NOVEL NEXT Chapter 68: Negotiation
"You've crossed a line, Dave," Sengoku growled. "Demanding a Devil Fruit is beyond arrogance. Why should I even consider this?"
"Because," Dave replied, his voice suddenly cold, "I could do much worse. I gave those Celestial Dragons mercy, Sengoku. I could have torn them apart, but I left them alive. Think of this as a… gesture of goodwill."
Sengoku gritted his teeth, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. He glanced at Tsuru and Akainu, both of whom were tense, waiting for his decision. Tsuru gave a slight nod, a signal to stay composed and continue the negotiation.
"Fine," Sengoku said through clenched teeth, "but I decide which Devil Fruit you receive. Don't expect any Mythical or Logia types."
Dave chuckled, his tone mocking. "Oh, I think you still don't understand the situation you're in, Dog King."
Suddenly, a scream echoed from the Den Den Mushi.
"Arghhhh! You bastard! How dare you..."
Sengoku frowned as he heard the desperate cries. "Sir, he killed one!" The operator reported, voice trembling.
"I think my message is clear now," Dave continued coldly. "But let's make this simple: for each Celestial Dragon still alive, you owe me two Devil Fruits—Logia, Paramecia, or Mythical Zoan. One less, and perhaps you'll receive a... half Celestial Dragon. Though I doubt they'll survive being split in two."
Sengoku gritted his teeth, struggling to contain his fury as he forced himself to respond. "Alright... don't kill any more of them."
"Good," Dave said, cutting the call.
Sengoku glared at the Den Den Mushi before looking around the room at everyone present. "Call back Vice Admiral Rhodes. We need to plan on handling this threat." He signaled to a Marine, who promptly left to relay the command.
"Why do we even need him?" Akainu sneered, his tone dripping with disdain.
"Because he defeated you," Aokiji replied coolly.
Akainu's face visibly twitched in irritation as he clenched his fist, but he refrained from responding further, his anger simmering just beneath the surface.
After a moment, the Marine returned and reported, "Vice Admiral Rhodes said he doesn't want to work for 'those pigs.'"
Sengoku gritted his teeth but said nothing, frustration visible on his face. Aokiji, on the other hand, appeared thoughtful as he processed the Marine's words. Slowly, he stood up and made his way to the door.
"Are you going to try calling Rhodes back?" Sengoku asked, knowing that Aokiji and Rhodes were good friends.
"No," Aokiji replied. "I don't want to rescue those 'pigs' either." He began to walk out, only to be blocked by Akainu.
"Do you still call yourself a Marine?" Akainu sneered, standing in Aokiji's path.
"Step aside, or I'll make you," Aokiji said coldly.
"STAND DOWN, BOTH OF YOU!" Sengoku's voice thundered through the room, stopping the tension from escalating further. "Is this what the Marines have become? Fighting among ourselves?"
Akainu begrudgingly took his seat, but Aokiji didn't look back. Without a word, he left the room, leaving Sengoku and the others to contemplate their fractured ranks.
"What is the meaning of this?" Sengoku demanded, his frustration evident.
Tsuru replied calmly, "They just needed a spark. Many Marines are already dissatisfied with the Celestial Dragons. Now that someone has risen to oppose them, they want to follow Rhodes. His record is exceptional, his tactical abilities are respected, and he's in his prime—he'll remain influential for the next 30 years. It's only natural if they want to follow him."
Sengoku shook his head, muttering, "Do they truly believe the World Government will allow them to challenge the order of this world?"
Ring
Sengoku sighed as the Den Den Mushi began ringing, reluctantly picking up the call.
"Sengoku, what is your Marine response?" The sharp voice of one of the Five Elders echoed, cutting straight to the matter. "He demands the Devil Fruits, and if we don't comply, he'll kill another Celestial Dragon."
"Are you completely useless?" another Elder's voice snapped. "Those Celestial Dragons were kidnapped right under the Marine's nose. Do you realize the severity of this failure?"
"Yes, I'm aware," Sengoku replied, his tone clipped as he clenched his teeth.
"And now, one of them is already dead," the Elder added icily, deepening Sengoku's frustration.
"What is your plan, Sengoku?" the Elder pressed, his tone unyielding. Sengoku looked over to Tsuru and took a deep breath before beginning to outline their course of action.
****
On Dave's side, both Enel and Tony stood beside him, surveying the group of cowering Celestial Dragons.
"These people are even more oppressive than the North Blue tyrant," Tony remarked, shaking his head in disbelief.
"I can't believe there are people more delusional than me," Enel said with a smirk, staring disdainfully at the Celestial Dragons. "At least I had the strength to back up my words, but these…" Enel nudged one of the Celestial Dragons with his foot, and the terrified man let out a pitiful cry.
"I really wonder if their brains even work properly," he sneered.
Dave let out a low chuckle, watching the display. "They've been sheltered their entire lives, untouched by reality. They're afraid of us, but it's their ignorance that's truly terrifying."
He looked at Tony and Enel. "These so-called 'gods' of the world don't understand what it means to earn respect."
Tony nodded, folding his arms. "Well, they're learning a lesson today."
"Anyway, isn't this the Government we're here to destroy, according to your devil contract?" Tony asked, glancing at Dave, who nodded in response.
"God, if anyone offered me the same deal, I'd accept without hesitation," Tony said, his tone carrying a mix of amusement and contempt. "I can already see just what kind of rulers they are."
Dave nodded thoughtfully. "Though, I don't plan to kill them just yet." Earlier, he'd killed a Celestial Dragon to see if his Whitebeard template's progress would update, but since he hadn't unlocked the full template, the system didn't register it.
"I need the Whitebeard template to fully activate if I'm going to use this chance properly," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.
"Still, this is just the beginning," Enel said, grinning as he looked at the quivering nobles. "They won't know what's hit them."
Dave nodded as he never planned to release them alive , he will take Devil fruits and kill them too.
*******
if you like my fanfic, and want to support me and read advance chaps, checkout my fanfic on Patreon :-
There are regular updates too.
patreon.com/FantasyLi
***
While waiting for new chaps do check out my other books too..