Enel and Wiper led the way, with the Loan Shark King's ship following close behind. With the Thunder Twins as their escort, no Sea Patrolling Beasts came to cause trouble, and they arrived at Dragon Fruit Island without incident.
Fear Island had been completely destroyed and was no longer suitable as a base of operations, so Bege had chosen the major economic hub of Dragon Fruit Island as his new central command for the entire sea region.
Of course, the sky island remained his most important core territory.
Dragon Fruit Island had been largely undamaged in the previous conflicts. Moreover, Bege's policies were a world away from the Demon Lord of Fear's exploitative rule. The common people on the island were happier than ever, with smiles on everyone's faces. The entire town was bustling with a new, vibrant energy.
"Ho, I've been to Dragon Fruit Island before. It seems a bit different now," the Loan Shark King said, looking around. He was surprised to see everyone smiling.
Enel snorted with a hint of disdain. "Of course it is. The Godfather is not the Demon Lord of Fear. That kind of exploitative management is the most primitive method. The most advanced way to govern is through mutual benefit and shared prosperity. Only when the people under your rule live and work in peace and prosperity can the economy develop, and only then can we reap greater benefits."
His words instantly caused the faces of the three underworld kings to darken.
They were the rulers of the underworld, and their business was done in the dark. The more chaotic a place was, the better their business thrived. If the territory under Bege's rule was truly governed by such a policy of harmonious development, they could forget about doing any business there.
"It's the Thunder Twins! I can't believe I'm seeing them in person!"
The civilians in the street grew excited when they saw Enel and Wiper, and a crowd quickly gathered, cheering enthusiastically.
After Bege had cracked down on the illegal forces and the most heinous criminals on the island and then introduced his pro-people policies, he had immediately won the support of the island's residents.
It wasn't just Dragon Fruit Island; all the islands under his control had implemented Bege's new policies, which had allowed him to quickly gain the support of the people and solidify his control over the former territory of the Fear Pirates.
Enel waved to the crowd with a flamboyant flair, eliciting a wave of shouts, especially from the young girls.
Wiper was much more composed, offering only a faint, slight smile.
They passed through the streets and arrived at a palace that was currently under construction. This would be Bege's new residence. Now that Dragon Fruit Island had been chosen as the central hub, the necessary palatial facilities were a must.
Enel led the Loan Shark King and his companions into a main hall that had already been completed. The interior was still rough, with decorations and furnishings still being installed.
Inside the hall, Bege was already waiting for them.
When the Loan Shark King entered, Bege's gaze immediately fell upon the three of them. It swept past Du Feld and Giberson the Undertaker before landing on Stussy. A sharp glint, a flash of killing intent, flickered in his eyes.
Stussy's perception was incredibly sharp, and she immediately caught the coldness in Bege's eyes. She giggled. "I don't recall ever offending you, Mr. Demon Dragon. If I have, please do tell me directly."
"We'll get to you later," Bege said with a smile. His gaze shifted to the Loan Shark King. "I already know why you're here," he said nonchalantly. "But it's impossible for you to get those three islands back."
The Loan Shark King's face was incredibly grim. "Demon Dragon," he said in a low voice, "those three islands were originally my territory. The Demon Lord of Fear gave them to me. They do not belong to his domain. You defeated the Fear Pirates, so their territory is rightfully yours, but the Ente three islands are not included."
"Are you joking?" Bege snorted. "If I remember correctly, the Demon Lord of Fear only gave you the management rights to the Ente three islands; he didn't give you the islands themselves. You'd better understand the meaning of 'management rights'."
The Loan Shark King's purpose for this visit was to reclaim three islands from Bege. Previously, the Demon Lord of Fear had borrowed a large sum of money from him and, being unable to repay it, had handed over the management rights of the three islands. The term of management was a full one hundred years. Under the Loan Shark King's operation, the three islands had become a marketplace for human trafficking, arms dealing, and other dark trades.
Now that Bege had taken over the former territory of the Fear Pirates, those three islands had naturally fallen into his hands.
The Loan Shark King was, of course, unwilling to let his territory be taken by Bege, which was why he had gathered Giberson and Stussy to come and demand their return.
"The management rights for the Ente three islands are for a full one hundred years," the Loan Shark King said in a low voice. "I can acknowledge that the islands belong to you, but you must still hand over their operation to me."
"Hahahahaha...!" Bege suddenly burst out laughing. He looked at the Loan Shark King with a mocking expression. "Are you daydreaming? What does your agreement with Andrew have to do with me? If you want your management rights, you can go ask Andrew for them in the underworld."
"You...!" The Loan Shark King's face turned ashen, and he clenched his fists tightly.
The atmosphere in the room instantly froze.
"Everyone, let's not get angry," Stussy said with a giggle, trying to ease the tension. "We're here to negotiate. Even if the deal falls through, goodwill should remain. Why get so worked up?"
"It seems to me that this Demon Dragon, having ascended to the throne of an Emperor, now looks down on us six kings of the underworld," Giberson the Undertaker said sinisterly. "Since we can't come to an agreement, let's not talk at all."
The Loan Shark King stared at Bege with cold eyes. "Capone Bege, if you obediently return the three islands, we can let this matter go. If you are unwilling, then know that we six kings of the underworld are united, and we are not to be trifled with."
Bege's face instantly turned cold. The space within the entire palace began to tremble, and the space around the three kings began to press in on them.
The three of them were shocked. Giberson the Undertaker swung his scythe, slicing through the space itself. The cutting power was so strong that a visible gash was left in the air.
However, the surrounding space surged toward them like a tidal wave. The subordinates of the three kings immediately sprang into action, shattering the waves of spatial pressure to protect their leaders.
"Capone Bege, are you trying to start a war?!" the Loan Shark King's face was ugly, but more than that, it was filled with fear.
"Godfather, should we get rid of them?" Enel asked, looking eager for a fight, as if he wasn't afraid of making things worse.
Lightning also crackled around Wiper's body, showing his readiness to act.
Bege waved his hand, and the bizarre waves of spatial pressure instantly dissipated. The space returned to normal.
He sat on his throne, his calm gaze sweeping over the three of them. He shook his head slightly, a mocking smile on his face.
"Du Feld, it's impossible for me to return the Ente three islands to you. If you want to start a war, the Fire Tank Pirates are ready anytime. As for the six kings of the underworld being united... I don't think so."
"I don't want to make things too tense with the underworld. After all, there are many things that require our cooperation. How about this? I'll give you a piece of information. This information should be very important to you. In some ways, it's much more important than the Ente three islands."