"I want to go there with you."
"Can you just send Sugar to your home? You will probably need someone to run errands when you go to Donquixote's place alone, right?"
Monet looked at Merlin with uneasy yet stubborn eyes. During this period of getting along, trust had long been established.
After knowing that there was a girl about the same age as Sugar in Merlin's home, and learning from Teresa that the woman named Yol was a very nice person, this idea was born in her heart.
And today was almost the last day before parting, so she summoned up the courage to come and ask.
Monet looked at Merlin, whose eyes were somewhat surprised, composed herself, and then said seriously: "I know you are someone who will do big things in the future, and you are very strong. I think as long as I follow you, I should be able to become stronger faster.
"Thereby, I can also help you better in the future."
After stating her thoughts, Monet looked at Merlin expectantly. Seeing this, Merlin, who was gazing at the setting sun sinking into the sea in the distance, turned back to look, his gaze calm: "The Donquixote Family is not easy to get along with. If things go wrong, I might have a conflict with them. Although I'm not afraid, you, as a burden, might die if things go bad."
Merlin wasn't polite and stated the potential risks bluntly. However, Monet's gaze remained unchanged: "I know, but I'm not afraid of death.
"There are risks in doing anything. My parents died in the risk named pirates on this sea.
"We pursued wealth in trade and couldn't withstand the risk this time, so we paid the price with our lives. I am mentally prepared to die at any time.
"I want to fight side by side with you. I won't become your burden. If I die because of this, it only proves that I, Monet, am only a woman of this level.
"It also proves that I am not worthy to stay by your side and stand shoulder to shoulder with you."
Speaking with clear logic, Monet suddenly smiled brightly at this time: "Also, it's not a bad thing for me to go with you. Isn't taking family members to cooperate with them exactly a form of sincerity?
"We are of the same age. I can pretend to be your family member. This way, I can also be a bargaining chip in the cooperation."
"I have to say, Monet, you are very eloquent." Merlin glanced at her and said lightly: "But have you thought about what Sugar should do if you die?"
"With you here, I believe you will raise Sugar into adulthood for me."
Monet's tone was calm, even somewhat cold.
Merlin fell into thought. He had to say that Monet's words were logical and clear, but the risks were indeed there. However, Merlin thought of his Equipment Slot.
So, Merlin looked into her eyes calmly and said: "Will you trust me unconditionally?"
Monet's eyes were serious: "Mmh! I trust you."
Looking at her sincere eyes, Merlin laughed and said: "Okay, then find a chance to say goodbye to Sugar! Also, remember to be prepared for arduous cultivation in future life."
Joy appeared in Monet's eyes, "Mmh, don't worry, I've already told Sugar in advance."
Hearing this, a strange look flashed in Merlin's eyes.
Monet smiled: "I'll go back and pack my things first. Then I won't disturb you."
Watching Monet walk into the cabin.
Merlin smiled, turned his head back, and the Equipment Slot appeared before his eyes.
The Synchro Value of [Human-Human Fruit, Demon Form] was now 4%.
Then, Merlin looked at the marine creature equipment he obtained earlier.
[Name: Peacock Mantis Shrimp]
[Effect: After equipping, grants you the biological characteristics possessed by the Peacock Mantis Shrimp.]
[Synchro Value: 6%]
[Evaluation: A strong and aggressive Peacock Mantis Shrimp. As a ferocious hunter in the reef area, it possesses ultra-high-speed offensive characteristics. After equipping for a long time, there is a probability of permanently obtaining the special species specialization possessed by this Peacock Mantis Shrimp.]
"Another equipment that hurts both others and oneself!"
A sigh couldn't help but emerge in his heart. However, injuries were actually the most worthless things for him.
Merlin took a deep breath calmly and slowly, clenched his right fist and raised it, then focused his gaze and punched forward instantly. Boom!
The air in front of the fist exploded instantly. A somewhat dispersed column-shaped shockwave spread forward for a hundred meters in a flash, blasting a crater several meters in diameter on the sea surface, waves surging out in all directions.
At this time, a smell of scorching came. Merlin placed his right arm in front of him, looking at the charred surface and everted flesh on his fist, and the cracking of internal bones. Merlin calmly experienced the bursts of stinging pain coming from his internal organs at this moment.
The next second, black flames rose in his body, absorbing the injury calamity.
In the blink of an eye, the internal and external injuries on Merlin's body disappeared.
"Lightning Reflexes" and Observation Haki allowed precise guidance. Plus the legendary Oni physique he now possessed, and the static and dynamic force in his body that could be initially applied.
This punch, by analogy with the attacks of strong figures in this world in his memory, was enough to rival the level of those elite Marine Vice Admirals.
Even stronger.
At this moment, Merlin silently experienced the bio-electricity in his body, perceiving the bio-electricity under the boost of "Awakening Specialization."
It could already be put into actual combat. 100,000 Volts could already be used, but at the same time, the threat to himself was greater. A few days ago, Merlin found a pirate with a bounty of 28 million to experiment. He simulated the electric eel's discharge and burst out.
