And it didn't stop there. The "Transparency" specialty could also be released through contact with his shadow.
A smile flashed in Merlin's eyes. The shadow beneath him flowed like a liquid, seeping through tiny cracks in the floor and reaching a miscellaneous ice room in the basement.
Immediately after, form and shadow swapped, and Merlin's figure appeared in the ice room.
Oars' corpse was stored here.
With Monet around, Merlin could absolutely enjoy fresh shaved ice anytime, anywhere, even in a scorching environment.
The construction of the ice room was just a result of Monet blowing a breath. Coming over to refresh the air from time to time was enough to maintain the freezing temperature for a long time.
Looking at Oars buried in the ice layer not far in front of him, Merlin's shadow made contact. Immediately, Oars' figure disappeared and appeared in Merlin's equipment slot.
[Name: Corpse of Demon Oars]
[Effect: After equipping, as time passes, you will gain biological specialties possessed by ancient giants.]
[Synchronization Rate: 1%]
[Evaluation: Called the worst villain when alive, and notoriously evil even after death.
A corpse of considerable value.]
After equipping it, Merlin felt his body. Equipping Oars' corpse provided almost no boost to his physical fitness. Merlin thought to himself, Because it's a dead object?
Having figured it out, Merlin swapped places with his shadow again, appearing in the room above.
At this moment, Baby 5 was in the room. Merlin looked curiously at the Den Den Mushi she was holding.
It was already connected, and the highly recognizable appearance imitated by the Den Den Mushi allowed Merlin to recognize the caller at a glance.
Seeing Merlin suddenly appear, Baby 5's eyes lit up. She said directly, "Big Brother Merlin, Lord Doffy is looking for you."
Merlin was surprised by her address but didn't pay too much attention. He reached out and took the receiver she handed over, chuckling lightly. "What wind blew a busy man like you over here, Doffy?"
On the other end of the Den Den Mushi, on the azure sea, Doflamingo had just finished exercising. Standing in front of his cabin window, looking at the distant sea, he chuckled. "Tsuru's ship... is gone!"
From just this one sentence, Merlin heard multiple meanings. The corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up. "It seems that sailing Moria's ship was still a bit too conspicuous, so much so that Tsuru has already suspected me."
"The mining of those precious metals here has reached the final stage. So, what are your thoughts?"
Doflamingo grinned. "What do I need leftovers for?"
"Load those two types of extracted precious metals onto the ship now, and we'll meet at the Maila Archipelago.
"I heard from Pink that the harvest this time is good. It should sell for about ten billion Berries in total. I've also found a buyer, just waiting for the transaction.
"By the way, happy cooperation this time. I'll prepare a Devil Fruit for you as remuneration."
Merlin smiled, nodding. "Fine, then I'll set off as soon as possible. See you then!"
Kacha!
The Den Den Mushi hung up. A thoughtful look appeared in Merlin's eyes. The so-called buyer Doflamingo mentioned was probably not simple...
There were probably very few parties on the sea capable of handling such a large transaction.
But that was irrelevant for now.
Merlin looked at Baby 5. "Where's Pink?"
"He just went to the mine. Are we going over?"
"Mmh." Merlin nodded. Not long after, he arrived at a mine entrance in the mountains with Baby 5.
A purification workshop had already been built into the mountain wall beside the entrance.
Entering, they found Pink there.
As soon as they entered, they could see two sealed glass vessels, one meter in diameter, placed on an instrument.
Currently, these two vessels stored two different types of granular precious metals.
One silver-white.
One gray-blue.
Iridium (Ir) and Osmium (Os).
Merlin looked curiously at these two metals and the pile of raw platinum ore on the ground.
At this time, Merlin relayed his conversation with Doflamingo to Pink.
After listening, Pink nodded. Looking at the precious metals in the two glass vessels in front of him, he said to Merlin, "Then you take these two metals back first. I'll arrange the evacuation of the personnel here and come find you."
"Okay! But be quick. We don't know when Tsuru might show up."
"Mmh." Pink nodded seriously.
A moment later.
Merlin and Baby 5 returned to the ship and stored the two precious metals in a cabin.
The "merchant ships" docked at the port also began to move.
Boxes of other platinum ores suitable for making lead bullets were loaded onto the ships. Not long after, Pink returned. Merlin glanced at him. "Done?"
