"Hehehe, I'm truly honored to have the legendary pirate, the Golden Lion, take an interest in me," Tony said, playing along diplomatically.
Naturally, if he could avoid a confrontation with Shiki, he would. They had no conflict of interest, and as a newcomer, Tony wasn't a significant threat to him yet.
"Gyahahaha, you have a way with words, kid. I hear you're from the East Blue? Skill like yours is quite rare from there," Shiki remarked. "You've caused quite a stir, huh? The Marines must be giving you plenty of trouble, right? Being on the run can't be pleasant, especially with three beautiful girls by your side. But I've got a perfect solution for you—a way to keep the Marines off your back."
"Join my Flying Pirates and become my vice-captain! With my Float-Float Fruit, we could stay hidden in the clouds, and the Marines wouldn't be able to touch you. I believe we'd make a splendid team in the future."
"Gyahahaha!"
It was true; Shiki had a remarkable insight into people. His instincts were sharp, and he could spot potential in others. He saw Tony as a highly promising newcomer, someone he could mold into a trusted partner.
But there was no way Tony would settle for short-term comfort. The Marines's pursuit was annoying, but being annoyed and being afraid were two different things. Even though his Devil Fruit ability wasn't quite at the level to rival a Marine Admiral, Tony had other abilities to fall back on, and he was more than capable of holding his own. Strength may fall short, but other skills could make up the difference! He wasn't about to sell himself out so easily.
The title of "Vice-Captain of the Golden Lion Pirates" sounded impressive, but it wasn't enough to tempt Tony. He looked at Shiki intently, a smile playing on his lips as he answered, "It's a tempting offer, but I'm going to have to decline."
As the words left his mouth, Shiki's expression shifted from amusement to anger. Who was he, after all? He was the legendary pirate who once stood on equal footing with the "Pirate King" Roger and "Whitebeard" Edward Newgate. Now he was being turned down by a rookie—a fact that left him seething.
In Tony's stance, Shiki saw a reflection of the shameful moment years ago when he had sought to ally with Roger to conquer the world, only to be similarly refused.
"Arrogant rookie! You should consider it an honor that I'm even looking at you. How dare you disrespect me! If you're so eager to die," Shiki sneered, "I don't mind snuffing out a newcomer like you."
A wave of murderous intent filled the air as Shiki's anger peaked. He extended his hand, giving a light tap to a nearby mid-sized building. In an instant, the large structure lifted off the ground, now hovering above Tony and his crew. Nami, Robin, and Vivi were stunned, each of them adopting battle stances as they awaited Tony's command. They had never encountered an ability as extreme as this, where a mere gesture could make a building weighing tons float into the sky.
Tony's lips curved in a subtle smile as he raised a hand, signaling the others to stand down. Without hesitation, he took long strides toward Shiki, completely ignoring the threat looming over his head.
"I was actually considering a trade—to cure your legs in exchange for your help with something. But now…" Tony's eyes met Shiki's, unwavering and unafraid, with a hint of provocation. "…it doesn't seem like there's any room for negotiation."
Shiki was momentarily taken aback—not by Tony's fearless demeanor but by his words. Shocked, he probed, "You mean to say… you have a way to heal my legs?"
Ignoring Shiki's surprise, Tony continued with a mysterious smile, keeping Shiki on edge. "Yes, I do… But do you think I'd help someone who just tried to kill us?"
Shiki hesitated. Despite the difficulty in believing that someone could restore his legs to their original state, he found himself yearning to try. This disability had cost him too much—both in combat and daily life. More than anything, he dreamed of ridding himself of this impairment.
After a moment's thought, Shiki decided to lower the building, deactivating his Float-Float Fruit power as a gesture of sincerity. He looked at Tony with a solemn expression. Shiki was a smart man and disliked being manipulated, but Tony's tone made it clear that he had his own reasons for proposing the exchange.
"All right, kid," Shiki said, suppressing his anger, "tell me what you're offering in return. What exactly are your terms? But don't bluff me. If you can't do what you say, there's no deal."
~-------------------------
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