Rayleigh's heart skipped a beat.
For a moment, the old man's breathing turned ragged, his crimson eyes full of hunger and longing.
He could practically hear his blood boiling in his veins.
"Obedient Beans"…?
No, no, no—
this was clearly the key to his future happiness!
Ronn took one look at Rayleigh's expression and instantly guessed what that dirty old man was thinking.
He could even picture exactly what he'd do with it once he got home to Shakky…
(Ten thousand words of censored imagination omitted.)
Even Lucoa looked a little surprised.
A bean that made whoever ate it obey the one who fed it?
Simple on the surface—
but that was a law-type artifact.
How could anyone just… invent such a thing?
"I'll take them all. Name your price!"
Rayleigh's hands were trembling as he tried to sound calm.
But Gray Wolf shook his head firmly.
"I can't trade with you. By agreement, my inventions can only be sold to Ronn."
He handed Ronn a small bottle containing about ten beans, along with a purple whistle.
Ronn accepted them and called toward the kitchen,
"Rem! Roast five lambs and pack them up for Gray Wolf to take."
"Yes, Master. I'll go with my sister and Tohru to buy them now,"
Rem replied obediently, emerging from the kitchen with sleepy Yoruichi in her arms.
The twins and Tohru left the tavern together.
Lucoa sauntered over to the counter, a playful smile tugging her lips.
"I want to see if it works. May I?"
"Sure," Ronn said.
The words had barely left his mouth before a dangerously beautiful face leaned close—
so close he could feel her warm breath, smell her perfume.
Barely five centimeters separated them.
But after last night's "training," Ronn was firmly in sage mode.
He simply lifted his head slightly, giving her the bare minimum of respect.
Then he picked out a bean and placed it gently into Lucoa's mouth.
He blew the purple whistle.
A shrill tweet! echoed through the tavern.
Lucoa froze instantly, eyes going glassy.
Her heterochromatic pupils dulled like the power had been switched off.
"Massage my shoulders," Ronn said experimentally.
"Yes," she replied in a flat, robotic tone, moving behind him and thumping his back with her soft fists.
Thump, thump, thump…
Rayleigh's jaw nearly hit the floor.
Each soft strike on Ronn's back sounded like a war drum in his chest.
It worked—
it actually worked, even on a goddess like Lucoa!
"How do you want to trade for it?"
Rayleigh's voice was solemn, already resigned to being fleeced.
"Not much," Ronn said with a grin. "Two Devil Fruits."
"One fruit and one of the Great Grade Blades—Twenty-One Crafts," Rayleigh countered immediately.
"That's my final offer."
Ronn didn't answer right away. Instead, he asked his system silently:
"System, how many points are Obedient Beans and a Great Grade Sword worth?"
[Ding! Obedient Beans (consumable) — 80 points each.]
[Ding! Great Grade Blade — 400 points.]
"Fair enough," Ronn thought.
He glanced at the bottle—ten beans total. That meant 800 points if exchanged.
Even one Devil Fruit would already put him in profit.
He smiled. "Deal."
Rayleigh took the bottle, his heart aching.
"You little brat, you've robbed me blind. Next time you get something good, it's free—understood?"
"No problem," Ronn said cheerfully.
It wasn't like he'd lost anything.
He'd traded a few lambs for a rare sword and a fruit—pure win.
And besides, Rayleigh definitely had more Devil Fruits stashed somewhere.
Meanwhile, the rhythmic thumping stopped.
Lucoa blinked, her daze clearing, and smiled lazily.
"Not bad. It managed to control me for about one second."
Rayleigh's heart jolted.
If it could control a being like Lucoa for even a second—
how long would it control Shakky?
Gray Wolf, sipping his drink nearby, looked proud beyond words.
His invention could control a god!
Even one second was an achievement worthy of legend.
"Since I gave you a massage," Lucoa said with a teasing grin,
"don't you think I deserve a little… reward?"
"What do you want?" Ronn asked cautiously.
"Tonight. Let's switch it up—your bed, my turn."
Ronn: "..."
Seeing she'd successfully flustered him, Lucoa laughed and sauntered away to help the girls prepare the lamb.
Just then, the tavern door burst open again.
The Holy Master and his son Little Demon Dragon stormed in, bickering as usual.
"Old man, I swear I heard 'rubber noises' last night!"
Little Dragon sneered.
"You insolent brat! Don't ask questions you shouldn't!"
The Holy Master smacked him with a resounding whap!
Thud!
The younger demon saw stars. He almost fought back,
but remembering where they were—the tavern—he swallowed his anger.
Once they were home in Hell, he'd get his revenge.
Gray Wolf's eyes went wide.
Demons?!
"Relax," Rayleigh said like an old veteran.
"They look scary, but they're friendly enough once you drink with them."
The Holy Master and his son turned, giving Gray Wolf matching smiles full of fangs.
"Hello there…" Gray Wolf croaked.
Friendly? Sure. I'd sooner believe they eat wolves for snacks!
Still, after a few bottles of wine, the tension melted.
Gray Wolf had an arm slung over the Holy Master's shoulder, bragging about his glory days in Wolf Clan.
The demon lord didn't mind at all—
he was busy boasting about his own conquest of the Blue Star alongside other great demons.
Little Demon Dragon just rolled his eyes,
but didn't dare interrupt for fear of another slap.
The tavern was warm with laughter when the bell over the door rang again.
Ding-ling…
The door creaked open.
A woman stepped in—heavy eyeliner, cigarette dangling from her lips,
swaggering like a storm.
"BITCH!!!" she screamed.
Advance Chapters available on Patreon
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