Chapter 196: He Doesn't Care
No wonder—
from beginning to end, the Game Merchant never showed the slightest desire to negotiate. Because even an entity as vast as the World Government… simply wasn't qualified to sit at his table.
Why choose the weakest sea, the East Blue?
The Five Elders had originally speculated that he feared the dense concentration of Marines and Admirals in the Grand Line.
Now, it was clear—
he had picked a sea completely at random.
No deeper strategy.
Just like choosing between lamb chops or seafood stew for dinner—casual, natural.
Why make the first prize draw item "Celestial Dragon Bloodline"?
The Five Elders had thought it was a psychological tactic, a deliberate provocation, perhaps to test the World Government's response.
But in truth—
Buggy the pirate simply got lucky.
He drew a prize that sent them into high alert and panic.
To the Game Merchant?
It meant nothing.
He possessed the ability to rewrite the entire Pirate World with ease. Everything in this world could be shaped by his will.
Because he had the power to do it.
Every prior assumption and analysis the Five Elders had made was now rendered meaningless.
Because all of it had been based on human logic.
But the power the Game Merchant had displayed had already transcended the realm of humanity.
From Devil Fruits, to Marine martial arts, to Haki, and even the World Government's final trump cards—the Ancient Weapons—he had reproduced all of them effortlessly, like a joke.
The Five Elders could no longer comprehend it.
This was something only gods from fairy tales should be capable of.
All their contingency plans and calculations had treated the Game Merchant as a hypothetical enemy or a figure to be won over.
Never had they considered—
What if the Game Merchant's power was truly on par with a god?
No—
If it was on par,
then perhaps it was time to call him one.
Inside the grand palace, panic and dread rapidly spread through the hearts of the Five Elders.
Especially now, as their spiritual pillar—Imu—had suddenly cut off all communication with them,
these rulers of the world felt… completely at a loss.
They had just talked tough to a god. What now?!
Panic!
"Compensation?"
Fang Yi smiled as always, calmly gazing at the golden Den Den Mushi in front of him, waiting.
If it's about compensation, well… now I'm all ears. Wide awake, even.
"Mr. Fang Yi, please give us a moment. We must consult with Lord Imu."
Saint Saturn's cautious voice came from the Den Den Mushi.
"No rush. I have a prize to deliver to our winner first."
Fang Yi didn't mind their delay.
His attention shifted with interest to a certain figure.
Spotted hat. Towering physique.
From the moment he appeared, he drew attention. That signature outfit belonged to none other than one of the Shichibukai: Bartholomew Kuma, the Tyrant.
Rumors claimed that, as a pirate, he had once destroyed entire kingdoms with extreme brutality—earning his fearsome title.
But now—
this wasn't the real Kuma.
It was a Pacifista, modeled after his original body.
Fang Yi had taken notice because he sensed that the authority chip inside this mechanical creation was being rewritten—
a hidden directive was being activated.
Something beyond the Five Elders' control.
It would take time to fully overwrite.
Fang Yi withdrew his gaze and turned back to Dragon.
"You wanted an item to overthrow the World Government?"
"That's right."
Dragon's voice grew heavy without him even realizing it.
How could it not?
Anyone who had witnessed the Game Merchant summon the entirety of the World Government's military power—
and even ancient weapons—would tread carefully.
"Damn it. I should've gone all in."
Watching the Game Merchant's full display of strength, and the Five Elders' panic,
Doflamingo bit down hard and drove his fingers into the gravel.
He regretted holding back.
Sure, he'd sold off Dressrosa's treasury,
but he still had the toy factory, Sugar, the weapon workshops—he had tried to hedge his bets.
Even under siege by the Marines, he had hoped to salvage his assets by moving them back to the New World.
But if he had sold it all—
he could've bought a much stronger puppet army.
In that case, who knew who would've come out on top?
"No way… Can the Game Merchant really control Ancient Weapons?"
Crocodile stood frozen.
He watched Luffy escape without moving to stop him.
He was gripped by a strange emotion.
He hadn't been following the Den Den Mushi broadcast closely, so he lacked detailed knowledge of the Game Merchant's abilities.
And even if he had watched,
a schemer like Crocodile wouldn't have believed everything anyway.
But now—
the nearly boiling ocean, the distorted world, the massive weapon surfacing from the sea floor—he saw it all with his own eyes.
A screen popped up:
[Contract Task (2/5)]
Task: Submit 20 million Berries
Reward: G-1 Corona (Blueprint)
Upon seeing it, Crocodile immediately used Baroque Works' funds to fulfill the task.
The World Government's surrender—
felt like a storm that had carved the name of the Reincarnation Game into everyone's soul.
Their image of an invincible World Government had finally cracked.
And the world stirred.
But the greatest shock of all remained the Game Merchant himself.
All across the Grand Line and the New World,
pirates began to turn their ships around—headed for the East Blue.
"To be honest, there are many items that could topple the World Government."
Fang Yi shrugged, seeing the conflicted expression on Dragon's face. "If you simply continue strengthening your dragon bloodline, you could do it easily."
[Play video clip: Tyrant Sky Dragon King – 5,000 reward points?]
Dragon blinked. "Tyrant Dragon King?"
"A dragon king from a higher-tier world.
There are countless dragon clans across the multiverse. Though all are called 'dragons,' they differ greatly."
"The Tyrant Dragon King once ruled an entire era.
Perhaps his story can give you direction."
"Of course—it costs extra."
Fang Yi smiled, offering the choice to the ambitious Revolutionary leader.
These clips weren't cheap junk.
They were moments he'd fished from the River of Time itself.
Just like the sword mastery video he gave Mihawk,
they allowed the viewer to immerse in a moment of history—though not alter it.
"Mr. Fang Yi, I'll buy it."
Dragon said firmly, without hesitation.
To the bystanders, it seemed crazy.
Any normal player would hoard their reward points to buy powerful items.
Who would blow 5,000 points on a video clip?
"Congratulations. You now have viewing rights to that moment in time."
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