One Piece:The Merchant King of Grand Line

The Merchant King of the Grand Line

Chapter 4: The Hunt for Knowledge

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The First Step Toward a Monopoly

Owning an artificial Devil Fruit was an unimaginable advantage, but it meant nothing if I didn't understand its true potential.

I wasn't stupid enough to just eat it and hope for the best. I needed information—something more valuable than gold in this world.

The problem?

The underworld wasn't a library where you could check out books on Devil Fruit science.

Only a handful of people in the world even knew how these things worked.

Dr. Vegapunk, the World Government's top scientist. Untouchable.

Caesar Clown, a deranged genius who had made his own failed attempts. Dangerous.

Some rogue scientists and experimental labs, operating in secret.

If I wanted real answers, I had to track down the people responsible for this fruit's creation.

And that meant finding its origin.

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Following the Trail

The auctioneer, despite being a greasy bastard, wasn't entirely useless. After a bit of financial encouragement, he coughed up some interesting information.

Apparently, the fruit had come from a smuggling ring operating in the New World—a group that specialized in "rare and experimental goods."

That was vague, but it was enough.

To chase a market, you don't look at the sellers—you follow the supply chains.

Which meant my next stop was the middleman—the group that had smuggled the fruit into the underworld in the first place.

The Duskwalkers.

A band of information brokers, black-market dealers, and underworld fixers. They weren't big enough to be a full-fledged syndicate, but they had connections everywhere.

If the artificial Devil Fruit came from somewhere, they'd know who made it.

The problem?

They didn't deal with just anyone.

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Gaining Entry to the Underworld

The Duskwalkers operated out of a floating black-market town called Hollow's Rest, built atop the wreckage of old ships. It was a lawless place where bounty hunters, pirates, and corrupt merchants mingled freely.

When I arrived, I wasn't stupid enough to walk in blind.

I came with:

1. Armed escorts—a few of the mercenaries I had hired after my last business takeover.

2. A trade offer—something valuable enough to get me a meeting with their leader.

And most importantly…

3. A bribe.

Money talked, and in the underworld, it screamed.

At the gates, a guard—a scarred, one-eyed brute—blocked my path. "State your business."

I tossed a pouch of high-grade gold coins into his hands. "A meeting with your boss. I have a business proposal he'll want to hear."

The guard opened the pouch, his one eye gleaming with greed. He pocketed it without a word.

"Wait here."

Not long after, I was escorted through the maze of shipwrecks and wooden platforms that made up Hollow's Rest.

At the top of a makeshift tower sat a lavishly decorated cabin, its interior filled with stolen paintings, rare artifacts, and expensive furniture.

And at the center of it all was a man reclining in a chair, swirling a glass of whiskey.

Garrick the Whisper.

A name spoken in hushed tones throughout the underworld. Not because he was powerful, but because he knew things others shouldn't.

If information was a currency, Garrick was a billionaire.

He glanced at me, his sharp eyes taking in my attire, my posture, my confidence.

"Victor Lancaster," he said smoothly. "Rising merchant. Took over the seafood industry in Luviel Port. Recently made waves at the Iron Fang auction. Overpaid for a mysterious Devil Fruit."

I smirked. "Glad to see your reputation isn't just for show."

He chuckled. "Oh, I keep my ears open, my friend. And I must say, you've made some interesting enemies already."

I waved a hand dismissively. "Enemies are just competitors who lost."

His grin widened. "Spoken like a true businessman."

I leaned forward. "I didn't come here to trade insults. I need information."

"Information isn't free," Garrick said lazily. "But you already knew that, didn't you?"

I slid a small, sealed ledger across the table.

It was a financial book—one I had 'acquired' from a merchant I had recently put out of business. It detailed his off-the-books transactions with several corrupt Marine officers.

Garrick raised an eyebrow, flipping through the pages.

I smiled. "Consider it a gift. One that could be worth a fortune to the right people."

He chuckled. "You certainly know how to play the game."

Then he set the book aside and leaned forward, his voice dropping to a whisper.

"The fruit you bought… didn't come from the usual sources."

I nodded. "Go on."

"There's been a lot of movement in the New World lately—whispers of private labs, rogue scientists, and projects that even the World Government hasn't fully grasped yet."

I already had a theory, but I needed confirmation.

"Who's behind it?" I asked.

Garrick smirked. "That, my dear merchant, is a very expensive answer."

I pulled out another gold pouch, placing it on the table. "This should cover the down payment."

He laughed, taking a sip of his whiskey before finally answering.

"There's a man. A scientist. Name's Dr. Alvus Kreig."

That was a name I didn't recognize—which meant he wasn't one of the big players like Vegapunk or Caesar.

"He's been working outside the government's reach, dabbling in Devil Fruit replication and biological enhancements. But here's the kicker—his work is being funded by someone very, very rich."

My mind immediately went into business mode.

Someone had invested enough money into artificial Devil Fruits to fund an entire research lab.

This meant they expected a return on investment.

Which meant… they were either planning to mass-produce these fruits or had a specific goal in mind.

"Where is he?" I asked.

Garrick chuckled. "Now, now. That would cost you much more than a few pouches of gold."

I exhaled, already expecting that response.

Before I could offer another deal, Garrick tapped the side of his glass.

"But tell you what… if you really want to track him down, I have an alternative."

I raised an eyebrow. "I'm listening."

"There's a certain noble family in the Grand Line. Word is, they've been making quiet inquiries into Devil Fruit research—the kind that's a bit… let's say, off the record."

I frowned. "Nobles? That's unusual."

He smirked. "That's why it's interesting. Find them, and you'll find Kreig."

I leaned back, mind racing.

A secret noble-backed research project on artificial Devil Fruits?

That was far bigger than I expected.

But for me?

It was just another business opportunity waiting to be seized.

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Next Chapter: A Noble Connection

(Victor begins tracking down the noble family funding Dr. Kreig—uncovering a conspiracy that could shake the underworld.)