Chapter 209: Conflict of Interests! (10k) (Part 2)

Chapter 209: Conflict of Interests! (10k) (Part 2)

Having someone who understood ships made all the difference.

"We have Franky to thank for that. Which shipwright can handle a ship by themselves!"

"I can do it too!"

Reinette folded her arms across her chest, tilting her head up proudly, "Manning a ship alone is something I often do, and our ship is much bigger than yours. When we docked near yours before, I noticed its structure could barely hold thirty people at most, but the Death Star can carry up to 1500!"

Victory for the shipwrights!

"Oh! Compared to shipwrights, I won't lose! I'm Super Franky!"

Franky struck a pose and declared, "It's not about making the biggest ship, but about building the most suitable one!"

"I'll learn that technique eventually!" Reinette retorted, not backing down.

"Hahaha, kids will be kids. You haven't even seen it with your own eyes, and you think you've lost? My shipbuilding skills are top-notch. Do you want to learn?"

Franky was about to laugh out loud when he suddenly paused, staring intently at the pink-haired little girl with a defiant look on her face. "You..."

"Pluto."

Reinette grinned, revealing her tiny fangs. "I'm looking at it right now!"

There was no way someone who had kept the blueprints of Pluto for so many years and frequently studied them wouldn't understand the technology.

Reinette had already gleaned some related knowledge from looking at them for just half a month and had modified her mechanical hammer and Sag's flintlock pistol. Franky, who had obtained the blueprints from Sag, would undoubtedly know even more.

"Why are you showing it to her? Do you know what this means, Sag!" Franky glared at Sag, who was sitting there nonchalantly.

He wasn't upset about Pluto being stolen or copied; on the contrary, when he learned that the little girl was a shipwright, he felt relieved.

Such a young shipwright must have a deep passion for shipbuilding.

But Pluto was different! Once someone learned that technology, it meant they would be targeted by the World Government!

Sag chuckled. "So what? We're pirates, after all."

Franky furrowed his brow. "You're an Ohara descendant, and your companion knows Pluto's technology. This means you have access to the secrets of ancient weapons. Don't you understand the implications?"

"Exactly."

A sinister smile spread across Sag's face. "Are you scared? Who do you think I am?"

He was well aware that learning this technology would put them on the World Government's radar.

But so what? Reinette wasn't resistant to the idea, and as a shipwright, she was genuinely interested in the technology. As a captain, it was only right that he fulfilled the aspirations of his crew.

As for being targeted... he didn't care about that anymore after breaking out of Impel Down.

Lily, at that moment, turned her attention to the trembling Dorang on the ground. "I brought the person you wanted. He seemed to have some ill intentions. When I arrived, he was trying to get the guards to destroy our ship and trap us here."

"Oh? Are you brave or just stupid?"

Sag smiled at Dorang. "I told you to contact your boss, but it seems you wanted to be the boss yourself."

Destroy his ship? Ajin was diligently guarding it below, so even if they tried, they wouldn't succeed.

"Hello? Hello? I've connected the call."

"No, it wasn't me."

Dorang, under the intense gaze of Sag, broke out in a cold sweat, his sweat mixing with the blood on his face.

That blood was from the woman who had single-handedly stormed in and made his guards bleed all over him.

He took out the constantly connected Teleschneck from his pocket. "Yes, yes..."

"It was my order."

The Teleschneck displayed the image of a man wearing beady-eyed sunglasses and chewing on a cigar, his deep voice filling the room.

"Norton Sag. I know who you are, and I'm aware of your collaborations with Umit and Giberson. But that doesn't give you the right to encroach on my territory. This territory is mine, and I'll teach you a lesson to show you that you're just a pirate."

"Hmph, hmph, hmph!"

Sag's mouth twisted into a sinister grin, a bulging vein popping out on his temple. "No one has spoken to me like that in a long time."

The underground world was vast and expansive.

