. I only got the Swamp Fruit and the Cube Fruit so far. There should be at least one Mythical Zoan left, right?"

You'll find out then!

After saying that, Saint Nusjuro hung up the Den Den Mushi.

"Beep--Beep--"

Storm frowned as he listened to the Den Den Mushi's receiver.

Why keep us in suspense at a time like this?

And...

Storm recalled Saint Nusjuro's earlier words.

Cipher Pol?

CP has a total of ten departments. Which department is responsible for liaising with him?

A regular Cipher Pol?

The CP9 department hidden from the public eye?

Or is it CP0, which is known as the "strongest shield of the Celestial Dragons"?

Even if Saint Nusjuro's words contained no logical flaws— that the Admiral were busy with their duties and that the Cipher Pol, responsible for doing the dirty work and hard work for the World Government, would continue to carry out the Admiral's missions.

However, Storm, who was never afraid to assume the worst about the World Government, still inexplicably felt something was wrong.

Storm had this uneasy feeling since the last time the Gorosei actively sought a deal with Doflamingo.

If I had to find a reason for this feeling...

Storm could only explain it as "intuition".

But in any case.

It would be best if the Gorosei would obediently hand over the Devil Fruit.

If the Gorosei want to use the guise of a "deal" to do something to Storm...

Storm was very welcoming.

He could never have too many high-class Big Trophy.

Storm just hoped that if the Gorosei really wanted to do something big, then the force they sent had better be strong!

If it weren't for the fact that "the Gorosei descending to earth in person" is such a rare occurrence.

Storm had no problem with Saint Nusjuro personally overseeing the deal.

On the other side.

Ichiro was still in shock that the Gorosei would personally contact White Dragon by Den Den Mushi.

But after he heard the Gorosei's words clearly, he realized what it meant to be --

There's no limit to how shocking it can get; it only gets more shocking.

Only after the Gorosei hung up the Den Den Mushi did Ichisho manage to lift his chin, which was about to fall to the ground.

"... A deal with Donquixote Doflamingo?"

Yi Xiao stared at his blind eyes, staring intently at Storm.

"What is that? Isn't Donquixote Doflamingo already dead?"

Storm put away the Den Den Mushi, glanced at the gambling addict next to him, and answered the question with a question.

"Who told you Doflamingo is dead?"

Yi Xiao replied in a low voice, "That's what the World Economic Journal reported..."

"Who told you to believe the World Economic Journal News report?"

Storm retorted without holding back.

"The so-called professional ethics of journalists are exactly the same as the gambler's 'last bet' talk."

"That's all bullshit!"

Yi Xiao felt that Storm was cursing him again, and he even heard evidence of it.

But... he's a gambling addict (crossed out) -- Pshaw!

Yixiao was just a gambler to begin with.

Although he was very unhappy, he couldn't find any reason to refute it.

Because of phrases like "the last round"...

Yi Xiao really did say that.

Fat Tiger, still retaining his rationality, decided to change the subject.

So Donquixote Doflamingo didn't actually die?

"No."

Storm smiled and didn't continue the conversation, nor did he press the issue further. He casually remarked...

"Donquixote Doflamingo's identity is not simple."

"He's not just an ordinary Shichibukai; his surname is 'Donquixote,' which is the surname of Celestial Dragons!"

"In the eyes of the World Government, Donquixote Doflamingo is of great value."

Suddenly, a smile returned to Storm's earlier words—

"It's better to rob the World Government than others."

A smile revealed mixed feelings.

"So you made a deal with the World Government, using one of the Shichibukai as a bargaining chip?"

"Let me correct your statement."

Storm thought for a moment, then spoke.

"It wasn't a 'deal,' it was extortion to be precise."

"I captured Donquixote Doflamingo and then directly extorted five Devil Fruits from the World Government."

"They already gave us two—I just told the Gorosei that, you heard me, right?"

Yi Xiao nodded silently.

So that's what I'm saying.

Storm crossed his legs and said with a flippant expression.

"Being a pirate requires brains!"

"Robbing is also a skill."

"Rob whoever has money!"

"This is the right way for pirates to get rich."

Yi Xiao felt there was a big problem with what Storm said.

However, he couldn't find the source of the problem.

Yi Xiao pondered Storm's words in her mind several times.

He seemed to have thought of something, gripped [Black Road Fire Wire], and tapped the golden floor beneath his feet with the scabbard.

"If measured by 'wealth,' the Gild Tesoro's wealth is probably unmatched on the entire sea, isn't it?"

With a smile, his pale eyes "looked" at Storm and said in a deep voice.

"So this is why you came to Gran Tesoro?"

"No, I came to Gran Tesoro because I was interested in the man Gild Tesoro, not his money."

Storm shook his head and said seriously.

"Mr. Yixiao, don't narrowly define 'wealth' as something as trivial as 'money' or 'Beli'."

Money can be earned back.

"What is the most precious treasure on the sea? It's 'people'!"

