Shanks looked even more embarrassed and could only nod. "Yeah, I'll keep an eye on them. But as expected, nothing gets past Brother Wuming."
The Devil's Box, which contained information about Devil Lords, was originally given to Wuming by Roger. After Roger left, before the rest of them parted ways, Wuming gave the Devil's Box to Shanks.
"Our journey has ended, but yours has just begun. It's better to keep this with you," Wuming had said. So, Shanks accepted the Devil's Box and later discovered its uses.
Shanks knew Wuming was talking about dealing with Sakaki and Little Demon Dragon. He felt fairly confident about that matter.
"Alright, let's talk about what you need from me," Wuming relaxed a bit and finally asked Shanks why he was there.
"Knowing you, kid, you wouldn't ask us for help unless it was absolutely necessary."
Shanks chuckled. "That's right. I recently found out something related to the World Government, but it's inconvenient for me to get involved directly, so I'd like to ask for Brother Wuming's help."
With that, Shanks recounted what Sakaski had told him.
Yes, Shanks wanted Wuming to step in. With Wuming's strength and abilities, getting that Devil Fruit would be as easy as pie.
Wuming asked with a half-smile, "Just this? And after you get the Devil Fruit that the World Government is after, what will you do? Are you going to eat it?"
Shanks quickly shook his head. "I'm not interested in Devil Fruits. I might go look for Captain Roger's son then."
Wuming chuckled. "How do you know it's a son? It could be a daughter. Besides, Roger only left that year, who knows if he even had a wife?"
Back then, on the ship, Rayleigh had asked who the next Pirate King would be. Roger, on a whim, said it would definitely be his son. They all laughed, saying he didn't have a son.
Thinking back, many years had passed since then.
Time really flies.
Wuming took a deep drag from his cigarette, slowly exhaled, and then said, "However, helping you with this isn't a big problem. The World Government isn't trustworthy. If there's a Devil Fruit with the power to change the world, it shouldn't be handed over to them."
Shanks suddenly said, "How about giving it to you, boss? You have incredibly fast movement, you'll surely find the right person."
Wuming was taken aback for a moment, then burst out laughing. "Forget it, forget it. I already said our journey is over. You find the fated person, kid."
Wuming accepted Shanks' suggestion. He stood up and said, "Alright, time is short. I'll be back shortly."
He said it so casually, as if he were just going for a stroll, not about to rob a World Government transport ship.
But Shanks was completely at ease because he knew Wuming's strength. The mission would undoubtedly be a success.
"Boss, thank you for your trouble," Shanks said with a hint of nervousness.
Many of the seniors had already retired. Asking them to come out of retirement would definitely attract the World Government's attention again. Even with Wuming's world-class speed, constantly hiding would be troublesome. Moreover, the World Government's technology was advancing rapidly; who knew when they might develop countermeasures against teleportation.
However, Wuming didn't say anything. He simply vanished from Shanks' sight in an instant.
Sakaski had given Shanks the time and route for the Devil Fruit's transport. Time was running out; in a few more hours, they would reach Mary Geoise.
After all, Shanks hadn't set off immediately after accepting Sakaski's deal. He had first come to Jaltzburg Castle.
But with Wuming's teleportation ability, it shouldn't take too long.
And so it was. Not much time had passed. Shanks, bored from waiting, went back to the ship to get some food and opened a bottle of wine. In that short period, Wuming had already returned.
He had no blood on him, and there was a Devil Fruit in his hand.
"I didn't kill those people. They probably don't even know the Devil Fruit they were transporting is gone," Wuming said calmly. "Here, this is for you."
He casually tossed the fruit, which the World Government treasured so highly, to Shanks. Shanks caught it and chuckled. "Here, this is some good wine I brought back from the West Blue!"
What happened to the escort wouldn't matter as long as he got the Devil Fruit.
Now, he wondered if that guy would be shocked.
He had planned to use the fruit to lure himself out, but he would never have imagined it would disappear so silently.
Furthermore, this action had basically confirmed the identity of the perpetrator for Shanks.
Since this fruit was so important to the World Government, it had to be top-secret intelligence. There weren't many people within the World Government who would have access to such information and also possess fire-related abilities.
Aside from the possibility of a hidden master, it could only be the trusted Marine Admiral Akainu.
Akainu actually asked a pirate to rob a World Government ship. It seemed there was a rift between Marine Headquarters and the World Government.
Shanks and Wuming ate and drank heartily before leaving with the Devil Fruit. He was now a renowned pirate, and his actions attracted a lot of attention. His visit to Jaltzburg Castle might have even caused trouble for Wuming. If there had been no other choice, Shanks wouldn't have wanted to disturb these old seniors' retirement.
"After this job, we should lie low for a bit," Beckman said as he watched Shanks return with the Devil Fruit.
Since he couldn't reveal anything about the Twilight Hermit Society, Shanks was vague about the mission. But Beckman was observant and quick-witted. He knew that if Shanks had to trouble Wuming, it had to be something significant. Coupled with the fact that Shanks returned with a Devil Fruit, he guessed that Shanks had asked Wuming to do something important.
"Yeah," Shanks agreed. He wasn't surprised that Beckman had figured some things out. He thought for a moment and then said, "Okay, let's head to the East Blue!"
The East Blue?
Yes, Roger had spent most of his final days in the East Blue. Perhaps he had left his descendants there. The World Government had made a big move back then but failed to find them. Shanks wanted to try his luck.
Heading to the East Blue...
The great pirate Red-Haired Shanks, famous in the New World of the latter half of the Grand Line, going to the weakest sea, the East Blue, which could be called a 'backwater'?
And not only is Shanks going, but he might stay for a long time...
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