While the World Government focused on its internal affairs, adjacent regions, and the expansive seas separating them, the underworld controlled by the Five Great Nations exerted extensive influence across the globe.

The kings who ruled over the six domains of this underground world not only conducted business but also dabbled in both legal and illegal activities, interacting with renowned figures across the sea.

Even the Four Emperors had collaborated and dealt with them.

After all, the Marine Emperors only influenced a specific territory, while these kings had a worldwide reach!

These individuals had every right to speak in such a commanding tone.

However, Sag didn't care.

"It's probably been a long time since someone talked to me like that, Sag. You might have some fame, and breaking out of Impel Down is impressive, but don't get too arrogant. There are plenty of people like you out there on the Grand Line."

"One billion berries." Sag stated flatly.

The person on the other end of the line fell silent for a moment before responding with anger in his voice. "Are you deaf? In the New World, even if you have that kind of money..."

"Two billion."

"...my territory is off-limits! The New World will become your graveyard!"

"Three billion."

"I won't give you a single berry! If you want to take something, you'll have to pay the price!"

"Four billion."

"What the hell are you playing at, Heavenly Disaster?"

"Five billion."

Sag stood up, taking the receiver from Dorang, a malicious grin on his face. "Du Feld, the Loan Shark King. Have you been hiding underground for so long that you've forgotten to look up at the sky?

"Remember, five billion berries, and I'll be coming to collect!"

Bang!

As soon as he finished speaking, he crushed the receiver in his hand.

"Are we going to make a move?" Lily asked.

"Hohohohoho, of course! Who does he think he is, not letting me rob him!" Sag laughed loudly.

"..." Lily was speechless.

She had never heard of a robber asking for permission before.

Now that he had robbed someone, and it was the other party's business, how could anyone agree to be robbed?

"Let's get started. I have another plan, I have another plan!" Sag waved his hand.

"As expected." Hawkins muttered, "I probably had a premonition."

"There's no other way. Our main business interests conflict, Old Hawk!"

Ever since arriving at this place and learning that the boss behind it all was the 'Loan Shark King', Sag had a plan in mind.

Or rather, this was a complement to his plan.

He intended to become a landlord in the New World, or even a tycoon who controlled everything. Naturally, he wouldn't let go of any business opportunities in the underworld; how could he rely on others' channels to do business when he already had his own territory?

That would be called doing business?

That would be called working for someone else!

However, such a venture would take time, and while he could set aside other business and channels for now, he couldn't pass up on the loan shark business!

Loan sharking!

Money lending!

The main business of a tycoon!

Being a pirate and becoming the Pirate King was his career.

But being a tycoon, that was his dream!

This Du Feld and the financial industry he represented conflicted with some or all of Sag's interests!

He himself was still lending money, so less competition meant more opportunities for him.

Of course, he had to pick a typical example to make a move against.

Especially since the other party didn't agree to let him rob them.

Lily extended her hand, signaling for the female pirate serving her to bring out a Den Den Mushi so she could notify the entire ship.

"Wait a moment."

Sag waved his hand, squatting down in front of Dorang and unfolding the marine map from the booklet to show him, "This place here is your current location. Now, tell me, are these rainbow jewels real or not?"

"Yes, yes!"

Dorang's face had already gone pale with fear, and he quickly nodded, "I opened this resort here to search for the treasure in this area. I hired Foxy to help, and I was planning to gather more people for the search. I never expected to come across the method for making the rainbow jewels. Just as I was about to kidnap those two girls, I was stopped by the Straw Hats."

He hadn't managed to kidnap the girls, but the small booklet had been snatched away, and his luck was terrible to have it fall into Sag's hands.

Luffy widened his eyes, "So you're the mastermind! No wonder you don't look like a good person!"

Dorang pulled at the corner of his mouth; how dare a pirate judge him?

He was just a manager, after all.

He wasn't exactly an employee, though. Dorang had received a lot of investment from Du Feld, but he had autonomy. While most of the profits didn't go to him, as long as he found the treasure here and mastered the secrets, none of that would matter.

