Marvel: Trading with Worlds

The name of the rainbase city had completely resounded throughout the first half of the Grand Line, and Alabasta was reaping significant benefits as a result.

One of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, "Mage" Kain Pent, had established his domain there, alongside a Sky Island specialty production site. 

Together, they had nearly rivaled the reputation of the Sabaody Archipelago in the first half of the Grand Line.

The advantages brought by such widespread renown were plentiful—hotels, restaurants, and other industries were booming. 

Moreover, the San Dora River remained closed to pirate ships. Any pirates daring to enter Alabasta without causing trouble had no choice but to disguise themselves and conceal their flags.

Generally, no pirate was foolish enough to stir up chaos. Even if a few reckless ones tried, Alabasta's newly equipped standing army was more than capable of handling them.

Each 100-man squad was armed with ten Gatling guns, ten RPGs, and the rest equipped with AK assault rifles. Thanks to Kain's training, the soldiers had mastered the technique of emptying magazines and expending ammunition in mere seconds.

This not only ensured effective pirate suppression but also boosted Alabasta's demand for ammunition. 

According to Kain, all of this was done in the interest of the soldiers' safety—it was far better to expend more bullets than to allow soldiers to suffer injuries while dealing with pirates.

Cobra, upon hearing this reasoning, wholeheartedly agreed.

Kain, the newly promoted Seven Warlords of the Sea, had earned a reputation for his hatred of pirates. 

His notoriety had spread across the first half of the Grand Line, bolstered by the World Government's propaganda in newspapers and the constant eradication of pirates by Kain's subordinates, many of whom possessed Devil Fruit powers.

Among the pirate crews, a new reality had taken hold—anyone seeking to sail past the first half of the Grand Line now had to survive two deadly checkpoints: the Marines and Kain Pent, the Seven Warlord stationed in Alabasta.

Today, three individuals of notable status arrived in Rainbase—Diamante, Gladius, and Baby-5, high-ranking members of the Donquixote Family. 

Each possessed Devil Fruit abilities, and their visit to Alabasta had a clear purpose: to negotiate a business deal with Kain, the newly appointed Warlord.

However, upon arriving in Rainbase, Gladius immediately sensed something was off.

"Isn't Rainbase supposed to be Alabasta's top tourist destination? Why is the sky so dark, with thunder rumbling every now and then? The weather here feels like the chaotic climate of the Grand Line."

Just as he finished speaking, another thunderclap echoed across the sky—not far from Rainbase—sending a chill down his spine.

A passing Alabasta local noticed their reaction and chuckled, offering a casual warning:

"Don't be too surprised. We've had thunderstorms on and off for the past month. In fact, about 50 miles southwest of Rainbase has even been declared a restricted area."

"I heard that Master Mage is practicing."

"It's time to decide..."

"Practicing? Are you saying this is the result of that new Shichibukai's training?"

The cigarette on Baby-5's surprised red lips almost dropped. If the sound was this loud from such a distance, what kind of scene would it be if they got closer?

An Alabasta civilian responded with pride, "That's right! That's our lord—Alabasta's patron saint is incredibly strong."

The civilian was eager to share more of their lord's glorious deeds, but Diamante had more pressing matters to attend to. Without hesitation, he urged his companions to leave quickly.

The Marines' new equipment upgrade could not be kept a secret for long. Before long, several arms dealers in the underground world caught wind of it.

This new generation of weaponry had piqued the interest of many, with some even managing to acquire a few guns for testing. 

Compared to the typical flintlock pistols and muskets used by pirates, these firearms were undeniably superior.

Though they hadn't yet obtained any of the new cannons, rumors suggested they were vastly more powerful than existing artillery.

According to reliable sources, once the Marines had fully transitioned to this advanced weaponry, they would begin upgrading all warship artillery as well. The result? Longer-range shells with greater firepower.

If the Marines fully adopted these new weapons, the balance of power at sea would shift dramatically.

Low-level pirate crews would become obsolete. Only elite fighters would stand a chance against the Marines. A high volume of these weapons could even threaten pirates with bounties exceeding 100 million berries.

This would be a devastating blow to both pirates and the underground arms trade.

As news spread, the number of new pirates setting sail was predicted to drop sharply, forcing the black market to shrink as well.

Many underground forces couldn't sit still. They all wanted to acquire these new firearms—not to arm themselves, but to sell them to pirates and criminals.

However, there was a major problem.

These were not mass-producible like traditional flintlocks and muskets. Even if they reverse-engineered the design, the craftsmanship required to manufacture them was too advanced.

Simply put, small-scale production wouldn't be enough to shift the balance of power.

Doflamingo was the first to act. Though he controlled many underground enterprises, he was also a recognized king and a Shichibukai himself. 

This gave him a unique advantage—he could approach this new Shichibukai under the guise of a legitimate business partnership.

Thus, he sent three of his top executives—Diamante, Gladius, and Baby-5—to Alabasta to initiate negotiations.

Along the way, the trio encountered many incredible things, but one, in particular, stood out: the Ark Maxim.

When Gladius saw the floating battleship in the sky, jealousy flared in his heart. He instinctively wanted to steal it and present it as a gift to Doflamingo, but reason quickly took over—trying to seize something like that here would be a death sentence.

However, the Ark Maxim was too valuable to ignore.

Diamante discreetly recorded the information, intending to report it to Doflamingo upon their return.

A ship that could fly was a game-changer for any major force.

Flying in the sky meant being completely isolated from the dangers of the sea. As long as celestial disasters were avoided, the potential profits were enormous.

