Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari
----------
Daichi's face showed disappointment and frustration.
"Ulti, Page One, escort them out!"
"Yes, sir!"
The two officers immediately stepped forward.
"Wait!"
Shiki quickly spoke up.
He knew Daichi wouldn't care about 5 billion Berry, but that was all the money he currently had, squeezed out by tightening his belt.
He was recruiting soldiers and buying equipment to rebuild the Flying Pirates, and money was needed everywhere. Who would follow him without payment?
Piracy was also a business!
To expand one's influence, money was essential!
5 billion Berry couldn't buy Hachinosu, but there were other ways.
"Lord Shiki..." his subordinate reminded him.
"I understand."
Shiki quickly said, "I heard that Groudon Company has a rental service. I want to rent Hachinosu!"
Renting was much cheaper than buying!
"Rent?"
Daichi stroked his chin thoughtfully.
Renting was also an option. At the price he had in mind, no force could afford to buy Hachinosu outright.
Aside from a few underground forces like the Golden Emperor and Doflamingo who focused on business, where would other pirates get so much money?
They couldn't even come up with 10 billion Berry!
Daichi pondered for a moment, then shook his head.
"5 billion Berry is not enough!"
"Then how much do you want?!"
Shiki grew anxious.
He was already being very reasonable!
Daichi extended one finger and said calmly, "10 billion Berry for one year, and the rent increases by 10% each year after that!"
"10 billion Berry!"
Shiki nearly spat blood in fury.
"Bastard! Why don't you just rob someone?!"
"Robbing isn't that profitable."
Daichi smiled.
"If you don't rent it, plenty of others will!"
"In a few days, I'll release the rental news. I imagine many people will be interested, and then 10 billion Berry might not even be enough."
"Mr. Shiki, why don't you go back and discuss it with your crew? Think of a way to raise the money, otherwise you might miss this opportunity!"
Shiki's face darkened.
This scoundrel was clearly taking advantage of him!
"Let's go!"
Shiki left with his subordinates, but they didn't leave Onigashima. Instead, they returned to their airborne ship.
His anger instantly disappeared.
After twenty years of hardship, he was no longer as easily provoked as he once was, and he clearly understood that this transaction wouldn't be simple.
In fact, the price Daichi offered was within his acceptable range. Compared to the profits from controlling Hachinosu, money was secondary.
But not having enough money was also a reality.
One thing exceeded his expectations: he had thought he would be negotiating with Kaido, but it seemed that Daichi was the one in charge during that meeting.
Shiki looked at his trusted subordinates.
"Indigo, do you think that Daichi can be trusted?"
"Puff! Puff puff!"
The scientist Indigo gestured wildly, making "puff puff" sounds every time he stepped. He expressed himself for a long time, but no one could understand what he meant.
Shiryu spoke up instead.
"He can be trusted. That Daichi is extremely serious about his real estate business, and Groudon Company's reputation and credibility are well-known in the industry."
"Is that so? Then it's settled."
Shiki slowly nodded.
Since there was no problem with the transaction, only one issue remained.
Getting money!
Still short 5 billion Berry!
Although it could only be rented for a year, a year was enough. He only needed to use Hachinosu's influence to recruit subordinates.
If not for this, he could have simply used his Float-Float Fruit ability to lift Hachinosu and take it away, but doing so wouldn't earn him the pirates' respect.
Only the strong would be followed!
"Puff! Puff puff puff!"
Indigo tried to attract everyone's attention. When everyone looked over with question marks on their faces, he finally spoke normally.
"I have a suggestion!"
"So you can talk normally!"
Everyone shouted in unison.
Indigo was oblivious to their reaction.
"It's very difficult to get 5 billion Berry in a short time. Even destroying a country might not yield that much money, and there isn't enough time."
"That's right."
Shiki nodded in agreement.
The biggest difficulty wasn't getting money, but not having enough time. Once Daichi released the news about renting Hachinosu, they would lose their advantage.
Indigo said proudly, "I have information about a Devil Fruit whose value is exactly 5 billion Berry. Although it has been eaten, capturing the Devil Fruit user has the same effect!"
"What?!"
Shiki looked confused.
What kind of fruit was worth so much!
"Where did you get this information?"
"Lord Shiki, don't forget, I'm also a world-class scientist, and I've researched Devil Fruits extensively!"
Indigo became even more proud.
"That special Devil Fruit user is currently near Hachinosu. With our speed, we can definitely make it in time!"
"Then let's set off immediately!"
Onigashima, banquet hall.
"Wororororo, Daichi."
Kaido frowned.
"Are you really going to sell Hachinosu?"
"That's right."
Daichi nodded.
Not just Hachinosu, but also some other islands he planned to sell or rent out. Those islands were basically pirate gathering places.
Whitebeard's and Red Hair's territories had been largely absorbed by the Beast Pirates. Now, the islands occupied by the Beast Pirates were spread throughout the New World.
But a tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind.
The Beast Pirates' momentum was too strong now, and their nature was very different from that of the Hoenn government, which inevitably made other forces envious.
Pirates were desperate individuals. When pushed to the brink, they would do anything, just like Golden Lion wanting Hachinosu. Those second-tier powers also lacked suitable strongholds.
They couldn't just stay on uninhabited islands!
The islands that the Beast Pirates didn't want were mostly impoverished ones, completely unable to satisfy the needs of the strong.
They came to the New World to enjoy themselves, not to survive in the wilderness.
When the suppressed emotions of the strong reached a critical point, it was very likely to escalate into a situation where they would attack en masse, lacking nothing but an opportunity.
Totto Land was currently experiencing this treatment. Its ministers were now too afraid to leave their homes, with only Katakuri acting as their shield. In short, they needed a way out.
Therefore, the Beast Pirates' territory only needed to be this area around Wano Country, along with a few very resource-rich islands, and also to ensure the uniqueness of the Hoenn Community.
The Hoenn Community was the core.
Other territories could be rented or sold. This was a strategy he had set from the beginning, and it wouldn't change even if the Hoenn government grew larger.
The surface and the underground were inherently two different worlds.
"Alright, do as you wish."
Kaido's face showed pain.
Territory so hard-won, just given away like that.
What a waste!
"Come drink with me!"
"Okay!"
Daichi drank, his gaze sweeping over the Beast Pirates' officers. Many of the Headliners were new faces, and there were a few familiar ones.
Hawkins and Apoo.
The two noticed Daichi's gaze and couldn't help but straighten their postures. They now clearly understood Daichi's status within the Beast Pirates.
Equal to Governor Kaido!
Even in the eyes of the pirates below, Daichi was more popular.
They had to perform well!
"Wororororo! Daichi!"
After drinking for a while, Kaido's drunkenness surged, and his eyes grew fierce as he pulled out his spiked club.
"Come on, spar with me!"
Daichi's gaze was strange.
What spar? This was clearly the look of someone wanting to beat him up.
How amusing.
As if he was afraid!
It was just the Strongest Creature. He was also the God of the Earth.
It was still uncertain who would beat whom.
"Yamato, come with me!"
"Wahahaha! Okay!"