The terrifying clash of Conqueror's Haki tore through the sea of clouds in the sky.
The sight of the cloud sea rushing backward made everyone present tremble with fear.
Black-red lightning spilled outward, sweeping in every direction. The mere aftershock knocked out countless Marines aboard the warship.
Thud! Thud!
Marines below officer rank rolled their eyes and collapsed one after another.
Sengoku's expression changed slightly. "You actually possess the potential for Conqueror's Haki...!"
This was troublesome!
There had been no such information in the previous intelligence reports. Dimon's displayed combat power far exceeded expectations.
"Is it strange that I have Conqueror's Haki?"
A faint smile tugged at Dimon's lips. "Come to think of it, this is our first meeting, isn't it? You're known as the 'Wise General.' Are you sure you want to fight me here?"
At those words, the golden Buddha's expression stiffened somewhat.
His opponent could fly, while he had to worry about the warship beneath his feet and his many Marine subordinates.
No matter how he looked at it, he was in an absolutely disadvantageous position.
The golden Buddha's radiance gradually faded, and in the blink of an eye, he returned to his ordinary form.
Sengoku suddenly put on a faint smile.
"Just saying hello. Dimon, I underestimated you. You're far stronger than the intelligence reports described."
After a pause, he continued, "Others have been wreaking havoc across these seas, while you vanished without a trace for five whole years. What do you intend to do now that you've appeared?"
"Just passing by. I merely came to say hello."
He threw the same words back at him.
Dimon stood in the air, his posture utterly relaxed.
To be honest, he could destroy the warship here. Without anywhere to stand, Sengoku, as a paramecia user, would definitely be in quite a predicament.
However.
Sengoku said calmly, "Do you think I'd believe that?"
Running into each other in the vast ocean like this—he was clearly insulting his intelligence.
"Your purpose is to protect Vegapunk and those scientists?"
He stared intently at Dimon and suddenly tested him.
Dimon remained expressionless and could not be bothered to pretend. "So what if it is?"
Sengoku was somewhat confused.
According to the intelligence agency's investigation, the financial backer behind the MADS research organization was one of the underworld's giants, Du Feld, known as the "King of Usury."
Had they gotten involved with Rocks' remnants as well?
His mission was to recruit Vegapunk for the World Government, and immediately arrest him if he resisted.
Now that he had encountered Dimon, this mission would likely be difficult to complete.
As he pondered, Sengoku changed his expression again and said with a chuckle:
"I'll give you this much face. Let's forget about it this time."
So I have the Face-Face Fruit too?
Dimon's expression turned odd, though it was not bad that the other side had chosen to back down.
It was not that he feared fighting Sengoku. He simply did not want the aftershocks of their battle to sink the research ship.
"Since that's the case, you can get lost now. Do you need me to send you on your way?"
"My Marines have all passed out. We'll talk once they wake up."
Sengoku spoke unhurriedly. "Before that, how about we discuss a deal?"
"A deal between the Marines and pirates?"
Dimon laughed. As for the deal Sengoku spoke of, he could more or less guess what it was.
"Our positions differ, that's all. There's nothing we can't discuss."
The younger Sengoku seemed somewhat different from the one in Dimon's memories. He continued:
"You're a brewer, and I'm someone who wants to buy wine. What can't we discuss?"
"We can discuss it. It makes no difference to me who the customer is, as long as you can afford the price."
Dimon did not care about that. As long as they gave him Devil Fruits, who received the Elixir of Immortality was irrelevant.
Once they drank the wine, they would become his leeks. Perhaps one day, he would have the chance to devour them and turn them into nourishment for himself.
At that moment, he stepped beyond the opposing relationship between pirates and Marines and became a third-party faction.
"One Devil Fruit in exchange for one cup of the Elixir of Immortality."
Thinking this, Dimon smiled. "As a first-time customer, I can give you a small discount. Three Devil Fruits for one bottle!"
One bottle could be poured into four cups.
The Marines had learned this information several years ago.
Sengoku nodded. "No problem. However, I'm currently on a mission. Once I return, I'll find a way to prepare them. How can I contact you then?"
Dimon immediately took a card from his pocket. With a flick of his wrist, he sent it flying toward Sengoku.
Sengoku caught it and saw a string of numbers on it.
"This is a Den Den Mushi contact number. Call when you're ready."
After saying that, Dimon ignored him, turned around, descended, and flew down to MADS' research ship.
Seeing this, Vegapunk did not greet him immediately. Instead, he said to the other two scientists beside him:
"Get the ship moving! If the Marines aren't leaving, we will!"
"Stop ordering me around, Vegapunk!"
Caesar curled his lips and drifted into the cabin like a cloud of gas.
Soon, the ship began to move.
At the same time, a petite figure came racing over and threw herself into Dimon's arms.
"Dimon~~ Did you come to save me? I'm so happy~"
Who came to save you? You're nothing more than a tool for providing coordinates.
Dimon mocked her inwardly, but outwardly, he answered with high emotional intelligence:
"Long time no see, Stussy."
"Long time no see~"
Stussy wrapped both arms around Dimon, then planted a kiss on his cheek the next moment.
Aboard the warship.
Sengoku watched the research ship gradually sail away. Naturally, he also saw Stussy kiss Dimon.
"Was it for that woman?"
"Those two used to be members of the Rocks Pirates. They actually have that kind of relationship..."
He had thought that Rocks' remnants were all unwilling to submit to one another, but today had opened up another line of thought for him.
"Admiral Sengoku!"
A commodore stepped forward, looking troubled. "The mission report after we return..."
"Report everything truthfully. Don't mention the deal for now."
Sengoku pondered for a moment and could not help shaking his head.
There were four cups of wine in total. If the World Government learned of it, they would definitely demand that he hand them over.
He could not let the World Government find out. He had to complete the deal first and get the wine in hand. Once they had drunk it and everything became a settled matter, he could casually mention it to the higher-ups.
Act first, report later!
When that time came, the World Government would have no way to deal with him.
Of course, he had to bring the Fleet Admiral into this as well. They could share the benefits together and bear the blame together.
As for the remaining two cups... Garp, Tsuru, Zephyr.
The names of several friends flashed through Sengoku's mind as he thought with a headache.
"Bring me the Den Den Mushi."
"Yes."
The commodore returned to the cabin and brought back a Den Den Mushi.
Sengoku dialed a number. A moment later, Fleet Admiral Kong's voice came from the other end.
"What is it? Why are you using the emergency contact?"
"Fleet Admiral Kong, I encountered the brewer Dimon at sea!"
"What?"
Steel-Bones Kong was greatly shocked and hurriedly asked, "Weren't you carrying out a special mission from above?"
"It failed. That isn't important."
Sengoku smiled. "I reached a deal with Dimon. We need three Devil Fruits... I hope you can submit a report to the Five Elders and request assistance. Use cultivating new Marine recruits as the reason."
At that moment, the light of the Wise General shone in Sengoku's eyes.
Before you continue