"One hundred and twenty?"
Rakuya paused, his expression showing a flicker of hesitation and thought. One hundred Devil Fruits had been his original goal; he had planned to squeeze at least that much from the Five Elders. He hadn't expected them to be so generous today, offering more than he'd imagined to get their bald comrade back, even trying to make him promise not to oppose the World Government.
Honestly, Rakuya could just take the fruits and disappear. Whether or not he honored the agreement later would depend entirely on his mood.
It was basically like picking them up for free.
But right now, he felt like playing with fire.
This was a rare chance to fleece the Five Elders, and Rakuya had no intention of letting it slip.
He finished thinking, his face hardening into a cold smile as he looked at the four old men in the room, his posture turning just a bit cocky.
"Well, young man? Have you decided?" The man with the dagger-straight beard, like twin blades at his lips, raised an eyebrow at him.
"One hundred and twenty Devil Fruits, in exchange for the bald one and for your word not to strike at the World Government. How about it?" The sword-wielding Elder's robe fluttered, killing intent rolling off him like a wave.
It was a mix of threat and temptation.
At their eager, expectant looks, Rakuya smirked. "A measly one hundred and twenty Devil Fruits to keep me from opposing the World Government? You old fossils sure know how to bargain."
"You dare insult us!"
The bald swordsman's face darkened. He gripped his blade, a surge of terrifying sword aura cutting through the air.
"Stop."
The scar-faced Elder in the black suit, his white hair curled and his beard full, raised a hand. A blast of force struck the bald man's blade aside, redirecting the sword aura so it slammed harmlessly into the wall instead.
Boom.
Dust erupted as a deep fissure split the wall like a canyon, fragments scattering across the polished floor.
The other two Elders frowned slightly at the half-meter-deep cut in the stone.
"Stand down," the scar-faced Elder signaled with his eyes, pressing the bald swordsman back.
"Tch."
The swordsman lowered his weapon, robe swishing, eyes cold and threatening as they flicked toward Rakuya.
The atmosphere thickened with gunpowder. If the negotiation failed, a battle could explode in seconds.
"Pathetic." Rakuya didn't even bother acknowledging the threat.
"Young man… one should show some honor. Earlier, you named eighty Devil Fruits." The scar-faced Elder spoke solemnly.
"Stop trying to play word games with me. Earlier I said eighty Devil Fruits just to trade for your bald friend. But you also want me not to oppose the World Government that's harder than handing him over. If you really want peace, bring out three or four hundred Devil Fruits instead."
"What? Three or four hundred?" The Elder with the pale-yellow beard twitched, veins popping at his temple.
One hundred Devil Fruits already hurt. Three or four hundred? That wasn't haggling that was outright robbery.
"Absolutely not!" The tall man with the blade-straight beard glared at Rakuya.
"Kid! We're treating you with sincerity. If we didn't value your talent, you'd already be a dead soul!" The swordsman's eyes gleamed like steel as he snapped at him.
"Oh? Is that so?" Rakuya sneered. "You value talent? No. You're afraid of Rakuya's power. You want to lure me in and have my family fight Liuyun for you."
The four Elders' faces changed instantly. They dropped their eyes, silent.
"Oh? I hit the mark, didn't I?"
Seeing their sour expressions and silence, Rakuya knew he was right.
The swordsman glared at him sideways and slashed out at the window to vent his frustration.
A blade of invisible sword aura cut through the air, cleaving a tree several meters thick clean in half. The animals on its branches were shredded to pulp, blood and fur scattering.
The other Elders' faces grew darker. The talk was about to break down.
The scar-faced Elder, usually the peacemaker, now dropped his smile, his expression solemn. "Since you clearly have no intention of joining the World Government and insist on opposing us, then release the bald one. Eighty Devil Fruits will be sent to you afterward."
"Eighty? Not enough."
Rakuya's words dropped like a stone. The four old men's faces shifted again.
"Not enough? You said it yourself! Eighty Devil Fruits and you'd release him!" The swordsman shook with fury, fists clenched tight.
"Yes! Eighty Devil Fruits is already a very generous offer!"
"How many do you want then?" The scar-faced Elder's beard trembled. He forced himself to stay calm. They had to rescue their comrade first. If the bald man was in this kid's hands, then the kid had some means of catching him.
They didn't want to push this into a death match unless absolutely necessary.
"Two hundred." Rakuya raised two fingers and waved them in front of the old men, pure extortion.
"Bastard!" The bald swordsman's robe swirled as he slashed, face iron blue.
This time no one stopped him. A torrent of sword aura materialized, roaring straight at Rakuya.
Boom!
Rakuya's water form splashed apart under the strike. The blade aura remained violent, tearing into the wall with a thunderous crash. The entire front wall collapsed, bricks reduced to powder.
The other three Elders rose to their feet, eyes grim as they watched the watery shadow reform.
Droplets gathered, swirling together until, before their stunned eyes, Rakuya's body stood whole once more.
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