Chapter 194: The Negotiation Between the Five Elders and the Game Merchant

The Leader of the Revolutionary Army, who had been tense all this time, let out a sigh of relief.

What he cared about was not the qualification for a single lottery draw;

it was the attitude the Game Merchant held toward the World Government and the Five Elders. If a negotiation scenario were to arise, the Revolutionary Army would likely need to continue lying low and fleeing.

But now, he was firmly willing to stake the future of the Revolutionary Army, placing it entirely and completely on the Samsara Game.

"Refused?"

The expressions of the Noble Legion, the high-ranking nobles, and the kings were slightly sluggish.

This refusal, delivered in front of the entire world without leaving the Five Elders any face, made even them, as bystanders, feel a bit afraid.

They were terrified that the enraged Five Elders would directly initiate a Buster Call to blood-wash the islands of the East Blue to vent their anger.

However,

on second thought, it was likely a negotiation tug-of-war between the Game Merchant and the Five Elders.

It was the customary tactic of the Noble Group: probing each other, gradually touching upon the negotiator's bottom line, and only revealing their final demands at the very end.

"Mr. Fang Yi."

Saturn addressed him directly by name, his voice calm and devoid of anger as he said, "You say you come from another world and are unaware of the foundation accumulated by the World Government over eight hundred years of ruling the world, so I can forgive your refusal."

Within the heavy documents and records of Pangea Castle,

a Celestial Dragon Family known as the 【Saint Jierbangying】 suddenly appeared, eventually producing the Pirate Buggy, a World Noble stranded in the East Blue.

This incident alone was enough to demonstrate the mysterious and Weirdness-filled abilities of the Game Merchant.

To be able to tamper with the data inside Pangea Castle without anyone noticing, and furthermore, for even their own minds to have vague impressions of this memory.

Child-Play Fruit, Ghost-Ghost Fruit...

The Five Elders, with their eight hundred years of foundation, knew many secrets, and they were well aware of these types of Devil Fruits that could twist thoughts.

In their estimation,

the Game Merchant likely really did come from another world, possessing means that were completely different from Devil Fruits yet had roughly similar capabilities.

Because it was not a Devil Fruit, it could not be negated by Haki, which was why he could be so unscrupulous in the Pirate World.

But based on this alone...

Even Joy Boy, who was able to wreak havoc on the world back then, was defeated by the World Government and sank to the bottom of the sea along with the Ancient Continent.

A mysterious visitor from another world did not yet have the qualifications to make the World Government bow.

"This is the goodwill of the World Government."

Although the Five Elders did not fear the Game Merchant, they also did not want to rashly make an enemy of him.

Guys with all sorts of mysterious abilities were the most troublesome; they were different from the type that only knew how to throw around brute force—they were extremely difficult to deal with.

Moreover, according to the Five Elders' combat power assessment, he very likely possessed strength approaching that of Joy Boy.

"The Revolutionary Army Leader has obtained the first kill!"

"The negotiation between the Five Elders and the Game Merchant, canceling the Revolutionary Army's lottery qualification?"

Morgans was trembling with excitement,

constantly attaching the captured content to the circling albatrosses to send it back to the news agency's headquarters.

Soon, this news would be published in newspapers and spread across the entire world.

Even Wano Country, the most isolated place, would have tens of thousands of major news agency papers stuffed into it.

"The Five Elders and the World Government, can they actually put away their arrogant attitude?"

Dragon was somewhat surprised.

When he was still in the Navy, he had witnessed all sorts of cruel acts with his own eyes and had reacted countless times to Marine Headquarters and the World Government, hoping to change things from within.

But he didn't even have the qualifications to be summoned.

He laughed at himself; as expected, his strength was still too weak.

No matter what path one chooses, strength is the foundation; a dream without the support of force is like a pile of loose sand—it doesn't need a wind to blow, it scatters all over the ground after walking two steps.

"No need for forgiveness."

Fang Yi's smile remained as it always was, he just shook his head slightly and explained, "From the moment I arrived in the Pirate World, I have already fathomed all the secrets of this ocean."

"Including the World Government."

