one piece: gene extraction and fusion system
Chapter 354: The Price of the Throne

Chapter 354 - 354: The Price of the Throne

Red Hair was strong—physically fit, skilled in swordsmanship, and proficient in Haki.

But these three aspects were far from reaching their peak. Qiongqi, on the other hand, was immensely powerful and possessed numerous abilities. Defeating him would be no easy task, even for Red Hair.

There was even a chance that Red Hair might be defeated by Qiongqi.

And if that happened, it wouldn't be Red Hair who ascended the throne—it would be Qiongqi.

Upon hearing this, Red Hair knew Saya wasn't lying. He had, in fact, visited Whitebeard before coming here.

Originally, he had intended to ask Whitebeard for help. He knew that Whitebeard was well-acquainted with the strongest individuals who could challenge him for the throne. After all, Whitebeard had lived through an era filled with monstrous powerhouses—most of whom had now gone into hiding.

Many of these veterans had encountered the secrets of the World Government. Some had withdrawn because of the overwhelming strength they sensed from it, while others had their own reasons for disappearing.

But when he asked Whitebeard, he was instead told to seek out someone else—Mio.

He still remembered Whitebeard's words clearly:

"Don't underestimate the Black Crow. His power is far more terrifying than you can imagine. He makes me feel fear. And what I know... may not even be all of it. That guy may be young, but his ambition is huge."

What left an impression on Red Hair wasn't just the words—but the expression on Whitebeard's face.

There had been no trace of joking.

That was why Red Hair had come to find the Black Crow.

Whitebeard had no reason to lie.

"If I lose, it just means I overestimated myself," Red Hair said calmly, completely unafraid. If he feared failure, then he had no business aiming to become an emperor.

"Oh, sure," Mio replied with a hint of amusement. "But why should I help you? Whitebeard also came asking for help, and he had to pay up. This isn't a small favor, you know. You should understand that."

Red Hair wasn't surprised. He responded in a deep voice, "What do you want?"

But as soon as the words left his mouth, he took a sip of wine and chuckled helplessly. "I just hope you won't ask for too much. You know, I'm broke. Even if I emptied my entire treasure hoard, I probably couldn't pay your price."

Mio couldn't help but laugh and shake his head.

It was true. Red Hair had been heavily influenced by Roger, and he cared little for wealth. Even if Mio asked for something massive, Red Hair probably wouldn't have it to give. The Red Hair Pirates were constantly throwing feasts, and their drinking habits alone must cost a fortune.

"Don't worry. I'll let you know when I decide. You're not rushing to the throne right now, are you?" Mio shrugged.

Red Hair's earlier comment had surprised Mio a bit. He hadn't expected that Red Hair would go to the first half of the Grand Line so soon. Although he wouldn't run into Luffy just yet, the time would come within the next few years. After that, the Red Hair Pirates would probably need time to return to the New World.

By then, they might return with a broken arm.

The thought made Saya chuckle.

Who would've thought that someone as strong as Red Hair would lose an arm in the East Blue? No wonder Whitebeard had been shocked in the original timeline.

If Mio didn't know about the original story, he'd probably be shocked too.

"Alright then. But just remember—we're a poor pirate crew, so don't expect too much." Red Hair said, resigned.

"Relax," Mio said gently, finishing his drink.

A few hours later, Red Hair departed.

As the Red Force disappeared into the distance, Mio remained calm. He drained the last of his drink and instructed Lilith beside him, "Let Mashi continue with his work. Also, start preparing—we're going to the Boeing Islands on the Grand Line."

"Yes," Lilith nodded.

Just as she was about to leave, Mio patted her head and added, "Bring Hancock and her sisters along. We'll find a chance to let them taste real battle."

"Good idea," Erica agreed. "You can't learn to fight just by training. They need real combat experience."

About half an hour later, preparations were complete.

This time, Mio didn't plan to take everyone. Mashi still needed to stay and construct the Golden Ark on the island. Even though Hei Yan was present, they couldn't afford to be careless. So only Mio, Erica, Lilith, Baifeng, Robin, and the three Boa sisters would be leaving.

The rest remained behind to guard the base.

At the port, Hancock—dressed in comfortable combat gear—asked nervously, "Sir, do we really need to go too?"

Since eating the Love-Love Fruit, Hancock's beauty and charm had intensified. She was still young, but already growing into an eye-catching figure.

Mio nodded. "You'll have to fight sooner or later. I doubt any of you have much battle experience, so this is your chance to gain some. If we come across any weak enemies, I'll leave them to the three of you. Just be prepared."

Hancock nodded. Although she was nervous, she obeyed Mio's command.

Deep down, though, she was excited.

She wanted to know—could she now kill pirates with her strength?

Soon after, the group boarded their ship and set off for Fishman Island.

—

At the same time...

—

Sky Island

Renee looked calmly at the boy in front of her. "How is it?"

"Almost," the boy replied, his expression cold. He was developing his abilities while speaking. Surrounding him were piles of books, most of them about medicine. In front of him was a notebook, where he documented his progress daily, as Renee had instructed.

"I can already feel myself about to touch that layer of power," the boy said seriously.

"Very good." Renee nodded in satisfaction and crossed her arms. "Keep accelerating the pace. The faster, the better."

"I understand," the boy muttered. His eyes flashed with hatred—but it quickly turned into helplessness. "I just hope you keep your word... and don't harm my family."

That Devil Fruit had granted him tremendous power.

But it wasn't enough.

Not enough to help him escape—or to save his family.

He was trapped here. There was no rescue.

And in the shadows surrounding him, at least five dark-cloaked ninjas monitored him constantly from different angles.

There was no hope of escape.

Even if he did escape, his family would be killed immediately. That was the price of freedom.

So he dared not run.

He could only keep following Renee's orders... and continue developing the power of his Devil Fruit.

Until the day he could fully control the forbidden operation.

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