Chapter 31: Knowledge Exchange

Yami then began searching Nami methodically.

Sanji watched in horror from the sidelines, feeling utterly helpless.

However, Yami wasn't interested in what Sanji was imagining.

He simply retrieved several pieces of the weather stick from Nami's waist, proceeding no further.

"Remove the cloth from their mouths," Yami ordered.

Three Uchiha guards stepped forward and removed the fabric strips from each prisoner's mouth.

"You bastard! How dare you do that to Nami-san!” Sanji wailed with grievance.

“Shut up, Sanji, he didn’t even do anything,” Nami glared at Sanji.

The others remained wary, watching Yami with fearful expressions.

“Do you want to live?” Yami looked down at the group sitting helplessly on the ground.

"Will you let us go?" Nami's eyes lit up with hope.

"Not Straw Hat, but the rest of you, yes. However, you'll need to trade something for your release," Yami stated bluntly.

These people possessed valuable skills.

Franky, Chopper, and Usopp all had useful abilities that could benefit their clan.

He didn't particularly care about Nico Robin's ability to interpret the ancient texts; such pursuits were less important than current practical advantages.

What he needed now were abilities that could help his people establish themselves in this world quickly.

"Why not our captain too? We can trade something for his freedom too,” Nami spoke up urgently.

The others remained silent, recognizing that if Nami couldn't negotiate successfully, their words would prove useless.

"He's my bargaining chip to become a Shichibukai," Yami explained matter-of-factly.

"Don’t worry, they won’t execute him. Instead, he'll be imprisoned in Impel Down. If you're capable enough, you can rescue him yourself."

Yami felt obligated to clarify the situation.

Nami and the others looked stricken by this news.

“No way…” Nami was feeling down from that.

"I wonder what you wish to trade for…?" Nico Robin interjected.

She had been making calm assessments throughout.

These people before them, operated with decisive efficiency.

Their leader possessed clear objectives and couldn't be easily swayed.

She found herself curious about what this person actually wanted.

They were obviously captives; he could take whatever he desired by force.

Why bother with negotiations?

Saving Luffy would have to wait until they could actually do something when they were free…

"This reindeer possesses medical knowledge, the cyborg weirdo has shipbuilding expertise, and this woman understands navigation. Let's start with those three disciplines first," Yami mused.

These abilities should prove useful.

This condition surprised Nico Robin completely.

She had expected him to demand valuable possessions or something else entirely.

She had even considered including herself, given that she was the only person on the seas who could interpret the historical texts.

But he didn’t seem to need that.

"Who's a reindeer, you bastard! I'm a... wait, you actually got it right!" Chopper exclaimed indignantly, before he noticed that Yami had correctly called him.

Yami chuckled.

"Well? I'm willing to trade this knowledge for your lives. Perhaps you can rescue your captain afterward."

Yami spoke with temptation to manipulate the Straw Hats.

Voluntary cooperation was ideal, and Yami had no intention of hurting them.

After all, the plot remained his greatest advantage in this world.

A living protagonist group would prove more beneficial for the future.

"This knowledge cannot be learned quickly," Nico Robin negotiated.

She was testing this man's limitations.

"As long as you explain everything once, whether we remember it becomes our problem, not yours."

"Don't attempt any tricks. I know your backgrounds very well, especially yours. But you can relax, I have no interest in the historical texts."

Yami said to Nico Robin directly.

The two women aboard this ship were far more cunning than the men, given their complex experiences.

Nico Robin felt shocked by that new info.

"Everyone, do you agree to these terms?" Nico Robin could only consult her companions.

"If it can save everyone, then I don’t mind at all." Chopper was the first to speak.

He truly wanted to share his medical expertise and harbored no selfish intentions.

"Fine by me." Nami declared.

"However, navigation skills require weather pattern recognition. It's not just theoretical knowledge, it demands experience."

Nami said and emphasized this point.

So as not to be blamed later on.

“Just tell us what you know. That’s enough,” Yami replied.

Finally, there was Franky.

"Those CP9 guys already have excellent shipbuilding skills. There's no need for mine!" Franky protested, reluctant to share.

“Franky-san… why are you so stubborn at this point?” Yami tried to reason with the guy.

But Franky just turned his head to the side.

“Listen here…”

"I'm being generous by not demanding Pluton's blueprints from you. I already said I know about your backgrounds… did you think I was lying?”

“If you refuse again, maybe we'll simply dismantle your ship and study it ourselves, yeah, that could work…" Yami stated with a small smile.

He genuinely wasn't interested in Pluton.

But Franky was the type to require extra motivation.

"Okay, okay, I agree. Dammit, you’re one crazy guy…" Franky panicked and quickly accepted. The last part was barely whispered.

Whether it concerned Pluton or the Thousand Sunny, he didn't want anyone learning certain secrets.

Yami side-eyed him.

"Itachi, you'll learn from this reindeer. Shisui, I'm assigning that woman to you, don't let her deceive you."

"Kaku, you'll handle the cyborg."

"Anyone else who wants to learn can observe from the side."

Yami began making assignments.

Chopper from the side, flared up cutely.

"I'm not a reindeer, I'm a... wait, you called me correctly again, idiot, bastard!" Chopper continued protesting before stopping in confusion.

Yami took a few seconds to look at him.

Chopper for his part, hid once he noticed Yami looking at him.

‘He’s not even hidden, haha… this little guy is funny,’ Yami thought with a smile.

"By the way, Shisui, this sword is for you."

"Itachi, here's one for you."

Yami ignored Chopper and instead retrieved Zoro's two swords, distributing them to Shisui and Itachi, respectively.

He gave Shisui the Shusui, while Itachi received the Sandai Kitetsu.

Shisui drew the blade and immediately recognized its exceptional quality.

"Don't you need these?" Shisui inquired.

"What I have is sufficient,"

"I’m not particularly skilled with swords anyway," he replied.

He had almost said, 'I have cheat abilities and don't need such things.'

He felt confident about eventually awakening the Rinnegan and reaching the Six Paths level of power.

When that time came, he could use Truth-Seeking Orbs in any configuration, and as such, conventional weapons would become unnecessary.

If he truly wanted a blade, he would acquire at least a Supreme Grade sword.

These didn't meet his standards.