Negotiation and tug-of-war,

are methods for two parties standing on the same level to probe each other and reduce the losses from conflict.

The Game Merchant did not want to pay attention to the self-righteous goodwill and face-saving gestures of the Five Elders.

"So, are you trying to help the Revolutionary Army, even if it means becoming an enemy of the World Government and becoming the second Pirate on this ocean to stand against the whole world?"

Saturn's voice was heavy, revealing a slight anger.

And a hidden threat.

For the Five Elders, who held high positions, to take the initiative to show goodwill and then be rejected mercilessly by the Game Merchant in front of everyone was a desecration of the descendants of the Creator.

"Could it be that after the Pirate King Roger, the World Government is going to mobilize with full force again?"

"What a heart-stirring Great Era!"

Everyone naturally felt that the person the Five Elders mentioned who dared to challenge the World Government for the first time was the Pirate King Roger.

But in fact,

even when capturing Roger, they only dispatched a few Marine Headquarters Admirals.

The Pirate who stood against the whole world that Saturn spoke of was Joy Boy, the Pirate who was killed by the combined forces of twenty kingdoms back then and had nearly changed the world.

The true power of the World Government had not appeared for eight hundred years.

If the Game Merchant were truly as he claimed, having fathomed the secrets of the Pirate World, he should understand the terror of the World Government.

"Mr. Saturn."

Fang Yi's expression remained unchanged as he spoke nonchalantly: "Perhaps it was my oversight that led you, as one of the Five Elders, and the World Government to form some unnecessary, erroneous perceptions of me."

The Pirate World is far too vast and boundless;

it has Ancient Continents that have sunk to the bottom of the sea, Ancient Weapons capable of triggering world-class disasters, Devil Fruits that grant the wishes of countless people, Fish-Man Island ten thousand meters under the sea, Sky Islands...

There even exist Devil Fruits that can control fragments of time.

This has also led the humans of the Pirate World to attribute anything unknown or incomprehensible to ancient relics and Devil Fruits.

They lack reverence for power.

"Fang Yi, the World Government has been rooted in this ocean for eight hundred years, and we have killed countless ambitious rebels."

Saturn's tone was not very good; clearly, he was affected by the game merchant's impervious attitude and could no longer maintain his indifferent demeanor.

"The Marine Admirals of Marine Headquarters, the experts of Cipher Pol, the God's Knights, as well as us Five Elders, the new Pacifistas, and the Ancient Weapons..."

"I acknowledge your strength."

"The World Government is a great force founded by the creators who saved the world, and we possess a broad mind. As a guest from another world, as long as you do not touch our bottom line, you can be accepted by us."

"Seven Warlords of the Sea, Marine Admiral? Or if you wish to establish a nation in the Si Hai and the Grand Line, all of that is possible!"

Saturn's voice slowly spread out, broadcasting to the entire world.

This was a matter already discussed with the other four Five Elders;

in such turbulent times, one must take the opportunity to display the strength of the World Government to strike fear into the hearts of those restless Pirates and rebels.

"Does the World Government possess Ancient Weapons?"

Inside Death Island, Crocodile's mouth twitched, revealing an exaggerated smile.

A flash of apprehension crossed his eyes.

Crocodile was not overly shocked by the information revealed by Saturn.

Indeed, it would be strange if the World Government, with its deep foundation, did not have Ancient Weapons; it was just that with his own strength, he could never snatch them, so it was more reliable to continue collecting Ancient Poneglyphs.

First displaying military force, then offering enticement and benefits...

Fang Yi smiled helplessly.

Even now, the Five Elders still felt that he was negotiating with them.

They believed his refusal and cold attitude were just a way to demand more chips.

Furthermore, they had set traps within the negotiation; those so-called benefits were all predicated on the 【game merchant being accepted by the World Government】 and 【submitting】.

Once he agreed, he would be viewed by all people in the Pirate World as a subordinate of the World Government.

It seems,

his temper is still too good, and the misunderstanding he has caused is somewhat deep.

Since the World Government has already shown its military force, he should also express a little something to show his respect.

(End of this chapter)