"What do you want?" World asked, aware that Li Yuan must have his sights set on something valuable in exchange for agreeing to the deal.
"Explosive rocks. What I want is the explosive rocks you have. Give me one explosive rock for each Cloud Homie. How's that for sincerity?" Li Yuan proposed.
"That's not sincere at all. Those Cloud Homies are made using Charlotte Linlin's ability, aren't they? As long as you have the materials, you can make as many as you want. They don't compare to the value of explosive rocks!" World thought but kept to himself, knowing he needed Li Yuan's cooperation.
"Fine, but I want large Cloud Homies, not the small ones that can only carry two or three people," World replied, understanding the situation after a nod from Bin Jack.
"Deal. Three explosive rocks for three large Cloud Homies, each seven meters long and wide," Li Yuan agreed.
"Great, when and where do we meet for the exchange?" World asked.
"In three days, at your territory on Monsk Island," Li Yuan replied.
"Agreed, see you then!" World concluded, ending the call.
"World wants Cloud Homies—could it be for aerial bombardments?" Li Yuan pondered, quickly deducing World's intentions.
The combination of explosive rocks and World's Moa Moa Fruit could rival the destructive power of an ancient weapon. Li Yuan hadn't seen World use the explosive rocks since acquiring them, suggesting he was planning something.
Now that World desired Cloud Homies, Li Yuan suspected he aimed to use them for aerial attacks. With the mobility of Cloud Homies and the power of explosive rocks, World would wield a formidable weapon on par with ancient weapons, posing a significant threat to any faction.
If World were to reveal this capability, it would serve as a deterrent but also invite global hostility. Just as the World Government possesses the ancient weapon Uranus but refrains from using it to avoid worldwide enmity, World would face similar consequences.
Li Yuan foresaw that if World exposed his weapon, his downfall would be imminent, lacking the World Government's means to protect such a weapon.
Even if the World Government refrained from acting, someone like Shiki would not hesitate to seize such power. Li Yuan knew Shiki well enough to anticipate his interest in such a weapon.
After agreeing to the deal, Li Yuan personally selected three large Cloud Homies, subdued them with Conqueror's Haki, and took them to Yuma's lab, bringing Kaya along.
"Yuma, I need you to make a tracker to embed in these three Cloud Homies. I want to monitor their locations at all times," Li Yuan instructed.
Installing trackers was a precaution against the unlikely event of World using the Cloud Homies to launch an attack with explosive rocks.
Li Yuan knew that if he refused World, World could still obtain Cloud Homies through Charlotte Linlin, so he preferred to make the deal himself, ensuring he could monitor World's actions.
"No problem, Captain. Give me some time, and I'll have it ready," Yuma replied, quickly crafting the trackers.
"Kaya, you're here just in time. Embed these devices in the Cloud Homies without them noticing," Li Yuan asked as Kaya arrived.
"Leave it to me, Captain. They won't notice a thing," Kaya assured confidently.
As a Cloud-Cloud Fruit user, Kaya understood the Homies' structure better than they did. Being simple organisms, they wouldn't detect the trackers.
"All done, Captain!" Kaya reported after completing the task.
"This must remain confidential. No one can know about this!" Li Yuan stressed, turning to both Kaya and Yuma. "Yuma, have someone monitor these Homies 24/7. If they leave the Infinite Sea and return, alert me immediately."
"Yes, Captain, we'll keep it secret!" Kaya and Yuma promised, understanding the seriousness of the situation.
Li Yuan's usual demeanor was approachable, but when he became serious, everyone knew it was important, and no one dared to defy his orders.
After leaving Yuma's lab, Li Yuan set sail on the Hades to World's territory to personally oversee the exchange.
"Li Yuan, you're here sooner than I expected," World greeted, having awaited Li Yuan's arrival.
"Well, we were once crewmates. I wanted to ensure a swift transaction. Here are the large Cloud Homies—feel free to test them out," Li Yuan said, presenting the Homies.
"Great, let's see how these Cloud Homies perform!" World replied, jumping onto one and commanding it to fly.
"These Cloud Homies are perfect. Here's your explosive rocks," World said, satisfied, handing over three explosive rocks to Li Yuan.
"A good deal. If there's nothing else, I'll be on my way," Li Yuan said, ready to leave.
"Li Yuan, wait! I have a question for you," World suddenly asked.
"Oh? What is it?" Li Yuan inquired, curious.
"Don't you find this world boring? You have such power—why not unite the New World's pirates and overthrow the Navy and World Government?" World asked earnestly, his tone a mix of seriousness and madness.
If World had a crew as powerful as the Infinite Pirates, he would have gathered all the New World's pirates to challenge the World Government.
With the pirates' strength, World believed they could defeat the World Government. He couldn't comprehend why Li Yuan, with ambitions to rule the New World, hadn't attempted it.
"Hahaha, World, you're naïve. The World Government has ruled for 800 years, with unfathomable resources and countless powerful individuals."
"Our last alliance with the pirates seemed victorious, but only because the top fighters from Mary Geoise didn't intervene."
"No one knows how many top fighters reside in Mary Geoise. I won't risk the Infinite Pirates on such a dangerous gamble."
"Besides, uniting the New World's pirates is nearly impossible. The Roger Pirates won't join, and unless the World Government invades the New World, Whitebeard, Charlotte Linlin, and others won't attack the government because they know its strength. They're not willing to risk retaliation," Li Yuan explained, exasperated by World's persistence.
Li Yuan had hoped World would abandon his dreams of destroying the World Government after witnessing its power, but it seemed he still clung to unrealistic fantasies.
"They're all cowardly!" World retorted, frustrated, though Li Yuan couldn't discern whom he was insulting.
"World, destroying the World Government isn't simple. Even with explosive rocks and your Moa Moa Fruit amplifying their power a hundredfold, anyone with advanced Observation Haki could foresee and evade the blasts."
"Explosive rocks are only useful for ambushes, not open warfare."
"Knowing this, would you still dare confront the World Government? If they retaliate, you'd die, and so would everyone around you. Would you sacrifice your companions for your ambition?" Li Yuan asked pointedly.
"..." World fell silent, grappling with his ambition and the reality of his relationships.
"Think it over," Li Yuan said, leaving on the Hades.
He had spoken at length with World, hoping to dissuade him from a reckless path and to preserve the Moa Moa Fruit, a valuable Devil Fruit, from vanishing from the seas.
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