Chapter 161: Akainu: Then We'll Just Have to Sacrifice the Marines!
It was a reasonable guess.
There were indeed many Devil Fruits that were weak at first but could grow stronger through exploiting others.
The most classic example was the Queen of Totland, the Soul-Soul Fruit user, who could freely strip away life spans and souls, creating a kingdom of countless Homies.
Then there was Warlord Gecko Moria, who collected shadows to create the eerie Thriller Bark domain.
"The Game Merchant's fruit may very well be a superior version of the Shadow-Shadow and Soul-Soul Fruits!"
Akainu spoke with a heavy tone. "First, he tricks pirates into accepting skills and equipment. In the end, he strips them of everything—feeding off their strength to empower himself!"
"This is a Devil Fruit powerful enough to threaten the world. Perhaps even more dangerous than Rocks back in his prime."
"I propose we nip the Game Merchant in the bud before it's too late!"
Murderous intent surged.
This was Akainu's doctrine of "Absolute Justice."
Any potential evil or threat to peace must be mercilessly eradicated before it could grow.
"Objection."
A vice admiral spoke up. "If the Game Merchant's fruit works as you say, acting rashly may endanger those who are already contract holders."
Powers that granted strength often came with hidden curses.
If it could form beneficial contracts, what's stopping it from forming cursed ones too?
In the East Blue, hundreds of Marines had already become contract players.
If they provoked the Game Merchant, what if he retaliated by targeting Marine players?
"Then sacrifice them."
Akainu's voice was cold.
"If sacrificing a few hundred Marines can ensure world peace, then they'll have died with honor."
"The moment they joined the Marines, they accepted life-and-death struggles. Should we fear loss and cower when facing pirates?"
"If I ever see a Marine hesitating to kill a pirate, hanging back while others fight, only to later protest 'unnecessary sacrifice'—that coward will be personally executed by my magma fists."
The oppressive aura from the admiral silenced many of the vice admirals, making them sit upright involuntarily.
"Akainu!"
Sengoku wasn't fazed. He slammed the table.
"You're too impulsive. Even the Five Elders haven't ordered his capture. If Marine HQ oversteps, how will we answer to the World Government?"
He privately agreed with Akainu's logic—threats should be eliminated early.
But the Five Elders had issued an uncharacteristically restrained order.
Normally, they'd never tolerate someone like the Game Merchant stirring up the world.
What had changed? Was it really just because of the "Celestial Dragon" Buggy?
Sengoku was also troubled, but the situation was still manageable.
"Vice Admiral Tsuru has already gone to the East Blue. Once she probes the Game Merchant's strength and reports back, we'll act."
He wasn't worried that the Game Merchant could overturn everything.
This world had its share of pirates and revolutionaries, but the strongest power remained with Marine HQ.
They had the three admirals, Sengoku himself, Garp the Fist, the Seven Warlords of the Sea, and the unfathomable strength of the Five Elders.
Even Whitebeard, the so-called strongest man in the world, wouldn't dare provoke them directly.
So even if the Game Merchant had some mysterious tricks to grow stronger…
Was he really a threat to Marine HQ?
It would just cost them more effort to take him down.
All they needed now was to wait for the Five Elders to give the capture order.
But letting the number of contract players grow unchecked was not an option.
After a long silence, Sengoku gave his orders:
"Deploy Marines from HQ to the East Blue to collect contract fruits. No use of powers unless necessary."
"Capture pirates and civilians who have become contract players."
"Keep close surveillance on Marine players. If necessary, detain or… take other measures."
These commands would undoubtedly stir controversy.
Especially the last one. Monitoring Marine players could shake morale—but if they didn't, and the Game Merchant corrupted them from within, the damage could be worse.
This was the safest course of action Sengoku could come up with.
Nearly ten thousand contract players now roamed the edges of the Death Isle in Trial Tower, pushing ever inward.
The spirit monsters they fought dropped loot and equipment that filled their eyes with greed—like raiding villages for treasure.
But unlike helpless villagers, these monsters fought back fiercely.
The rewards, however, were well worth it.
Some pirates, after comparing their looted equipment with the petty coins they used to steal from towns, were struck by how meaningless their past efforts had been.
It took them days to raid a guarded village and scrape together a few million Beli.
But now they could get strange new gear that visibly made them stronger.
Power surged into their bodies—and none could resist the temptation.
"LUFFY, GET BACK HERE!"
Nami's soft features twisted into rage as she watched the Straw Hat captain leap into a mob of ghosts.
She swung her magical broom, scattering cold powder that slowed the spirits' movements.
Luffy's fists glowed faintly blue, like they were wrapped in boxing gloves.
Gomu Gomu no Gatling!
His arms stretched out, punching frozen ghosts into smoke with a flurry of blows.
He hadn't adapted to fighting without his Devil Fruit, so he begged Nami to lend him some reward points to unlock it.
The Lv.1 version of the Gomu Gomu no Mi wasn't as versatile, but it worked.
And paired with the passive [Fist Qi] skill, it was surprisingly powerful.
[Fist Qi] enhanced his punch speed, hardness, and penetration.
In just one day, he'd leveled it up to 3.
Zoro was also harnessing ghost energy with every slash, blending it into his swordsmanship.
Only Nami felt like she'd gotten on the wrong boat.
Zoro fought like a madman.
Luffy wasn't any better—he kept charging into hordes of ghosts, only to respawn moments later in a flash of white light.
Their hunting gains barely covered their revival costs.
And they were always looking at her with those expectant eyes.
At first, Nami had been thrilled to lend points—charging interest, of course.
But now she could see her investment vanishing with every reckless death.
"LUFFY YOU IDIOT! ZORO YOU MORON!"
"If I see either of you run into another ghost mob—don't expect another single point from me!"
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