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Swish—
Just as the falling blade was about to connect, Merlin drifted backward with the wind like a tuft of willow fluff.
Seeing this, Gion furrowed her brows. Although she had her suspicions, a wave of competitive defiance surged in her heart.
He was looking down on her, using her as a whetstone to sharpen his skills.
Gion grit her teeth secretly, and the Great Grade blade, Konpira, slashed out continuously like a gale of wind and thunder.
In the blink of an eye, a curtain of razor-sharp blade strikes assaulted him. At this moment, a red glow lit up in Merlin's eyes—a manifestation of highly advanced Observation Haki. The shadow beneath his feet crept upward like a fluid.
In an instant, it wrapped around Merlin's entire body again.
Shadow tentacles shot out from Merlin's Shadow Armor, the tips of which were shaped into knife-like shadow blades.
Clang clang clang clang clang...
Beams of sword light collided with shadow blades, causing blinding sparks to bloom in the air.
Through the collision of the shadow blades, Merlin could clearly feel the cutting force Gion delivered with each swing.
It felt like being hammered by an invisible mallet.
Invisible Haki wrapped around the blade edge. It wasn't the "cut through anything" sharpness brought by Hardening, but rather a kind of "force"—a sword intent containing her will to domineeringly destroy everything.
Again and again, the blades and shadows clashed.
Offense and defense shifted between the two.
Merlin stood motionless in one spot, yet pitch-black shadow tentacles tipped with blades constantly shot out from around him.
The sky was filled with dancing black tentacles carrying sharp edges, enveloping every corner of Gion's body. Gion, however, maneuvered with incredible agility within a small area. Every time she swung her sword, she would knock away a shadow blade or flip a whole cluster of them into the air.
Or, she would sever the shadow tentacles with a single cut, causing them to fall to the ice and dissolve into fleeing shadows.
Every time a shadow tentacle was cut, a light slash wound would appear on Merlin's physical body. However, the moment this "calamity" of injury appeared, it was absorbed by the shadow covering his body surface.
Merlin calmly used his Observation Haki to perceive Gion, who was five meters in front of him.
Although her Observation Haki wrapped around her body surface, blocking Merlin's prying Haki, her bio-electric field betrayed her. She could only block, not completely shield his perception.
She didn't know Observation Killing.
Through the bio-electric field, Merlin clearly sensed the flow of bio-electricity within her, and by extension, deduced the way her muscles operated.
He perceived every inch of muscle recruitment during her footwork and sword swings.
Her body moved as her heart commanded.
Explosive force, force dispersal.
She had thoroughly mastered the techniques of the Six Powers (Rokushiki), including Paper Art (Kami-e), and Merlin was focusing on learning this specific technique from her.
As time passed, Tsuru's voice suddenly came from the government ship not far away. "Gion, come back! You can't defeat him right now, so don't waste your energy on him in vain!"
Clang!
With a slash that sent a shadow blade flying, Gion leaped backward into mid-air. With a snap of air being stepped on, she returned to the ship in the blink of an eye.
At this time, the Shadow Armor covering Merlin's body softened and returned to his feet.
"Vice Admiral Tsuru, that's not quite right. Gion and I were clearly sparring to improve our techniques together!"
Saying this, Merlin moved, appearing in mid-air. With a pop of exploding air beneath his feet, he landed on the deck.
Looking at Gion, who wasn't even flushed or out of breath a few meters away, Merlin couldn't help but sigh, "You're a notch stronger than that guy Moria. It's a pity you don't have a suitable ability."
Gion's gaze was calm, but she suddenly chuckled. "What? You want to give me a Devil Fruit to woo me?"
Merlin looked at her like she was an idiot and didn't say a word. Gion's cheeks instantly turned red with anger. Merlin let out a scoff. "In your dreams!"
Her teeth ground together loudly.
Her eyes looked like they were about to spit fire, and her chest heaved heavily. However, Merlin suddenly changed his tone and laughed, "But it's not impossible to give you one. As long as you quit the Marines and join my pirate crew, I'll give you a suitable one."
