Chapter 187: [187] : [BONUS] – Sky-High Demands! The Deal with Sengoku!

~ Thank You for 1,200 Powerstones, Here’s Your Bonus Chapter!

~ 18 Advanced Chapters Available on my Patreon

<><><><><><><><>

Holy Land, Mariejois!

Sengoku was already here, having relocated from Marine Headquarters.

The mandatory summons for the Warlords required their assembly in Mariejois.

Furthermore, the command authority for the Pacifistas also rested with the World Government.

To deploy the Warlords and Pacifistas in the upcoming war, Sengoku needed to come to Mariejois personally to receive war authorization from the Five Elders.

<><><><><><><><>

“The Warlord assembly is already problematic. Besides Gecko Moria being killed by Sky Sovereign Rowen, and Blackbeard Marshall D. Teach being unaccounted for… Jinbe, that bastard, is opposing the public execution of Fire Fist Ace. The only ones who can attend are the already mind-wiped Bartholomew Kuma, Mihawk, the Pirate Empress, and Doflamingo?”

Sengoku, though physically in Mariejois, was already running countless war simulations in his mind with his Buddha-like wisdom.

Before Moria was killed by Rowen, Kuma had been dispatched by the World Government to inform Moria of the latest Warlord orders. He subsequently encountered Rowen and, according to Kuma’s own account, escaped using his Paw-Paw Fruit ability.

Though Sengoku had his doubts—Kuma’s Paw-Paw Fruit was incredibly powerful, true—if he purely wanted to escape, even Kizaru, the fastest, probably couldn’t stop him.

But he was facing Sky Sovereign Rowen who had inflicted devastating losses on the Buster Call with just his abilities.

With Rowen’s Rumble-Rumble amplified Observation Haki, once locked onto, even the Paw-Paw Fruit couldn’t guarantee such an easy escape, could it??

But the truth no longer mattered…

Kuma’s consciousness had been completely erased by Vegapunk. The current Kuma was effectively dead, only his modified body and Paw-Paw Fruit remaining, now a dedicated weapon of the World Government.

After the war, Kuma would be discarded in Mariejois, becoming a slave to the Celestial Dragons—the tragic destiny of the Buccaneer race.

And Jinbe had already been imprisoned in the great undersea prison, Impel Down. If he still refused to cooperate in the war before it began, his Warlord title would be revoked. Sengoku wasn’t surprised by Jinbe’s choice.

Adding the missing Blackbeard… even without further complications, the Warlords were already down three members. Sengoku felt a massive headache coming on.

Marine HQ, the Seven Warlords, the Four Emperors—the balance of the Three Great Powers had been maintained for years.

But after Sky Sovereign Rowen’s rise, Warlords were successively killed by him, and now, a chain reaction had begun.

The balance of the seas had been completely shattered.

Now, their only hope was for Marine HQ to achieve a decisive victory in this war to maintain the balance of the seas.

As for publicly executing Fire Fist Ace, and the Whitebeard Pirates doing nothing?

With Sengoku’s understanding of his old rival Whitebeard, that was absolutely impossible.

Whitebeard would never abandon his family. He would surely come!

Caring too much for his family… that was the source of the Whitebeard Pirates’ unity, but also Whitebeard’s greatest weakness.

An astonishingly cold light flashed behind Sengoku’s glasses.

He would begin planning around this very point.

As for it being despicable?

War was about using any means necessary!

<><><><><><><><>

“Hm??” Just as Sengoku was deep in thought about the details of the war, a familiar ripple passed over him.

“’SKY SOVEREIGN’ ROWEN!!” Sengoku’s forehead veins throbbed, sensing the familiar Observation Haki.

What a terrifying range.

Even the Holy Land Mariejois was within the sensory range of this man, who was far away on Sabaody Archipelago!

Which means—even from Sabaody, both Marine HQ and Mariejois were within his Rumble-Rumble Fruit’s attack range!

Though Mariejois possessed hidden powers, of which Sengoku didn’t fully know but understood to be even more horrifying than Marine HQ’s.

