The man who blocked Wilder's path stared at him fixedly. "Please present your market entry permit, or register for one."
Wilder didn't say a word. From beneath his cloak, he produced a thick stack of Beli—easily four fingers deep—tossed it directly to the man, and strode past. "Be a dear and handle the registration for me."
"Er... Alright." The man stared, dumbfounded, at Wilder's retreating back for a moment before finally collecting himself enough to reply.
After passing through an antechamber, a server led Wilder to the entrance of a magnificent hall. However, in stark contrast to its opulent exterior, the interior presented a scene reminiscent of a bustling common market. The shops lining the sides were decent enough, but the hall's floor was crammed with small stalls, giving Wilder a fleeting sensation of being transported back to earlier days.
Wilder strolled about casually, his gaze sweeping over the small stalls. They sold all sorts of things: swords, firearms, land deeds, slaves, pets, and more.
But after a full circuit, nothing had caught his eye, let alone the specific item he was there for.
"Snap." Wilder, adopting the air of an arrogant young noble, snapped his fingers sharply.
A server heard the sound and approached, bowing to Wilder before looking up. "Good day, sir. How may I assist you?"
"I hear you have Devil Fruits here," Wilder said. "I'd like to buy one. You must have someone specifically in charge of such items, right? Take me to them."
His request was direct, perfectly embodying the "brainless noble" persona. Wilder leaned in and whispered this by the server's ear, then slipped him a few Beli as a tip.
The server looked at him with a mix of surprise and suspicion, but ultimately accepted the stack of Beli and nodded. "Please follow me, sir."
Money made the world go 'round, and Wilder was never one to be stingy when coin could solve a problem.
He followed the server through a series of twists and turns into a hidden passage. Along the way, Wilder discreetly observed the server covertly removing a button from his own clothes.
Wilder gave no sign, continuing to follow.
Before long, they passed through the passage and emerged into a wide, open courtyard. The ground was bare earth, no paving stones in sight. Not far off stood a plain, single-story wooden hut. Dusk had already settled, blanketing the surroundings in a quiet hush, broken only by the chirping of insects.
When Wilder arrived, a group of about twenty-odd men was already waiting in the courtyard. Each wore a "friendly" smile as they looked at Wilder. The server, meanwhile, underwent a complete change in demeanor. He immediately distanced himself from Wilder, joining the group to stare at him with predatory intent.
"Clap, clap, clap!" The crowd parted, and a short, stout middle-aged man in a black suit walked out, clapping his hands.
"Kid, how did you find out we have Devil Fruits here?" the stout man asked, no beating around the bush. His eyes glinted with cunning, though his face still wore a smile as he got straight to the point.
"Do you have one? If so, I'm willing to buy it for two hundred million Beli," Wilder said, perfectly feigning ignorance of the precarious situation.
At his words, the expressions of everyone present, including the short, stout man, changed. Some began to breathe heavily, their gazes on Wilder turning bloodshot, like starving wolves eyeing their prey. Undisguised greed.
Two hundred million Beli…
The short, stout man's eyes flickered with an internal struggle, yet also with avarice. "If it weren't for…" No 'if it weren't for'! This much money... How could I possibly refuse!? A savage grin suddenly stretched across the stout man's lips, his smile chilling, the greed in his eyes intensifying.
Lifting his head, his expression had transformed completely by the time he looked at Wilder again. He was all smiles, full of feigned friendliness. "Hahaha! Yes! Of course, we do! However, that Devil Fruit is currently in transit. If my little brother is genuinely interested in buying, then this old brother will have to reluctantly part with his treasure. If you trust me, little brother, bring the money here tomorrow. We'll settle things clearly, like good brothers: cash on one hand, goods on the other."
The short, stout man knew that two hundred million Beli wasn't an amount one could just conjure up instantly. Saying this would also put the other party more at ease. Besides… he wasn't afraid of his target escaping! As long as he remained on this island, no one could slip through his fingers! Because he was the one who ran this black market! On this island, he was the master!
Wilder, too, was now beaming, nodding in satisfaction at the short, stout man. "That sounds good. I'll come back tomorrow then."
"Hahaha! Take care, little brother! Come by tomorrow, and this old brother will help you relax a bit!"
After Wilder left the courtyard, the short, stout man's smile vanished. He shot a meaningful glance at a few of his men.