Saying this, he subtly threw a sarcastic jab at Tsuru. "For a major power that dominates the Four Blues and Paradise, you guys are pretty stingy not to even assign a suitable fruit to your own high-ranking officers."
Tsuru paused, and Doflamingo beside him started laughing, joining in the sarcasm without hesitation. "That's right, Merlin is right. The Marines are stingy, unwilling to part with even a single suitable fruit."
He looked at Gion and extended his hand. "How about it? Want to come to my side? As long as you agree to be my family, I'll definitely find the fruit you want."
Gion's face went black, and she snorted disdainfully. "Be your family? I'd rather die. Besides, you aren't exactly my type."
Doflamingo's eye twitched. Merlin held back a laugh, and Tsuru's eyes also held a smile. Gion was the little sister she had brought up; she trusted her completely.
After the small interlude.
The transaction continued. During this time, the two precious metals had been verified.
Under Tsuru's supervision, eight government workers brought out 19 boxes.
They were opened one by one. Eighteen of the boxes were filled with brand-new 10,000 Berry notes.
The last box contained two peculiar Devil Fruits.
"The boxes for the Berries contain 500 million each. As for the remaining two Devil Fruits, they are both Ancient Zoans.
"One is the Dragon-Dragon Fruit, Ancient Model: Baryonyx.
"The other is the Fish-Fish Fruit, Ancient Model: Megalodon.
"Their value is roughly one billion.
"Totaling 10 billion Berries."
Tsuru spoke calmly. Doflamingo grinned. "Not bad, you kept your word."
Saying this, Doflamingo looked at Merlin. "Regarding the Devil Fruit I promised you, you can choose to take one of these right now."
He continued with a smile, "Of course, if you want both, that's fine too. Consider it an advance on your commission."
Even with Tsuru right there, Doflamingo didn't mind her knowing about his cooperative employment relationship with Merlin.
In fact, he said it deliberately so the threat assessment of the Donquixote Family would decrease appropriately.
After all, him partnering with Merlin's crew would somewhat irritate the Marines' sensitive nerves.
He considered himself no weaker than any single Shichibukai. And Merlin had personally killed one.
A faction with two Shichibukai-level combatants would inevitably attract too much attention.
Firstly, he didn't like that.
Secondly, it didn't fit his current development plan for the family.
Hearing this, the corner of Merlin's mouth lifted slightly. He examined one of the fruits—it was blue-black, shaped like a giant toothed maw, with a stem like a shark fin.
He extended a finger and flicked it. A shadow fell upon the fruit. The shadow of the Megalodon fruit instantly swelled, turning into a black hand that grabbed the fruit and handed it over.
Merlin opened his right hand to grasp the fruit, then spoke. "For the one hiring me, I want a Paramecia. Of course, I wouldn't mind a Logia either.
"How about it?"
Doflamingo smirked, looking at Merlin somewhat speechlessly. "Greedy. But I don't hate it."
He chuckled.
Then, hooking his fingers, strings wrapped around the boxes one by one. Doflamingo smiled. "Pleasure doing business. hope we have the chance to cooperate again next time.
"By the way, Tsuru, let's discuss something. In the future, could you stop chasing me?"
Tsuru narrowed her eyes. "This time was an exception. Next time I see you, if you don't run, I'll send you to Impel Down."
She watched the two leave the cabin one after another. However, just as Merlin was about to walk out, Tsuru suddenly spoke.
"You killed Moria, so do you want to take his place?
"Since its establishment, the Seven Warlords of the Sea (Shichibukai) has always upheld the principle: the mediocre step down, and the strong step up."
As soon as these words came out, even Doflamingo, who was walking ahead, paused. A heaviness flashed in his eyes. Tsuru's open schemes were truly omnipresent.
Merlin understood her meaning immediately and shook his head with a smile. "Before the agreement between Doffy and me is completed, I won't take that seat.
