Chapter 193: The Five Elders' Astronomical Call Fee
"You dare court death?!"
"How arrogant…"
Spandam roared furiously.
Even Sengoku's expression turned grim, and the surrounding Marine commanders glared in outrage.
Though the Navy had openly broken ties with the World Government, the conflict was, at its core, between Sengoku as Fleet Admiral and the highest rulers—the Five Elders.
After all,
Marine Headquarters was still part of the World Government.
To overthrow the Government would mean stepping over the corpses of the Marines. There was no avoiding that.
But now, the leader of the Revolutionary Army—who had just displayed overwhelming power and stolen the first kill of the Lord-tier monster from Smoker—suddenly asked a question like this…
It felt like a public slap to the faces of both the Marines and the Government.
If Dragon had done as the noble armies had—quietly opposing the Navy—Sengoku might've pretended not to notice.
But in this moment,
when the attention of the entire sea was focused on them,
if the Navy and World Government let Dragon's question slide,
his words could become the key that opened Pandora's box.
Just then—
Spandam climbed to a high point on the Island of Death, holding up a golden Den Den Mushi, waving frantically toward Fang Yi floating in the sky.
"Stop, Spandam."
"If I'm not mistaken, everything on this island is within the Game Merchant's awareness. You just need to quietly hold the Den Den Mushi."
Spandam stood respectfully, holding the golden Den Den Mushi aloft.
From it came a low voice:
"Merchant, I am Jaygarcia Saturn, Supreme Ruler of the World Government and Warrior God of Science and Defense."
There was no effort to sound imposing,
but his long-standing dominance over the world was so great, even through a Den Den Mushi, Spandam could hardly breathe.
"Lord Saturn, are you comfortable with a call fee of ten thousand reward points per minute?"
Far away in Mary Geoise, within the towering spired palace,
the Five Elders sat solemnly as they watched the East Blue Trial Tower through a specially bred, high-definition Visual Den Den Mushi.
Saturn, holding a Den Den Mushi, heard Fang Yi's question and nodded. "That is acceptable."
Ten thousand reward points for one minute of conversation.
An amount so exorbitant that calling it "extravagant" would be an understatement—yet it didn't cause the Five Elders to flinch in the slightest.
Regular interdimensional calls required reward points as fees.
A direct line to the Game Merchant—a privilege—naturally came with a steep cost.
The Den Den Mushi in Spandam's hands slowly floated into the air, stopping in front of Fang Yi.
From within, Saturn's voice echoed:
"Merchant, I request that you cancel the Revolutionary leader's prize draw eligibility."
The crowd erupted.
Everyone—pirates, Marines, and Revolutionaries alike—looked around in disbelief.
The Game Merchant had shown such terrifying mystery that even Marine Headquarters didn't dare make a move.
Yet this man on the other end of the Den Den Mushi dared to directly request a reversal of a publicly-earned first kill reward?
Ever since the Reincarnation Game appeared in the pirate world—
The Contract Fruits, missions, reward points, gear, skills—
Everything operated under one rule:
Equivalent Exchange.
Submit a few million Berries' worth of low-grade iron ore in a contract mission, and you'd get a basic starter sword.
Submit hundreds of millions' worth of high-quality ore, and the reward would be a blue-grade skill.
The higher the quality of a Fate Item, the more reward points it cost.
Whoever had the points could get the item, gain the power.
No bias for Marines.
No discrimination against pirates.
Even a world-class criminal like the Revolutionary leader could obtain destructive power—or a draw opportunity—fair and square.
The Reincarnation Game ran under a jungle law concept of absolute fairness.
That was its core philosophy since Fang Yi had appeared.
How could it be overturned by one man's words?
Was this guy insane?
"His voice… it sounds familiar."
"Wait a minute. Could it be—?"
Suddenly, among the noble army players, the kings and aristocrats realized something was off.
Their eyes locked on the unusual golden Den Den Mushi.
And then it hit them.
"That's Saint Saturn!"
"A Five Elder! The highest ruler of the World Government! Descendant of the gods who created this world!"
These nobles, as part of allied nations, traveled to Mary Geoise every four years to attend the Reverie.
If they were lucky, they'd hear the voice of a Five Elder—or even see one in person.
They would never forget.
Even though many of them now opposed the Navy, it was only because of the immense rewards of the Reincarnation Game. Deep down, they still feared and respected the Five Elders.
"Even the Five Elders can't sit still… looks like they're trying to negotiate with the Game Merchant."
Sengoku wasn't surprised.
A shift of this scale—threatening the very existence of the World Government—would never be ignored.
He had expected the Government to send CP0, the "strongest shield of the Celestial Dragons," to the East Blue.
He hadn't expected this:
The Five Elders themselves stepping in.
The last time this had happened was when the Buster Call annihilated Ohara.
Back then, the Five Elders had directly conversed with the archaeologists—over a forbidden truth: the Void Century.
"The Five Elders… such troublesome men."
Dragon narrowed his eyes, wariness rising in his heart.
He never imagined the Five Elders would suddenly contact the Game Merchant—
and even try to revoke his prize eligibility.
If it were anyone else, even the Fleet Admiral, he wouldn't worry.
But this was the Five Elders.
The very peak of power in this world.
Dragon didn't know the Game Merchant's purpose in coming to the pirate world.
But the rules of the Reincarnation Game made one thing clear—
Fang Yi wanted wealth.
And if anyone could mobilize the resources of the entire sea, it was the Five Elders.
They had more chips than anyone else.
They could sit, nearly as equals, at the negotiating table.
"So the World Government is finally targeting the Revolutionary Army."
"Such evil must be purged!"
"Glory to the Navy! Glory to the World Government!"
Marines broke into cheers.
The noble army players held their breath, waiting to see how the Game Merchant would respond.
This moment would define how they treated the World Government from now on.
Even though the Game Merchant had shown godlike power—
The Five Elders, with their deeply entrenched authority, still made people subconsciously feel that they had the right to negotiate.
All eyes were on Fang Yi.
How high a price would the Five Elders pay to cancel Dragon's reward?
The nobles were practically giddy,
awaiting the terms. With the Game's pay-to-win nature, the World Government would surely be bled dry,
forcing them to loosen control and hand more power to the allied nations.
Their defiance of the Navy would be excused.
Ultimately, the Five Elders intervening would benefit the nobility.
"Lord Saturn."
Under the gaze of the entire world, Fang Yi smiled politely and spoke:
"No. The prize draw eligibility cannot be revoked."
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