"Oh?"
The next day at dawn, around six o'clock—the day when the Fallen Angel Pirates and the World Government had originally agreed to exchange hostages—El, who was deep into his training, received a report from Mos and Lilian: "So, Vice Admiral 'Blood Mane' Bays arrived with several CP0 agents and joined up with the Holy Knights' Commander and the Admiral 'Pegasus'? If a battle breaks out, they'll be able to reach Tonnerrit Island within an hour?"
Hearing this, El couldn't help but smirk. He'd expected the World Government wouldn't obediently hand over the Devil Fruits without trying something.
"El oniichan…" said Linlin, who was nearby and dripping with sweat from training. "It seems like they're hoping to catch us all in one trap, doesn't it?"
"No rush. Let's make them wait it out. We'll notify them in the afternoon that the exchange location has changed," El replied indifferently. "Plus, since they broke the terms, we'll require an additional Devil Fruit, specifically another Logia."
Turning back to his training, El's gaze hardened as he clenched his right fist, letting Conqueror's Haki flow over it in dark, crackling streams. Then he struck at the mountain in front of him from a distance.
BOOM! The massive mountain exploded in a thunderous blast, scattering rocks and stirring up a thick cloud of dust.
…
That Evening
On Tonnerrit Island, the World Government delegation waited anxiously. The two medical staff members looked especially uneasy, but it was the CP0 officer, Steel Bone Kong, and the leading Holy Knight who showed the most frustration. After all, they had arrived well in advance, only to end up waiting an entire day with no sign of the Fallen Angel Pirates.
"Damn it, were we tricked?" muttered Saint Marcus Denis, the Holy Knight. His expression was grim, and he gritted his teeth in frustration.
"It does seem like they don't intend to show up," Steel Bone Kong added, his face equally dark.
Just then, a Homie seagull swooped down from the sky, carrying a transponder snail in its beak, and landed in front of the group.
The transponder snail came to life, imitating El's voice with a cold tone: "I'm disappointed…"
Steel Bone Kong, Saint Denis, and the CP0 officer's faces shifted immediately.
"What do you mean, Fallen Angel El?" Kong snatched up the transponder snail, biting back his frustration. "We've been waiting for you all day, and you didn't even show up!"
"Did you really think your little scheme would escape my notice?" El's mocking voice replied. "That Admiral Pegasus and the Holy Knight lurking on the nearby island—what are they planning? They're close enough to arrive here in minutes if a fight breaks out. If I get held up, I could be in serious danger, don't you think?"
The group's expressions grew tense as they realized El had seen through their plan, even though Admiral Pegasus and Saint Howard had been stationed far enough away to avoid suspicion.
"You're mistaken…" Saint Denis's voice was low as he took the snail from Kong. "They're simply there to ensure our safety and make sure you don't pull anything reckless."
"Such childish lies. Do you think I'll believe that?" El's voice on the transponder snail was ice-cold. "The location for the trade has changed… Three days from now, on Portex Island at the end of Route H3. And since you broke the terms, there will be an extra cost: another Logia Devil Fruit."
"What? Another Logia? Absolutely not!" Steel Bone Kong, Saint Denis, and the CP0 officer's faces hardened in anger.
"Don't misunderstand—I'm not negotiating with you. I'm informing you," came El's ruthless reply, with no hint of compromise. "Consider this your final warning. If there's another violation of the agreement, it won't just be about one additional Devil Fruit."
The transponder snail paused, then El's voice continued: "Test my patience too far, and the trade is canceled. I'll happily let the world witness how Celestial Dragons 'dance with swine' to perpetuate their bloodline."
"Damn you!" Saint Denis and Steel Bone Kong seethed, but the line abruptly cut off as El hung up.
"El oniichan, should we go directly to the new location in three days?" Linlin asked curiously, unfazed about whether the World Government would meet their demand. The Celestial Dragons valued their status too much to refuse, even if it meant another Devil Fruit.
"Not immediately. First, I'll have Moss take someone to inspect the fruits and see if they actually bring an extra Logia. If needed, I want them to eat one to confirm there's no trickery," El replied calmly.
"There's no guarantee they won't try to fool us. Some craftsmen are good enough to make fakes that look flawless on the surface. And then there are all kinds of odd Devil Fruit abilities…"
Among those was the Mythical Zoan fruit that could mimic objects, and though El didn't know if anyone in the World Government had that specific ability, he wasn't taking any chances. He wanted to confirm that each fruit was real to avoid being tricked and walking away empty-handed.
~~~
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