Chikara opened the door, bowed slightly to Trafalgar Law standing outside, then led Kujaku and the other two away.
Not a word was spoken.
"..."
Law took a deep breath and stepped into the room.
His perception was disrupted by Haki, making it impossible to pinpoint his crewmates' exact locations, and thus, he couldn't use his abilities to move them.
There was no other choice—he had to take the risk.
Running into the maid confirmed one thing for him: the powerful figure inside the room was Gurd. That maid was almost always by Gurd's side.
The good news was that Gurd was more reasonable than Golden Lion. Perhaps he could negotiate to get his crew back.
The bad news was that Gurd was even stronger than Golden Lion—not just in power, but also in influence. Within the New World, there was no escaping the pursuit of the Beasts.
As Law entered the room and saw Gurd sitting atop Bepo, his eyes immediately reddened, veins bulging on his forehead.
That was his premium seat!!!
"Trafalgar Law."
Gurd grinned and pointed to the sofa.
"Have a seat."
"..."
Law remained silent, his gaze darkly fixed on Gurd's posterior and Bepo, his resentment visibly growing.
"Captain!"
Bepo teared up, turning his head away.
I'm sorry, Captain!
Gurd caught Law's meaning.
"You care about this bear that much?"
"That seat belongs exclusively to me!"
Law replied coldly.
The premium seat was non-negotiable—he would never yield it!
"..."
Gurd's face darkened.
So that's what this was about?
What kind of weird obsession was this?
He had already been annoyed by how stiff the bear's fur was, itching his backside uncomfortably.
With a sigh, Gurd stood up and moved to the soft sofa, casually remarking, "Golden Lion sold your crewmates to me in a bundle. If you want them back, you'll need to offer something of equal value."
"..."
Law frowned.
Just as he had expected!
Law raised his hand and flipped it upward.
"Clatter!"
A hundred small bags dropped onto the table.
"Thump! Thump!"
Each bag pulsed and contracted, a bizarre and unsettling sight.
Law said gravely, "These are the hearts of 100 Pirates from Hachinosu Island. I'll trade them for my crew."
"Huh?"
Gurd looked baffled.
"Why would I want these hearts?"
"Hachinosu is your territory. With 100 Pirates there now heartless, it reflects on your reputation."
Law explained.
"That does make sense. I should indeed maintain order on Hachinosu—but not like this."
Gurd nodded slowly, then shook his head.
"Trafalgar Law, wouldn't it be more fitting to just eliminate you, the mastermind, rather than retrieving the Pirates' hearts?"
"True enough."
Law's heart sank.
As expected of a great Pirate—not so easily fooled.
But this was all he had to bargain with.
"Gurd, what will it take for you to release my crew?"
"Well..."
Gurd studied Law.
He wasn't in a hurry for the Immortality Surgery.
Mainly because there was only one Law, and he didn't trust him enough to perform such a life-risking procedure—their relationship wasn't at that level yet.
For true immortality, the best method was to have Vegapunk replicate the Op-Op Fruit and feed it to an absolutely loyal cyborg. That way, there'd be no accidents, and it could even be mass-produced.
Vegapunk could replicate any Devil Fruit except Logia types—both Zoan and Paramecia were possible. It was even more broken than cheating.
Compared to the Immortality Surgery, he valued Law's potential more. Unlike Straw Hat and Kid, who were obsessively fixated on the One Piece, this guy could be recruited under his command.
"I have a plan that requires your participation."
"What plan?"
Law sensed trouble.
The man before him was no ordinary person. Any plan he had prepared would undoubtedly conceal unimaginable dangers.
"Don't rush. You still need a partner."
Gurd grinned brightly.
By evening, the bidding conference had concluded.
All the islands had been leased out, with prices ranging from cheap to exorbitant—some for a mere billion Berries , others for tens of billions.
The fact that Golden Lion had preemptively leased Hachinosu Island left many factions dissatisfied, especially Wang Zhi. But there was some good news.
For the leased islands, the Beasts would no longer provide protection. In other words, whether they could hold onto their territories was entirely up to them.
They could resort to brute force to seize them!
However, the Beasts would reclaim the islands once the contracts expired. Those unwilling to leave would have to sign renewal agreements with the Beasts.
The tyrannical terms were utterly detestable.
But at least this time, the Beasts had relinquished a fair share of territories, easing the pressure on the various factions—enough for them to scrape by with some scraps.
The reception hall welcomed its second guest.
"Sand Crocodile" Crocodile!
Among the guests present, Crocodile's reputation and strength ranked among the top. His performance during the Summit War had been particularly dazzling.
Most importantly, unlike Golden Lion and others, this man was exceptionally shrewd and possessed formidable leadership skills.
"Please, have a seat, Crocodile."
Gurd gestured with a smile.
Crocodile sat down, casting a sidelong glance at Trafalgar Law seated beside him, his brow furrowing with displeasure.
What kind of standing did this guy have to sit on equal footing with him?
Noticing Crocodile's disdainful gaze, Law's expression instantly turned cold, his eyes equally hostile.
"Zzzzt—"
A faint current crackled in the air.
"Hah... Hah... Hahaha!"
Crocodile sneered. "I never expected the renowned Warlord of Hoenn, Gurd, to personally discuss business with me."
"Being a Pirate is just business, after all!"
Gurd chuckled as he posed the question.
"Don't you agree, Crocodile?"
"Absolutely!"
Crocodile's eyes flickered with surprise. He hadn't anticipated Gurd sharing his perspective, which significantly improved his impression of the man.
Yes, being a Pirate was indeed a business!
Gurd narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Crocodile, I've heard about your exploits in Alabasta. Your goal is to establish a utopia, correct?"
"Correct."
Crocodile nodded slowly.
His Utopia Project aimed to create a military superpower free from any external control—a feat that required overwhelming strength.
Weapons = Power!
The Beasts were the largest arms suppliers in the New World, capable of furnishing his utopia with vast quantities of weaponry. That was precisely why he had accepted Gurd's invitation to meet.
Gurd spoke calmly.
"I can help you build your utopia!"
"Funds, weapons, territory—I have it all here."
"..."
Crocodile's pupils contracted.
"What's the price?"
"The price?"
Gurd stroked his chin. "Well, since this is Pirate business, if I invest money and weapons, wouldn't that make me a shareholder in your utopia?"
"..."
Crocodile's frown deepened.
He wasn't about to work for someone else!
"Haha, don't worry. I won't interfere with the management. The utopia is yours—no, I should say, it's yours to share!"
Gurd's eyes burned with intensity.
"Crocodile, you alone cannot build your utopia. That's why I have a proposal!"
"You take the role of president and form a Pirate alliance!"
"Law here is the teammate I've found for you!"
Crocodile turned his gaze to Law, his frown deepening.
This guy?
"Want to fight, Crocodile?"
A transparent ring materialized in Law's hand.
"Keep looking at me like that, and I'll kill you."
"Hah... hah... hahaha!"
Crocodile let out a cold laugh, an image of the Straw Hat flashing through his mind.
"Then let's test it out. Show me what you brats of the Worst Generation are made of!"
(End of Chapter)