One Piece:The Merchant King of Grand Line

The Merchant King of the Grand Line

Chapter 13: The Tides of War

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An Unwelcome Surprise

Two days after my meeting with Charlotte Smoothie and Cracker, my network of spies intercepted a troubling piece of information.

Big Mom was mobilizing.

Not a full-scale war—yet—but she had sent additional forces to "monitor" my operations.

Translation?

She wasn't happy with my refusal to bend to her will.

And if I knew anything about Emperors, it was that they didn't handle rejection well.

I stood in my private office, gazing at the vast ocean outside my headquarters in the New World. King was standing beside me, arms crossed, his face unreadable.

"This was expected," I said, breaking the silence. "I gave her an ultimatum. She didn't like it."

King scoffed. "You're playing a dangerous game. The moment she decides you're more trouble than you're worth, she'll send an army to flatten this place."

I smirked. "Then I better make myself too valuable to crush."

He turned his head slightly, studying me. "And how exactly do you plan to do that?"

I tapped a sealed document on my desk. "By giving her something she can't ignore."

King raised an eyebrow. "You already have the Mythical Zoan project. What's bigger than that?"

I chuckled. "Oh, you'll see."

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A World Government Offer?

As if Big Mom's pressure wasn't enough, I soon received another visitor.

This time, it wasn't a pirate. It was a government agent.

A Cipher Pol representative.

A tall man in a pristine white suit, face completely devoid of emotion.

He introduced himself as "Agent Lazare."

I already knew what this was about. The World Government wasn't stupid. If Big Mom had caught wind of my artificial Mythical Zoans, then so had they.

And they wanted to see if I was a threat... or an asset.

We sat across from each other in my office, the tension heavy in the air.

Lazare placed a black folder on the table between us. "The World Government has taken an interest in your recent projects, Mr. Lancaster."

I leaned back. "Flattered."

He continued, unfazed. "We have an offer for you. Cease all artificial Devil Fruit production immediately. Hand over your research. In return, the Government will not interfere with your... other ventures."

I smiled, even as I felt irritation simmer beneath my skin.

"So, let me get this straight," I said. "You want me to kill my most valuable project, hand it over for free, and in return, you'll let me keep doing business?"

"That is correct."

I laughed. "No."

Lazare didn't react. He simply opened the black folder, flipping through some documents.

"We anticipated this response," he said smoothly. "Which is why we've prepared a counteroffer."

I frowned. "Go on."

He slid a single page across the table toward me.

I picked it up—and my eyes narrowed as I read it.

A World Government-backed trading license.

This wasn't just any offer. This was a golden ticket.

With this, I could conduct legitimate business in broad daylight, protected under the World Government's authority. No marine would be able to touch my ships. No bounty hunter would dare interfere.

It was an opportunity to expand beyond the underground market.

It was also a trap.

If I accepted, I'd be under their thumb.

A leash disguised as a gift.

I put the paper down and steepled my fingers. "Tempting. But I still refuse."

Lazare adjusted his cuffs. "A shame. The Government prefers diplomacy over force. But we will not allow unregulated Devil Fruit production."

I smirked. "Then you'd better prepare for a long fight, Lazare."

He stood up. "We'll be in touch."

As he left, I exhaled, my mind already running through the consequences.

Big Mom on one side. The World Government on the other.

The walls were closing in.

And I needed a way to break out.

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The Next Step – A New Market

I gathered my top executives later that evening—King, my financial advisors, and my research heads.

"We're officially at a crossroads," I said, laying out the facts. "The World Government wants us shut down. Big Mom wants us under her thumb. If we do nothing, we'll be crushed by one or the other."

One of my advisors spoke hesitantly. "So what's the plan?"

I smiled.

"We go bigger."

King frowned. "Bigger?"

I turned to my research team. "How soon can we produce a stable Mythical Zoan?"

One of the lead scientists hesitated. "We're close. The Chimera prototype was... functional, but unstable. We need three more weeks to perfect the formula."

"Make it two," I ordered.

Then I turned back to my business team.

"We're going to pre-sell the first batch of Mythical Zoans—not to pirates, not to the Government."

I leaned forward, a grin spreading across my face.

"We sell to the Revolutionary Army."

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Why the Revolutionaries?

King's eyes narrowed. "You're playing with fire, Lancaster."

"The World Government wants me dead. Big Mom wants me controlled," I said. "But Dragon? He needs power. He needs strong fighters. If we sell to him, we make ourselves too important to be eliminated."

One of my advisors spoke hesitantly. "But won't that make us a target for the Government?"

I grinned. "We're already a target. This way, we at least get a powerful ally."

King exhaled. "You're insane."

"Maybe," I said. "But if I pull this off, I'll have three of the world's strongest factions fighting over my products. And that means leverage."

A tense silence filled the room.

Then King smirked.

"...Fine. Let's see if you can actually pull it off."

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The Game Board Expands

With that decision, my fate was sealed.

I had entered a new level of the game—one where Emperors, Revolutionaries, and the World Government were all in play.

If I failed?

I'd be buried before I could even taste true success.

But if I succeeded?

I wouldn't just be the richest man in the New World.

I'd be untouchable.

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Next Chapter: A Deal With the Devil

(Victor makes contact with the Revolutionary Army, while Cipher Pol escalates their efforts to shut him down.)