The lively banquet had everything: fine wine, delicious food, beautiful women.
Vegapunk had no interest in women, but Caesar, Queen, and Judge were all lecherous old goats. Each had two courtesans in his arms, and the smiles never left their faces.
So-called courtesans were prostitutes from the pleasure quarters.
The Flower Capital's pleasure industry was highly developed. Especially after Dimon took control of Wano Country and captured large numbers of samurai, many of their wives lost their husbands' income, and quite a few entered this line of work.
Dimon had no interest in ordinary courtesans. Usually, an Oiran was responsible for pouring his drinks, but today Stussy had taken over the job.
The guests and host all enjoyed the dinner, and Dimon arranged rooms for everyone afterward.
As for the ancient weapon, they could discuss it tomorrow.
After the banquet ended, Dimon went to a hot spring bathhouse.
He removed his clothes and stepped naked into the spring. When maids came to attend to him, he waved them away.
Steam rose from the hot spring, shrouding the area in mist.
Dimon leaned against the edge of the pool, spreading his arms as he silently enjoyed a moment of peace.
"Solving Pluton's energy problem will require enormous funds. Whether Wano Country's finances can support it is still unknown."
As everyone knew, scientific research was a bottomless pit.
Dimon pondered whether he should do some business to make money.
Wano Country was the source of Seastone, a scarce resource. As long as they exported it, there would be no shortage of buyers.
The craftsmen here were also unmatched, capable of processing Seastone into all kinds of exquisite items.
"Hm?"
Just as he was thinking, a graceful figure walked into the bathhouse.
"So there's such a nice place in the General's Mansion? Honestly, you didn't even invite me..."
Wrapped in a pure white bath towel, Stussy walked over with a sweet smile.
"Has it occurred to you that this isn't a mixed bath? This is the general's private bathhouse," Dimon remarked.
"What does it matter? I like soaking in hot springs too~"
She walked to the edge of the spring and tested the water with her fair, jade-like foot. Then she entered the pool and slowly made her way to Dimon's side.
Dimon had no intention of driving away a benefit that had delivered itself to his door. He immediately called for maids to bring a fruit platter and milk.
The night passed without incident.
The next day.
When Dimon woke up, Stussy was no longer beside him. She was kneeling before the vanity, touching up her makeup.
"Morning."
Dimon greeted her with a smile.
The hot spring had been very fair and very soft. He was quite satisfied.
"It's not morning anymore. I'm really jealous of you—you can sleep so well!" Stussy admired herself in the mirror. "Get up already. I want to see the Pluton Battleship."
"You can still go running around today?" Dimon asked in surprise.
"Hehe, did you forget? I'm immortal. My injuries have already healed!"
Stussy stood up smugly and forcibly dragged Dimon out of bed.
Only then did Dimon realize a serious problem.
The ageless immortality granted by the Elixir of Immortality would keep the recipient fixed at the moment they drank it.
Didn't that mean Stussy would get injured every time?
Forget it. It wasn't him who felt the pain anyway.
After getting dressed, the two left together and then joined Vegapunk and the others for breakfast.
Judge and the other two looked rosy-cheeked, clearly quite satisfied with Dimon's hospitality as well.
It was not until noon that everyone set off for Mount Fuji. Deep within the mountain, they finally saw the Pluton Battleship.
The scientists excitedly began examining it from all sides.
Meanwhile.
Marine Headquarters, Marineford, the fleet admiral's office.
"These are the three fruits you wanted."
Fleet Admiral Kong pointed at the three Devil Fruits on the desk. "Are you sure this isn't some kind of trap?"
"This isn't a one-time deal, Fleet Admiral," Sengoku said wisely. "As long as that person wants more Devil Fruits, trading with us is an efficient strategy."
"He sounds like a merchant. What does he want so many Devil Fruits for?"
"They're ingredients for brewing wine... at least, that's what the intelligence says." Sengoku pondered. "Perhaps he wants to build a paramecia user army."
Kong snorted. "No matter how good the fruit is, it depends on the user. Numbers alone are meaningless."
He was somewhat worried about the World Government's reaction, but no one could refuse immortality.
For the past five years, the Marines had been hunting those remnants. Yet every one of them was immortal, and the more they encountered them, the more envious they became.
Now that the opportunity was right before him, Steel-Bones Kong did not hesitate for long.
"You contact him. We must decide the trading location. If it's a trap, things will be troublesome!"
"Understood."
Sengoku immediately took out the slip of paper with the number written on it and dialed according to the digits.
A moment later, the Den Den Mushi connected, and Dimon's voice rang through the office.
"Moshiboshi, who is this?"
"It's me, Sengoku."
"Oh, it's you. Have you prepared the goods?"
"Of course! I'll decide the trading location. This is our first transaction, and I don't think we should make things unpleasant."
Sengoku deliberately emphasized that it was the first transaction, implying there would be a second and a third.
He believed Dimon would not refuse. The other party would surely understand his concerns.
However.
"There's no need to make it so troublesome..."
The moment those words fell, Sengoku abruptly lowered his head and looked at the slip of paper in his hand.
The paper bearing the number erupted with black lightning, wisps of dark smoke rising from it.
In the next instant, the black smoke danced above the desk, rapidly forming a pentagram magic circle.
"What?!"
Sengoku and Kong's expressions changed at once.
At the center of the magic circle, a shadow appeared. The black smoke dispersed, revealing Dimon standing before them.
"Good afternoon, gentlemen."
"This is your ability?" Sengoku's expression darkened. "You tampered with the slip of paper!"
"What tampering? It's only a little trick. I call it Reverse Summon."
Dimon drifted lightly to the floor, standing in the fleet admiral's office with a teasing smile on his face.
Steel-Bones Kong stared fixedly at Dimon. The pair of black wings on his back were exceptionally conspicuous.
"You're a Lunarian?"
Abel was also a Lunarian and had a pair of black wings on his back, but their wings were completely different.
Still, a misunderstanding was a misunderstanding. Dimon had no interest in explaining that he was a demon.
Very few people knew of that identity at present.
Too lazy to answer, he turned his gaze toward the three Devil Fruits on the desk.
"This should be Marine Headquarters, right? Staying here too long makes me a little scared."
Kong's expression was grave. "I can't see where you're scared. You've got some nerve, showing up in a place like this so openly!"
Dimon smiled, walked over to the sofa, and sat down with one leg crossed over the other. Then he casually picked up an apple from the fruit basket and took a bite.
"Enough nonsense. Let's trade."
Watching Dimon behave as though he had returned to his own home, the fleet admiral and marine admiral were speechless.
Should they make a move and capture him here?
The thought flashed through their minds before being immediately abandoned.
Kong nodded at Sengoku. Sengoku picked up the three Devil Fruits and placed them in front of the sofa.
"Where's the wine?"
With a wave of his hand, Dimon produced a brand-new bottle of Elixir of Immortality. Then he asked, "I'm giving you a discount. Shouldn't you give me a little bonus too? For example... the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia!"
Before you continue