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Chapter 1074: World's Greatestgreatest Swordsman Changes Hands!
Chapter 1074: World's Greatestgreatest Swordsman Changes Hands!
Wano Country.
The palace of Flower Capital blazed with lights. Laughter and raucous shouts echoed through the grand hall.
Ever since Kaido and Charlotte·Big Mom's alliance, the Beasts Pirates and Big Mom Pirates had turned this place into a nightly carnival of indulgence. The pirates' massive consumption of supplies had pushed Wano Country's already impoverished regions into deeper poverty. Yet for these pirates and the aristocracy of Wano, such concerns were meaningless.
Pirates and samurai clung to each other's shoulders, clinking cups of sake while roaring with laughter.
Inside a private chamber of the palace—residence of Wano Country's Shogun—a slimy-looking man grinned broadly, fanning himself with a folding fan as he faced the Black-and-White Masked Man.
"Hehehe, even the World Government dares to trade with a non-member state like me? Of course I've got weapons, but the price..." his voice trailed off with a sly chuckle.
The masked man's tone was grim. "Shogun, this has always been our arrangement, but isn't this price unusually high this time?"
Across from him sat Wano Country's current Shogun—Blackbeard's Giant Serpent, the actual ruler of Flower Capital.
"High? What high price? Only three warships! That's practically giving them away!" Blackbeard's Giant Serpent's eyes narrowed. "You've been sending too many Nails here lately, but I've turned a blind eye out of respect for our partnership. After all, Donquixote Doflamingo cooperated with us so nicely before. But now he's been arrested? I'm furious! Taking three warships is the least I deserve! Next time, I might ask for Vegapunk himself!"
His sinister laughter echoed through the chamber. "You know I fear nothing—now I have not just Kaido behind me, but also Charlotte·Big Mom! Two Four Emperors backing me! Hahahahaha!!"
The maniacal laughter reverberated through the entire palace.
The masked man wiped sweat from his brow, silent for a moment before replying. "Shogun, let's not joke around. Three warships it is—we'll accept this price. But Donquixote Doflamingo's arrest wasn't our doing. That was the Navy's decision. Vice Admiral Golden Lion captured him personally, forcing his resignation. We had no control over that."
"Golden Lion?"
Blackbeard's Giant Serpent snapped his fan shut, pointing mockingly. "Oh, I know that man! He once came here, clashing swords with Kaido and Big Mom. I wouldn't dare offend someone like him! If he came to trade, I'd part with a warship for even less! But this Golden Lion is a Navy officer—your enemy, isn't he? Bring me Golden Lion's head, and for three years I'll slash weapon prices in half! Can you do that?"
"This..."
The masked man stiffened. How could they possibly comply? The Navy treated Golden Lion as their chosen successor, with close ties to the Five Elders and World Nobles. No way would those elites sacrifice him for petty profits.
And Golden Lion's power? Utterly untouchable.
Though painful to admit, the Navy's overall combat strength dwarfed the Cipher Pol.
Perhaps Rob Lucci could help? But that man's relationship with Golden Lion was murky at best. As a CP0 officer, even pressuring him might result in him selling out the operation—leaving the True Combatants to face Golden Lion's wrath alone.
"Shogun, you know that's impossible", the masked man finally said.
"Hehe! Of course I know that!" Blackbeard's Giant Serpent cackled, reopening his fan. "So this price is already generous!"
He leaned closer. "But I despise Golden Lion! I don't want him setting foot in the New World! If you could keep him away for at least six months, the three warships' price would remain unchanged!"
Six months—keeping a Vice Admiral away from the New World? Perhaps feasible.
The masked man hesitated. "I'll need to consult headquarters."
But even he doubted the possibility. This concerned weapon trade, yes—but Wano Country's arms industry had become critical to the World Government, especially their high-quality weapons.
Before Donquixote Doflamingo's downfall, he'd skillfully juggled alliances—with Kaido and the World Government—while smuggling weapons elsewhere. Compared to the World Government's vast needs, those other trades were mere child's play.
Which explained why the World Government now had to personally negotiate here, despite the political scandal of dealing with pirates.
"Then come back when you've decided", Blackbeard's Giant Serpent chuckled. "For now, I'll grant you this batch first. Wait for good news!"
"Officer!"
A Cipher Pol agent burst in, waving a newspaper. "Breaking news!"
The masked man scowled. "Can't you see we're in the middle of negotiations? What could be more urgent than this?!"
The agent gulped, thrusting the paper forward. "This... is huge news!"
"Huge?"
The masked man instinctively took the paper. His eyes scanned the front page—then froze. A whisper escaped his lips. "They've gone this far?"
Blackbeard's Giant Serpent craned his neck, peering over. His eyes widened. "Oh? So it's like this..."
The newspaper cover displayed a photograph—a striking man in a golden dress uniform and hooded cloak, ruggedly biting a cigar, gripping the Black Blade Autumn Water.
Everyone recognized him.
Navy Vice Admiral Golden Lion!
The headline blared: [World's Greatestgreatest Swordsman Changes Hands!!!]
"World's Greatestgreatest Swordsman..."
The masked man gave a dry laugh, not bothering to read further. Looking up at Blackbeard's Giant Serpent, he muttered, "I'm afraid we can't fulfill your request anymore."
"Hahahaha! What a shame!" Blackbeard's Giant Serpent grinned. "World's Greatestgreatest Swordsman indeed! Autumn Water in his hands... If only that blade could be mine!"
(End of Chapter)
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