They nodded in understanding and their figures disappeared from the spot. The stout man watched them go, licking his lips, his eyes filled with a mixture of excitement and murderous intent.
Wilder, naturally, had already noticed the few little "tails" following him, but he gave no outward sign.
He wasn't certain if they actually possessed a Devil Fruit, but… at the very least, this was the most promising lead on the island. It was worth a try, wasn't it? Throughout his entry into the black market and his time in the courtyard, Wilder had worn his black cloak. He wasn't wearing his mask, but his face was half-concealed by a light gauze veil. This kind of attire wouldn't attract undue attention, as it was a recent fashion trend popular among nobles.
Wilder didn't return directly to his lodgings. Instead, he found a tavern bustling with women and went inside. Naturally, this was no respectable establishment; the women were scantily clad, exposing alabaster thighs and waists that made men's eyes burn. Every so often, one would brush past a man, feigning an accidental touch.
That smooth, tender contact…
Left Wilder utterly unfazed. If anything, it made him want another drink.
But, one had to commit to the act. Soon, Wilder was seated in a corner, an alluring woman draped over each of his arms.
"Young master, do you like little animals?" With money, a man could have a woman he'd never met call him 'young master' just by opening his mouth.
"I do."
"And how much do you like them?" The woman asking had already leaned half her body against Wilder, her small hand tracing patterns on his chest as she cooed.
"Can't go a single meal without them," Wilder replied, completely unmoved.
"..."
Wilder was telling the truth. He really couldn't go a single meal without meat. After all, with his high-intensity training, he'd easily grow weak from hunger without the nutritional supplement of meat. Back in Impel Down, Wilder had resorted to all sorts of methods to make up for the nutrients his training demanded; he'd even eaten dead rats.
For the next while, Wilder continued to drink, allowing the two women to practically hang off him without making any untoward moves.
The few men observing him in secret had apparently received a message at some point and departed. It seemed they were no longer concerned about Wilder.
Around ten o'clock at night, Wilder left the tavern.
An image transmitted to his mind revealed a discovery.
A smirk touched Wilder's lips. His figure flickered and vanished into the night.
Ten o'clock. Most shops on the island had closed, and the majority of residents were asleep. Only one dock remained bustling with activity.
A merchant ship was moored by the shore. On the dock, dozens of men were continuously loading crates onto the vessel.
The short, stout man was at the dock, directing everyone. "Careful now, this shipment is very important. Don't bump or damage anything."
Having said that, he turned to the few men who had tailed Wilder earlier. "Well? Did you notice anything unusual?"
"No, everything was normal," one of them, a man with an earring, replied.
"Good." The short, stout man nodded, his gaze returning to the men hauling cargo. "News that we're offering this Devil Fruit to that personage is bound to leak somewhat. There's no harm in being extra careful."
The short, stout man thought of the support he would gain from that personage in the future, and… those two hundred million Beli. His eyes couldn't help but burn with fervor.
"Say, Boss," the man with the earring spoke up, a hint of reluctance in his voice, "we don't even know what ability that fruit grants. Is it really okay to just give it to that personage like this?"
The short, stout man glanced at him, naturally understanding his subordinate's thoughts, and said dismissively, "It's fine. It's just one Devil Fruit. As long as we latch onto that personage, we'll have plenty of opportunities to find more Devil Fruits in the future."
As he spoke, he lowered his head, looking at the exquisite little box in his hands. Truthfully, he wasn't without his own regrets.
"Ah Yong," the short, stout man said, his gaze fixed, "this task is entrusted to you. Don't… disappoint me." He extended his hand, offering the box.
"Rest assured, Boss," Ah Yong, the man with the earring, said solemnly, accepting the box. He knew its contents were the Devil Fruit, but aside from a fleeting sense of reluctance, he had no other designs on it—because he himself was already a Devil Fruit user.
Unbeknownst to them, a "rat" was perched on a building behind them, silently watching everything and taking in every word of their conversation with its "ears."
By the time Wilder reached the dock, the cargo loading was just being completed. This was because he had deliberately slowed his pace, wanting to overhear their conversation. At the very least… Wilder was now somewhat curious about this "that personage" they kept mentioning.
"Go on, Ah Yong," the short, stout man said. "Stay vigilant on your journey. I'll be waiting to share a celebratory drink with you upon your return."
Ah Yong nodded and started walking towards the ship moored at the quay.