What was this man planning??

Sengoku’s brow furrowed. At Marine HQ, he could wantonly unleash his Conqueror’s Haki, shattering Rowen’s Rumble-Rumble Fruit enhanced Observation Haki.

But in Mariejois, even as Fleet Admiral, he didn’t have the authority to unleash Conqueror’s Haki…

But just then, the familiar Rumble-Rumble Fruit and Observation Haki presence vanished.

“Buru-buru-buru!”

Sengoku’s Transponder Snail rang.

“Hm??” Sengoku looked at the ringing snail, a completely unfamiliar number, his forehead throbbing.

Sengoku instantly deduced who the caller was.

“Sky Sovereign Rowen,” Sengoku’s face was grim.

Using his Rumble-Rumble amplified Observation Haki, and his ability to freely infiltrate Mariejois’s communication network from the last incident, he directly located my Transponder Snail and called??

Thinking of the promise he made to this man during the attack on Marine HQ, and knowing Rowen, on Sabaody, must have already learned of their plan to publicly execute Fire Fist Ace—Sengoku’s mood grew heavy.

Receiving a call from an Emperor at this critical juncture… even Sengoku felt a deep sense of foreboding.

And compared to the aging Whitebeard, Sky Sovereign Rowen was very young. Rowen’s endless stream of terrifying, bizarre tactics—like forcibly hacking his Transponder Snail, and that series of horrifying Devil Fruit abilities—

—Sengoku would rather face the aging Whitebeard than this man!

ANNOYING BASTARD!

Sengoku cursed inwardly, but still answered the call.

“Close the door! No one is to enter without my command!” Sengoku ordered the Rear Admiral on guard outside, his voice grave.

<><><><><><><><>

“YES, FLEET ADMIRAL!” Seeing Sengoku’s expression, the Rear Admiral also broke out in a cold sweat, his eyes filled with horror.

What was happening?? Who called??

At this critical time, with the New World Emperors stirring, any piece of intel was crucial—yet Fleet Admiral Sengoku was sealing off external communication for a single call??

Just thinking about it, the terror of this call was palpable. It had to be a call from a super-powerhouse he wasn’t qualified to know about.

“FLEET ADMIRAL’S ORDERS! NO ONE ENTERS! NOT EVEN THE ADMIRALS!” the Rear Admiral barked to the guards, his forehead drenched in sweat.

“YES, SIR!” All the Marines replied, their voices trembling, also drenched in sweat.

<><><><><><><><>

Click.

Seeing the door close, Sengoku answered the Transponder Snail.

“Speak. What do you want?” Sengoku stated gravely.

“Hahaha! As expected of Sengoku,” Rowen’s laughter came from the snail. He hadn’t even spoken, yet Sengoku knew his identity.

“Hmph. You didn’t call me just to exchange pleasantries, did you,” Sengoku snorted coldly.

“Hey, hey… is that really the way to talk to me? You still owe me one condition, remember?” Rowen’s words made Sengoku’s face darken further.

As expected… he’s here to make me fulfill that promise.

As for defaulting? Sengoku never even considered it. With this man’s means, he probably had a recording, or even a video, of their agreement.

If it were publicly revealed that he, the Fleet Admiral, compromised with a pirate to end an attack on Marine HQ—for the Navy, on the verge of a major war, it would be a huge blow to morale—

—In a war of this scale, even a small factor could drastically change the outcome, let alone something as important as morale.

’This bastard… really picked a good time.’ Sengoku cursed inwardly.

But it wasn’t surprising; the opponent was an Ultimate Human with an Awakened Human-Human Fruit. Finding the best moment to press his advantage was too easy for him.

However, Sengoku wasn’t too worried. After all, the promise was to grant one request—within his authority.

“State your terms,” Sengoku said, his eyes glinting. He also wanted to know what Rowen’s objective was, making his demand at this juncture.

“Fire Fist Ace and I are on good terms. His Flare-Flare Fruit ability is still with me. End this public execution.”