"Mmh! Let's go!"
Merlin nodded with a smile. Then his shadow merged into the ship's shadow. In the seawater beneath the ship, shadows paddled like oars. Soon, the large ship turned around and sailed into the distance.
Half a day later, a warship arrived at this port.
Tsuru stood at the bow, looking at the sparse few cargo ships at the port. Helplessness flashed in her eyes. "It seems we arrived a step too late. We missed that kid."
Gion sighed at this moment. "Fleet Admiral Kong just called. He said Doflamingo struck a deal with high-level government officials.
"A total transaction value of ten billion, with one billion converted into two equivalent Devil Fruits."
"Fleet Admiral Kong said for us to meet up with the personnel from CP9 and serve as their escorts for this mission.
"To ensure the successful transaction of that batch of rare metals."
Tsuru nodded. "Where is the specific transaction location?"
Gion: "The specific transaction location wasn't mentioned. The Fleet Admiral said Doflamingo would communicate with him in real-time later."
Tsuru sighed helplessly. "Cunning fellow."
As days passed, the temperature in the surrounding waters began to warm up.
Five days later, they officially left the waters located in the world's Arctic region.
The temperature rose instantly.
Afternoon.
On the deck.
Wearing shorts, lying on a beach chair, the comfortable sunlight sprinkled on his body, gradually dispelling the damp chill accumulated psychologically from being surrounded by ice and snow for months.
At this moment, a pair of fair legs emitting a cool aura arrived in front of Merlin. Monet's gentle laughter came. "I made strawberry shaved ice. Want to try?"
Merlin pushed up his sunglasses, sat up, and looked at Monet. She wore a cool green crop top, and moving his gaze down, denim hot pants and high-heeled sandals.
Her distinct pink toes looked particularly cute.
"Sure, I'll try it."
Taking the small bowl from Monet, Merlin spooned some berry-red shaved ice into his mouth. The taste was very good, with added fruit wine, moderate sweetness, and the strawberry-flavored ice melted in his mouth.
"Mmh, very delicious."
Hearing this, a smile flashed in Monet's eyes. "Since you like it, I'll make it for you often."
"Good!" Merlin laughed.
At this time, Perona ran over holding a tray. Looking at Merlin, the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up. "I have freshly baked chocolate nut donuts here too. Want some?"
Merlin's nose twitched, and his eye corner twitched instantly. As she approached, the air smelled cloyingly sweet.
"I'm not hungry right now. Go find Baby 5 to help you taste test. After you finish eating later, go work hard and sweat it out in training!"
Perona looked stunned. "Why do we have to train after eating?"
"Because there's too much sugar. If you don't train hard, your body will accumulate excessive fat and you'll get fat."
Perona puffed out her cheeks, glaring at Merlin angrily. "Are you saying my delicious food is too sweet?"
Merlin looked away, not wanting to pay attention to this guy who had no self-awareness about the things she made.
Beside him, Monet's shoulders shook, and a smile appeared at the corner of her mouth. Seeing this, Perona became even more unhappy. Merlin ate Monet's shaved ice but didn't eat her donuts.
This was clearly differential treatment.
With a hmph, Perona went back to the cabin unhappily, shouting, "Baby 5, come eat donuts!"
"Eh? You made them again? Are they still that sweet this time? Can't you put less honey? It's cloying to death!"
"Cut the crap. Lord Merlin told me to find you to eat. After eating, we go to the deck to train together."
"Big Brother Merlin said so? Fine then, I'll reluctantly help you share some! Oh, right."
"Mr. Pink, do you want some?"
Pink, sitting on the sofa, twitched his eye corner and waved his hands repeatedly. He couldn't stand food of that sweetness level; he didn't want to get diabetes at a young age.
"No, no, I'll just drink tea and smoke."
Perona gave him a dissatisfied glare.
Then she and Baby 5 enjoyed the "delicacy" she made herself.
A while later.
On the deck, Merlin watched the two little girls huffing and puffing as they sparred bare-handed.
Their sparring was becoming quite decent, from the rhythm of breathing to footwork movement, and their grasp of combat timing.
A smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. He glanced at a nautical chart placed aside.
The shadow propeller at the stern adjusted slightly, and the ship's overall direction began to shift rapidly to the left.
The shadows were like pairs of flexible large hands; this large ship was sailing entirely according to Merlin's will.
