Throne Of Supreme

Chapter 231: Transaction

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The dense trees intertwined, forming a canopy that blocked the scorching sun.

Rayleigh sat on a rock with his back against a tree trunk, leisurely watching the battle ahead. From time to time, he took a sip from the wine jug in his hand, looking completely at ease.

Shakky and Hancock moved quickly, their duel stirring up fallen leaves and dead branches into chaos.

Half an hour later, the sparring session came to an end.

Shakky looked at Hancock, her eyes filled with admiration.

As expected of someone who possesses Conqueror's Haki, Hancock was extraordinarily talented. Her strength and mastery of Haki were improving at a speed visible to the naked eye every day.

Hancock should have been the most suitable candidate to become the empress of Amazon Lily. Unfortunately, she had been kidnapped before she could fulfill her potential.

"Take a break!"

Rayleigh called out to them.

Shakky and Hancock were about to join him when a black-haired young man suddenly appeared beside them.

"Aoki?"

Hancock's eyes lit up with joy.

Shakky let out a sigh of relief. " Aoki, you're always so elusive—it's terrifying!"

Aoki gave them a small nod, scanning the surroundings with curiosity. "Is this not the Sabaody Archipelago?"

"Haki can't be mastered through simple practice; it requires actual combat," Shakky explained briefly. Then, with a teasing smile, she added, "Aoki, where have you been recently? You've been out of touch for a while."

"The West Blue," Aoki replied.

"Did you really go to find Nico Robin?"

"Of course."

"Aoki, Aoki!" Hancock tugged at his sleeve, interrupting their conversation. "I have something to show you!"

"Oh? What is it?" Aoki asked, looking at her.

Hancock raised her chin slightly, her eyes turning sharp as a domineering and powerful aura emanated from her.

An invisible pressure filled the air, making it feel heavier.

Aoki's face showed genuine surprise. "Conqueror's Haki? You've awakened it?"

"Uh-huh!"

Hancock nodded enthusiastically, her domineering demeanor vanishing just as suddenly as it had appeared.

Aoki offered her a faint smile. "Now, try to imbue your attacks with Conqueror's Haki, like you would with Armament Haki."

Without the ability to entangle her attacks with Conqueror's Haki, the ability was mostly useful for clearing out weaker foes. While not entirely useless, it wouldn't make much difference in battles against true powerhouses.

However, once mastered, the technique of Haki entanglement would elevate her attacks to a top-tier level.

"I'll do my best!" Hancock nodded, her expression serious.

"Heh!"

Rayleigh chuckled softly, taking a sip from his wine jug. He shook his head slightly but said nothing.

There were many people who awakened Conqueror's Haki, but only a select few ever managed to master its entanglement technique.

---

The four of them gathered around a campfire.

Rayleigh was roasting the leg of some large beast, the fat dripping into the flames with a satisfying sizzle. The air was rich with the aroma of roasted meat.

Shakky sat beside him, puffing on a cigarette in quiet contentment.

Hancock lay with her head resting on Aoki's lap, recounting her recent experiences.

Shakky spoke casually, "A few days ago, I read a report about an island suddenly falling from the sky in the Sea. It seems to be related to the remnants of the Flying Pirates."

"Shiki the Golden Lion?" Rayleigh adjusted his glasses, a hint of nostalgia flickering across his face. "I heard he caused a ruckus at Marineford after Roger's execution. I wonder what he's up to now?"

"Dead," Aoki said flatly.

Rayleigh and Shakky both turned to him in surprise.

"Shiki is dead?" Shakky asked. "How do you know?"

Aoki stroked Hancock's silky long hair as he spoke.

"A few days ago, I ran into the Golden Lion in the New World," he explained with a faint smile. "His strength wasn't what it used to be."

"So that's why the island fell," Rayleigh mused, his tone thoughtful.

Shakky took a long puff from her cigarette and let out a soft sigh. "A great pirate who was once as renowned as Roger and Whitebeard died quietly like this. What a pity."

Aoki also felt a twinge of regret.

The plants on the Golden Lion's island, capable of triggering violent evolutionary changes in animals, were undoubtedly fascinating. While using them to dominate the world was a foolish endeavor, the plants themselves were undeniably intriguing.

Unfortunately, the Golden Lion's ambitions had led to his downfall.