But his words instantly enraged Sengoku.

“DON’T BE RIDICULOUS! DO YOU THINK A LITTLE CONDITION CAN STOP THIS PUBLIC EXECUTION?? AND IT’S NOT WITHIN MY AUTHORITY TO DO SO!” Sengoku slammed his fist on the table, enraged by the sky-high demand.

WHAT KIND OF SICK JOKE WAS THIS??

This war already has the approval of the Five Elders. The entire Navy has been mobilized, the Warlords forcibly summoned, even the new humanoid weapon, the Pacifistas, are about to make their debut in this war.

And he wants them to stop the public execution??

This man really knew how to dream!

“Don’t get so agitated. A user of the Mythical Zoan, Model: Buddha—can’t even control his own emotions?”

Rowen’s words made Sengoku retract his anger, his face turning grim.

This bastard… is he probing my Devil Fruit ability??

He was facing the World’s Strongest Devil Fruit User. Excessively exposing the weaknesses of his Devil Fruit was extremely dangerous—and with Rowen’s intellect, he surely knew they couldn’t possibly agree to this request…

I can’t fall for this bastard’s trick…

“I cannot accept this request—” Sengoku stated gravely.

“If that’s the case, then give me two people,” Rowen replied casually, unconcerned. It’s a negotiation—starting with a sky-high demand is standard.

“Two people?” Sengoku frowned.

“A former member of the Roger Pirates, Douglas Bullet—and one of the Warlords, Jinbe,”

Rowen’s words made Sengoku’s pupils constrict.

Bullet??

That monster, currently imprisoned in Impel Down’s LEVEL 6??

Impel Down’s LEVEL 6 housed monstrous pirates so vicious they were erased from history. The legendary Golden Lion Shiki was once imprisoned there. And Bullet was currently held there.

As for Rowen knowing Jinbe was also in Impel Down—Sengoku wasn’t surprised—this man’s Devil Fruit abilities had reached an unbelievable level; knowing Jinbe’s location was hardly strange.

He wants Bullet and Jinbe??

Combined with the man’s ability to steal all power, Sengoku’s face darkened.

Bullet’s power absolutely could not fall into this man’s hands!

That man was the Demon’s Heir!

“Impossible! Bullet is out of the question!” Sengoku stated grimly.

“Can’t do this… can’t do that… Sengoku, ARE YOU TRYING TO ANGER ME??”

Rowen’s voice turned cold, and crimson-black lightning began to crackle from the Transponder Snail.

Sengoku’s cheek twitched.

This again…

Transmitting Conqueror’s Haki through a Transponder Snail!

And the current Rowen was not the same as the one who caused the Mariejois incident. If this man’s Haki now wantonly erupted in the Holy Land, it wouldn’t be a laughing matter—

“Fine. If Bullet is impossible, then give me Jinbe. And as a bonus—Clown Buggy, whom we defeated back in East Blue, give him to me. This is my bottom line,” Rowen’s words made Sengoku frown slightly.

Buggy?

That pirate with a mere 15 million Beri bounty?

What did he want him for?

“Alright,” Sengoku nodded, agreeing to the condition. This was not unacceptable.

“But you must guarantee the contents of this transaction are not leaked,” Sengoku added gravely.

In the One Piece world, built upon spiritual power, promises at their level were valuable. Fools like Crocodile, who only knew schemes and didn’t keep promises, their Haki and strength were never truly formidable.

“Deal. Deliver them to the waters near Sabaody Archipelago,” Rowen agreed.

As for going to Impel Down himself to ’shop’?

The World Government wasn’t stupid.

Knowing he could steal all power, they would surely have defenses set up in Impel Down. Indeed, members of the God’s Knights were currently stationed there…

The deal was struck!

<><><><><><><><>

~ 18 Advanced Chapters Available on my Patreon!

https://p-atreon.com/dragonnx

(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)

<><><><><><><><>

~# Keep the Chapters coming — Support with Power Stones!

~# Every 300 Power Stones = Bonus Chapter

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep