Place of Equivalent Exchange

Divine power… Can it lift a demon's curse?

The words from "Dash" intrigued Zephyr and Sakazuki.

The strange, processed voices retained each person's distinct character yet were altered.

This place hid each person's identity or, perhaps, protected it.

Yes, it seemed like a form of protection, shielding each member from others' discovery.

Still, this Dash was interesting.

Did he want to lift a demon's curse?

Did that mean a demon cursed him or his family?

Which demon, though?

Over the years, Zephyr had occasionally dealt with demons and knew curses to be incredibly bizarre, capable of causing many to die unknowingly.

"The Twilight Hermits is a place of equivalent exchange," Adam's voice came from above. "To gain something, you must give something in return."

"Not just you and me; everyone here can make such exchanges, provided both parties agree."

An exchange…?

So this is the Twilight Hermits?

The organization's name?

"What must I give?" Shanks immediately asked upon hearing this.

Initially resistant to this place, Shanks finds hope when Adam doesn't outright reject his question about lifting Captain Roger's curse.

Captain Roger bore a demon's curse that Doctor Crocus couldn't cure. Despite his best efforts, Roger likely had only two or three years to live.

If… this place could genuinely cure Captain Roger, joining the Twilight Hermits wouldn't matter.

"I said this is a place of equivalent exchange. What you give must match what you receive," Adam replied. "Demonic curses vary; the price for lifting them depends on their level."

"…" Shanks clenched his fists, unsure what to say as he knew little about Roger's curse.

"I... I don't know."

He felt deflated.

He knew Captain Roger was among the world's most robust; if he couldn't handle the curse, it must be the highest level. What could he offer in return for Adam's help?

"I am neither omniscient nor omnipotent," Adam continued. "That's the realm of gods. I'm merely a hermit guiding the era's development, bringing the world closer to divinity. I cannot lift 'King-level' curses, but for those below, if you offer enough, I can help."

King-level curses? What level was that?

Shanks didn't understand these terms; he wanted to return to the ship and ask Brother Nameless. He would know.

King?!

Shanks and Sakazuki didn't grasp the term, but Zephyr, as an Admiral, understood.

The Four Kings referred to the top demon lords. A King-level curse likely meant a curse from a demon lord!

Did someone close to Dash suffer a King-level curse? This…

Wait, Dash said he didn't know the curse's level.

Involving demon lords made Zephyr's mind race.

Adam couldn't lift a demon lord's curse, suggesting he wasn't as dangerous as a demon lord. Yet, his mysterious origins warranted caution.

"You can inform me at the next meeting," Adam said. "If Mirror or Fire can lift curses and ask for less, you may trade with them."

Shanks nodded, still somewhat lost.

"I want to ask, the Twilight Hermits aim to guide the era. What is the era's direction?" Zephyr spoke up, intrigued by this goal.

"The time is not yet ripe," Adam answered shortly. "The era has yet to stir. Our task is to create our order before the waves of the era rise."

Are you still waiting to be ripe? What does that mean?

Is time not ripe?

No, Adam seemed to imply historical points hadn't been reached. They needed to develop the Twilight Hermits before that day.

Why?

"You can treat this place as one of equivalent exchange," Adam reiterated. "Everyone's choices push the era forward. If you refuse, I will revoke your 'identity,' and you will forget everything about this place."

Leave?

Zephyr was stunned. Could he really leave this place?

He had expected Adam to force them to join.

However, Zephyr wasn't keen on leaving.

Anyone could see this place's vast potential. If it could pull him, a Marine Admiral, from the headquarters, who knew what other identities the members had?

As the organization grew, members from all global factions would join, and combined with the mysterious Adam, this place could become a central intelligence hub.

Provided Adam could maintain it and, indeed create the Twilight Hermits' order.

Equivalent exchange is a good concept.

Zephyr decided to stay as a spy of sorts.

He harbored a far-fetched wish—to revive his family…

His family was killed by pirates!

If this place could gather talent, he might find a way to revive them.

With so many Devil Fruits, indeed one could revive people.

Besides Devil Fruits, many other systems existed, like Adam of the Twilight Hermits…

Could he have such power?

Zephyr didn't express this immediately. Revealing such desires too soon could expose weaknesses.

Dash was too young, and his urgency was evident despite the altered voice.

From this, Zephyr deduced Dash was either young or impulsive—just a simple deduction.

But being cursed by a demon wasn't something to delay.

Having decided to stay, Zephyr began pondering the identities of the others.