One Piece:The Merchant King of Grand Line

The Merchant King of the Grand Line

Chapter 2: The Art of the Deal

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A Monopoly is Only as Strong as Its Hold

The sun had barely risen when I arrived at the docks, watching as fishermen unloaded their catches. Normally, they'd sell their fish immediately to avoid spoilage, but today, something was different.

Instead of the usual haggling with merchants who would underpay them, they were coming straight to me.

In just a single day, I had flipped the economy of this small port town. By securing a monopoly over cold storage, I now controlled the entire seafood supply chain. The merchants who once dictated prices now had to buy from me—at my rates.

Control the supply, control the market.

One by one, the fishermen brought their haul to my hired workers. I wasn't just buying fish—I was buying loyalty. I paid them more than what the old merchants did, ensuring that they would never sell to anyone else.

However, not everyone was happy about this.

The First Threat

I had barely finished overseeing my morning operations when a group of three men approached me. Well-dressed, with sharp eyes and the arrogance of people used to getting their way, they radiated hostility.

The one in the middle, a balding man with a neatly trimmed beard, stepped forward. "You must be the new merchant stirring up trouble."

I smiled. "Trouble? No, just business."

His expression darkened. "We controlled the seafood trade here for years. You come in, throwing money around, and suddenly we're locked out of our own market?"

I shrugged. "That's how competition works."

The man's face twitched in irritation. "You don't understand how things work in this town. We have… connections."

Ah. The classic "you're messing with the wrong people" speech.

I sighed. "Listen, I get it. You had a nice little monopoly, squeezing the fishermen and overcharging the villagers. But I offer a better deal, so people come to me. That's not cheating—that's capitalism."

His fingers twitched, as if contemplating something. Then he smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Maybe we can reach an understanding."

Here it comes. The attempted buyout or shakedown.

He pulled out a small pouch of gold coins and placed it on a crate beside me. "You take this, leave town, and we pretend you never existed."

I chuckled. "That's adorable."

His eye twitched.

"You think a few coins are enough to make me walk away from a future empire?" I tapped the crate beside me, where triple the amount of gold sat from yesterday's earnings. "This is what I made in a single day. Why would I sell out for pocket change?"

The man's smile vanished. "You'll regret this."

I tilted my head. "Are you threatening me?"

"No." He turned away. "Just… warning you. You'll see soon enough."

With that, he and his men left.

I exhaled, my mind already working through possible scenarios. This was my first real enemy—a group that had held economic control over this town for years, now suddenly losing everything to me.

People didn't take kindly to losing power.

Which meant I had to secure mine faster.

Step One: Reinforcing My Hold

I called over the fishermen who were unloading their catches. "Starting today, I'm offering exclusive contracts. You sell only to me, and I guarantee stable prices—even if the market shifts."

One of the older fishermen frowned. "That's… risky. What if we get a better offer?"

I smiled. "Then I'll match or exceed it. But trust me, they won't be able to offer better."

A few murmurs ran through the crowd. But then, one of the younger fishermen nodded. "I'll take the deal."

One by one, the rest followed. Loyalty secured.

With exclusive suppliers, my competitors had no way to obtain fresh fish.

Now, for the next problem—security.

Step Two: A Necessary Evil

As much as I wanted to believe in the purity of business, this was One Piece—a world where brute force often dictated success.

Which meant I needed muscle.

The Marines were a temporary shield, but they were also corrupt and unreliable. If I wanted real security, I needed someone who wasn't bound by the law.

Enter the underworld.

I made my way to the outskirts of town, where the less savory types operated. It didn't take long to find what I was looking for—a small-time gang that handled protection for smugglers and illegal goods.

Their leader, a rough-looking man with a jagged scar across his nose, eyed me warily. "What's a merchant doing in a place like this?"

"I need protection," I said simply. "And I'm willing to pay."

His interest piqued. "Who's the target?"

"Not yet," I corrected. "I don't need someone dead. I need a presence—people who ensure no one interferes with my business."

He chuckled. "You're talking about a security force."

"Exactly."

"How much?"

I smirked. "Let's negotiate."

Step Three: The Next Expansion

By nightfall, I had a hired security force patrolling my operations. Nothing flashy—just enough to discourage sabotage.

And it was just in time.

Because early the next morning, my competitors made their move.

Their men stormed the marketplace, flipping stalls, shouting to the villagers that my business was a scam. They spread rumors that I was working with pirates, that I was selling spoiled fish, that the Marines would soon shut me down.

But I was already ten steps ahead.

I had exclusive suppliers, which meant no one else had fresh fish to sell.

I had Marine approval, ensuring that the rumors fell flat.

And I had security, which meant the thugs they sent to intimidate my workers were swiftly... removed.

By noon, their campaign had failed completely.

By sundown, they were the ones getting desperate.

And by midnight, the balding merchant from earlier came crawling back to me, offering to buy my company instead of fighting me.

I grinned as I sat back in my chair, sipping a glass of wine. "Now, now… didn't you warn me I'd regret not taking your deal?"

The man swallowed. "We can make a new arrangement—merge our businesses. You don't have to push us out completely."

I tapped my fingers against the table, pretending to think.

Then I leaned forward.

"No."

His face paled.

"Your company is dead," I continued. "By tomorrow, your supply lines will be cut, your debts will mount, and your business partners will abandon you. The only thing you can do now is sell me everything you own—for whatever price I decide."

He trembled, but he knew the truth.

He had lost.

And I had won.

The Future of a Merchant King

By the end of the week, I owned the entire seafood industry in this town.

But this was just a small step.

There were other towns, other industries, and more opportunities waiting for me.

Wealth was power.

And soon, the Grand Line would be mine.

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Next Chapter: The Devil's Bargain

(Victor begins looking into rare goods—and hears rumors of an artificial Devil Fruit.)