Brant was momentarily stunned upon hearing this, but he quickly recovered. A Shichibukai had come to him to buy a Devil Fruit? If that was the case, then this could be a straightforward deal.
Although Devil Fruits were difficult to obtain, it just so happened that someone on the island currently had one. If the price was right, this transaction could certainly be arranged.
"Please, have a seat." Brant led Rosen and his companions into a room reserved for entertaining distinguished guests. As soon as they entered, he signaled to a few girls, but upon noticing Nico Robin, he quickly shook his head.
The girls withdrew immediately. When a guest brought a woman along, it was best not to play such tricks to avoid backfiring.
Pitas also sat down, while the little sea cow jumped off Robin's shoulder, grabbed an apple, and happily began munching on it.
"Relax, I'm not here to cause trouble. I came to discuss business, though I admit dropping by uninvited is a bit abrupt." Rosen spoke upon noticing the two bodyguards behind Brant tensing up, their muscles taut and eyes locked onto his every move.
"So, you really do have a Devil Fruit?" Rosen hadn't been entirely serious at first, but after bringing it up, he noticed that Brant didn't look particularly troubled by the request.
That realization immediately made Rosen suspect that this merchant might truly have a Devil Fruit in his possession.
If so, he was indeed interested. As long as the price wasn't outrageous, he was willing to pay. After all, his capacity mission was still only one-fifth complete.
"If you're genuinely looking to buy, then it is possible to acquire one. But the price…?" Brant still didn't fully understand Rosen's intentions, but he followed the topic. If the price was right, he would procure one.
However, if the price was too low and Rosen intended to take advantage of the Shichibukai's status to get a bargain, then the deal was off.
Although Brant was wary of the Shichibukai, he wouldn't compromise his own interests. If necessary, he would have to involve the Marines in mediating the matter.
"It won't be lower than the market price." If it was something money could solve, then for Rosen, it wasn't a problem at all.
"Good. Do you have any specific requirements for the Devil Fruit? Zoan, Paramecia, or Logia? Of course, I'm not saying I have a Logia-type, but it's best to clarify your needs. If I can't get what you want, I'd rather tell you in advance than waste your time." Brant smiled as he spoke.
"Any type will do, as long as it's a Devil Fruit. I'll send an advance payment of 100 million first. Once you secure the fruit, I'll pay the remaining balance." Rosen was quite pleased with Brant's efficiency and thorough consideration.
He wasn't worried about being scammed. Brant had established roots here, and if he dared to double-cross Rosen, Rosen would actually be glad—because that would give him a reason to collect even more from him.
Rosen had principles. If it was business, he would stick to the agreement. But if someone tried to pull a fast one on him, they shouldn't blame him for turning the tables.
As he spoke, Rosen picked up a Den Den Mushi and instructed one of his crew members to deliver the money.
Seeing Rosen's sincerity, Brant made a decisive call. "No problem. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, I should be able to obtain one within two days."
"At least one? Meaning you might be able to get more?" This time, Rosen was genuinely impressed. Brant was more capable than he had initially thought.
"You want more?" Brant was taken aback. Judging from his words, this Shichibukai didn't just want a single Devil Fruit? Just how wealthy was he?
After all, a single Devil Fruit usually cost several hundred million Berries at minimum. Two would be an astronomical sum for most people, given how rare they were.
"Yes. How many can you get?" Rosen confirmed.
"Give me three to five days, and I should be able to secure two. But the price will be higher—I'd need to request one from another branch, and transportation and security fees aren't cheap." Brant's heart skipped a beat. Selling two Devil Fruits in one go would bring him a huge profit.
"Price is not an issue," Rosen nodded.
"Good. A toast to that." Brant could tell Crocodile wasn't joking, and his expression grew slightly excited.
"By the way, I heard there was a notorious pirate in these waters recently—Trafalgar Law. Does that name ring a bell?" Rosen asked casually.
Brant didn't think much of it. It was normal for a Shichibukai to be interested in pirates, likely with the intent to take advantage of them. It wasn't his concern—he only cared about making money, not the process.
"Trafalgar Law? He came to see me three days ago. I sent him to Lantis Island. No idea what's become of him now. If he went alone, he's probably dead." Brant recalled and recounted the recent event. After all, Rosen was now a major client.
"The island is that dangerous?" Rosen frowned, puffing on his cigar. This was the second time he had heard about the dangers of Lantis Island. It was impossible not to take it seriously—it seemed like there was more to it than just disease outbreaks.
"While the Marines turn a blind eye to my ship, I've never dared to venture beyond the coast. Words can't fully describe it, but if I had to sum it up, the word 'hell' would be the most fitting." Brant's face darkened as he recalled something.
He had a rough idea of what was happening on the island, but he neither knew nor wanted to know the full details.
"I see. So even you don't know what's really going on? The Marine blockade is that tight?" Rosen was surprised. However, at least now he had a lead on Law's whereabouts.
"I have no intention of finding out. Sometimes, knowing too much isn't a good thing. But if anyone knows, it's the Food God from the North District—he's the only merchant who does business with Lantis Island's leader." Brant added.
"Can you track down Trafalgar Law?"
"There's about seven days left until our scheduled pickup. I'll go to the agreed location then. If he doesn't show up within a certain time, my ship will leave. If he's still alive after that, he'll have to find his own way out. Any unauthorized ships entering the Domain of the Gods right now are being sunk on sight." Brant took a sip of red wine.
"I want to visit the island. Can you arrange that?" Seven days wasn't too long, but waiting felt like an eternity. Rosen didn't want to waste time. Besides, he was intrigued by the island.
He wanted to see what exactly the Marines were hiding. Some information was deadly, but for someone with power, it could be a valuable bargaining chip.
"No problem. A gold-hunting ship is leaving tomorrow. But are you sure? Maybe I wasn't clear—recently, the mortality rate for those going ashore has been 90%. And among the 10% who survive, most come back mentally broken. Plus, once symptoms appear, we never allow anyone to leave the island. Some rules must be followed." Brant frowned.
He wasn't worried about Crocodile's safety—only that if he died on the island, it would ruin their deal.
"No problem. Even if something happens to me, the deal goes on. She will stay on Frances Island for the time being." Rosen gestured to Robin.
Since the island was so dangerous, it was best not to bring Robin along. He was a Logia user, capable of self-preservation and likely immune to infection. Robin, however, was not.
"Alright." Robin smiled slightly, stroking the little sea cow that was still happily munching on an apple.
"That's not what I meant… but if you insist, I'll make the arrangements. Just remember—don't leave the ship until we reach shore. If the Marine watchtowers spot you beforehand, they'll open fire immediately." Brant warned sternly.
(End of Chapter)
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