"Leader! The King's people have delivered a lot of goods."
Bear Guard had just agreed to temporarily serve as the captain of the guard. At this moment, a subordinate soldier came to report the situation.
Many carriages had appeared at the dock. Each carriage carried sealed wooden crates, some large and some small. Even the smallest crates required soldiers to exert considerable effort to move.
"Mr. Vane, this is the reward promised by His Majesty our King."
The Six-Gold Kingdom's only ace, Schmitt, appeared again—this time in the guise of a "ceremonial official."
"I say, Mr. Schmitt, you're acting as a combatant, a diplomat, and even serving as the King's guard. You can handle such exhausting work?"
"How about coming aboard my ship? All you'd need to do is fight."
Although Schmitt was quite old, he was still a swordsman capable of flying slashes. His talent was solid, and his strength had already matured.
Of course, Vane was only joking. Schmitt's actions had long demonstrated his loyalty to the old King. In the Six-Gold Kingdom, he was the Six-Gold Sword Schmitt, second to none. Wealth and glory were but fleeting clouds to him.
Boarding a pirate ship meant becoming a criminal. The difference in status and待遇 was simply too great.
"Mr. Vane jests. Your ship is full of talented individuals; there is no need for an old man like me."
"Let us instead take a look at the gift our King has prepared for you, Mr. Vane."
One wooden crate after another was carried onto the Thunder Fortress.
Bonez, as the foremost person under the leader, stepped forward proactively. His arm pierced straight into the top of one crate—far more useful than a crowbar. The lid was pried open instantly.
A faint golden glow rose up. Inside the crate was a gold sculpture shaped like an artificial rockery.
The golden color drew everyone's gaze and stirred a sense of fascination.
"These were cleared out from the treasury. They were likely created during the false king's rule. With this much gold, the gold mines should have been extensively developed—but they weren't. Although the treasury's gold reserves decreased somewhat, it still shouldn't have been enough to cast so many gold sculptures."
Crate after crate was opened. Golden sculptures appeared one after another. The deck of the Thunder Fortress was now enveloped in golden radiance. The value of these sculptures absolutely exceeded one billion Belly!
Vane thought for a moment and said, "The false king was a Smelt-Smelt Fruit user, skilled at forging and refining metals. This gold may very well have been extracted from your previously abandoned low-grade ore."
With primitive gold-refining techniques, there was no way they could compare to a Devil Fruit user's abilities. By refining the previously discarded low-purity ore and mixing it with existing gold, these sculptures were produced.
"So that's how it is. The Smelt-Smelt Fruit really is suited for smelting ore."
Schmitt was already thinking that if they could regain the Smelt-Smelt Fruit in the future, metal refining might no longer require environmental pollution. The Smelt-Smelt Fruit needed neither charcoal nor coal residue to smelt metal.
"Mr. Vane, His Majesty is currently searching for traces of Devil Fruits across Six-Gold Island and the lands of the Nanami Kingdom. However, as only a short time has passed, nothing has been discovered yet."
"The search for Devil Fruits will not stop. Once there are results—if Mr. Vane and your crew have not yet departed—they will be delivered."
Devil Fruits were indeed difficult to find. Even mobilizing an entire nation, without special channels, one could only search within national territory or through open-market means.
In the desert kingdom of Alabasta, due to matters of faith, they always retrieved the Bird-Bird Fruit Falcon Model and the Dog-Dog Fruit Jackal Model for their nation's guardians to consume.
"Additionally, although there is no Devil Fruit, His Majesty believes this item may interest you."
Vane accepted what Schmitt handed over and flipped through it briefly. A satisfied look immediately appeared in his eyes.
"It's the latest edition of the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia. This is exactly what I need."
The encyclopedia Vane previously had was from two hundred years ago—a gap of two full centuries, lagging behind by who knew how many editions.
Just by looking at the thickness of this encyclopedia, one could tell how vast the difference in collected fruit information was.
"We will remain here for a few more days… As for the fruits, we'll leave it to fate."
The other side had already provided gold worth over one billion Belly as payment. At market price, that could purchase several Devil Fruits.
Since that was the case, there was no need to insist they produce a Devil Fruit. One does not strike a smiling benefactor—especially not one overflowing with wealth.
They would restock and update supplies in the Six-Gold Kingdom, allow the crew to relax and unwind on Six-Gold Island, and then set sail again.
After long periods at sea, people's minds could easily suffer strain. Relying on islands from time to time for relaxation was necessary.
That was also why pirates were prone to exposing their whereabouts. If there truly were ascetics who could drift endlessly at sea, it would be extremely difficult for the Marines to catch them.
Three days passed quickly.
There was still no news of a Devil Fruit. The Thunder Fortress had finished replenishing supplies. Vane did not linger any longer. The sails were raised, and the Thunder Fortress departed from the dock of Gold Mine Island.
...
Less than an hour after leaving Gold Mine Island, the weather turned gloomy. Dark clouds gathered in clusters.
Lena looked at the overcast sky and said, "This kind of weather looks exactly like the scene where a villain appears in North Blue stories."
Meowth: "But aren't we the villains, meow?"
In the public's perception, pirates were villains. Meowth had always been in the Rocket Team, and the Rocket Team had a very clear understanding of themselves—every entrance was accompanied by declaring themselves villains.
"No, no, Meowth. How can we be villains? From our perspective, the Marines and the World Government are the villains."
As soon as Vane finished speaking, from behind a nearby island, a warship roughly the same size as the Thunder Fortress appeared.
"The Marines have really appeared, Leader!"
"Meow! Vane, your mouth is so accurate. Did you eat a Devil Fruit?"
All the crew members looked at Vane.
"I was just speaking casually… This warship's entrance really feels familiar."
The very first scene of the One Piece anime was Alvida's ship hiding behind an island, suddenly emerging when a merchant vessel passed by.
This warship's entrance was exactly the same as Alvida's. Damn it—have the Marines really become the villains?
...
Marine side.
"The Nation-Slayer's ship has indeed appeared. Rear Admiral, your judgment was correct."
The Marine Captain flattered Strawberry, whose tall skull stood out prominently.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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