The line remained silent for a few seconds.
"Speak."
Riser slid his fingers over the table, eyes fixed on the Den Den Mushi.
"I want information."
The snail mimicked Crocodile's expression, eyes narrowing, a half-smile of disdain appearing.
"Hmph... Information?"
A low, drawn-out laugh echoed through the device.
"Do you think Baroque Works sells that kind of thing?"
Riser rested an elbow on the table, the other hand idly twirling a piece of hardened wax.
"You deal in anything profitable."
"That's true." Crocodile took a deep breath, his voice cold. "But information isn't a product I'm interested in selling."
Alvida crossed her arms, watching Riser with a curious gleam in her eyes.
"So, we can't negotiate?"
"What do you want to know?"
Riser twirled the wax between his fingers, the firelight reflecting off the material.
"I want to know about the Shichibukai."
Silence took over the line. Only the sound of the night breeze blowing through the forest filled the momentary void.
"The Shichibukai?" Crocodile's voice came out slow, drawn-out, laden with suspicion. "Why do you want to know about them?"
Riser continued twirling the wax between his fingers, eyes fixed on the dancing flames before him.
"One of them holds a secret."
Crocodile's low, cynical laugh echoed through the Den Den Mushi.
"All the Shichibukai have secrets. You'll have to be more specific."
Riser didn't respond immediately. He continued to play with the piece of wax, feeling the weight of Alvida's and Miss Valentine's gazes upon him. The tension in the clearing grew like a beast about to awaken.
"Calm down, Mr. 0."
The silence on the other end of the line became heavier.
"I am calm."
"Then don't act cornered."
A snap echoed through the Den Den Mushi. Crocodile tapped his fingers against the table, impatient.
"You're starting to irritate me, pirate."
"It's a Shichibukai with great ambition."
The sound stopped. Not even Crocodile's breathing was heard for a moment.
Miss Valentine exchanged a quick glance with Goldenweek, who continued fiddling with her paints without showing any emotion.
The snail blinked slowly, mimicking its owner's hardened expression.
"That still doesn't tell me anything."
Riser leaned forward slightly, resting his forearms on the table. His golden eyes gleamed under the firelight.
"It doesn't because you don't want it to. But you know exactly who I'm talking about."
Crocodile remained silent.
"So, Mr. 0, what do you have to say about him?"
"Him who? You still haven't said the name."
Crocodile's voice came out laden with boredom and impatience. The dry sound of his fingers drumming against the table echoed through the device.
Riser twirled the piece of wax between his fingers, his expression unchanged.
"If you can't deduce, perhaps I overestimated your intelligence, Mr. 0."
The loud grinding of teeth crossed the line.
"Tsk... You think you can test me, pirate?"
Alvida let out a low laugh, resting the club on her shoulder.
"He's getting nervous."
Miss Valentine exchanged a quick glance with Goldenweek, who continued mixing paints without showing any emotion.
"If you're so influential, then prove it. So far, you've only shown you're useless for negotiations."
The Den Den Mushi trembled.
"You dare call me useless?"
Crocodile's voice rose, filled with contained fury.
"I don't sell information, you bastard! Who do you think you are to come to me with these demands?"
The dust around the fire rose as Riser sighed slowly. He dropped the piece of wax on the table and leaned back, his golden eyes shimmering under the flickering light.
"Then you're a merchant without merchandise. You have nothing to offer but empty words."
The table on the other end of the line creaked.
"You're playing with fire, pirate."
Riser looked at Alvida, who merely raised an eyebrow, amused by the situation.
"Fire? Hmph... I thought I was dealing with someone more professional. But it seems I wasted my time."
Riser's fingers hovered over the receiver.
"I'll find another seller."
Click.
The Den Den Mushi went silent.
Alvida whistled, impressed.
"You really hung up on him."
Miss Valentine still seemed tense, but Goldenweek merely blew on the fresh paint on the wood, indifferent.
Riser stood slowly, stretching his shoulders with a slight crack.
"He wasn't worth the investment."
The fire's flame wavered in the wind.
Alvida smiled, twirling the club in her fingers.
"So, where to now?"
Riser's golden eyes reflected the fire's glow.