But suddenly, his expression changed. His eyes darted to the right side of the dock. Simultaneously, the short, stout man's eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint within them as he, too, looked in that direction.
Tap… tap… tap…
Under the cover of night, a tall figure approached with unhurried steps.
"Hey, hey, that's not very honest of you, old brother," a voice drawled. "You clearly have a Devil Fruit right here, yet you lied and said it was still in transit. Are you trying to swindle me because you think I'm an easy mark?"
The shadows gradually receded, and at that moment, Wilder's figure was revealed. A wide smile showcasing his pearly white teeth, he stood about ten meters in front of Ah Yong.
"It's you…!" Ah Yong's face turned ugly. If he didn't realize by now that they had been duped, he'd be an idiot.
Tap… tap… tap…
The short, stout man walked out from behind, his face grim, and stood beside Ah Yong, his gaze fixed icily on Wilder.
Seeing the boss's expression, Ah Yong's lips moved, wanting to explain. "Boss…"
"No need to say anything, Ah Yong. I believe you. We…" As he spoke, the short, stout man's glare on Wilder grew even colder, and he enunciated each word with venom, "...have all been played by this bastard!"
Wilder, having lit a cigar at some unknown point, let his gaze flicker towards the exquisite little box Ah Yong was clutching.
By now, how could the short, stout man not understand that the other party's objective was the Devil Fruit all along? The two hundred million Beli was just a joke! "You're dead," the short, stout man suddenly declared, lifting his head and flashing Wilder a bloodthirsty, savage grin.
"I don't believe you," Wilder said calmly, exhaling a puff of smoke, his eyes as tranquil as still water.
The short, stout man choked for a moment, then laughed out of sheer fury. "Hahaha! Good! No one has ever dared to be so arrogant on my turf! You're the first! I'll make your death a painful one! Rest assured…" His voice dropped to a low growl on the last sentence, a calm that clearly simmered with white-hot rage.
"Get him!" The laughter cut off abruptly. With a wave of his large hand, the short, stout man spat out the command. He lit a cigarette of his own, his expression returning to calm, but the way his eyes fixed on Wilder was as if he were looking at a corpse.
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh…!
The moment his words fell, Ah Yong, who was beside him, vanished from his spot. The box clattered to the ground. Simultaneously, the men who had previously tailed Wilder also charged towards him with ferocious momentum.
A series of sonic booms echoed. The men who had charged forward so aggressively were, in the blink of an eye, sent flying backward at a speed invisible to the naked eye, crashing heavily onto the ground.
When the dust settled, Wilder hadn't moved a single step. His tall figure stood erect, holding Ah Yong up effortlessly, like a child.
All of this had happened in the span of an instant. The cigarette fell from the short, stout man's lips. Though his face remained outwardly composed, a tremor had appeared in his eyes.
"Hmm… A Zoan-type user. He certainly has the capital to run rampant in the East Blue," Wilder commented, looking at Ah Yong in his grasp, then at the others he'd sent flying. Understanding dawned on him.
"No wonder they were so confident they could take me. Turns out they're not a weak bunch," Wilder mused aloud. Unexpectedly, his words reached Ah Yong's ears, causing him immense humiliation. He glared at Wilder, grinding his teeth.
"Aaargh!" With a loud roar, Ah Yong's body began to rapidly expand.
"Hmm?" Wilder's eyes narrowed; his grip was gradually failing to contain the swelling mass.
"Alright then," he said cryptically, and with a sudden exertion of strength, he flung the ever-expanding Ah Yong away!
CRASH! Ah Yong's body spun several times in mid-air before he landed steadily on his feet. He lifted his head, his eyes, now a furious blood-red, fixed on Wilder.
His frame was now over three meters tall, his fur patterned with irregular spots and patches of varying shades. His mouth, filled with terrifying fangs, was wide open, dripping thick saliva.
"Well now... that's an animal with an astonishing bite," Wilder remarked, a flicker of genuine surprise in his eyes after a quick glance.
"I am a Spotted Hyena man, having eaten the Hyena-Hyena Fruit, Model: Spotted Hyena," Ah Yong declared as he stood up, his crimson eyes never leaving Wilder. Even fully upright, his body still retained a somewhat hunched posture.
"This must be the hybrid form," Wilder thought.
"No matter what, you're dead tonight," the short, stout man vowed, stepping forward. His own body then began to change.