Since force couldn't solve the problem, the only option was to negotiate.
The other side had gone to such great lengths kidnapping Celestial Dragons but not killing them immediately they clearly wanted something.
Hearing this, Luffy smiled with satisfaction. The features of his Nika Form slowly faded, and he returned to normal.
His strategic goal had been achieved.
Just as he had anticipated, as long as he demonstrated that he had the strength to make even a Marine Admiral find it difficult to protect the Celestial Dragons' lives, the other side had no choice but to come to the table.
Now, he had gained the preliminary qualifications to negotiate with the World Government.
That was enough.
Half of his strategic goal was achieved.
Luffy wasn't arrogant enough to think he had the absolute certainty to kill a Marine Admiral in a fight to the death.
If they fought to the bitter end, it was hard to say who would win.
Moreover, this place was close to Marine Headquarters. Fighting Kizaru to the death here was pointless. Halfway through the fight, reinforcements would probably arrive.
Luffy had a clear purpose. He wasn't here for a fight to the death.
Magi was still in his hand, radiating a faint intimidation.
"As an Admiral, do you have the authority to negotiate on behalf of the World Government?" Luffy asked directly.
"Of course~"
Kizaru spread his hands, his tone light. "I came here as a negotiator, after all."
Only a ghost would believe that.
Luffy pursed his lips. If he had performed even slightly worse just now, what he would be facing now wouldn't be a negotiation, but a full-scale encirclement after Kizaru rescued the hostages.
Kizaru continued, "If you want money, the World Government can agree. Name your price."
He tried to limit the conditions to an acceptable range.
Even Nami, in the distance, couldn't help but purse her lips at this.
Rich?
They now had the huge gold from Skypiea. They might not even care about the World Government's ransom.
"Not needed." Luffy shook his head firmly.
Not money?
Kizaru's gaze flickered. Then what he wanted must be something far more valuable than money.
"Then, a Devil Fruit? Or some other rare treasure?" Kizaru probed.
Before that, he pointed in Zoro's direction. "Before we go further, could you ask your crew member to move that sword away from Charlos's neck? Treating a World Noble like this is not a friendly negotiation gesture."
The blade had already drawn blood. Kizaru had no doubt that if he made any suspicious move, that green-haired swordsman would not hesitate to cut.
Zoro just grinned ferociously, unmoved.
An Admiral's words meant nothing to him. He only followed his captain's orders.
"Kizaru! Save us! Kill these untouchables who have offended us!" Roswald, seeing that Kizaru seemed willing to compromise, screamed again.
"It would be better for you to shut up, Roswald."
Kizaru's expression did not change. His tone even carried a hint of barely noticeable annoyance. "Otherwise, Charlos might return to God's arms early because of your words. Killing one Celestial Dragon or two—to them, there might not be much difference."
In his words, there was no anger at the Celestial Dragon's humiliation. In his eyes, there was no trace of respect for the so-called descendants of the creators.
At the Admiral level, one had one's own will and pride. The Celestial Dragons' privileges, in his eyes, were probably more of a symbol of trouble.
Just like right now.
He actually had to accept negotiations with a pirate.
He was an Admiral, after all.
Luffy stopped beating around the bush and stated the ultimate goal directly. "I want someone released from Impel Down."
Kizaru's gaze sank slightly. As expected—the worst case scenario.
If you kidnap Celestial Dragons, what you want must be extremely significant.
"If it's just some pirate from Levels 1 through 5 of Impel Down, this old man might be able to make the decision."
Kizaru kept a straight face, trying to limit the range to a controllable range.
Luffy shook his head. He didn't even know which level Ace was being held on, nor did he need to.
"I want the Whitebeard Pirates' Second Division Commander—Portgas D. Ace!"
Though he had anticipated it somewhat, hearing that name come from Luffy's mouth still made Kizaru's expression change involuntarily.
He looked at Luffy and couldn't help but asked, "What is your relationship with that man?"
"You only need to say yes or no."
Luffy knew very well—never reveal his relationship with Ace in front of an enemy.
Kizaru fell silent.
If they had no relationship, only a ghost would believe it.
What pirate would kidnap a Celestial Dragon, defying all odds, to save another pirate they had no connection to?
But if it was a close relationship—
Did Garp know?
Did Sengoku know?
The web of relationships behind this was terrifying to think about.
Kizaru was a bit scared himself.
Sengoku was his direct superior.
And Garp went without saying.
Those two old men accounted for 80% of the Navy's prestige.
After a moment, Kizaru slowly shook his head.
"This old man cannot make that decision."
Luffy's eyes sharpened. He could sense the evasion in Kizaru's tone.
He didn't waste any more words. His figure flashed, instantly appeared beside Zoro. He grabbed the male Celestial Dragon, Roswald, from the ground and unceremoniously slammed him into the ground!