Riser's golden eyes reflected the fire's glow. He turned slowly, his gaze landing on the unconscious body of Mr. 3. The Baroque Works agent lay on the ground, his breathing weak and irregular.
Calm footsteps echoed through the clearing.
Riser approached, his boots crushing the damp soil.
Goldenweek glanced briefly but quickly returned to her paints. Miss Valentine, however, watched every movement, her trembling fingers clutching her clothing.
The fire's heat cast distorted shadows on Mr. 3's face. Sweat trickled down his forehead, even in unconsciousness.
Riser knelt beside the fallen man. His eyes gleamed.
Silence.
Nothing changed for the others.
But within Mr. 3's mind...
A storm of images.
Sandstone walls. A suspension bridge over a dry moat. A massive structure in the middle of the desert, surrounded by endless dunes.
A casino.
Rain Dinners.
The image remained fixed, pulsing in Mr. 3's mind.
Riser saw it all.
The whisper of voices, clandestine meetings, Crocodile on the throne of his own sovereignty. Information flowed like a mighty river, each detail unfolding like an invisible map within the unconscious agent's mind.
Then, it ceased.
Riser blinked once.
The surrounding silence returned to absolute.
He stood.
Nothing in his expression betrayed what he had discovered.
Alvida raised an eyebrow.
"Finished?"
Riser didn't respond. He merely moved away from Mr. 3 and walked back to the fire, his gaze distant.
Miss Valentine hesitated before speaking.
"What will become of me and Goldenweek?"
Goldenweek didn't lift her head, but her fingers paused over the palette.
The fire crackled.
Alvida slung the club over her shoulder, watching Riser with a crooked smile.
"Yeah, boss. What's the plan?"
The golden glow in his eyes flickered under the firelight.
"Wait."
Miss Valentine frowned.
"What?"
Goldenweek finally lifted her eyes, the brush suspended in the air.
"Wait for what?"
The wind blew strong, making the flames dance.
Riser looked toward the forest ahead.
His eyes were already beyond.
.....
The smell of roasted meat mixed with the heat of the fire, filling the air with an irresistible aroma. Luffy stuffed his mouth with succulent pieces, his eyes shining with happiness.
"Shishishishi! This meat is amazing, Dorry!"
The giant let out a thunderous laugh, pounding his fist on his chest.
"Ho Ho Ho! An Elbaf warrior always has a good feast before battle!"
Zoro chewed calmly, observing the two with half-closed eyes.
"So you really fight the other giant every day?"
Dorry raised the jug of drink, spilling a little before taking a long gulp.
"Yes! Brogy and I have been in this duel for a hundred years! It's our pride as warriors!"
Luffy raised his arms, still holding pieces of meat.
"That's amazing! I bet the fights are super fun!"
Dorry smiled, but before he could respond—
BOOM!
The ground shook violently. The plates of meat rattled on the stone. Luffy looked around, confused.
"What was that?"
BOOM! BOOM!
Zoro dropped his plate, standing up in a swift motion.
"That wasn't normal."
The muffled sound grew, reverberating through the giant trees like subterranean thunder. Then—
KRK-KRAAAAH!
The volcano at the center of the island roared, spewing fire and ash into the sky. The explosion made the air vibrate, the glow of the lava illuminating the night.
Luffy's eyes widened.
"Uooooh! That was awesome!"
Dorry, however, wasn't smiling. His eyes gleamed with intense fervor as he stood up.
"It's time!"
He grabbed his gigantic sword and struck it against the ground.
THOOM!
Luffy tilted his head.
"Time for what?"
Dorry turned to him, his face now serious.
"The eruption is our signal! The duel between Elbaf warriors resumes!"
Without hesitation, he began to walk, his steps sinking into the soil.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
Luffy jumped with excitement.
"That's amazing! I want to see!"
Zoro clicked his tongue, crossing his arms.
"Tsk... This is going to be trouble."
The sound of boiling lava and the volcano's roar continued to echo across the island. Dorry moved forward, his immense silhouette standing out against the incandescent light.
Luffy smiled, excited.
"Let's follow him!"
Before Zoro could protest, Luffy was already running ahead.
'That idiot...'
With a heavy sigh, the swordsman followed him, as the sound of the impending battle filled the air.
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