"Even though I'm a pirate, I keep the promises I make."
He didn't close the door completely.
Just as the future Doflamingo once said:
In this Great Pirate Era where pirates and Marines fight to the death, the ones living the smartest lives have always been the Shichibukai.
Like a smear of dark gray sandwiched between the white of the Marines and the black of the pirates.
Living comfortably.
As for the World Government's orders?
Usually, just doing the bare minimum works fine.
After all, even the World Government can't force the Shichibukai to risk their lives for them. Not every Shichibukai is named Kuma.
Hearing this, both sides felt at ease.
Doflamingo grinned even wider, feeling that Merlin was someone he could continue to cooperate with if given the chance.
A subtle look flashed in Tsuru's eyes.
But then she thought of something and spoke directly, "By the way, return Who's-Who's shadow."
"Will you write down the key points of Rokushiki training for me?"
Merlin didn't bother pretending anymore.
Tsuru was speechless. "That's impossible."
Merlin jumped onto his ship and chuckled at her. "Then just wait until I've played with it for a couple of days. When I get bored, I'll return it. Alright, turn the page on this matter. If you keep chasing it, I'll just kill him."
"..." Tsuru was helpless.
Not long after.
Watching the two large pirate ships sail away side by side into the distance.
Who's-Who walked out of the cabin wrapped in a quilt. But the moment he stepped out, his body ignited without any fire. He instantly let out a miserable scream. But immediately after, the burning spot healed—the sun had set.
Who's-Who fell to his knees, cold sweat pouring down. At this time, a voice sounded: "Your shadow was taken by him. Until he returns it, you cannot face the sunlight, or you will vanish."
Hearing this, Who's-Who turned his head to see Tsuru looking at him calmly.
Who's-Who was terrified, but in an instant, a wave of anger surged in his heart. "Why didn't you make him return my shadow? You have the ability to do so."
Hearing this, a flash of displeasure passed through Tsuru's eyes. She had the ability, but she couldn't guarantee with 100% certainty that she could get it back.
Beside her, Gion's gaze turned cold, and she couldn't help but mock him, "I wonder which brainless idiot started picking a fight first, and now he's anxious?
"Sister Tsuru asked him for it, but the other party said he'd play with it for a few days before returning it. He also said if we tried to take it by force, he'd kill a certain idiot first."
Who's-Who glared at Gion but was only capable of impotent rage.
However, Tsuru comforted him kindly, "Don't worry. He took your shadow perhaps to study Rokushiki. Once he figures it out, he will return it to you."
"That's Rokushiki! Just let him steal it from me like that?"
"Well... he has pretty much already stolen and learned it himself!"
"..."
Who's-Who looked shocked, his face fluctuating between pale and red. He gritted his teeth, but there was nothing he could do.
---
After a brief convergence, Merlin and Doflamingo hurried to part ways again.
Pink looked melancholically at the Numancia Flamingo, which had already turned into a black dot under the bright moonlight in the distance.
"What? Want to go back to your family? If you want to, I'm not forcibly keeping you here."
Pink looked helpless. "Doffy asked me to continue following you as a liaison for intelligence."
"Won't Baby 5 do?"
"She won't do. She's just a little girl who doesn't understand things yet. All she can do is follow orders."
"Then, for the time being, please continue to look after me."
Merlin finished with a smile.
Then he went to the side of the deck and began to practice Rokushiki techniques using the body instincts brought by Who's-Who's shadow.
The practice of Rokushiki did not form a separate skill specialty but was integrated into the [Master Level Taijutsu] specialty.
Merlin had no opinion on this.
From the immobile Iron Body to the super-high-speed Shave, the sky-walking Moonwalk, the slash-kicking Tempest Kick, the finger-piercing Finger Pistol, and finally Paper Art.
He practiced round after round. Without holding back, at Merlin's signal, Monet used various ice and snow moves to attack Merlin's body, engaging in a "fierce" battle with Merlin's Rokushiki. Occasionally, Merlin would speak out the key points of Rokushiki training he had comprehended.
