"Ding! Congratulations to the host for annihilating 8 pirate crews, gaining 1500 Justice Points."
"Ding! Congratulations to the host for defeating a Devil Fruit user, obtaining the Zoan-type Swift Wind Wolf Devil Fruit. Does the host wish to summon a special forces soldier?"
Before Benedict, these people were like clay chickens and pottery dogs once approached, utterly incapable of fighting back.
Even CP9 members, who possessed Devil Fruit abilities and extreme speed, were still instantly killed by Benedict in a single move.
Of course, after Benedict understood their purpose, he knew why these people were so weak.
Their sole aim was to sink Benedict's ship with their numerous cannons, ensuring the Poneglyph vanished from the seas.
Once their objective was clear, Benedict found them too bothersome to deal with.
This was the World Government's way of playing dirty, beneath contempt.
Benedict, along with his warship and the Poneglyph, returned to the Xuanwu Naval Base with ease.
Meanwhile, the Five Elders, upon learning of the mission's failure, remained silent.
On Gourmet Island, CP0, representing the World Government, also landed amidst the watchful eyes of the crowd.
"Disgusting gazes, disgusting people."
"Seeing these individuals makes me want to kill them."
A CP0 agent, codenamed "Fox," wearing a fox mask, felt an unbearable surge of anger and a desire to torment pirates as he felt their playful, mocking, indifferent, and provocative stares.
The burly CP0 agent, codenamed "Rhino" and wearing a bull's head mask, gazed indifferently straight ahead. He looked at Fox due to his words and said, "Don't let your impulsiveness cause our mission to fail, or you know the rules."
Fox let out a cruel, cold laugh, his gloved hands twitching with excitement, but he was also trying his best to control himself, evident from the bulging veins on his arms.
As they advanced, pirates began to gather, aware of the reason for these people's arrival.
Similarly, they were curious about the Island Master's decision.
Would he kill Kuzan and the other two according to the rules, or would he be forced to compromise in the face of the formidable might of the Marines and the World Government?
If it were the latter, would it mean that immense power could allow one to do as they pleased?
On the top floor of the Gourmet Hotel.
Three CP0 agents emerged from the elevator and, led by a beautiful female assistant, were shown into a room with a strong Japanese aesthetic.
This was the usual place for the Great Tengu Seifuu to handle affairs and rest.
Currently, the Great Tengu Seifuu was seated on the tatami, drinking sake, paying no attention to the three who had entered.
Fox's gaze constantly swept over the Great Tengu Seifuu, filled with intense aggression.
Had it been possible, he would have attacked the moment he saw the Great Tengu Seifuu.
While Rhino was also displeased by the Great Tengu Seifuu's dismissive attitude, he still warned Fox with his eyes, lest he act rashly.
This was an order from the Five Elders.
"Island Master of Gourmet Island, we are here on behalf of the Five Elders to negotiate with you."
"Immediately return the three Vice Admirals, and the World Government will no longer pursue Gourmet Island for harboring pirates."
Rhino stared at the Great Tengu Seifuu, his tone laced with an arrogance that allowed no refusal.
Fox, hearing Rhino's words, instinctively glanced at him, excitement flickering in his eyes.
This was the kind of attitude he liked, very interesting.
This meant the battle could begin.
With that thought, Fox's hands seemed to convulse, a struggle against the suppressed desire to fight.
"You with the fox mask, do you really want to fight?"
From the balcony, Lu Bu walked in, fixing his gaze on the agent codenamed 'Fox,' his eyes filled with fighting spirit. "If you want to fight, I can play with you, but only if you can survive three of my moves."
Rhino's gaze shifted slightly, and he instinctively reached out, about to stop Fox.
But it was too late.
Fox vanished with a sudden movement.
He reappeared instantly in front of Lu Bu, looking down at him through his mask with a hint of wildness, "You are Lu Bu?"
"I heard you are very strong!"
Lu Bu's calm gaze fixed on Fox's chest, his eyes flashing red. He suddenly reached out, grabbed Fox by the neck, and roared with laughter, "Heard?"
"It seems you still haven't realized my strength."
Lu Bu's grip was incredibly strong, and Fox's neck visibly contorted.
However, Fox showed no sign of struggling, as if such pain was unfelt.
Instead, Fox's hands shot out, transforming into sharp spears that plunged directly towards Lu Bu's eyes.
Lu Bu flicked his hand, instantly flinging Fox out of the balcony.
The Halberd that lay across the hall flew into Lu Bu's hand with a casual grab.
Boom!
With immense force, the Halberd struck Fox's chest, smashing him heavily into the ground two hundred meters down.
This sudden battle and the booming sound startled the pirates gathered outside, who then erupted into excited cheers.
The battle had begun.
Had the negotiation between CP0, representing the World Government, and the Island Master of Gourmet Island failed?
From the massive crater, Fox, now a puddle of mud, separated from the Halberd and reformed into his fox-like appearance.
"Ahahaha!"
Fox, having reshaped his body, emitted a psychopathic laugh.
The sound that spread from his laughter seemed to possess a certain magic, plunging listeners into a vision of a charnel house and instilling fear.
