"I heard the cheapest Devil Fruit costs around 100 million Berries to acquire.
"Are your capital reserves sufficient?"
Merlin said this. Upon hearing these words, Fulvio was pleasantly surprised:
"Are you agreeing to go with us? Don't worry, I won't let you help for nothing. I'll cover the travel expenses, and I'll give you a labor fee of one million Berries."
After saying that, he nodded and continued:
"Over these years, the two of us have saved up two hundred million. Added to the one hundred million supported by the old man, three hundred million Berries should be enough."
Merlin's eyes flashed at this moment, "That looks about right... But if you two manage to win the bid, who plans to eat it?"
Reasonably speaking, Merlin shouldn't have asked this. After all, who the Devil Fruit belonged to was their family affair, and an outsider like him shouldn't interfere.
But Merlin still wanted to know.
He wanted to know their thoughts, and then... decide whether or not to go with them.
After all,
Uneven distribution of spoils is a big taboo.
There are too many examples in this world of relatives turning against each other and brothers becoming enemies because of uneven loot distribution!
However, right at this moment, Fulvio and Teresa looked at each other. The siblings shared a knowing smile, and Teresa spoke bluntly:
"My brother and I have discussed it. If it's a Zoan type, he eats it. If it's a Paramecia type, I eat it."
Fulvio nodded earnestly in agreement:
"We've long since settled the issue of the fruit's ownership. A Zoan type can bring more physical enhancement, which is more useful for me."
But at this time, Lami asked in confusion: "Why isn't there a Logia type?"
Teresa said helplessly: "Three hundred million Berries can't win one. I heard the cheapest Logia type ever sold for over five hundred million Berries!"
Speaking of this, Teresa looked at Merlin eagerly. Although she usually appeared carefree, she was actually quite sensitive inside. Merlin hadn't explicitly said he would go with them just yet.
At this moment, seeing her expectant look, Merlin pondered in his heart and said:
"Black Pearl is a lawless zone. Since you could get this intelligence, it's possible that this matter has already been widely spread.
"And the attraction of a Devil Fruit cannot be underestimated. If things go wrong, multiple forces might gather there by then.
"We can't rule out the possibility that this is a setup."
Hearing this, the siblings' expressions became grave. They recalled that their intelligence came as a bonus when buying other info in the black market.
Before, they thought the seller just wanted more people there to make big money. For a moment, they really hadn't thought about this point.
However, a Devil Fruit...
Fulvio gave a bitter smile:
"Intel on secret treasures of the sea isn't something you find on every street corner. Usually, information regarding this is rare. As long as there's a chance, we don't want to miss it.
"After all, as long as one can eat a suitable Devil Fruit, it allows a person to reach the sky in a single bound."
Hearing this, a flash of approval couldn't help but pass through Merlin's eyes. The words were true.
"So, Merlin, are you going?"
Fulvio was a little nervous. After all, Merlin was still young. If he didn't want to go, Fulvio wouldn't force him.
At this time, Merlin sensed the worried look in Yol's eyes and just glanced at her slightly sideways.
Then he smiled at them:
"Forget about the one million Berries. Based on our relationship, since you've come to find me, I can't refuse!"
As soon as the words came out.
The siblings instantly felt reassured. Merlin's agreement to join was like a shot of adrenaline to their hearts.
Excitement appeared on both their faces. Fulvio opened his mouth slightly, intending to speak...
"Merlin, then you... be safe."
Right at this moment, Yol spoke. She wanted to say she wanted to go with him, but she wasn't at ease leaving Lami alone.
She couldn't possibly take Lami there with them; that place was chaotic after all.
Discovering Yol's duplicity—saying one thing while meaning another—Merlin could only pretend not to notice.
After all, having cultivated for nearly a year, Merlin also wanted to test himself...
To see if his blade was sharp enough now.
"Mmh, I know. You don't need to worry about me; you know my strength."
Merlin said to Yol at this time.
Seeing that the two had finished speaking, Fulvio said in a serious tone at this moment:
"Merlin, that one million Berries is a token of my appreciation. Don't refuse it; you must accept it.
"I'm not giving much. Our trip there has risks. If I didn't need money for this, I definitely wouldn't just give you this little token as a gesture."
Seeing this, Merlin didn't refuse again and just asked him: "When do we set off?"
Fulvio said decisively, "Tomorrow morning. After all, Black Pearl isn't close to here. Even with smooth sailing, it takes about thirteen days at the fastest.
"We'll come to pick you up tomorrow morning. We'll take my family's merchant ship there."
Merlin nodded, "Okay, then I'll wait for you."
After the two settled it, Fulvio took out the one million Berries stuffed in an envelope on the spot and shoved it into Merlin's hand. After saying a few more words, the siblings left together.
After seeing them off and returning to the living room, Yol gave Merlin a helpless smile:
"You rest a bit. I'll go pack some change of clothes for you."
Merlin was helpless, "I can do it myself!"
