After dealing with his problematic new recruits and setting them on a new path, Takero felt the entire island had become much quieter. He hummed a tune as he left the training ground, planning to head to Tesoro's office to discuss their financial situation.
However, as soon as he reached the villa's main road, he saw Tesoro walking quickly toward him with a grave expression.
"Boss!" Tesoro called out as he approached.
"What's wrong?" Takero asked, noting his serious look. "Judging by your face, did something happen to those two guys I brought back?"
At the question, Tesoro's expression shifted to an awkward, wry smile. "This... Boss..." He chose his words carefully, trying to be diplomatic. "Your... your strength, it might be... just a little too much."
He continued his report. "According to the comprehensive examination by the medical team from Germa, the two of them—The Blazing Calamity King and Charlotte Katakuri—don't have any fatal external injuries. It's just... well, they might both have a slight concussion. The doctor said they'll probably need a day or two of rest before they can wake up."
"Oh, is that so?" Takero spread his hands helplessly. "Can you blame me? It's not my fault I'm strong." He was, however, a little surprised by their resilience. They must have incredibly durable bodies to recover from one of his punches in just a couple of days. He wondered if they possessed some kind of special constitution.
Putting the thought aside, Takero and Tesoro chatted for a moment before getting to the reason he was looking for him in the first place.
"By the way," Takero's expression turned more serious, "Robin seemed to hint in her report that our funds are a bit tight right now. Why is that?"
Hearing this, Tesoro's face also grew solemn. "Yes, Boss," he sighed and began to explain the situation in detail. "It's mainly because our organization has been expanding too fast. The daily maintenance, staff salaries, and equipment upgrades for our industries on Ambri Island, plus the recently incorporated Germa Kingdom, all add up to an astronomical sum every day."
"On top of that," he went on, "you previously ordered a complete halt to the slave trade, which was the most profitable business on this island. That alone cut off nearly fifty percent of our income. We were barely managing to balance our payments with the revenue from casinos, entertainment, and our other businesses. But ever since Germa's scientists started the 'Saiyan Legion' cloning project, the daily research and development expenses have become a bottomless pit. Our capital has indeed become... somewhat stretched."
After finishing his explanation, Tesoro immediately straightened his back and assured Takero in an unwavering tone, "However, please rest assured, Boss! I will definitely find a way to solve this problem! Even if it means robbing…"
"Alright, alright," Takero waved his hand, cutting him off. "Don't always jump to fighting and killing. I'm not here to blame you."
Tesoro grumbled internally, 'How did I become the one who's always thinking about fighting and killing?' but he didn't dare say it out loud.
Takero continued, "Let me ask you, on this vast sea, what business is the most profitable?"
Tesoro thought for a moment before answering truthfully. "To be honest, Boss, the most lucrative businesses are arms dealing, illicit drugs, and... human trafficking. But we've already stopped all of those. Besides them, there's monopolizing special resources, like unique ores or spices from certain islands. And then there's one more... transportation."
"Transportation?" Takero repeated.
"Yes," Tesoro explained. "The sea is enormous, and the flow of goods between islands and countries relies entirely on ships. A stable, safe, and efficient transportation network is of immeasurable value. That's why those large multinational trading companies are as rich as nations."
"Transportation, huh..." Takero stroked his chin, lost in thought. Suddenly, he remembered the [Capsule Technology] he had obtained from the system after defeating Judge.
'That's right! How could I have forgotten about this!'
A bright smile spread across his face. "By the way, let me show you something!" he said, pretending to rummage in his pocket. A moment later, he produced a small, seemingly ordinary cylindrical capsule.
"This is...?" Tesoro leaned in curiously, his eyes full of doubt. It was just a small capsule.
"This thing is called a 'Capsule'," Takero introduced proudly, preparing to demonstrate. He lightly pressed the button on top of the capsule and then casually threw it onto the empty ground in front of him.
"POOF!"
A burst of thick white smoke erupted! One second the lawn was empty, and the next, a gigantic roasted whole lamb, sizzling with oil and emitting an alluring aroma, appeared out of thin air. It was the "after-dinner dessert" Takero had been unable to finish back in Germa and had stored in a sample capsule provided by the system.
"This... this... is this... magic?!" Tesoro's eyes widened in disbelief. He stared at the roasted lamb that had materialized from nothing, then back at the small capsule in Takero's hand, feeling as if his brain was about to short-circuit. How was this possible?!
"It's not magic, it's science," Takero said, tearing off a lamb leg and taking a bite. He spoke indistinctly through the mouthful of food, "Impressive, right?"
"Impressive! It's too impressive!" Tesoro was already incoherent with shock.
"What if I told you," Takero dropped another bombshell, "that I have the complete manufacturing technology for this thing? What do you say, if we make it and sell it?"
"!!!"
The sheer amount of information completely overloaded Tesoro's brain, leaving it blank for a moment. He had assumed that such a magical treasure that could conjure things out of thin air must be an extremely rare, one-of-a-kind item. And yet... his Boss actually had the complete manufacturing technology for it?
After a brief freeze, the mind of the future "Golden Emperor"—a mind with a beast-like intuition for business opportunities—kicked into overdrive, operating at an unprecedented speed.
"Boss!" He grabbed Takero's arm, an unprecedented, fervent light erupting in his eyes. He began firing off questions. "What's the manufacturing cost of this... this capsule?! Are there any restrictions on its use?! How long can the items inside be stored?!"
"Cost? I'm not sure, but I have all the technical data," Takero answered casually. "Restrictions? Basically none. Usage? You just press it; even a fool can operate it. Duration? As long as the capsule isn't broken, it's theoretically... permanent."
He paused, then added the final piece of temptation, enough to drive Tesoro completely mad on the spot. "Oh, right. This thing can store anything, from the clothes on your back to a giant ship."
"BOOM!"
Tesoro felt as if a golden lightning bolt had struck him right in the skull. His entire body trembled, not from fear, but from uncontrollable excitement. The future of the transportation industry... No! The future of the entire world! He could already see a magnificent blueprint slowly unfolding before his very eyes.
"Boss!" His voice grew hoarse with excitement. "With the 'Capsule,' we won't have to 'share a piece of the pie' with anyone! We... we will completely revolutionize the entire world's transportation industry! As long as we can control our own shipping routes and establish absolute credibility, we can form a global... monopoly!"
He looked at Takero with fanatical devotion. "On this vast sea, there's no such thing as a 'monopoly law'! Whoever has the hardest fist sets the rules! Whoever gets to eat the biggest piece of meat! And with you here... We! Are the ones who set the rules!"
He fiercely thumped his chest, making a solemn vow. "Please entrust this technology to me! Just give me five years... No! At most... two and a half years! I, Gild Tesoro, promise you! You will witness a brand new era!"
----------------
You can read advanced chapters here: patreon.com/GregariousLion