After showering, Orochimaru changed into clean clothes and looked at himself in the mirror. The new, sterilized clothes, seemingly custom-made to his liking, were pure white. He liked them... At this moment, a hint of admiration appeared in Orochimaru's eyes as he looked at Bartolomeo.
Indeed, people who know how to care for others always exude a unique charm.
"Barto... do you know where Pirate King Roger's grave is?" Orochimaru suddenly asked.
Bartolomeo heard him, lowered his head, and stroked his chin, lost in thought.
"We'll have to find someone to ask about that. I heard the Marine specifically chose a place to bury him.
But for us, there should still be a way to find it.
After all, our ancestors have always been from Loguetown.
Senior, are you going to pay your respects? Do you need me to prepare wine or anything?"
Orochimaru's lips curved slightly, revealing a mysterious smile.
"No... I'm just going to dig up a grave... Of course, if your subordinates can dig up the grave directly and transport the body, I have no objections.
However, to show respect to the Pirate King, at least... hmm... buy a coffin.
If you really can't find the body... then go and dismantle a plank from the Execution Platform for me."
"Σ(ŎдŎ|||)ﾉﾉ Dig... dig up a grave???"
Bartolomeo froze instantly, his face filled with disbelief.
But soon, his eyes began to gleam, filled with adoration for Orochimaru.
"As expected of the unpredictable Senior Orochimaru! Your ideas are truly different from others!
Alright, Senior Orochimaru! Don't worry! I'll have it dug up and delivered to you in two days at the latest! All 150 towns nearby are my territory!"
Orochimaru nodded slightly and said, "I'm going to town to buy some things. Do you want to come along?"
"It would be an honor!!!" Bartolomeo excitedly followed behind Orochimaru.
Orochimaru strolled leisurely through the town, constantly pondering what to use as Roger's temporary body. Perhaps a toy would work?
Or should he make a robot himself? But making a robot takes a long time, and he really couldn't bear to part with his mechanical naruto.
As Orochimaru wandered, deep in thought, he suddenly stopped in front of a glass window.
Orochimaru stared at the mannequin in the adult store, a flash of realization in his eyes. Wasn't this readily available?
"This is it!"
Bartolomeo looked at the unspeakable latex doll, then looked up at the sign of the adult store, as if he was about to shatter.
Finally, he stammered as he looked at Orochimaru,
"Se... Senior Orochimaru... If... if you really have a need... I... I can also..."
Orochimaru's face was filled with surprise; he hadn't expected Bartolomeo to be so understanding.
Edo Tensei on a living person would cause the target of the jutsu to die immediately.
However, he also recalled that from the memories of those Blue Star people, Bartolomeo would indeed sacrifice his life for Luffy and his crew.
When he recklessly provoked Red Hair and was about to be annihilated by their crew, he, unaware of Red Hair's relationship with Luffy, still didn't forget to get Luffy out of danger.
Orochimaru's face softened, and he gently patted Bartolomeo's shoulder.
"I understand your intention... But for now, this model should be enough. Let's go, we'll go in and ask."
Orochimaru slowly pushed open the door and walked in. The crisp chime of the doorbell broke the silence inside, waking the boss who was dozing off.
The boss, with sleepy eyes, looked up, and upon seeing the two enter, his eyes immediately lit up.
"Welcome! What can I do for you two?!" the boss greeted enthusiastically.
Orochimaru pointed to the mannequin by the door and asked expressionlessly, "What styles of male bodies do you have for this type of model?"
The adult store owner was initially stunned, his gaze shifting back and forth between Orochimaru and the dejected Bartolomeo, his expression becoming very subtle, with a hint of sympathy mixed in.
But soon, the boss looked at Orochimaru excitedly again.
"Sir... you truly have good taste! This is the latest model simulating the human body. It's completely manufactured according to human bones, and the skin feels just like real skin, and it has all the necessary functions.
Its size can also be freely adjusted! And if you have special needs, we can even provide custom-made services!"
Oh? Orochimaru, who had been expressionless, suddenly looked up after hearing the boss's introduction.
He had originally only intended to casually buy a model to test whether non-living entities in the Pirate World could summon souls. As long as a soul could inhabit it and speak a few words for verification, it would be enough. He hadn't expected such a pleasant surprise now.
If conditions allowed, using a mannequin directly might not be impossible, after all, Conqueror's Haki has little to do with the physical body.
"Then customize a Pirate King Roger's model for me. All materials for the entire body must be the best, especially the skeletal parts," Orochimaru said.
Upon hearing this, the boss's eyes instantly lit up, thinking, so he's one of us.
"You like Pirate King Roger too! Recently, things related to the Shichibukai have become more and more popular, and hardly anyone comes to ask about Roger anymore.
But you've come at just the right time. I actually have a roger's model that's a treasure of my shop.
It's just that because the price is too high, I haven't displayed it... If you're interested... I can let you experience it first. Don't worry, it's brand new, because it's really expensive."
As he spoke, the boss rubbed two fingers together, a meaningful smile on his face.
Orochimaru, without a word, directly threw a box full of Berries, containing a full one hundred million, at the boss. "I'll take a look first... If there's no problem, I'll take it directly."
The boss's eyes instantly widened, greedily staring at the box of Berries, his smile almost squeezing his eyes shut.
He quickly put the money away, turned, and ran to the warehouse without a single extra word.
Soon, the boss pushed out a huge and incredibly luxurious coffin from the warehouse. He slowly opened the coffin, revealing a highly realistic, completely naked human model lying inside.
The boss pushed the coffin in front of Orochimaru and proudly introduced, "Look... This is the latest simulated body, made from the same material used to create the latest artificial robot bodies.
The bones inside, they say, are made of the same material as Marineford's secret weapon—the Pacifista! And this is completely modeled after Roger himself, one-to-one. The most crucial thing is, that part can also be replaced!"
As the boss spoke, he winked at Orochimaru, but his hint was completely lost on Orochimaru, like casting pearls before swine.
Orochimaru stepped forward and touched it. The texture was realistic, and he tested its sensitivity; there was no stiffness at all. It was truly good, very "Kogaku."
"This is the one... Barto, it's yours."
Bartolomeo looked at the model, disheartened, his face filled with resentment...
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