As a loyal supporter of Doflamingo, Diamante quickly realized how valuable the Ark Maxim could be for the Donquixote Family.

Diamante and his two companions arrived at the Kain Chamber of Commerce headquarters. Upon seeing the reception staff, Diamante spoke directly:

"We are members of the Donquixote Family from Dressrosa. We wish to discuss a business deal with Mr. Mage Pent."

The receptionist was visibly surprised upon hearing their identities. Covering their mouth in shock, they quickly responded:

"Dressrosa is under the protection of Lord Shichibukai. Please wait a moment—I will inform Lady Robin."

The receptionist hurried off to inform Nico Robin, the vice president of the Chamber of Commerce.

Robin had since fully embraced her new identity and dropped her surname, as Kain often simply called her Robin.

Shortly after, Nico Robin entered the reception room, greeting the trio with a smile.

"Mr. Diamante, what kind of business does the Donquixote Family wish to discuss with the Kain Chamber of Commerce?"

However, Diamante's expression darkened upon realizing that Kain was not present. He crossed his arms and said, displeased:

"I want to speak directly to that Mage. Some matters can only be discussed with him personally. Don't you understand the weight of the Donquixote Family?"

Robin remained unfazed and replied with a slight chuckle:

"It's not that I don't understand. It's just that, for certain reasons, your request is unlikely to succeed. So there's no need."

Just as she was about to dismiss them, Robin's eyes landed on Baby-5. Recognizing her immediately, Robin raised an eyebrow in mild surprise.

"Wait a moment—is this Baby-5 from the Donquixote Family? A Paramecia-type Devil Fruit user with the Weapon-Weapon Fruit?"

Robin hadn't expected this encounter. She had been looking for Baby-5, yet here she was, walking straight into the Chamber of Commerce on her own.

"Well, that works out nicely," Robin thought to herself. Another success for me, in a way."

Baby-5 blinked in confusion before responding, her tone blunt:

"Yeah, that's me. What do you want with me?"

Robin smiled at her.

"My boss needs you."

Baby-5 immediately blushed, becoming flustered.

"N-Needs me? Is your boss planning to propose to me?"

Robin smirked. Watching Baby-5's reaction only confirmed that she was indeed the one Kain had asked her to keep an eye out for.

However, Gladius slammed his hand on the table, his face darkening.

"Hey! Are you trying to recruit a Donquixote Family executive?! And hurry up and call your boss out already! You're only here because you managed to defeat a 'sand crocodile' with an 87-million-berry bounty!"

Robin simply chuckled.

"Hehe, no need to get so worked up. I'll inform the boss right away."

She then gestured for them to follow.

"Come with me to the basement meeting room—it's more spacious there."

Once in the underground conference room, Robin took out a Den Den Mushi and immediately called Kain.

"Boss, Donquixote Doflamingo has sent his men to meet with you. Looks like they want to discuss a business deal. Also, the person you asked me to keep an eye on—regarding the arms business—has arrived as well."

"How does she know our purpose?"

After Nico Robin ended the Den Den Mushi call, Gladius asked curiously. It seemed they hadn't even stated their intentions yet.

"Shut up, you idiot!" Diamante snapped, clearly irritated.

The very next second, lightning flashed in the conference room. A figure suddenly appeared, followed by several crackling bolts of electricity.

Diamante's eyes widened as he clearly saw the lightning surge directly into the man's body.

"If this isn't some unknown Paramecia electricity-based ability… then that means… This mage—"

"He has the Logia-type Thunder Fruit!?"

The realization hit Diamante instantly. His estimation of Kain skyrocketed. If this was true, then Crocodile hadn't just lost to a random upstart—he had been annihilated by the power of the strongest Logia ability.

Before Diamante could even process his next move, Baby-5 suddenly covered her face with her hands and asked excitedly:

"It's you! Do you… need me?"

Kain chuckled and extended his hand toward her in an elegant gesture.

"Of course, Baby-5. I need you very much. Come to my side."

His charming demeanor, calm confidence, and commanding presence made Baby-5, who desperately craved being needed, completely swoon.

Her eyes practically turned into hearts, and she nodded frantically like a chicken pecking at rice.

"Okay! I accept your marriage proposal!"

"HEY! SHUT UP, YOU IDIOT!"

Diamante exploded in rage.

"We're here for a deal, not a damn marriage proposal! Baby-5, are you betraying the young master!?"

He quickly turned to Kain, his tone now serious.

"Your grace, we are here on behalf of the Donquixote Family to discuss business—not to hand over one of our officers! Baby-5 is a cadre of our family. She cannot leave!"

Kain waved his hand dismissively and magically pulled Baby-5 to his side.

He chuckled and said, "Don't be so dramatic. But honestly? This whole negotiation is pointless."

His expression darkened slightly.

"I already know why you're here—either for military weapons or Sky Island specialty goods."

Then, with a mocking smirk, he added:

"But I hate the Donquixote Family. So I'm not interested in making a deal. However, I am taking Baby-5. You can go back now."

Hearing Kain's blatant insult and utter disregard for their family, Diamante clenched his teeth in fury.

"What the hell did you just say—"

BOOM!

Before he could even finish his sentence, Diamante collapsed to the floor, his eyes rolling back, his body convulsing, and foam forming at his mouth.

Kain looked down at him, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

"Huh. Maybe I overdid it a little."

Then, he shrugged and turned to the others.

"Take him and get lost. Unless you'd rather stay… and plant trees."

…

patreon.com/Vks_sh