Chapter 176 - CHAPTER 176:Conversation With the Five Elders

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"The system prompts that the mall will sometimes randomly refresh abilities and items from the heavens and worlds, which can be purchased using Devil Fruits." Currently, the only item available was a single ability promotion card, but the interface made it clear—occasionally, new commodities might appear, pulled from countless dimensions and mythologies, including powers from the Naruto universe or even One Piece's own legacy.

"How often does it refresh?" Ayr asked, his voice cutting through with sharp urgency, but the system remained frustratingly silent. Still, Ayr could surmise the nature of such intermittent cycles; this wasn't a market that operated on predictable patterns. These weren't weekly updates. The kind of potent abilities listed—too rare, too dangerous—were bound to appear sporadically, perhaps once every few months or even years. There was no forecast, no rhythm to rely on. He glanced at his system's properties panel, brows slightly furrowed as calculations flickered behind his eyes, then dismissed it with a sweep and turned his attention to the ruined surroundings.

His tavern—once bustling—was now a flattened wreck, a casualty of the violent clash between the Whitebeard Pirates and CP0. The destruction spread out in a one-hundred-meter radius, a wasteland of shattered beams and scattered debris. But Ayr showed no trace of anger. The entire kingdom was his domain now, and whatever chaos Whitebeard or anyone else unleashed—it all fell under his sovereign jurisdiction. His gaze locked onto the CP0 agents, who had been completely overpowered, now slumped under the heavy boots of Whitebeard's crew.

Originally, Ayr had no intention of aligning with the World Government. Negotiation had never been his goal. But the emergence of the system's mall interface, with its tantalizing glimpse of new power, combined with his growing demand for Devil Fruits, forced a shift in his priorities. "Stop, Whitebeard," he said, his tone calm but ironclad. A single command was enough to pull the reins on the bloodlust rising among Whitebeard's men. If Ayr was now to explore even the faintest possibility of collaboration with the World Government, he couldn't let the CP0 agents be eliminated—not yet.

Whitebeard laughed, unrepentant. "Gurararara… My apologies, Ayr, for wrecking your place a bit," he said, scratching the back of his head. "Remember to compensate me later, Edward," Ayr replied without humor. "You're putting me in a tough spot here. Where do you expect me to get money?" Whitebeard shrugged, unconcerned. Though he had once hoarded unimaginable wealth during the era of the Rocks Pirates, that treasure had long been scattered—used to sustain his homeland and the upkeep of the Moby Dick. At this point, he had little left. "Then you'll owe me."

With that, Ayr stepped toward the broken CP0 survivors. Of the entire squad, only the leader still drew breath—the rest had been mercilessly dismantled by Whitebeard's men. "If I agreed to cooperate with your World Government," Ayr asked, voice blunt and firm, "how many Devil Fruits could I acquire?" The agent, bloodied and barely clinging to consciousness, coughed before answering. "Before answering that… c-could you please call them off?" Even moments earlier, he'd been brutalized, limbs stomped and ribs cracked under merciless blows.

"Alright, don't destroy my territory anymore," Ayr commanded. Reluctantly, Whitebeard's crew backed off, red-eyed and disappointed, but they obeyed. "Now, answer my question." The CP0 agent, trembling, tried to steady his voice. "Our World Government possesses vast financial resources—we can afford to pay in Devil Fruits. You can expect not just many… but a great many." Their earlier gesture of goodwill had already proven that point—during the initial contact, they had offered Ayr ten Devil Fruits upfront, a statement of power and wealth that most pirate crews couldn't match.

"And what exactly does this cooperation entail?" Ayr pressed. "The terms were to be discussed by the Five Elders directly," the agent admitted. "I… I was only sent to deliver the invitation." He had no idea what the full scope of the proposal was, and if given a second chance, he wouldn't have taken this mission at all. The beating alone had nearly cost him his life. "Then contact the Five Elders via Den Den Mushi," Ayr said, tone almost casual, though interest was rising behind his words. He still had no idea what the Elders wanted—but their opening gift had certainly caught his attention.

The CP0 agent hesitated, then replied weakly, "The Den Den Mushi line may be tapped… We… need you to come in person to the Holy Land, Mariejois, and speak with the Five Elders directly." Before Ayr could even respond, Whitebeard stepped forward, voice dropping into something colder and sharper. "Finally showing your true colors, huh? Mariejois is the stronghold of the World Government—monsters like the Five Elders dwell there!"

He spoke from memory, from scars that hadn't faded. Long ago, before the fall of the Rocks Pirates, Whitebeard and the other legends—Golden Lion, Big Mom, Kaido—had ventured near Mariejois while escorting Rocks. They had sought the pointer to the Valley of the Gods and ended up clashing with one of the Five Elders. Despite the overwhelming power of the four, they had barely managed to suppress a single Elder. That's how overwhelming they were. If all five showed up—it was suicide.

To Whitebeard, sending Ayr to Mariejois was a trap in all but name. No one walked into the Five Elders' domain and came back unchanged. "No… it's not like that," the CP0 agent said quickly, blood still trickling down his chin. "We only want to talk… just discuss cooperation with Mr. Ayr." He wanted to scream in frustration—Why now? Why had Ayr rejected their offer at first, only to reconsider after they were slaughtered? But he dared not voice such thoughts, not with death breathing down his neck.

"You expect us to believe that?" Whitebeard scoffed, his disdain unfiltered. No pirate trusted CP0. Ayr, however, remained composed. "Take me there," he said. His voice bore no trace of hesitation, and though Mariejois was synonymous with danger, Ayr didn't blink. His confidence wasn't empty bravado—it was earned, cultivated, and fortified. His Fairy Eyes had reached the Middle Stage. He had unlocked Shinra Tensei and Banshō Ten'in, mastered Wood Release and Sage Mode, and possessed an Experience Card that massively enhanced his power with each battle.

Even if he couldn't defeat all five Elders, he was certain he could survive—and escape. And in his mind, the potential treasure trove of Devil Fruits waiting in Mariejois made the risk more than worth it.

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