"He… doesn't have that much face!"
Vladimir's reply was relatively polite. If it were someone else, the response wouldn't be this mild.
The content mentioned in Shanks' letter was simple: he requested Phantom not to auction Pluton's design blueprints and explained his reasons.
Although he didn't know the specifics, Vladimir could roughly guess.
Doflamingo had already started acting, spreading the news of the "World's Number One Auction." As one of the Four Emperors, it was inevitable that Shanks would get the information.
Shanks' reason for stopping it was even simpler: the auction would attract a large number of ambitious individuals. How could these people obediently watch the blueprints be bought by someone else? It would definitely lead to war.
Not just a war between one power and another, but a super war involving multiple factions.
Vladimir had foreseen this situation and knew it was almost certain to happen. But so what?
Phantom feared nothing.
Let these people fight if they wanted to. As long as they behaved themselves at the auction site, if they couldn't even abide by the rules at the auction, then they would naturally make an example of them to warn others.
Therefore, Vladimir didn't want to bother with Shanks. Although he owed him a favor, that favor wasn't great enough for him to abandon this auction.
"This is my reply. Go back and explain it to Shanks."
Vladimir said unceremoniously, then gestured to the giant whale, completely ignoring the pirate ship, and continued heading towards Kaido's territory.
"Wait," the pirate hurriedly called out. "I've received your reply, but please tell me, which one of you from Phantom are you?"
"Vice-Captain."
A single sentence drifted back, and then Vladimir paid him no further attention.
Watching the giant whale gradually move away, the pirates on the pirate ship exchanged glances, all of them astonished.
"It's the Vice-Captain!"
"The Vice-Captain is a being above the Dominator-level executives, right? He doesn't seem particularly special."
"Idiot, didn't you see the woman behind him? That's Lujet, a special executive of the BIG·MOM Pirates!"
The animosity between the BIG·MOM Pirates and the Phantom Pirates was no secret. Now that an executive had been captured by Phantom's Vice-Captain, and this executive was a Dream-Dream Fruit user, it sparked much speculation.
Someone's mind raced, and they whispered, "Rumor has it that the BIG·MOM Pirates weren't completely wiped out, but fled into the Dream Realm. Now…"
The rest of the sentence didn't need to be spoken. The pirates collectively gasped.
This time, it seemed the BIG·MOM Pirates were truly finished.
"Regardless, report this to the Captain first!"
The pirate who had spoken with Vladimir earlier quickly took out a Den Den Mushi and dialed a number.
A moment later, the call connected.
"How is the situation?" Shanks' voice rang out. Q
"~.
"Reporting, Captain. We met someone from Phantom, but he tore up the letter and refused."
''
He didn't dare to say the phrase "He doesn't have that much face," but slightly rephrased it.
"Is that so?" Shanks seemed unsurprised. "Do you know which direction he went?"
"Kaido's territory."
"...I see." As if understanding something, Shanks asked with a smile, "Who is this person? Which existence from Phantom? Sea Dragon?"
"No, he claimed to be the Vice-Captain!"
"Vice-Captain?"
Shanks was stunned, his tone suddenly becoming serious.
"Also, Captain, this person captured Lujet from the BIG·MOM Pirates…"
...
Putting aside the conversation between Shanks and his subordinate, on the other side, the giant whale carried the two, heading rapidly towards Kaido's territory.
At this moment, Lujet, who had been silent, suddenly spoke. "I took a peek just now."
Vladimir didn't react.
Lujet said with surprise, "You're going to auction Pluton's design blueprints? The ancient weapon is in your hands?"
Ancient weapons, she certainly knew. Pluton was capable of sinking an island with a single blast.
"You talk too much, little girl," Vladimir said calmly, glancing at her. "I don't like noise."
"You guys are truly fearless!" Lujet continued, "The scale of the forces that will gather will far exceed imagination. Aren't you afraid they'll team up?"
This was highly possible. Given the value of Pluton's blueprints, there would be no shortage of ambitious individuals who couldn't afford the price. These people might not obediently participate in the auction.
Moreover, the Marines would absolutely not allow the blueprints to fall into the wrong hands, and would inevitably take action.
"Hehehehe…"
Hearing this, Vladimir chuckled twice. "Things that even you can think of, wouldn't we know? Even if we have to face the entire world, why should we fear?"
He paused, then added, "Before us, there is no enemy."
Before us, there is no enemy!
Lujet was stunned, then gave a bitter laugh.
"You are indeed strong. As a single force, even the World Government might not be your match. But in this world, it's not just about brute force; sometimes, there are other means. At least the Marines will definitely do something to prevent this from happening."
Hearing this, Vladimir remained unfazed and flicked his finger. "Kidō #11: Tsuzuri Raiden!"
A beam of spiritual light shot out, instantly transforming into a light film. It was like tape, easily sealing Lujet's mouth, rendering her unable to utter a single word…
"Mmph!?" Lujet opened her mouth, but couldn't. She tried to tear off the light film, but couldn't touch it.
"You talk too much. Mind your identity."
Vladimir looked at her speechlessly. "Everything is under control. If my predictions are correct, the Marines will send someone to steal the blueprints before the auction. They don't dare to act openly for now, so they'll do it secretly. And the chosen person…"
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