The Wager

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

Newgate was extremely confident in his own strength!

After thinking it over, he took down the naginata Murakumogiri from his back.

"This is my stake."

"Newgate, forget it."

John waved him off with a look of disdain.

As one of the Supreme Grade Blades, Murakumogiri was naturally worth ten million Berries, perhaps even far more.

But it was Newgate's prized weapon, the one he would use until his death. Winning it from him would be too embarrassing, wouldn't it?

"Good! I accept that wager!"

Shiki raised his eyebrows at Newgate in approval, then took the small black suitcase handed over by his subordinate and opened it, revealing stacks upon stacks of Berries.

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

Besides, chances to make Newgate suffer were few and far between. He had to seize this one tightly!

Linlin removed the pink pirate tricorne named Napoleon from her head and took a dazzling pink gemstone from within it. Then she swept her gaze over Ochoku, Gloriosa, and the others.

"MAMAMA~ This is getting more and more interesting. What about you? Want in?"

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

Gloriosa stared intently toward the West Blue, completely uninterested in joining this boring farce.

Stussy also expressed no interest. The remaining Catfish Wrestler Babel, the Four-Armed Gun King Kiel Basda, Smuggler Gan Sui, and Silver Axe Xiong all brought out their stakes.

"Then take your positions. When the countdown ends, attack at the same time."

John leaped onto the railing, extending one finger as deep-purple lightning gathered at its tip.

"Three..."

"Two..."

"One..."

"Begin!"

Sizzle—

Crack—

"Ikoku Sovereignty!"

"Lion: Senjindani!"

"Moon Wheel: Fierce Axe!"

"Sky Serpent's Red Cannon!"

"Fish-Man Karate..."

John's attack shot out first. A thick purple pillar of lightning tore through the air, streaking across the sky like an electric dragon as it pounced toward its target.

The muscles in Newgate's arms bulged as he swung the massive naginata Murakumogiri down with all his might. The air shattered before the blade, unleashing a violent shockwave that instantly caved in the sea.

Shiki swung both swords in rapid succession, sending several enormous golden flying slashes tearing through the air. Linlin's giant sword slash followed close behind. The two attacks raced along the sea's surface, plowing through the water and raising monstrous waves.

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

Kiel Basda, a Paramecia Soul-Soul Fruit user, did not directly activate his Devil Fruit power. His eyes narrowed as his Observation Haki instantly locked onto the warship's ammunition depot. He drew his gun like lightning, aimed, and fired!

A special Haki-coated bullet burst from the barrel, leaving an orange-yellow trail through the air.

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 Davy Family's secrets with Harald. Seeing this, he smiled helplessly.

Although he had built the pirate crew by using the Davy Back Fight game to seize members from all over, every one of them had their own thoughts and interests, and conflicts often broke out among them.

Still, he had to admit that adventuring with these people and plotting to overthrow the World Government was quite enjoyable.

"Quick! Turn the helm! Turn the helm!"

"It's too late!"

On the World Government surveillance ship, CP fighters and Marines watched the torrent of attacks sweep toward them. Their faces turned deathly pale, and they were too panicked to know what to do.

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

"Iron Body!"

Boom!!!

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

The blinding purple flash vanished in an instant. The ship's hull turned into charred dust scattered across the sky amid the thunderstorm, leaving not even wreckage behind.

The slashes, shockwaves, and other attacks that followed could only strike the empty air ravaged by the lightning pillar. All that remained were towering waves churning across the sea, with no target 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.

Most importantly, through his Observation Haki, he could clearly sense that the lightning pillar was weaker than the slashes.

But its speed was absurdly fast!

"Want to learn? I can teach you."

John smugly raised his brows, breaking free of Shiki's grip on his collar before walking toward the pile of stakes.

His strength did not rank particularly high among the people he was currently with, but elsewhere, he would be utterly overwhelming.

Under rules like these, he held 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 only lifelong enemy was 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 his own." Shiki now thought a little more highly of that stingy money-grubber.

"Keep it safe. I'll come get it once I've saved up ten million Berries."

Newgate's expression was incomparably grim as he reluctantly handed Murakumogiri to John.

This only made his already poor situation even worse.

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

John curled his index finger, using electricity to generate magnetism and make the naginata float through the air beside him.

Actually, according to gambling rules, anything lost in a bet would certainly cost a different price to redeem.

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

But this was Newgate. It was already good enough that he was willing to accept the loss and hand over the naginata. If John got any greedier, he might be asking for 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, once that money-grubbing bastard got his hands on one of the Supreme Grade Blades, he would never hand it back. He would only hide it somewhere and leave behind clues.

What an outrageous habit!

Now that John had become so easygoing, it felt strangely uncomfortable instead.

"How about we have another round after landing on God Valley? The stake will be one hundred million Berries. Whoever grabs the most treasure wins."

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

She did not want to win back the ten million Berries she had lost. The wager had merely inspired a very good idea.

If everyone's attention was drawn to the treasure, then her search for Devil Fruits would face no obstacles.

"Forget it..."

Before John could finish refusing, a sudden change occurred.

Boom—

A violent explosion abruptly erupted from the massive warship. A fierce shockwave swept wildly across the area, whipping hair and clothes about and nearly making everyone lose their footing.

"Looks like the negotiations broke down."

John was not surprised. With a wave of his hand, he 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 out from its blade.

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

"Don't interfere. Leave first!"

Rocks's voice rang out, stopping everyone. It was followed by another barrage of furious curses and the roar of battle.

"Harald, you spineless bastard!"