To be honest.

Although Storm had previously told Tesoro that he would "re-cultivate a Gild Tesoro".

But just take that with a grain of salt.

Even Storm wasn't confident he could recreate a Gild Tesoro.

Tesoro's wealth comes from the power of the Gold-Gold Fruit, but it is not solely due to the Gold-Gold Fruit.

If there is only one [Gold-Gold Fruit], it is enough to create a "Gild Tesoro".

Then Donquixote Doflamingo wouldn't have put the [Gold-Gold Fruit] up for auction!

The Donquixote Family has so many members.

Why doesn't Doflamingo just pick anyone and train them to become the new "Gild Tesoro"?

The fact is --

Not just anyone who eats the [Gold-Gold Fruit] can become the "Gild Tesoro".

The same example can also be applied to the [Rubber Fruit].

The so-called [Rubber Fruit].

That is, [Zoan, Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Nika Model].

It's not like just anyone who eats the [Nika Fruit] can instantly "evolve" into Sun God!

Ever since Joey Boy's failure.

The [Nika Fruit] has been adrift on the sea for eight hundred years.

But in these eight hundred years, no "Rubber Boy" has ever become the new "Joy Boy".

I want to be "Joy Boy".

[Nika Fruit], [Straw Hat], [D]... all these conditions are indispensable.

And the desire is to become the "Gild Tesoro".

The [Gold-Gold Fruit] is very important.

Tesoro's own business and economic talents are equally important!

Yi Xiao pondered Storm's words several more times, and he discovered a blind spot once again.

"Since you value 'human beings' more, why not just cooperate with Donquixote Doflamingo?"

Yi Xiao asked earnestly.

"You and Donquixote Doflamingo are both Shichibukai, members of the same organization, and you previously mentioned that the Donquixote Family's business empire is enormous."

"I directly captured Doflamingo, not only because this guy lacked discernment and provoked me, but more importantly—there was another 'person' whose value was higher than this 'Doflamingo'."

The "other person" that Storm was referring to was, of course, Trafalgar Law.

"That person is now one of my subordinates. I'll introduce you to him sometime."

"Um..."

Yi Xiao nodded emphatically.

Since he had decided to join White Dragon's ranks to repay the "life-saving grace,"

He had already mentally prepared himself to contact and meet with White Dragon's other subordinates.

Rather, Yixiao is actually looking forward to meeting White Dragon's other subordinates.

His meeting with White Dragon was brief.

However, I have gained a preliminary understanding of the other party's character.

To be honest.

White Dragon was not the vicious pirate that I had imagined.

On the contrary.

This guy has his own set of principles, and he's not as cruel and heartless as the rumors suggest.

Certainly.

"Reckless", "lawless", "bullying the weak"... these labels were also applied to White Dragon by Yi Xiao.

From a smiling perspective.

White Dragon is an unconventional pirate.

Yixiao didn't dislike this kind of pirate.

He did indeed have a "moral fastidiousness"—after all, he was a "tiger" who chose to blind himself because the world was too filthy.

But that's the reality of the ocean.

Rather, it's more accurate to say that a domineering and tyrannical creature like the White Dragon is better suited to this dog-eat-dog world of the ocean.

Thinking of this, Yi Xiao couldn't help but sigh.

"Alas, the sea has no benevolence or righteousness..."

"Too long-winded and nagging."

Storm shook his head, showing utter disdain for the wistful expression on Yixiao's face.

"You're complaining about the ocean right now, and you're sighing and groaning here."

"Instead, you should use your own power to transform the ocean into the shape you desire."

Even if you can't change the whole world, at least changing your surroundings is a good thing.

After a barrage of words, Storm didn't wait for Yixiao's reaction before giving the order.

"I'm going to Ruschired Island later, you stay here and recover from your injuries."

Healing...

Yi Xiao snapped out of her daze and touched the bandages hidden inside her clothes.

White Dragon's punches are still quite powerful...

"Don't you need me to come with you?"

As Yixiao finished speaking, she suddenly remembered something.

"You're not going to destroy Ruschired Island, are you?"

"This kind of thing..."

Storm said noncommittally.

"It depends on the choice of the World Government."

Later.

After Storm and Tesoro returned, he gave him a few instructions, asking him to take good care of Yixiao, the "blind man."

Tesoro, however, reported another piece of news to Storm—

Gran Tesoro is about to set sail for Whole Cake Island to attend Big Mom's Tea Party.

"The Totto Land Tea Party... I'd also like to visit Whole Cake Island."

Storm nodded slightly.

"However, don't get too close to the BIG MOM Pirates. My target is Charlotte Linlin!"

Storm's simple sentence sparked Tesoro's endless imagination.

Then, before Tesoro could say anything...

Storm then summoned a Blue-Eyes White Dragon, which flew out of Gran Tesoro.

Target – Ruschired Island!

Second update.

Two updates again today...

Goodnight everyone.

I'll update earlier tomorrow.