Chapter 209: An Unusual Partnership
After some negotiation, the terms of cooperation were established.
First, Tesoro would withdraw from Newport Island, have the World Government lift the ban on the area, and stop hiring pirates.
In exchange, Axel would keep everything that happened here a secret, including Tesoro's past and identity.
Second, regarding intelligence exchange, Axel could seek Tesoro's help, but any help would depend on providing intelligence of equal value.
Third, if conditions allowed, both sides would provide combat support to the other, and the party receiving help would pay an equivalent price.
Fourth, during the cooperation period, neither side would interfere with the other.
There were only four terms.
From the first term alone, Axel held the advantage. He only needed to keep what happened here hidden, paying almost no price at all, and he could ruin Tesoro's entire plan.
The fourth term was the foundation of their cooperation.
As for the second and third terms, those were benefits Tesoro fought for himself.
The reason for the second term was that Tesoro believed Axel could see through his secrets. Regardless of what hidden ability this brat possessed, he would surely obtain more unknown intelligence in the future. That term was prepared for that.
The third term was because Tesoro had taken a liking to Axel's combat strength.
Although Axel had not fully displayed his power, what he had shown was already impressive.
To possess such strength at his age, what kind of monster would he become in the future?
More importantly, the price Tesoro mentioned was not specified.
That meant he could substitute it with money.
And money was the easiest thing for Tesoro to provide.
However, Axel did not simply comply with everything.
For the second term, he first added the phrase "equal value," expanding his own possible gains.
For the third term, he added "if conditions allowed," so in situations where he did not want to help, he could refuse without affecting the cooperation.
Strictly speaking, neither of them gained all that much from this partnership.
Axel only wanted to change the course of history.
Tesoro only wanted to cover up his past.
The partnership itself had been formed on little more than a momentary whim.
Even so, that did not stop two shrewd people from achieving their respective goals.
And so, the two shook hands.
Their cooperation began.
But the moment their hands met, Axel said, "Trying to tear up the contract already?"
Tesoro lowered his gaze slightly, looking down at Axel from his greater height, then suddenly smiled.
In the next instant, golden liquid seeped out from Axel's body.
It twisted and crawled across the ground like small snakes, climbing up Tesoro's magnificent clothes. The gold flowed past his wrists along his golden cuffs, gathering once more at his fingers before solidifying back into rings.
"Of course not," Tesoro said. "I was only confirming whether you're worth cooperating with. If you weren't, why would I leave a threat behind?"
His smile remained unchanged.
"Besides, I don't recall our agreement saying we couldn't harm each other."
The fourth term, non-interference, referred only to each other's actions.
It did not include a ban on attacking one another.
Axel fell silent for a moment.
Then he smiled as well.
"That's true. But is there anyone who prepares to hurt their partner immediately after starting a cooperation?"
He paused, then corrected himself.
"Oh, maybe there is. Because I'm the same."
As Axel's voice fell, drops of blood dripped from Tesoro's palm.
Tesoro slowly raised his injured hand, while at the same time controlling flowing metal to plug the wound.
"Quite a good partner, don't you think?"
Axel's expression stiffened slightly.
He really did not know whether getting involved with someone clearly mentally unstable was a good thing or a bad thing.
Just as Tesoro had been testing his strength, Axel had been doing the same.
If he had misjudged Tesoro's strength, he would not have minded arresting him right here.
But clearly, the attack just now had not truly affected Tesoro.
It was impossible to gauge his current level of power.
So Axel abandoned that plan.
"I think you're a bit like someone," Axel said.
"Like who?" Tesoro asked.
Axel studied his face.
"Doflamingo."
Tesoro was also surprised by that answer.
"How so?"
"You're both equally annoying."
"Heh. Aren't you the same?" Tesoro sneered. "Besides, have you even met Doflamingo?"
"No," Axel said. "But I know everything. Just like I know about you."
Tesoro stopped laughing.
"Aside from the Celestial Dragons, you are the second person I loathe and fear this much."
"Loathing is understandable," Axel said, tilting his head with a curious look. "But where does the fear come from? Am I that scary?"
For him, of course, it was a rhetorical question.
"Enough talk."
Tesoro reached into his coat and pulled out a Den Den Mushi with a shiny shell, then handed it to Axel.
"Take this. Use it to contact me if anything comes up in the future. I'll pay suitable compensation based on what you provide."
Axel accepted it with a faint smile.
The reason he smiled was that this Den Den Mushi had reacted to another one in his possession, just like San Faldo's Den Den Mushi had once done.
It was expressing affection.
Since the Marine base could not be without its communication tool, Axel had not brought that Den Den Mushi with him.
Otherwise, there would have been a good show to watch.
Even so, Axel suddenly felt a bit sorry for it.
He had only left it behind for a short time, and he had already found it a rival in love.
Cough, cough, cough.
After Axel took the Den Den Mushi, Tesoro turned to leave.
"Wait," Axel called.
Tesoro stopped.
"You're just leaving like this?" Axel asked. "That won't be easy for me to explain to the others. Think about it. We talked in here for so long, and no one knows what we discussed. Won't they be curious? Won't rumors spread?"
"So what do you want to do?" Tesoro asked. "And what does it matter if they know?"
Tesoro had originally come here to smooth things over.
He was not afraid of others knowing about the meeting, because even if the Marines learned of it, they could do nothing to him.
What he truly wanted Axel to hide was his identity.
Or rather, his past.
"I'm just saying it's hard for me to explain on my end."
Tesoro let out a low, cold laugh.
He did not believe this assertive brat was genuinely worried about such a problem.
This was probably only a setup for what Axel wanted to say next.
So instead of letting him beat around the bush, Tesoro asked directly, "Speak. What terms do you want?"
"Treasure Tree Adam and Berries," Axel said seriously. "That way, I can create the image that I'm a greedy person who seized your assets and forced you away."
After hearing that, Tesoro replied with equal seriousness, "Why not the other way around? You're a greedy person who was bribed by me and left with the wealth."
Axel shrugged and shook the wooden blade at his waist, looking helpless.
"No matter what kind of Marines they are, they all prefer stories where their side comes out on top."
Tesoro did not mind this blatant extortion.
"That's just your way of trying to gain the upper hand verbally."
He looked down at Axel.
"But if it's only Berries, consider it compensation for my test just now."
His tone sharpened slightly.
"However, the next time you want something, remember to pay a price you can afford."
Tesoro turned and walked toward the door.
"Keep in mind that our relationship is only a partnership that could collapse at any moment."
.....
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