The Wager

How could he pass up a chance to make money for nothing?

Newgate was extremely confident in his own strength!

After some thought, he took down the naginata Murakumogiri from his back.

"This is my stake."

"Newgate, forget it."

John waved his hand with a look of disdain.

As one of the Twelve Supreme Grade Blades, Murakumogiri was naturally worth ten million Beli—perhaps far more than that.

But it was Newgate's most treasured weapon, the one he would use until his death. Wouldn't it be embarrassing to win it from him?

"Fine! I accept that bet!"

Shiki raised his brows at Newgate approvingly, then took the black leather case handed over by his subordinate and opened it, revealing stacks of Beli.

He had not thought as much as John had. He simply wanted to add Murakumogiri to his collection.

Besides, chances to see Newgate suffer were rare. He had to seize this one tightly!

Linlin took off the pink pirate tricorne on her head, Napoleon, pulled a dazzling pink gemstone from it, and swept her gaze over Ochoku, Gloriosa, and the others.

"MAMAMA~ This is getting more and more interesting. What about you? Are you joining?"

"Shakky's safety is still unknown. I'm not in the mood." Ochoku shook his head and refused.

Gloriosa kept staring toward the West Blue, completely uninterested in taking part in this boring farce.

Stussy also expressed no interest. The remaining Catfish Wrestler Babel, the "Four-Armed Gun King" Gil Basdar, the "Smuggler" Gan Sui, and Silver Axe reluctantly brought out their stakes as well.

"Then take your positions. Attack together when the countdown ends."

John leaped onto the railing and extended his index finger. Deep purple lightning gathered at its tip.

"Three..."

"Two..."

"One..."

"Begin!"

Crackle—

Crack—

"Ikoku Sovereignty!"

"Lion: Senjindani!"

"Moon Wheel: Fierce Axe!"

"Sky Serpent's Red Cannon!"

"Fish-Man Karate..."

John's attack was the first to fly out. A thick purple pillar of lightning tore through the air, streaking across the sky like an electric dragon as it rushed straight toward the target.

The muscles in Newgate's arms bulged as he swung the massive naginata Murakumogiri down with all his strength. Wherever its blade pointed, the atmosphere shattered with a roar, unleashing a violent shockwave that instantly depressed the sea.

Shiki swung his twin swords repeatedly, sending several enormous golden flying slashes tearing through the air. Linlin's greatsword slash followed close behind. The two attacks skimmed over the sea, plowing through the water and raising towering waves.

As a Paramecia Bomb-Bomb Fruit user, Gan Sui merely flicked his finger and accurately shot an inconspicuous booger toward the surveillance ship.

Gil Basdar, a Paramecia Soul-Soul Fruit user, did not directly activate his Devil Fruit power. His eyes narrowed slightly as his Observation Haki instantly locked onto the warship's ammunition depot. He drew, aimed, and fired in a flash!

The specially made Haki-coated bullet left the barrel, streaking through the air with an orange-yellow trail.

In an instant, attacks of every color intertwined. Their overwhelming force darkened the skies and seas!

"What a restless bunch."

Rocks had been discussing the secrets of the Davy Family with Harald. Seeing this, he smiled helplessly.

Although he had built this pirate crew by using the Davy Back Fight to seize members from all over, and every person had their own motives and interests, with conflicts and clashes constantly arising between them...

He had to admit that adventuring with this bunch and plotting to overthrow the World Government was very enjoyable.

"Quick! Turn the helm! Turn it!"

"It's too late!"

On the World Government surveillance ship, Cipher Pol agents and Marines watched the torrent of attacks sweep toward them. Their faces turned pale, and they stood there helplessly.

In the end, they could think of only one move.

"Iron Body!"

BOOM!!!

The purple lightning pillar arrived first at a terrifying speed, and the violent current instantly swallowed the entire surveillance ship!

The blinding purple flash vanished in an instant. The ship was reduced to charred ash scattering through the air amid the thunderstorm, leaving not even wreckage behind.

The slashes, shockwaves, and other attacks that followed only managed to strike the empty air ravaged by the lightning pillar. Enormous waves churned across the sea, but the target was nowhere to be found.

"Damn it, John, what kind of move was that? Why have I never seen you use it before?"

Shiki was furious. He grabbed John by the collar and roared, spittle flying everywhere.

More importantly, through his Observation Haki, he could clearly sense that the lightning pillar was less powerful than the slashes.

But its speed was absurdly fast!

"Want to learn it? I can teach you."

John smugly raised his brows, shook free of Shiki's grip on his collar, and walked toward the pile of stakes.

His strength did not rank particularly high among the people around him right now, but elsewhere, he would be crushing opponents on an entirely different level.

Under rules like these, he had a natural advantage.

"Could it be magnetism generating electricity?" Shiki suddenly calmed down and recalled the knowledge he had learned recently.

As a Paramecia Float-Float Fruit user, his greatest enemy in life was only one thing—natural weather.

While studying meteorology, he had happened to come across the concept of magnetism generating electricity in another book.

"I never thought John had been secretly studying on the side." Shiki began to view that stingy money-grubber in a different light.

"Keep it safe. I'll come take it back once I save up ten million Beli."

Newgate looked exceptionally grim as he reluctantly handed Murakumogiri to John.

For someone who was not wealthy to begin with, this only made things worse.

"Don't worry. I'll wait for you to redeem it."

John curled his index finger, and electricity generated magnetism, causing the naginata to float in midair beside him.

Actually, by the rules of gambling, something lost in a bet would definitely have a different price if its owner wanted to redeem it.

It would never be its original price of ten million Beli!

But this was Newgate. It was already good enough that he was willing to accept his loss and hand over the naginata. If John got any greedier, he might end up eating a Haki-infused shockwave punch.

Besides, this was also a favor.

Newgate snorted, somewhat surprised by John's answer.

Based on what he knew of John, that money-grubbing bastard would never hand over one of the Twelve Supreme Grade Blades after obtaining it. He would only find somewhere to hide it and leave behind clues.

What an outrageous hobby!

Now that he had become so easygoing, it felt a little strange instead.

"How about we play another round after we land on God Valley? The stake will be one hundred million Beli. Whoever gets the most treasure wins."

As if she had not had enough fun, Linlin suggested another round.

She was not trying to win back the ten million Beli she had lost. The wager had merely given her an excellent idea.

If everyone's attention was drawn to treasure, her path to searching for Devil Fruits would be completely unobstructed.

"Forget it..."

Before John could finish refusing, a sudden change occurred.

Boom—

A violent explosion suddenly erupted from the massive warship. A ferocious shockwave swept out in all directions, whipping hair and clothes wildly and making it nearly impossible to stand steady.

"Looks like the negotiations broke down."

John was not surprised. He raised a hand and tossed the naginata back to Newgate.

Newgate did not stand on ceremony. He caught the naginata, spun it in a flourish, then gripped it with both hands as pale white rings spread from its blade.

Linlin, Kaido, and the other officers also assumed fighting stances, preparing to join forces and sink the massive warship.

"Don't interfere. Leave first!"

Rocks's voice rang out, stopping everyone. This was followed by a series of angry shouts and the thunderous sounds of battle.

"Harald, you spineless bastard!"