"Where's the treasure vault?"

"Third floor, in the safe room. The password is the date of Gold Roger's death. There's about two months' worth of earnings in there, around 2 billion berries!"

"Good, I like honest guys. Now scram."

Dorang quickly scrambled to his feet and ran off without looking back.

"As for you two."

Sag turned to the two little girls who had been standing there the whole time and handed the booklet back to Lily.

"How much is this intellectual property worth? Name your price."

Sayo hesitated, "N-no, we're not selling. If it's real, then once we master the method, everyone in our village can live happily ever after."

"Then we'll split it. I want one copy of the formula, and you can make them yourselves, too."

Sag waved his hand, "You have two choices. First, if it's real, I want to see the final product, and then I'll appraise it and pay you according to the value of the rainbow jewels."

"Second, one hundred million berries."

He held up a finger, "Because I don't know how much this is worth. Maybe it's very valuable, maybe it's worthless, but I'm a generous man. I'll spend one hundred million berries to buy this possibility. Choose one of the two options."

Even as Sag was handing the booklet to Lily, she had already opened it and taken out a piece of paper and a pen, beginning to draw an exact copy.

Yes, she was drawing it.

There were some things that Lily didn't understand, but Reinette did, and it was better to just draw everything—symbols, calculations, and patterns—exactly as they appeared.

As a navigator who often drew maps, Lily was skilled at this.

Knowing Sag's character well, Lily knew that he wouldn't rest until he got what he wanted.

The two little girls had no right to refuse.

Sayo bit her lip and glanced at Luffy.

If it weren't for Sag, she would have given the booklet to the Straw Hats, but now she was giving it to the big brother who had saved them.

Because he was more trustworthy.

But now...

"One hundred million berries, that's a lot of money! I'll divide it into three portions!" Luffy counted on his fingers, his eyes shining.

"Sag~"

Nami sidled up to Sag's side, her eyes filled with dollar signs as she looked at him, "You just said there's twenty million berries, and we're all pirates, so we get a share, right?"

"It's all mine!" Sag stared back at her, "That money all belongs to me!"

"Don't be like that, you see, Robin is your sister. Don't you want her to eat well on the ship? We're really poor, sometimes so poor we have to eat wild vegetables. Just give us three million, no, one million berries!" Nami even added a pleading tone.

There was no choice; they were truly poor!

Nami managed the finances for the entire ship, and while she was quite frugal, the problem was that... the captain was too impulsive.

"We often have no money, and we really have eaten vegetables, mice, and frogs!"

"Hmm? Ten million?" Sag asked, incredulous. "Ten million berries?"

"Five million will do!" Nami burst into tears. "Please, anything will do!"

Sag looked her up and down. "You're pirates, yet. Are you trying to bargain with me? Five million? Are you joking?"

He knew the Straw Hat Pirates were poor, but he never imagined they were this poor.

From his memories, while these guys were indeed poor, they weren't to this extent.

Were they even pirates?

They were more like beggars!

He walked over to Luffy and pulled on his cheeks, the rubber elasticity causing Luffy's cheeks to stretch and recoil.

"This guy has a bounty of three hundred million!"

"So annoying, White-Haired guy!" Luffy swatted away Sag's hand.

"Can't be helped!"

Nami said, "Before at Sky Island, we got a batch of gold, sold it for three hundred million berries, Franky took two hundred million to build a ship, and originally, we had one hundred million left, but then our Captain threw a banquet..."

"Yeah, everyone in the city came to the banquet, it was so lively!" Luffy grinned.

"You still have the nerve to say that!"

Nami's head swelled with anger, and steam seemed to rise from her as she rushed to Robin's side, gently resting on her shoulder, and pitifully said, "In any case, in the end, we only had one hundred million berries left, and we've spent it all recently, so if we don't have any income, we'll have to eat fish bait."