THUD!
With a dull thud, Roswald lay on the ground like a dead dog, groaning in pain.
Luffy turned Roswald's face toward Kizaru, looked up at the sky, and said in a cold voice: "Say that again."
This rough and direct action made Kizaru's expression freeze.
The Marine officers far behind, forming the encirclement, felt their eyelids twitch wildly. Their hearts nearly jumped out of their throats.
This Straw Hat was a complete madman!
He actually dared!
Kizaru took a deep breath, knowing he couldn't provoke him further.
"Give this old man some time."
He said, "This old man needs to ask his superiors for instructions."
"How long?" Luffy asked.
"One hour."
"Ten minutes."
Luffy was firm. "Den Den Mushi communication is fast. Or you can use your lightspeed to go back—maybe that would be even faster."
Kizaru narrowed his eyes, looked deeply at Luffy, and did not negotiate further.
He knew this was the other side's bottom line.
"Fine."
With that, his figure gradually turned into countless particles of light, dissipated in the air, leaving only a lingering voice:
"In ten minutes, you'll have your answer."
As soon as Kizaru left, the tension eased slightly, but the invisible pressure grew even greater.
Everyone knew that the next ten minutes would determine the eventual direction of the situation.
Rayleigh walked over to Luffy, looked at his solemn side profile, and asked in a low voice:
"Luffy, do you know Ace's true identity?"
Luffy was surprised. He turned to look at Rayleigh. "True identity?"
"For example,"
Rayleigh's gaze was profound. "Who his father is?"
Luffy nodded, his tone low. "I know. Ace told me."
He remembered the infinitely complex expression on Ace's face when he mentioned that man.
Seeing Luffy confirm it, combined with the subtle expression change on Kizaru's face before he left, Rayleigh's expression also turned serious. "If the World Government is aware of Ace's lineage, then this transaction will probably not go smoothly. You need to prepare for the worst and have a backup plan."
Luffy's fists instantly clenched so tightly they cracked, his knuckles turning white.
He understood what Rayleigh meant.
Ace was the son of the Pirate King, Roger. That identity was far too special to the World Government!
They would probably prefer to publicly execute Ace to end Roger's bloodline and influence, rather than exchange him for a few Celestial Dragons.
"I understand."
Luffy said in a low voice. A decision flashed in his eyes.
He immediately gathered his crewmates and rapidly issued orders. "Robin, Nami, Chopper, Vivi... all of you, immediately return to the Thousand Sunny in groups. Prepare to set sail at any moment!"
"Only Rayleigh-san and I will stay here!"
"Luffy?" Nami looked at him worriedly.
"If the trade fails, I'll find a way to get back."
Luffy gave her a determined look. "Trust me."
"If it doesn't work, we'll just storm Impel Down!"
Zoro held his sword, his tone fierce, not joking at all.
Uta, who had just been reunited with them, was also told seriously by Luffy, "Uta, it's best if you don't stay with us for now. Kidnapping Celestial Dragons—this is too big. It will drag you in."
Uta opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but seeing Luffy's unmistakable look and the scene of surrounding Marines, she finally bit her lip and said in a low voice, "Be careful."
She knew that if she stayed now, she would only become a burden.
Since Kizaru had not given clear attack orders, the Marines around them, watching the Straw Hat crew begin to orderly evacuate, were thrown and dared not make any move.
With the Celestial Dragons firmly under Luffy's control—if some stray bullet or reckless charge caused a Celestial Dragon to be harmed—not to mention the Vice Admirals and Rear Admirals, even Admiral Kizaru himself could not bear that responsibility!
They could only anxiously wait for the Admiral's next instructions.
Meanwhile, Kizaru, who had departed as a beam of light, had already directly contacted Fleet Admiral Sengoku via encrypted Den Den Mushi, reporting the surprising turn of events on the Sabaody Archipelago and the trading conditions proposed by Straw Hat Luffy.
"What?! He wants to exchange Fire Fist Ace?"
Even through the Den Den Mushi, Kizaru could feel the shock and anger in Sengoku's voice.
Then this matter with Straw Hat probably had nothing to do with Sengoku.
Kizaru breathed a sigh of relief.
"So, Sengoku-san, what should we do now? We only have ten minutes." Kizaru asked.
Sengoku's expression freeze.
Fire Fist Ace was the key figure the Navy was using to lure out Whitebeard, to wage a strategic showdown that could change the landscape of the world.
He definitely could not be released!
The related combat plan had already been deployed. Even the newspapers announcing Ace's identity and execution time had already been urgently printed, only waiting for the right moment to be sent out to the world!
And now, at this critical juncture, this had to happen.
But this matter involved the Celestial Dragons.
If the Celestial Dragons weren't involved,Sengoku would have directly ordered Kizaru to go to war with the Straw Hat crew.
***
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