Lu Bu stood on the balcony, staring at Fox, and reached out to retrieve the Halberd that was embedded in the ground.
"A puddle of mud thinks it can compete?"
"Watch as I smash you into bits."
With that, Lu Bu leaped down from a height of two hundred meters.
Fox, laughing maniacally, began to sprout vast amounts of dirt, his form growing taller and larger. Without hesitation, he charged towards Lu Bu.
"Halberd Chaos!"
Lu Bu showed no mercy to Fox, covering his Halberd with Armament Haki and smashing down upon him.
No matter what form he took, he would be instantly obliterated.
The agent codenamed 'Fox' popped his head out of one hole after another like a mole, only to be hammered flat the moment he appeared.
Lu Bu even managed to land a critical hit.
With a final sweep of the Halberd, he exposed Fox's true form.
"Useless mud that can't hold up a wall, you dare challenge me?"
"You court death!"
The Halberd swept across Fox's head, shattering his mask and revealing a pale face marred by numerous scars, giving it a ferocious appearance.
"Take him away."
Lu Bu cast a mere glance, then turned and walked away under everyone's gaze.
As he left, two members of the patrol team produced Sea Prism Stone handcuffs, shackled 'Fox,' and dragged him away.
On the hotel's top floor.
The Great Tengu Seifuu placed down his sake cup and looked at Rhino, saying amiably, "Gourmet Island is a business open to all. Regardless of identity, as long as the rules here are followed, they are considered guests."
"However, those who break the rules, the bad guys, often meet only one fate: death."
Upon hearing the Great Tengu Seifuu's words, Rhino's expression darkened.
The battle was over, and Fox's miserable defeat was hardly surprising.
However, what the Great Tengu Seifuu said next made Rhino narrow his eyes.
"One Vice Admiral, ten billion Berries."
"One CP0 agent, five hundred million Berries."
"Three Vice Admirals, three CP0 agents, forty-five billion Berries. Not a single cent less."
Rhino's breathing became somewhat heavy. "Forty-five billion Berries? Are you robbing the World Government?"
"Robbing the World Government?" The Great Tengu Seifuu chuckled upon hearing this, "You've been robbed before anyway."
"Just half a month ago, wasn't the Heavenly Tribute meant for the Celestial Dragons robbed by the Revolutionary Army?"
"Compared to that bit of Heavenly Tribute, forty-five billion isn't much."
Rhino's breathing grew heavier again.
The theft of the Heavenly Tribute by the Revolutionary Army was a disgrace, and an insult to CP0.
Those escorting the Heavenly Tribute were primarily CP0 agents, with the Marines dispatching a Vice Admiral to lead the fleet for protection.
Yet, they were still ambushed by the Revolutionary Army, who then stole the warship transporting the Heavenly Tribute.
The loss of over ten billion Berries meant the strengthening of the Revolutionary Army.
After all, ten billion Berries could accomplish many things.
However, this news should have been kept secret. Why did the Great Tengu Seifuu know about it?
Rhino did not know if Gourmet Island held other hidden secrets, and continuing to investigate was beyond his personal purview. Furthermore, the ransom was not something he could decide.
Thus, Rhino produced a Den Den Mushi.
On the other end of the Den Den Mushi was the Five Elders.
After relaying the information, Rhino then pointed the Den Den Mushi towards the Great Tengu Seifuu.
"Island Master of Gourmet Island!"
A face appeared on the Den Den Mushi, that of the Five Elders member who wore glasses.
"The Five Elders?"
"What a rare visitor!"
The Great Tengu Seifuu had not expected to directly converse with the Five Elders, but he showed no other reaction, merely stating calmly.
The Five Elders looked at the Great Tengu Seifuu with a smile and said, "The Great Tengu clan? That's a race I haven't heard of."
"I am very curious, why have you never appeared before the world?"
The Great Tengu Seifuu replied casually, "The sky is our domain for free flight, and deep mountains and dense forests are our harbors for resting and sheltering from the wind and rain. Freedom and peace are our aspirations, the wind is our faith. The prosperity of the world, compared to our lifespan, is merely fleeting fireworks, gone in an instant."
The Five Elders listened to the Great Tengu Seifuu's words and fell into thought.
It was unclear whether he understood, didn't understand, or was trying to piece something together with a partial understanding.
After a long while, the Five Elders seemed to recover from their pause. His eyes, wise yet cunning, fixed on the Great Tengu Seifuu. "Submit to us and become our loyal dogs. Gourmet Island can exist on the seas forever, the Marines will not target you, and even some rules will not constrain you, provided you can handle it."
"I refuse!" The Great Tengu Seifuu refused without hesitation, even adding, "If I do not see the ransom within three days, I will publicly execute the three Vice Admirals."
"Are you seeking death?" The Five Elders' faces contorted with displeasure, having not expected the Great Tengu Seifuu to refuse so resolutely and even threaten him.
The Great Tengu Seifuu's eyes immediately narrowed. He gripped his fan and swept it downwards. Then, to Rhino's astonished gaze, under the storm of blades, he broke through the wall and flew out, numerous wind blades slicing them into bloody figures.
With a rumble, the two crashed into a deep pit.
Members of the patrol team then appeared and apprehended the two.