While attacking, Monet listened carefully. Perona and Baby 5 had also come over at some point to listen attentively.
Pink, naturally, did the same.
During this time on Merlin's ship, as long as it was about training, if he asked, Merlin never hid anything.
It gave him a very comfortable mode of interaction.
Not a family by blood, yet better than a family.
He longed for a real home.
This was something the Donquixote "Blood Family" could not bring him.
In his heart, he had already recognized Merlin as a good friend.
---
Seven days later.
Evening.
Volgala Kingdom.
Port City.
The ship stopped in an unmanaged area on the northeast side of the island.
A merchant ship sailed over.
Merlin stood at the bow, watching Fulvio leap over from the opposite bow. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly as he gave him a strong hug. "Haven't seen you in half a year, your bones have gotten tougher!"
"Hehe!" Fulvio laughed strangely. "How can I compare to you? You're the famous White Demon now!
"That name scares people to death!"
Merlin rolled his eyes at him speechless and said directly, "By the way, regarding what I asked you to check... the royal nobles of Volgala are all here, right?"
Fulvio nodded softly. "They disappeared for a few months, but in the last month or two, they've returned one after another."
Saying this, he took out a piece of intelligence from his trouser pocket. "Here is the list recording thirteen noble families, including the royal family.
"Maybe there are some that slipped through the net, but basically, they are all here."
Merlin nodded.
At this time, Fulvio continued, "With your huge financial support, the basic intelligence system has been successfully built. Various intelligence from the North Blue flows to me one after another every day.
"I also purchased a batch of surveillance Den Den Mushi and distributed them in some prosperous cities.
"If you want any intelligence in the future, we can obtain it quickly ourselves."
Merlin nodded with a smile in his eyes. "Then next, our intelligence focus will be placed on the area near Reverse Mountain and on Germa 66."
A flash of excitement passed through Fulvio's eyes. "You want to make a move on Germa?"
Merlin shook his head. "Depending on the situation."
"Alright. Enough talk for now. There is a batch of treasure on my ship. Go find Monet; take a batch and continue investing it into weaving the intelligence network.
"However, I hope you can acquire some black markets or buy shares. I hope that in the future, we are the ones controlling the entire underground world's intelligence network."
Fulvio raised an eyebrow. Merlin's ambition was beginning to show, but it only made him excited because it was challenging. "Good! Just leave it to me."
Saying this, Merlin patted his shoulder, then his figure flashed and disappeared.
Fulvio blinked, looking at the spot where he could no longer sense Merlin at all. A smile unconsciously rose on his lips. "It seems you've become incredibly strong!
"In that case, I can't slack off either!"
A moment later, Merlin arrived in the noble district in the city center, standing before a manor. This was Duke Larcade's manor.
The shadow beneath his feet spread out with his Observation Haki, assimilating the shadows in the dark night until it shrouded the entire ducal manor.
In the next instant.
Positions swapped.
Merlin arrived in a study.
He saw a middle-aged man with dark gold eyes dressed decently. The man also saw Merlin, and his expression changed drastically in an instant.
His mouth opened slightly, but immediately after, his mouth could only stay open; he could no longer control his body.
Merlin glanced at the shadow beneath the man's feet without saying a word. The Amber Lead Calamity invaded his body, and the bodies of everyone in the manor, through the shadows.
Not long after, Merlin took the wealth from his family's treasury.
Then, he went through the families on the list one by one. Finally, he arrived at the Royal Castle located at the highest point of the kingdom.
The Royal Family was not spared either.
However, there was a pleasant surprise.
In the Royal Treasury.
Among the treasures that filled his eyes, Merlin's figure stopped in front of a small chest he had opened. Inside was a gray-green Devil Fruit.
Having read the illustrated handbook, Merlin quickly confirmed it.
[Paramecia - Sick-Sick Fruit (Shiku Shiku no Mi)]