Hearing this, Ron wore an awkward smile.
"The entire island is still in its initial stages; the other facilities haven't been built yet. This will eventually be my private laboratory, but for now... it is admittedly a bit bare."
After saying this, he walked over to the ornate door.
The door looked incredibly luxurious, its frame inlaid with various precious gems, and its surface carved with exquisite patterns—every detail showcasing a high level of artistic craftsmanship.
Pushing the door open, the hinges emitted a soft creak.
Behind it lay a green space, as if leading to another world.
Ron glanced back at Nami, signaling for her to follow, then stepped inside.
Their figures vanished beyond the door, and the next moment, they appeared on the lowest island.
As Ron and Nami stepped out of the portal, they were met by Enel and Izo standing nearby, their faces brimming with barely contained excitement.
Enel's sharp eyes gleamed with pride, while Izo remained as composed as ever, though the slight upward curve of his lips betrayed his inner delight.
"Ron!"
"Vice Captain Ron!" Enel stepped forward quickly, his voice brimming with suppressed excitement.
"The Big Mom Pirates have completely taken the bait! They're gathered together right now, discussing how to break into the Underwater Great Prison and even planning to capture those vicious criminals to drain their blood!"
At this point, he couldn't help but sneer, his tone full of contempt.
"Especially Katakuri—that guy must be out of his mind! He actually thinks he can negotiate with us after capturing those criminals, planning to fleece us for all we're worth. How ridiculous!"
Hearing this, Ron's lips curled into a meaningful smile.
He gently patted Enel's shoulder and said calmly, "Excellent. Everything is proceeding according to plan."
A flicker of admiration shone in Enel's eyes as he couldn't resist praising.
"Vice Captain Ron is truly remarkable! These fools don't even realize they're being played, still happily counting money for us, yahahahaha!"
After speaking, he burst into hearty laughter, the sound filled with both mockery for their enemies and deep respect for Ron.
Standing nearby, Nami also showed a joyful expression upon hearing Enel's report.
Her eyes narrowed slightly as a cunning curve forming at the corner of her lips.
"This is wonderful! With Yonko-level fighters like the Big Mom Pirates on our side, the fall of the Impel Down is imminent!"
Her voice carried a hint of excitement, as if she could already see the moment their plan succeeded.
Ron nodded, his gaze profound and composed.
He walked over to a nearby experiment table, lightly tapping his fingers on the surface as if deep in thought.
After a moment, He looked up and said to Enel and Izo, "Continue monitoring their movements. Report immediately if anything unusual occurs. Also, inform the others to make preparations according to the original plan. Don't reveal any flaws."
Enel and Izo responded in unison, "Yes, Vice Captain Ron!"
With that, the two quickly left the laboratory to carry out Ron's orders.
Nami approached Ron and asked softly, "Do you think Big Mom and her crew will follow our plan completely? After all, Katakuri isn't someone easily fooled."
Ron smiled faintly, his tone full of confidence.
"Katakuri is indeed clever, but he's overly confident."
"He thinks he holds the initiative, unaware that this is all an elaborate trap we've designed. Once he steps into the Impel Down, there will be no turning back."
Nami nodded, a glimmer of admiration in her eyes.
"As expected of you, to manipulate even a Yonko so effortlessly." She paused before asking.
"So what should we do next?"
Ron smiled slightly, an imperceptible depth flashing in his eyes.
He raised his hand gently, signaling for Enel and Izo to lead the way as they headed toward the center of the island.
...
Sunlight bathed the sky island, clouds drifting slowly beneath their feet.
The air was permeated with faint energy fluctuations, as if foretelling the significant moment about to arrive.
At the island's center,
On a broad open space, the members of the Big Mom Pirates had been waiting for some time.
Big Mom Charlotte Linlin stood at the forefront, her massive frame towering like a mountain, her face displaying unconcealed greed and anticipation.
Her gaze was fixed intently on the nine Devil Fruits on the table, her eyes gleaming with ecstatic light as if she had already witnessed the moment she would obtain supreme power.
"Mama, these fruits..." Katakuri stood beside Big Mom, his eyes locked tightly on the three Fish Fish Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Azure Dragon Devil Fruits.
Even though he was known for his composure, he could hardly suppress his inner excitement at this moment.
His fists clenched slightly, his breathing grew rapid, and a flicker of fervent light flashed in his eyes.
The power of the Azure Dragon—that was an absolute force capable of altering the course of battle!
Big Mom's laughter echoed like thunder across the open space.
She reached out, grabbed one of the Devil Fruits, and carefully examined the peculiar patterns on its surface, her eyes filled with greed and desire.
However, her smile abruptly faded, replaced by a dangerous glare as she turned to Ron.
"Will eating this thing really wont make me explode?"
Ron remained calm, as if he had long anticipated Big Mom's reaction.
He smiled faintly, his tone composed yet brimming with confidence.
"Don't worry, it's just a matter of success rate. If the first one doesn't work, remember to eat a second one within three minutes."
"But I'll take back any extra Devil Fruits. After all, I've already given you a discount with Sengoku's blood."
Big Mom narrowed her eyes.
She didn't care about that; she was only interested in whether it would explode, clearly not fully convinced by Ron's explanation.
She snorted coldly with a hint of mockery in her voice.
"On these seas, eating two Devil Fruits will make you explode! Even I wouldn't dare try it lightly."
Enel, standing nearby, couldn't help but curl his lip at these words with a look of disdain on his face.
He muttered under his breath.
"Are all Yonko this troublesome? We don't even have the chance to eat them!"
Though his voice was soft, everyone present heard it clearly.
Izo also stepped forward at the right moment, his acting on point as he mocked.
"If you don't believe it, why not let me eat one instead? With your luck, maybe two will be enough."
After speaking, he deliberately put on an eager expression, as if he truly coveted the Devil Fruit.