Suppressing his shock, Doflamingo curled his lips slightly.
"Gentlemen, a Seastone vein is no small matter. I'll need to inspect the goods before I can offer a price."
He maintained his usual caution, carefully probing the other party.
Shiki frowned, his brows knitting together in clear impatience with Doflamingo's prudence, but he nodded nonetheless.
"What a hassle. Fine, since you insist, we'll show you."
With that, Shiki waved his hand, and instantly, over a thousand wooden crates flew out from the ship's hold as if lifted by an invisible hand, neatly arranged on the deck.
When opened, the crates revealed Seastone ore shimmering with an eerie blue glow, like abyssal light from the deep sea.
An intense oceanic energy immediately permeated the air, making it feel heavier and carrying a chilling aura that sent shivers down one's spine.
Doflamingo stepped forward and casually opened one crate.
A powerful oppressive force washed over him like a tidal wave, his legs weakening and knees buckling slightly, nearly causing him to lose his balance.
He quickly closed the crate, but a satisfied smile spread across his face, the curve of his lips widening.
"Excellent, it is truly a premium Seastone. This deal can proceed!"
His voice carried a note of excitement and eagerness, already envisioning the immense profits this transaction would bring.
Shiki nodded, "This is just a portion. Transporting such a large vein is too troublesome. Once sales stabilize, I'll arrange for more shipments."
Upon hearing this, Doflamingo grew even more excited.
He quickly calculated in his mind before speaking.
"One kilogram of Seastone for ten million Belly! This price is absolutely fair, honest with all! However, I still need to cover the costs of sales and finding buyers, which requires considerable expenses, so..."
Before Doflamingo could finish, Ace directly interrupted him.
"Enough, we accept this price. We've inquired about the market rate before coming, and it's roughly this amount."
Hearing this, the smile on Doflamingo's face brightened even more.
He never expected this transaction to proceed so smoothly.
Once all this Seastone was sold out, not only could he cover his losses from Ron, but it would also further strengthen the Donquixote Family's power, making his path in the pirate world even smoother.
Thinking this, his mood instantly improved, and he appeared revitalized.
However, he truly hadn't made much profit on the price, especially since he still had cooperation with Ron.
It wouldn't be worth damaging their relationship over this.
Doflamingo clearly understood that maintaining a good relationship with Ron was far more important than the immediate gains.
"Good! Since you're all so straightforward, it's settled!" Doflamingo said with a laugh.
Shiki nodded without much change in expression, then waved his hand.
An invisible force surged, and the Seastone boxes automatically closed, all neatly rearranged.
Ace and Jozu also breathed a sigh of relief, their shoulders slightly sinking as relieved expressions appeared on their faces.
They had finally completed the task assigned by Ron, and a heavy weight lifted from their hearts.
Doflamingo watched the group before him, narrowing his eyes slightly as he secretly calculated his future plans.
This transaction not only brought him substantial profits but also established closer ties with the Whitebeard Pirates and Ron, adding another layer of security to his position on these seas.
What a win!
Standing at the ship's bow, Doflamingo seemed thoughtful before speaking.
"Since you've come to Dressrosa all the way from the grandline, why not stay a few more days? There are plenty of interesting places here—I can have someone show you around."
"The Corrida Colosseum in Dressrosa is hosting thrilling matches, and the Mermaid Cafe just got a new batch of girls who can dance Flamenco."
Jozu immediately shook his head without hesitation.
"No need. We have a mission to attend to and must head to Punk Hazard immediately."
Hearing the name "Punk Hazard," Doflamingo's smile instantly froze on his face, the curve of his lips stiffening as his eyes behind his sunglasses turned sharp.
"Punk Hazard? What are you going there for?"
Ace noticed Doflamingo's unusual reaction and felt a twinge of tension, replying in a light tone.
"Don't be nervous, we mean no harm."
"This is a task assigned by Ron. There's a kid named Momonosuke in Punk Hazard's garbage dump—we must capture him. Of course, if you want to help, we don't mind, but it needs to be quick."
"Ron?"
Hearing this, Doflamingo's tense expression relaxed slightly, and the stiffness in his muscles eased.
If it wasn't about his factory, then everything was fine.
"I see, just catching a little brat is a simple task. I can help, but you'll need to tell me the specific characteristics of that kid."
Ace nodded, his expression focused, casually using flames to sketch Momonosuke's likeness in the air.
The flames danced midair, gradually forming a clear outline.
"Around eight years old, sporting a chonmage hairstyle, wearing pink Land of Wano attire, looks like an ordinary kid."
Doflamingo examined it carefully, his gaze lingering on the fiery image for a moment before nodding.
"Good, I'll send people to investigate immediately."
After speaking, he took out a Den Den Mushi, which trembled slightly in his hand.
After giving brief instructions, he turned back to Ace and the others with a faint smile.
"Since you don't plan to stay long, let Trebol and Diamante show you around the city, as a gesture of hospitality."
Jozu was about to refuse, his mouth just opening when Shiki stopped this socially awkward guy, patting his shoulder with a hint of teasing in his eyes.
"Good, we'd actually like to see the sights of Dressrosa too."
"Since we're already here, it would be a shame not to look around, and who knows, we might even find something interesting in Dressrosa's scenery."
And so, Trebol and Diamante began touring Ace, Jozu and Shiki through the streets of Dressrosa.
The streets were bustling with activity, crowded with people coming and going.
Toy soldiers and people were everywhere, leisurely strolling or stopping in front of shops to browse goods.
Almost every household had people going out accompanied by various toys, Ace and the others noticed this but didn't comment, thinking it might just be local customs - perhaps people here simply liked toys.
"Really interesting, this is the first time I've encountered such a strange country."
"Indeed."
"I, Shiki, have seen more scenes than you've eaten grains of rice! Let me tell you, this... is called local customs!"
---------
Read 50 chapters ahead and support me on patreon.
patreon (.)com/Newbietranslator