After saying that, he went up to the second floor.
Yol was helpless and could only clear the table first.
"Sister Yol, sorry."
At this time, Lami, who was helping her clear the table, spoke in a low, depressed tone. Yol paused, her gaze becoming serious as she looked at her:
"Lami, we are family."
Yol knew Lami was wise beyond her years, smart since childhood, and also knew her mind was incredibly sensitive.
She must have sensed the change in her own thoughts just now. Ever since coming out of Flevance, Lami had been overly obedient.
Obedient to the point of making one's heart ache.
Yol put down the things in her hands, squatted halfway in front of Lami, held her shoulders, and said seriously:
"You have never been a burden. You are our little sister. I absolutely do not wish for you to blame yourself because of my affairs."
Lami looked at Yol blankly, her eyes becoming slightly red.
And at this time, Yol couldn't hold back a bitter laugh:
"You also know your Merlin-niichan's character. He has his own ideas. He wouldn't let me follow him this time."
Lami was somewhat puzzled and asked with doubt in her eyes: "Why?"
Yol shook her head. She just suddenly had this intuition in her heart.
...
10:00 PM.
Tonight, Merlin didn't cultivate too much. He washed up early and went to sleep.
At this moment, the door handle moved. Merlin's eyes opened, then closed again.
Soon, a warm body burrowed into the quilt and hugged Merlin's right arm sideways. A moment later, Yol whispered:
"Tomorrow, I won't see you off. I don't know if you will have other plans later, but we will wait for you here.
"Good night!"
The expression in Merlin's eyes was inscrutable.
A silent night.
Early next morning.
Moving the lotus-root-like arm pressing on his neck and a thigh on his body aside.
He got up, dressed, and washed. Glancing at her, who was still pretending to sleep, Merlin took his suitcase and weapon and left the room.
Lami hadn't gotten up yet. Merlin made breakfast personally for the first time in a long while.
Not long after finishing breakfast, Fulvio and his sister arrived. Merlin set off with them and left home.
Second-floor bedroom, by the window.
Yol, wearing a nightdress, stood here watching the three of them walk away. At this moment, she saw Merlin raise his right hand and wave.
Instantly, a smile floated in her eyes, "Actually so keen? Did he already sense my gaze!"
During this period when Merlin's vision became blurry, she discovered that Merlin's perception ability was getting stronger every day.
If she didn't know Merlin's vision condition now.
She probably wouldn't have thought that his vision still couldn't see anything clearly beyond one meter.
At the port.
A two-masted sailing ship, with a purple-background flag painted with a golden katana, greatsword, and rapier crossed together hanging on the mainmast, turned its bow from the port and slowly sailed towards the distance.
In a second-floor cabin, Merlin looked around. The space in this cabin wasn't small.
Placing the small suitcase at the head of the bed, Merlin turned his head and joked:
"Ful, you didn't assign the captain's quarters to me, did you?"
Fulvio smiled with squinted eyes: "Can't I?"
Merlin raised an eyebrow: "For real?"
Teresa walked over and said with a giggle:
"Of course~ not! Although this ship is a merchant ship, it's actually specially used to transport some important guests.
"Sometimes, my old man organizes students in the dojo to go to dojos on other islands to spar with them.
"That's the function of this ship."
Merlin's gaze was subtle, "Teacher's line of thought is really novel."
Seeing Merlin react in an instant, Fulvio smiled helplessly:
"Winning against other dojos naturally brings fame, thereby attracting more wealthy people to come and learn. But because of this, annoying troubles are not few.
"But fortunately, we siblings are somewhat useful. Nowadays in the North Blue, our Rock Heart Sword Dojo has some fame."
Hearing his modesty, Merlin laughed speechlessly, "Isn't 'Wandering Sword' widely known in the nearby sea areas?"
Speaking of this, Merlin also glanced at Teresa and smiled:
"Also, Greatsword Teresa."
Teresa rolled her eyes at Merlin:
"It's just a title, not worth mentioning. I can't compare to Ful's name of Wandering Sword."
Fulvio was helpless: "That's enough, are you done yet? Starting to mock me again. I'm your biological brother!"
Merlin smiled, then left the room with them and came to the deck.
Standing in front of the railing at this moment, hands resting on it, gazing at the endless sea in the distance, Merlin took a deep breath:
"No wonder you two often wander on the sea.
"I have to say, 'the sky is high and the sea is wide' describes exactly this."
At this time, Fulvio handed a bottle of fruit wine in his hand to Merlin, then chuckled and asked:
"How is it? Is sailing comfortable?
"By the way, I've been wanting to ask.
"What are your plans for the future?"
Teresa on the side also looked over curiously: "You, Yol, and Lami are all learning the sword very hard."
"No, it should be said you are working too hard! If an ordinary person trained like you guys, they would have ruined their body long ago."
"Is there something you want to do?"
Merlin gave a light chuckle: "Before asking others, tell me about your goals first!
"Future?
"What do you guys want to do?"