Marvel: Trading with Worlds

Kain walked into the conference room and smiled at Smoker. "Colonel Smoker, I'm really sorry for troubling you over such a small matter."

Smoker, accepting the apology, saw Kain greet him again with a smile. He couldn't say anything further, so he pretended not to notice and repeated what he had just said, "It's nothing. I'm here on behalf of the World Government and with the latest news from headquarters."

Before Smoker could finish speaking, Kain interrupted: "I agree to the invitation from the World Government. If I'm not going to become a pirate, then the Seven Warlords of the Sea status works for me. As for the purchase of guns by the Marine, I have some doubts. With the research capabilities of the World Government, this kind of firearm should be easy to fully develop."

It would be redundant for him to buy them again. The Pacifista that Naval Headquarters is developing is even equipped with laser cannons—this type of firearm shouldn't be difficult for them to produce.

"Who knows? Maybe it's laziness, or perhaps they're afraid you'll sell them to pirates. Instead of letting pirates upgrade their equipment and grow stronger, it's better to buy from the Marines," Smoker said, swapping cigars before continuing, "I'm not responsible for these things. The headquarters will send others to deal with you later, but they'll likely add a condition: you won't be allowed to sell guns or ammunition to pirates. Can you accept that?"

Kain smiled and responded, "Of course, Colonel Smoker. Don't forget, I'm a businessman. I have no affection for most of the pirates who rob me. It's impossible for them to buy a bullet from me."

Pirates were only worthy of being plundered by Kain's men. They were not prey buying guns from hunters. Except for a few pirates in the world, the rest were just criminals. Even Luffy had caused a stir in Impel Down and freed a group of pirates.

"Since that's settled, I have nothing more to discuss here. Someone from headquarters will come to finalize things in a few days. At that time, the World Government will declare to the world that you're the new Seven Warlords of the Sea. Your main responsibility will be to use your strength to deter or capture other pirates."

When Smoker said the last sentence, there was a certain undertone to it. While speaking, he absentmindedly touched the weapon set aside.

Seeing this, Kain smiled, then nodded and said, "I understand. At least I'll show Colonel Smoker's strength. Of course, that's no problem. Right here, are you ready, Colonel Smoker?"

Smoker stood up, his fierce face growing more solemn. "I'm ready anytime."

When Kain spoke, Nico Robin had already retreated to the door, not wanting to be caught in the middle of this.

"Then I'll begin," Kain said, then opened his mouth slightly. A surging sea of fierce fire erupted from his mouth.

"Flame? Devil Fruit power?" Smoker's eyes widened in shock. He felt like he'd been enveloped by smoke instantly. 

Even after the naturalization, the flames in the room still emitted an overwhelming sense of threat, as though they could burn even the smoke itself.

"Is this... the Mera-Mera Fruit from the Natural Devil Fruits?" Smoker quickly tried to escape the sea of flames, but the fire Kain had unleashed was like a roaring waterfall. In just two seconds, the large conference hall was engulfed in flames.

Even the ceiling was alight, and the flames gathered around him from all directions, forming a cage of fire in no time. Four Fiendfire beasts stood guard around the cage, motionless.

"This flame... definitely not the Logia Mera-Mera Fruit, not even similar Akainu Admiral's magma." The sense of threat was so intense that Smoker didn't dare test whether he could escape the flame cage using smoke. 

He tried a seastone weapon, but it was instantly burned by the fire, the tip blackening within moments.

"Sure, it's not a Devil Fruit!"

"This is magic, Colonel Smoker. Although I'm a businessman myself, I learned a little magic by chance." Kain said with a smile, then waved, dispersing all the Fiendfire. 

As the flame cage around Smoker disappeared, there was little damage—just some scorched marks on the ground and ceiling.

However, Kain snapped his fingers and used magic to restore the areas damaged by the Fiendfyre. He thought with satisfaction that his control over Fiendfyre seemed to have grown stronger.

"Magic... Mr. Pent's strength is indeed enough to serve as a Warlord of the Sea. I won't bother you any longer," Smoker said, before taking his leave.

He had originally received orders from headquarters to test Kain's strength, but he was captured with barely any resistance. 

Why had headquarters never reported this? Were the intelligence agencies of the World Government that incompetent?

Nico Robin laughed and said, "Boss, Colonel Smoker seems to have been hit pretty hard?"

Kain shook his head. "How could someone like him be shaken? He's probably just sulking, mad at himself for being too weak. Have you finished gathering information on Sky Island?"

Nico Robin felt a spark of excitement at the question, but she controlled her emotions and smiled. "I've had it prepared for a while, after all, it's your order."

"I can tell you're looking forward to it too. It is a Poneglyph, after all. We'll start after accepting the Shichibukai status. If all goes well, we can return in a few days."

Kain said decisively, then vanished in an apparition.

Left alone in the conference room, Nico Robin curiously touched the floor that had been burned earlier and muttered to herself, confused, "What is magic? I remember this place being destroyed just now, but now I can't even feel any heat."

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