In the blink of an eye, another four days passed.
At 10:00 AM.
On the distant sea surface, patches of archipelago appeared. The seawater in this area was incredibly clear and translucent; one could even see the seabed sand and stones dozens of meters below.
Under the refraction of sunlight, it was colorful and extraordinarily magnificent.
This was the Maila Archipelago.
Not long after, the ship stopped at a small port with human settlements in this archipelago.
Merlin looked at the ship a hundred meters away that looked like a pink flamingo but was charred and damaged all over.
"Hey! Merlin! Over here, over here."
At this moment, at the entrance of a tavern three hundred meters away from the port, Law's figure appeared there, waving excitedly.
After Merlin glanced at him, a shadow moved quickly along the ground and stopped in front of Law. Immediately after, Merlin's figure appeared.
"Ah?" Law was startled by Merlin's sudden appearance, then looked at Merlin with envy. "Is this that ability of yours to copy abilities? Really freakish!"
"By the way, heard you took out that Moria. You didn't get hurt, right?"
Merlin smiled and looked at him, patting his shoulder. Since the content of Amber Lead toxin in his body decreased and no longer affected him, his body had begun to fully absorb nutrients, and his physical fitness and height were shooting up.
It had to be said, Amber Lead disease was fierce. Lodging in the human body, it consumed most of the body's nutrients, making the patient grow like an addict.
"I'm alright! But I can heal myself, so it's not a big problem."
Merlin didn't tell the whole truth. At this moment, a person walked out of the tavern. Doflamingo looked at Merlin, the corners of his mouth lifting. "It's been hard on you all this way!"
Merlin raised an eyebrow lightly, then laughed. "What? Planning to give me an extra hardship fee?"
Doflamingo laughed and shook his head. "How is that possible? With me, business is business."
Saying this, he handed over an unopened bottle of wine. Merlin didn't stand on ceremony, took it, uncorked it, and took a swig. The taste was mellow and fruity.
Glancing around and seeing no outsiders, he asked, "Tell me, who is your buyer this time?"
Doflamingo looked at Merlin with a profound gaze. "I guess you definitely won't like them."
Merlin narrowed his eyes. "No point playing riddles here. I'm not brainless. Just say it!"
Seeing this, Doflamingo grinned. "The most suitable use for this batch of precious metals is high-end scientific research and manufacturing.
"And on this sea, there aren't many capable of taking it. Or rather, there is only one: the World Government."
There was no need to say the rest; Merlin already understood. Merlin also gave him a guarantee. "Don't worry. Although I don't like them, I won't be the first to start anything during this transaction."
Seeing the guarantee, satisfaction appeared in Doflamingo's eyes. A partner who wasn't impulsive was truly reassuring.
"I've already communicated with them. They should arrive tomorrow afternoon."
"It's CP9 from the World Government. But presumably, the probability of Tsuru and her group coming along isn't small."
"I think so too." Saying this, Merlin beckoned him. "Let's go! Let's go see your goods."
Merlin took him and Law to his ship, grabbing Law by the collar and jumping onto the ship easily.
Arriving at the cabin.
Looking at the two glass vessels Merlin pointed to, placed on the floor in the backlight at the entrance, Doflamingo's mouth twitched. "Such expensive things, and you just pile them here directly? Not even a wooden frame to protect them?"
Taking a sip of wine, Merlin shook his head with a smile. "That's too much trouble. They won't spoil anyway, no need to fear!"
At this time, Monet, Pink, and the others walked over. Pink and Baby 5 greeted Doflamingo.
Doflamingo nodded with a smile, then looked at Perona with a gleam in his eyes. "Is this little brat the crew member who survived from Moria's group?"
Merlin just smiled. But Perona looked at Doflamingo with dissatisfaction. Immediately, with a casual wave, a Negative Hollow flew over quickly.
Caution appeared in Doflamingo's eyes as he nimbly dodged. Merlin glanced at him, then smiled at Perona. "Don't be angry. If he loses face now, it won't look good for us either."
Listening, Perona nodded and dispelled the Negative Hollow with a thought.
Doflamingo obviously didn't care much about Perona's attack, just smiling without saying anything extra.
After that, he had people come over to move the two glass vessels.
Time flew by. At 6:00 PM the next day, two ships sailed over from the distant sea.
One was Tsuru's warship.
One was a World Government ship.