"It's simple."
"I want twenty Devil Fruits."
Ren Kuro raised two fingers, a faint smile on his lips.
"…Twenty Devil Fruits?!"
Sengoku's expression immediately darkened.
He had imagined many possible demands—
but not this.
For the Marines, gathering a number of Devil Fruits wasn't impossible. But twenty?
Even Sengoku had to hesitate.
"What? Not willing?"
Ren Kuro's smile turned mocking.
"Is Kuzan worth that little to you?"
As he spoke, he stepped beside Aokiji and slowly drew his Zanpakutō.
The blade gleamed coldly.
"What are you doing?!"
Sengoku's expression changed instantly.
He didn't doubt for a second—
that blade could take Aokiji's arm off immediately.
"You have ten seconds to decide."
The blade lowered gradually.
Closer.
Closer to Aokiji's arm.
If ten seconds passed—
Aokiji would lose it.
And if all three Admirals ended up crippled—
the consequences would be catastrophic.
"Damn it, Shinigami! Don't push this too far!"
Sengoku roared, veins bulging on his forehead.
For the first time in his life, the great strategist of the Marines felt like he was being completely controlled.
"Fleet Admiral… five seconds left."
Gin Ichimaru smiled gently, his eyes fixed on Sengoku.
"Damn you…"
Sengoku clenched his fists tightly.
This wasn't a negotiation—
it was coercion.
"Five…"
"Four…"
At the final second—
Ren Kuro's eyes sharpened.
The blade began to fall.
"Wait!"
"I agree!"
"I'll trade twenty Devil Fruits for Kuzan's life!"
The moment those words left Sengoku's mouth, it felt as though all the strength had drained from his body.
He let out a heavy breath.
His eyes burned with rage—
and humiliation.
The Fleet Admiral of the Marines—
forced to bow his head.
If this spread across the world—
the shock would be unimaginable.
"Good. I like decisive people."
Ren Kuro smiled faintly and sheathed his blade.
"So Kuzan really does matter to you."
Sengoku said nothing.
Of course he mattered.
A Marine Admiral's life—
was beyond value.
"Three days from now. Banks Island."
"I'll have Vice Admiral Tsuru bring twenty Devil Fruits."
Sengoku's voice was cold.
"I expect no surprises."
"I don't go back on my word," Ren Kuro replied calmly.
"…You'd better not."
From the sidelines, Fisher Tiger watched everything unfold.
And he was stunned.
Sengoku—
enduring it.
Accepting it.
Ren Kuro had just forced Marine Headquarters to compromise.
Across the entire Grand Line—
how many people could do that?
None.
"Then there's no reason to stay any longer."
Ren Kuro turned his back on the fleet.
Behind him—
thirty Marine warships.
Ahead—
absolute control of the situation.
Under the gaze of countless Marines—
the Shinigami Pirates withdrew calmly.
The punitive expedition—
had failed.
"Are we really giving him twenty Devil Fruits?"
Garp's tone was complicated.
"What choice do we have?"
Sengoku let out a long breath.
"That monster alone would require all four of us—and even then, there's no guarantee we could kill him."
"And there are still three others just as dangerous."
"This is already the best outcome we could hope for."
"Five Admiral-level fighters…"
Garp muttered.
"If they enter the New World…"
"…they'll be unstoppable."
Sengoku stared out at the sea.
"This era…"
"…has changed."
Three Days Later — Banks Island
At the harbor—
Ren Kuro met with Vice Admiral Tsuru.
"Shinigami. Here are the twenty Devil Fruits you requested."
Two black cases.
Ten fruits in each.
Gathering this many in just three days—
was no easy feat, even for the Marines.
"Good. The Marines keep their word."
Ren Kuro took the cases.
Then—
he snapped his fingers.
"Captain, bringing the hostage over."
Gin Ichimaru walked forward with a smile, escorting Aokiji.
Bound in spiritual pressure chains—
unable to resist.
A Marine Admiral—
reduced to this state.
"Shinigami… it seems you keep your word as well."
Seeing that Aokiji was largely unharmed, Tsuru let out a quiet breath of relief.
"I'm only interested in Devil Fruits."
Ren Kuro's smile carried a hint of amusement.
Tsuru frowned slightly.
"At your level… Devil Fruits don't seem that useful anymore."
Ren Kuro didn't answer.
His expression gave nothing away.
"You're a dangerous man…"
Tsuru murmured.
"No wonder Sengoku was forced into this."
Under the pressure of the situation—
she chose not to probe further.
With Aokiji in tow—
Tsuru quickly left Banks Island.
The deal—
was complete.
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