"That stuff is really good to eat." Luffy rubbed his chin, looking quite serious.

Usopp and Chopper nodded in agreement.

"Waaahhhh!" Nami clenched her fists, her anger causing a sharp, shrill noise.

"Wait."

Sag paused, "Did you pass through the Florian Triangle? Did you meet Moriah?"

"That Shadow guy? We met him, he's so strong!"

Luffy clenched his fists, "And there was a huge giant who cut off my shadow, but I defeated that giant, and then that Shadow guy fought me halfway and left, returning everyone's shadows!"

This caused Zoro's eyes to twitch, and Sanji, who was standing beside him, lit a cigarette and subtly glanced over.

It wasn't just this situation.

When they encountered Oz, Luffy had fought him alone, gathering a hundred shadows to defeat him, and after the shadows dissipated, he had also fought another Shichibukai for a long time, accumulating a lot of fatigue and injuries.

Sanji had seen Moriah as well, but after the fight, he seemed more uninterested and lacked the will to fight.

However, Luffy's injuries were not minor, and he had fainted afterward, only to have another Shichibukai transfer all his injuries to Zoro.

"Oh."

Sag laughed, "Interesting, Dead Otaku seems to have seen the light."

He knew the Straw Hat Pirates were treasure hunters and black marketeers, and if they had encountered Moriah, and if they had won, they wouldn't have left without taking Moriah's treasure.

But if it was a draw, then they wouldn't have gotten a share.

This Dead Otaku could finally drop the 'Dead' and officially become an Otaku!

That kind of guy would be qualified to board his ship!

"Hohohohoho, good!"

The cheerful Sag waved his hand, "Five million, are you begging for food? You're pirates, after all. Do you want a share, Lily? What was Moriah's bounty?"

"Three hundred and twenty million berries," Lily quickly replied.

"Then I'll give you this much!"

"Lord Sag!" Nami was so happy that she almost jumped up, her face filled with dollar signs.

Three hundred million!

And an extra twenty million on top of that! That was even more than the gold they got from Sky Island! Not to mention that the gold they exchanged from Sky Island was the most money they had ever seen in their lives! Nami had been stealing since she was ten years old in the East Blue, and it took her until she was eighteen to steal one hundred million berries, yet in just one day, they had tripled that amount!

"However..." Sag said.

"What conditions do you have, say it!"

Nami quickly straightened up, like she had used the Sixth Style 'Shave' technique, and flashed behind Zoro and Sanji, pressing down on their heads, "I'll make them agree!"

Sag smiled at the corners of his mouth, patting Luffy's shoulder, and said to Nami, "You're just the navigator, you don't have the right to bargain with me. Important decisions still need your Captain's approval."

How much money to divide and how to divide it were decisions for the two captains, and the others could only give their opinions.

Opinions could be ignored.

If this Straw Hat didn't want it, he wouldn't give him a single berry.

If this Straw Hat wanted to rob him, then they would fight!

What sister or not, that was his money!

Money!

Luffy tugged on his straw hat and raised a finger at Sag.

"One billion?" Sag smiled.

"No."

He lifted his head and flashed a bright and determined smile at Sag, "I want the rainbow jewels!"

Sag was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter, "Hohohohoho, hahahahaha!"

Lily and the others instantly formed a circle around them, leaving an open space.

The tourists in the resort had already fled from the ship when Lily drew her sword and charged, so besides them, there wasn't a single tourist left.

"Pirates get what they want through plunder."

Sag walked to the other side, facing Luffy, and twisted his shoulders, causing a crackling sound from his bones, as he sinisterly said, "If you want more, then come and take it! Straw Hat, you can fight Moriah to a draw, I wonder how capable you are, it's been a while since I've had a good fight!"

This guy had monstrous talent and potential, and Sag could tell at a glance.

During the Enies Lobby incident, he could only defeat Lucci.

But in just this short amount of time, he could already fight Moriah to a standstill.

He wanted to see where this guy's limits were.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end