The deck of the ship, the marines aimed their guns and readied their swords. Lazarus and Dobby stood at the center of it all. The marines held their weapons steady, eyes sharp, awaiting the word of their commanding officer.
Lazarus adjusted his posture and relaxed his throat before he introduce himself. "My name is Lazarus, and this is my companion, Dobby. We're merchants."
"We mean no harm—we're just too excited that a ship finally came to this island. We've been stranded in this island for several months now after a shipwreck. I apologize if our action startled you and I want to express my deepest thanks for pulling us out from misery."
The words came quick, practiced even, as if his words has been rehearsed. He pressed on without pause, speaking for both of them.
Some of the marines exchanges glances at the sincerety of the tone, but doubt still didn't disappear especially when the strangers possess unknown power. In the end, they looked at Garp who was still grinning.
"BAHAHAHA! So that's how it is!" Garp's booming laugh rolled across the deck, startling a few seagulls perched on the railings. His grin stretched wide, but his eyes never lost that sharp glint of scrutiny.
He slammed a fist into his open palm with a crack like a cannon shot. "Stranded for several months, huh? Both of you are fortunate that you ran into a marine instead of some cuel pirates! But…" His grin turned into a wolfish smirk. "Shipwreck survivors don't usually have healthy body or ability to teleport, do they?"
The marines tensed again, hands hovering near their rifles and swords. Garp leaned forward, towering over Lazarus and Dobby like a mountain of muscle and authority. "Tell me straight—are ya truly helpless castaways… or wolves in sheep's clothing?!"
No matter how boorish Garp is, he's still a powerful figure with keen observation and intuition. Not to mention the ability they just saw, the two of them doesn't look like people that's been stranded for months.
Bogart looked at Garp, as if this was unexpected to him. Then, observe Lazarus and Dobby thoughtfully. It seems Garp noticed something in these two.
Similarly, Lazarus who knew what kind of person Garp was also taken aback. What the heck? Are you sure you're Garp not Sengoku in disguise? He had prepared his speech and everything. Unexpectedly, Garp is not following the script.
Although he had decided to reveal some of his ability, he didn't want to reveal everything. With a sweat on his back, Lazarus could only bite the bullet and cook up some lies.
"I accidentally ate a Devil Fruit found in the island that allows me to teleport things. I use it to gather food without getting into dangers. That's why we don't lack food."
"You're really lucky to find 2 Devil Fruit in the same island." Garp's eyes swept the bag he was carrying, and Lazarus immediately understand that Garp had seen it's content.
With a flicker in his eyes, Lazarus quickly shifted and show the devil fruit he was carrying. "Not two, but three! Dobby also ate a similar Devil Fruit. If you want, I can sell this to you for 500 million berries!"
"Dobby can also apparate!" Dobby nodded and show his teleportation capability.
"Brat, you're daring! An unknown Devil Fruit sold for 500 million berries?!" Garp was shocked, but quickly said.
"Vice Admiral Garp, it may be unknown, but it was found alongside two space-related Devil Fruit! What do you think it means?"
"What?" Garp was confused, and even Bogart became interested.
"Space." Lazarus raised his index finger and said with a serious face. "There's a high chance that this Devil Fruit would also have the power that is related to space. Maybe it could teleport an entire Marine Fleet beside the enemy line instead of only the user or make the pirate you want to catch to be teleported in Marine Headquarters. The possibility is endless!"
"As a Marine Hero, I think you know what this means! For only 500 million berries, it could possibly bring numerous benefits to the Marine, and you, Monkey D. Garp would be the center of it!"
As Lazarus continue to speak, the more he became confident and enthusiastic as if the Devil Fruit he shows was really space-related Devil Fruit. In fact, he himself almost believed what he said.
Hearing this magical sales pitch that seems to draw the future he wanted, Garp couldn't help but feel tempted. Seing this, Bogart felt something was amiss and immediately said to express his doubt, fearing Garp's impulsive thought would really agree.
"Mr. Lazarus, Mr. Dobby should be the one to teleport you here earlier. Are you sure you also have teleportation ability?
Garp also realized and paused for a moment. He looked at Lazarus and laughed. "BAHAHA! Brat, you almost fool me. It seems you're really a merchant, a cunning one!"
"If you don't believe be, I can show it to you." Lazarus smiled and with a thought, the sword one of the marine was holding appears in his hand.
"Different from Dobby, I can make a specific object from far away to teleport or appear in my hand." In wizarding world, there's several type of summoning spells. The one he used was similar to Serpensortia, but instead of snake being summoned from nearby, it was an object he can see.
This was the result of life-death situation, while he training and fighting the beasts in the island. Although he was able to replicate the effect of Accio, it is not very effective because it takes time for the object to reach him, and could even be intercepted.
The spell, item summoning charm he accidentally created can create surprise factor which is highly useful in combat.
Seeing this, Garp and Bogart can't say anything. They just looked at the Devil Fruit, then to Lazarus as if thinking whether the things he said was true.
"Brat, you convinced me. However, I don't have 500 million berries on me." Garp grinned widely and scratched his head. "Wait, and let me give Sengoku a call!"
"Sure." Lazarus smiled as he already achieved his goal. He shifted their focus and with Sengoku's personality, he's highly likely to check the Devil Fruit information first.
He may also know what kind of Devil Fruit he really got. If it turned out to be powerful, he would still make a profit and connection to Garp. If it's not particularly useful, Lazarus can still sell it at lower price to get fund for his business.
After finishing his call, Garp quickly returned. Looking at his expression, it seems that the Devil Fruit he had isn't powerful—or at least, it's not what Garp hoped it was. Soon after, Lazarus finally know what kind of Devil Fruit he got.
Doll-Doll Devil Fruit. A Paramecia-Type.
The user gains the ability to manipulate their own body like a puppet with strings cut loose. Their joints, bones, and muscles no longer follow normal anatomical limits. They can twist, bend, detach, and reattach their limbs freely, moving in ways that defy biology, similar to a living doll or marionette.
It was a fairly good devil fruit that has many possible combat and esponaige utility. From his understanding, this devil fruit may cost about 100 million berries. However, to maximize the benefit, Lazarus feign a look of disbelief as he looked at Garp.
"What? It's just an ordinary Paramecia Devil Fruit? How's that possible? You wouldn't be saying this to lower the price are you? You don't have to do this you know."
"Look at your guilty face, it must be your superior forcing you. As a righteous marine who saved us, I would've give it to you for free. However, as you also know, we lost our entire fortune in shipwreck and we need funds to start over again. How about I sell it to you for 300 million berries instead?"
Guilty face?
Whose forcing who?
For free, but it cost 300 million berries?
Garp couldn't help but feel speechless, his eyes twitching looking at Lazarus whose face seemed to be telling "Buy it, and you will lose nothing."
He caressed his face and Garp finally realized that he's not that shameless when the man in front of him exist. I, Monkey D. Garp recognized that your cheek is thicker! BAHAHAHA!
In the end, Lazarus ended up selling it for 180 million berries. However, because Garp's ship currently doesn't carry that amount, Lazarus has to stay with them for a few more days.
During that time, Lazarus was not idle. With Dobby's assistance, Lazarus experiment with his magic and replicate useful spells like Extension Charm to expand inner space of enclosed space or Petrification Charm that can freeze the body of the target.