Upon hearing Ron's question, the commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates gradually moved closer, their collective presence make a suffocating wall of power as they eyed the uninvited guests.
Ace's shoulders were wreathed in a low, simmering flame and Jozu's glare was as hard and unyielding as the diamond his body was made of.
The atmosphere grew increasingly tense.
"Hehehe~" Perospero was the first to break the silence, his wide, playful grin a stark contrast to the hostility surrounding him.
"Mother sincerely invites all of you to a banquet at Fish-Man Island," he said, his tone dripping with an earnest, sycophantic enthusiasm.
"We did send formal invitations, but we feared you were too busy to notice. So, we decided to come in person to try our luck!"
"Fish-Man Island?" Ace flared up, his voice a low growl.
"That's the territory of the Whitebeard Pirates! Trespassing without permission... what do you call that? An invasion?"
His words were a clear warning, and the air thickened, teetering on the edge of an explosive confrontation.
Seeing the situation about to spiral out of control, Perospero hurriedly stepped forward, his hands raised in a placating gesture.
"Everyone, please, don't be angry! That was just a ruse to draw you out," he explained, his voice now tinged with desperation.
"You must understand, during your disappearance, the entire sea has been thrown into chaos! We had no other way to make contact!"
"It's true," Charlotte Daifuku added, his tone equally apologetic. "We sincerely apologize for the offense."
The entire group then bowed deeply, a well-rehearsed performance of remorse that left even Ron momentarily stunned.
Have these guys really changed? he thought, still skeptical.
Or are they just that desperate for the dual-fruit ability?
"Just get to the point," Whitebeard said, his voice a low, impatient rumble.
"Very well," Perospero said, seizing the opportunity.
He spoke cautiously, his eyes darting between Whitebeard and Ron, whom he correctly identified as the crew's core strategist.
"Mama is very envious of your dual-fruit ability. She would like to see if it's possible to... engage in a technological exchange. Rest assured, we come with the utmost sincerity! Whatever we can do, we won't hold back!"
The air froze.
Then, the dam of the Whitebeard Pirates' patience broke.
"Are you dreaming in broad daylight?!" Squard roared, his voice brimming with pure, unadulterated fury and disbelief.
"This is technology that can overturn the seas, and you think we'd just hand it over?!"
"Impossible! Give up on that idea right now!" Ace refused, his tone absolute.
The other commanders joined in, their angry protests a chorus of outrage.
Yet, amid the vehement opposition, Ron frowned slightly, his mind racing.
He had considered this before, but back then, their crew's power was not yet consolidated.
Now, things were different.
Jozu, the Nine Dragons, the myriad of other new ability users... the assets at their disposal were staggering.
The things that had once made him hesitate now seemed like opportunities.
Just as Whitebeard, seeing his sons' unified refusal, prepared to voice his own rejection, Ron stepped forward, cutting off his train of thought.
"Our perfect Replicated Devil Fruits…" he began, his voice calm and clear, instantly silencing the room.
"They're very expensive. Are you sure you can afford them?" His words carried a hint of a challenging, almost predatory confidence.
Seeing Ron take the lead, Whitebeard hesitated for a moment, then relaxed, a faint, proud smile touching his lips.
He would trust his son's judgment, no matter what.
The other commanders, seeing their captain's silent approval, also fell quiet, their trust in their vice-captain absolute.
"Hmm?" Perospero was momentarily stunned.
He hadn't been rejected outright.
The door was still open.
His mind latched onto the new information.
So that's what they're called... Replicated Devil Fruits.
Then the second part of Ron's statement registered and a wave of arrogant confusion washed over him.
He was the minister of an Emperor's crew, a man who commanded vast wealth and resources.
"Expensive?" Perospero muttered to himself, a genuine, dismissive puzzlement in his voice.
"How expensive could it possibly be?"
Perospero felt a surge of arrogant confidence.
This man, Ron, was clearly looking down on him.
They were the Big Mom Pirates, one of the 4 Yonko's who had seen and plundered all the treasures of the world.
Their concept of money had long since faded into a tool for acquiring power.
In his view, as long as the price wasn't something truly astronomical, it wouldn't be a problem.
"No problem at all!" Perospero flashed a wide, confident smile.
"As long as the Replicated Devil Fruit has a price, we can afford it!"
To further build rapport, he added with a chuckle, "Please be merciful with the price, Ron-sama. Don't make it too outrageous."
Facing the inquiry, Ron smiled faintly. "Don't worry. I've always conducted business fairly."
He then turned and walked towards Whitebeard, gesturing for his own commanders to gather around, leaving Perospero's crew under the watchful, hostile gaze of the Nine Dragons.
"Ask whatever you want to ask now," Ron said bluntly to his family.
"Ron, my son," Whitebeard spoke first, his voice a low rumble of concern.
"Have you really decided to sell them this power?"
"Yes, I've made up my mind," Ron nodded. "It's just a Replicated Fruit. It will overwrite their original ability, so it's a trade-off. Besides," a sly, predatory glint flashed in his eyes.
"The Big Mom Pirates are filthy rich, Captain. Would it be wise to turn down money that is willingly walking into our hands? The pricing power is entirely ours. A fruit that costs us one billion can be sold for two billion, even three!"
At these words, the commanders' breathing quickened.
Their eyes sparkled with excitement, as if they could already see mountains of gold beckoning to them.
"Hahaha, Ron is a damn genius!" Jozu chuckled. "Let's sell them for five billion each! We'll make a killing!"
"I always thought robbery was the fastest way to make money," Ace sighed in admiration.
"But this is on another level."
"Five billion is too high," Ron said, shaking his head. "Big Mom isn't a fool, and these are Replicated Fruits. She can't even use them herself. She wouldn't invest that much for her children."
Seeing their expressions, he continued, "Let's set the price at three billion Belly. It's neither too high nor too low. It's a price that will hurt, but one she can ultimately accept."
"Ron, you decide these things," Whitebeard said with a laugh, his trust absolute. "I'm only here to fight! Gurararara!"
Ron chuckled and slowly turned around, his eyes meeting Perospero's anxious gaze.
The playful, familial atmosphere around him vanished, replaced by the cold, unreadable expression of a businessman.
"Ron-sama" Perospero asked, his voice carrying a barely noticeable tremor.
"What is the decision?"
Ron stared at him, his tone calm yet authoritative.
"The price is three billion Belly per fruit. If you can accept these terms, we can proceed. Otherwise, I see no point in wasting each other's time."
"Th-three billion Belly?!" Perospero was stunned.
He could hardly believe his ears.
This wasn't a negotiation; this was daylight robbery!
"Ron-sama" he pressed, desperate for confirmation, "Are you certain? On the black market, a Devil Fruit usually costs around one billion!"
At his skepticism, Ron's lips curled into a cold, dismissive smirk.
"The black market? Heh..." he countered. "Tell me, Perospero, can you buy an Ice-Ice Fruit like Admiral Aokiji's on the black market? Or perhaps, can you easily obtain the Glint-Glint Fruit that Admiral Kizaru possesses?"
As Ron's words fell, Perospero's expression gradually turned to one of astonishment.
He understood.
Those rare, world-altering powers were not mere commodities.
Ron's voice continued, sharp as a blade.
"Or do you think," he said, his eyes glinting, "That the black market can just hand over your own unique Paramecia-type Candy-Candy Fruit?"
The final, personal question struck Perospero's weak spot, leaving him utterly and completely speechless.
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