"So what? I won't lose, nor will I let you pirates trample my country!"
Avey stood up fearlessly and declared.
"Hahaha, in this world, the weak have no rights, and the strong take all!"
"If you want to stop all this, show your strength and defeat me!"
Ashura Doji wasted no more words and charged at Avey again, excited.
He loved fighting strong opponents because it was the only way to become stronger!
Ashura Doji yearned to grow stronger, to become as powerful as Ryuma, and to become a great swordsman like Li Yuan!
Understanding his opponent's weakness, Ashura Doji launched a fierce counterattack.
Even though he had Li Yuan's swordsmanship notes, including the Infinite Sword Technique, he didn't fully learn Li Yuan's style. Instead, he integrated its essence into his own swordsmanship, enhancing and improving it.
He knew that merely copying Li Yuan's sword style wouldn't make him a great swordsman.
Li Yuan soon led his fleet to the Belloso Kingdom, only to find chaos instead of resistance.
The Belloso Kingdom was embroiled in conflict with another faction and was clearly losing. It seemed the kingdom would fall soon.
"Hmm? What's going on here?"
Li Yuan was puzzled, noticing someone had beaten him to the punch in taking over the Belloso Kingdom.
Who had the audacity to steal his prize? He was very intrigued.
As he observed, he disembarked from his ship.
"Honorable Li Yuan, I am a subordinate of the new Sea Transport King, Umit."
"This country has long been infiltrated by us. Hearing that you plan to attack, Umit ordered us to take it and present it to you."
"This is a Den Den Mushi from Umit."
The person who approached him spoke respectfully, handing him a Den Den Mushi without any arrogance.
"Interesting, an offer of allegiance?"
Li Yuan looked at the Den Den Mushi with interest.
Before coming, he had learned about the Belloso Kingdom.
Once known for shipbuilding in the New World, Belloso Kingdom built ships for many nations.
With the rise of pirates, demand for ships increased, boosting Belloso's development and reputation as a renowned shipbuilding kingdom.
However, as it grew, so did pirate greed, leading to its decline.
Belloso lacked the strength to fend off the pirates and was eventually ravaged.
The previous Sea Transport King contributed to its decline, needing many ships for maritime transport and capturing shipwrights to build them cheaply.
When the new Sea Transport King, Umit, heard of Li Yuan's plan, he volunteered to conquer Belloso and offer it to Li Yuan.
As a dark underworld emperor, Umit knew his position was never secure.
Though the title sounded grand, he knew it held little real power.
His wealth was vast, but he couldn't protect it alone. He needed powerful allies.
Thus, he offered part of his interests to bind with strong allies, ensuring his wealth and position, a common strategy among underworld emperors.
Upon hearing Li Yuan's plan, Umit decisively chose to pledge allegiance to him.
Li Yuan's strength and potential made him an ideal ally.
"Li Yuan, yes, Belloso Kingdom is my offering!"
A young voice came through the Den Den Mushi.
"Is that so? Belloso Kingdom is my target. Offering it as allegiance—do you think you're that influential? Or that I need your help to take it?"
"If you don't give me a satisfactory answer, do you think my sword won't reach your throat?"
Li Yuan's voice was cold toward Umit's offer.
Offering him what was already his target—did Umit think he was a fool?
"Li Yuan, Belloso Kingdom is just a gift. I have twenty shipwrights once taken from Belloso, now en route to you."
"Along with them are ten warships equivalent to Navy Vice Admiral class, also gifts."
"In addition, I can transport your goods globally at cost."
Umit continued to offer without anger.
Becoming an underworld emperor wasn't easy, and what Umit offered was precisely what the Infinity Pirates lacked.
Their few ships needed more to develop, and the harsh sea required at least Vice Admiral-class ships.
Their trade was almost nonexistent, and they needed to sell their products to sustain the Pirates without draining Li Yuan's funds.
Lazuli's marketable medicines could bring in rolling profits if sold.
"Not enough!"
Despite Umit's good offer, Li Yuan remained cold. For an underworld emperor, this was trivial.
He couldn't board Li Yuan's ship so easily.
"Li Yuan, I'll transport your goods for free and add ten more Vice Admiral-class ships and twenty more shipwrights."
Umit didn't get angry, instead raising the stakes.
An underworld emperor didn't lack money; he lacked strength and allies.
Without personal power, he sought strong allies.
In the New World, Li Yuan's strength and reputation made him a suitable ally.
"Not enough!!"
Li Yuan remained firm. Without Umit, he could eventually establish his own fleet.
"I also have a precious ore capable of forging one of the Supreme Grade swords, and I'll give it to you."
Hearing Li Yuan's tone unchanged, Umit revealed his trump card.
The ore, inherited from the previous Sea Transport King, was one of his most valued possessions.
While Great Grade swords could be forged, so could Supreme Grade swords with the right materials and smiths.
Despite efforts, no smith could forge the ore into a Supreme Grade sword, not even melting or refining it.
It had sat unused, but Umit knew of Li Yuan's reputation as a top swordsman and hoped to entice him with it.
To sway someone like Li Yuan, he needed to appeal to his interests.
"Alright, I agree!"
Hearing Umit's final offer, Li Yuan smiled slightly.
He intended to extort Umit, curious about his treasures, and was pleased to discover such a rare ore.
Ore capable of forging a Supreme Grade sword was exceedingly rare, even harder to find than the swords themselves.
Li Yuan had seen several Supreme Grade swords but never the ore.
"Hahaha, Li Yuan, we're now partners. Please take care of me."
"The promised items will be delivered in five days."
Umit laughed, pleased with the successful alliance.
Li Yuan, a powerful ally, was invaluable for his newly assumed role as Sea Transport King.
At least until he secured his position.
"Once I receive the goods, we're partners. But remember, partners must be honest."
Li Yuan reminded.
In the pirate world, honesty might seem laughable, as profit was paramount.
"Rest assured, Li Yuan, my reputation as Sea Transport King is global. I won't betray a partner."
Umit assured.
"Hand over Belloso Kingdom, and you may leave."
After speaking with Umit, Li Yuan ended the call and addressed the person who handed him the Den Den Mushi.
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