"If only he had stayed on his island," Aoki mused internally. "If he hadn't ventured into the New World, we never would have crossed paths. He might've lived another ten years."

Rayleigh chuckled, breaking the somber atmosphere. "The younger generation always pushes the older generation forward. This is the era of the young."

Aoki smiled faintly but muttered inwardly, This is also a reminder to avoid unnecessary risks.

Hancock, uninterested in the discussion about the Golden Lion, lay contentedly on Aoki's lap, inhaling deeply. His presence brought her a sense of peace and security she couldn't find anywhere else.

"Right!" Aoki suddenly flipped his hand, revealing a small red pill in his palm.

Shakky raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What a beautiful gem."

Aoki shook his head. "This isn't a gem—it's a medicine called the Rejuvenating Pill. After taking it, your appearance will be frozen, and you'll no longer age until the end of your life."

The pill's effects lasted for a hundred years, though few people ever lived that long. For most, it effectively granted eternal youth.

"An anti-aging pill... to preserve eternal youth?"

Shakky's eyes narrowed in interest, Rayleigh leaned in slightly, and even Hancock lifted her head, curiosity sparking in her gaze.

Aoki's lips curled into a smile. "If Ms. Shakky is interested, I could sell one to her."

The allure of eternal youth was undeniable. Women, in particular, valued their appearance, and in this world, aging wasn't just about wrinkles—it could drastically change a person's entire physique.

For example, former empresses of Amazon Lily were stunningly beautiful in their youth but became short, wrinkled, and unrecognizable with age. Even men weren't immune to such drastic changes, as evidenced by individuals like Bakkin, who shrank and lost her youthful charm over time.

Shakky fell into thought.

"Aoki," she began skeptically, "I've never heard of a drug that can keep you young forever. Are you sure you haven't been deceived?"

Aoki's smile faltered for a moment.

This was precisely the issue he had anticipated—trust. The idea of a Rejuvenating Pill was far beyond the realm of what most people in this world considered possible.

Rubbing his face in mild frustration, Aoki replied, "I can guarantee the Rejuvenating Pill is real. But if Ms. Shakky doesn't believe me, then just forget I mentioned it."

The truth was, he only had ten of these pills. While there was a possibility of obtaining more in the future, the odds were slim. Such a rare item was bound to be in high demand, and Aoki wasn't desperate to sell.

"Wait!" Shakky said quickly. "Of course, I trust you, Aoki. I'm just curious—what's your asking price? Though, I'll be honest, I don't have much money."

Aoki shook his head. "I don't want money. What I want is a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit."

Shakky's expression brightened at first but turned to shock as she processed his words.

Rayleigh raised his eyebrows, amused but surprised. "A Mythical Zoan Fruit? That's no small request. Those are even rarer than Logia Devil Fruits."

Aoki chuckled, his tone calm yet confident. "Mythical zoan Devil Fruits are indeed rare, but the Rejuvenating Pill is no less valuable. There's only one of its kind in this world. Miss it, and you'll never have another chance."

Rayleigh rubbed his temples, clearly amused but also slightly exasperated. "Mythical Zoan Beast Fruits are incredibly hard to find. Can't we negotiate something else?"

Aoki shrugged nonchalantly. "No problem. We can take our time. I'm in no rush."

His attitude was casual—it was just an opportunity he decided to float. If it worked, great. If it didn't, he had nothing to lose.

Rayleigh and Shakky exchanged a glance, deliberating silently.

After a moment, Shakky offered, "There are too few Mythical Zoan Devil Fruits. How about including Ancient Zoan Fruits in the deal?"

Aoki shook his head. "I have no interest in the Ancient Zoan type. Let's amend it this way—add a Logia-type Devil Fruit or some exceptionally powerful Paramecia Fruits to the mix."

Rayleigh let out a long sigh, shaking his head with a wry smile. "You really know how to make life difficult for an old man."

Aoki's lips curled into a teasing grin. "You're Rayleigh—the Pirate King's right hand, a living legend among legends. I have full confidence that such a small task wouldn't trouble someone of your stature!"

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Note: This is Erovia a friend of ANelite, I am here to notice you that from now on I will be taking over ANelite's work's and I will also change the name from ANelite to Erovia in all platforms .