In an instant, a blue-white spherical electric field of ten meters in diameter erupted. Both Merlin and the opponent had large areas of their bodies charred and cracked simultaneously. And that pirate was killed instantly.
"A pseudo-mutual destruction tactic. The opponent dies, while I can live."
Plus his current physique strength and his Calamity ability, this was the confidence Merlin had to go find Doflamingo.
Not saying he could take them all on alone, but he had the confidence to retreat unscathed with Monet.
Even if a clash occurred then, he believed that with Doflamingo's shrewdness, he wouldn't choose to fight to the death with Merlin (fish dies and net breaks).
This was the confidence brought by strength.
Merlin looked at the sea in the distance, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. Then, Merlin flipped over and jumped off the ship, arriving at the open space below.
Drawing his sword, Night Earl was raised in front of him, and he began to practice swinging the sword.
Constraining his power, experiencing the touch of the blade slicing through the atmosphere when swinging the sword.
Gusts of whistling wind swung out from the blade edge.
As time passed continuously, with the gradual coordination of swinging force and speed, as he raised the sword and slashed, the air around the blade gradually formed a high-speed flowing shear field.
Thereby creating a vacuum state.
Through the movement of muscles and sinews of the body, constraints on his own strength, like shockwaves, vacuum slashes that worked sometimes and sometimes didn't flew out from the blade edge.
Merlin cultivated attentively.
However, the slashes sweeping the seawater by the shore caused the sailing ship to start rocking. Before long, several people on the ship stood at the railing, watching Merlin swing his sword below.
Unrest appeared in Fulvio's eyes, and he couldn't help speaking: "Has this monster already touched the level of a Sword Master (Kengou)?"
A strange brilliance flashed in Teresa's eyes beside him, her lips parting slightly: "No, Merlin is already a Sword Master. He has awakened Observation Haki and can already perceive the breath of all things.
"Now slashing out Flying Slashes, he already is!"
"Sister, could it be you?"
Fulvio couldn't help speaking.
A smile flashed in Teresa's eyes, "Some time ago, when Merlin communicated with us, he said it. I dove in the sea once, and in a near-death state, I suddenly perceived some marvelous things.
"These past few days, I have initially mastered that power."
Fulvio was dumbfounded listening, then gave his sister a deep look, and then without a word, didn't even have time to take off his shirt, flipped over and jumped into the seawater with a splash.
Teresa's eye corner twitched. She hurriedly took a deep breath to calm down, perceiving her brother's state through Observation Haki to prevent him from being ambushed by creatures like sharks appearing suddenly in the sea.
Merlin glanced at Fulvio's position, then ignored him and continued to practice.
However, Fulvio, who almost suffocated himself, still failed to awaken.
Regarding this, he was unhappy for a long time.
Next day noon, 1:00 PM.
Underground auction house in the Core Safe Zone.
——————
This was an underground space the size of a basketball court.
The overall layout structure here was a coliseum like a bird's nest.
Around the coliseum were tiered stone seats, while dark red carpets were laid in the beast fighting ground below.
In the center of the venue, a display stand was placed.
And a middle-aged man in a suit and leather shoes wearing an evil spirit mask was currently guiding loudly with his bewitching tone: "The eighteenth auction item, a treasure map. It is said to be the location of treasures buried in a lost treasury by Germa when they unified the North Blue two hundred years ago until they were overthrown 66 days later.
"Starting price 10 million Berries. Still, each bid increase not less than one million.
"Then, bidding starts!!!"
At this moment, as the auction host finished speaking, the breathing of most people in the venue instantly became rapid.
In the North Blue, Germa 66 was a household name representing evil.
The comic strip "Sora, Warrior of the Sea vs. Germa 66" was even one of the enlightenment teachings for children.
And at this moment, Merlin and the others, wearing masks, sat in seats near the front. Fulvio beside him said in a subtle tone: "Evil Army Germa! Didn't expect this auction to involve them."
At this time, bidding voices had already rung out one after another in the surrounding venue.
"15 million!"
"25 million!"
"28 million!"
"40 million!"
"Tsk tsk! If our target wasn't this, I would want to bid for it and go look for it when free!"
Fulvio said with some excitement in his voice.
At this time, Sugar sitting beside pulled Merlin's sleeve, "Brother Merlin, does the big bad guy Germa 66 really exist?"
Merlin nodded with a smile: "Exists.
"And is still active in unknown sea areas of the North Blue nowadays."
"How do you know? Maybe they are already extinct?" Fulvio argued stubbornly.
Merlin said speechlessly: "Are you sure they are already extinct?"
Fulvio was at a loss for words, saying helplessly: "Boring. I made a joke, can't you tell?"
At this time, a person with a familiar tone sitting more than ten meters away on the right bid 60 million to win this treasure map.
Merlin cast his gaze over. The other party was very keen and met Merlin's eyes.
It was Gladius.