"A profitable partnership!" Aeridar slightly cocked his neck and smiled with satisfaction.
Then, Aeridar turned to Caesar, his smile softening. "Dr. Caesar, you are a world-class biologist. I hope you can open a separate research project starting this evening."
"What kind of research project?" Caesar asked, slightly bewildered.
"The Anatomy of Giants and the Secret to Eternal Life. I will invest three billion Berries annually into your research, but in return, you must provide me with an annual progress report," Aeridar said, raising one finger and shaking it gently. "Also, Dr. Caesar, I can provide you with twelve vials of XT-Agent per year. I hope you do not fail my trust!"
"The Secret to the Giants' Eternal Life…?!"
Doflamingo and Caesar looked at Aeridar in shock.
"Heh heh heh~ Doffy, I am also aware of the capabilities of the Op-Op Fruit," Aeridar suddenly tilted his head and smirked, looking at Doflamingo.
"The Op-Op Fruit…"
Doflamingo's expression turned cold, and he stared intently at Aeridar.
The two men locked eyes, and the atmosphere instantly became heavy. A powerful aura flickered, suppressed but not released, causing fine, crimson-black lightning to crackle faintly in the surrounding air.
"Gulp…"
Caesar's throat moved as he swallowed. He felt a mountain-like pressure crushing his chest, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead. He nervously watched the two men before him.
"Fuffuffuffufu~"
Suddenly, Doflamingo retracted his intimidating aura and grinned widely. "Truly, nothing gets past you."
"Heh heh heh~ The feeling is mutual." Aeridar returned the smile.
The tension vanished, and Caesar, standing on the sidelines, visibly sighed in relief.
"Well then, this project is in your hands, Dr. Caesar. Is that acceptable?" Aeridar narrowed his eyes, looking at Caesar.
"Th-this… no problem! I will dedicate myself to this research! No problem! You can leave everything to me!" Caesar initially looked hesitant, but when he saw the specific, piercing look in Aeridar's narrowed eyes, he shivered, immediately changed his demeanor, and quickly nodded his acceptance.
"Don't worry, Dr. Caesar. I'm not demanding guaranteed results; I just need you to apply yourself and earn that three billion Berries every year." Aeridar smiled as he patted Caesar's shoulder, then pulled out a golden card the size of a baby's palm and slipped it into Caesar's hand. He spoke casually, "I won't mistreat you. I'm sure this Palace Entertainment City VIP Gold Card will satisfy you."
"A Palace Entertainment City VIP Gold Card…!!!" Caesar's eyes shone brightly as he looked at the gold card in his hand. Only truly major figures, or billionaires who spent over one hundred billion Berries in the Palace Entertainment City, were eligible for such a card.
This Gold Card offered a 50% discount on all purchases, various free services, and many special perks. Furthermore, it was registered under a name, and if used by anyone outside of the owner or a direct descendant within three generations, the card would be instantly voided upon the first external use.
"When you come to visit, any reasonable expenses can be charged to my account," Aeridar said with a slight smile.
"Satisfied! I'm completely satisfied! Shurororororo~" Caesar nodded repeatedly, fondling the gold card in his hand with adoration.
He was a man who loved luxury, and with this Gold Card, what pleasure couldn't he afford?
Seeing Caesar's reaction, Aeridar gave a small, satisfied nod. For men like him, tempting them with pleasure was the most effective method.
…
Meanwhile.
In a luxurious palace on the Holy Land of Mariejois.
"The current situation is dire. The surge in piracy is beginning to resemble the early days of the Great Pirate Era," the Gorosei with the blond hair stated gravely.
"The Four Seas, the first half of the Grand Line, the New World..." The Gorosei with the curved mustache rubbed his forehead, his face showing a headache. "More than twenty affiliated nations have already lodged protests with us!"
Due to the rapid increase in pirates and the stretched resources of the Marines, many national coasts, ports, and cities were being attacked. Against ruthless and vicious pirates, how could the ordinary soldiers, who were only trained to suppress civilians, stand a chance?
These kingdoms not only suffered heavy casualties among their troops, but their ports and coastal cities were also looted clean. Even those countries with relatively stronger armies, capable of holding off regular pirates, couldn't endure being assaulted every few days.
"We didn't anticipate this outcome. Kuzan, a force of that magnitude, actually resigned and left the Navy." The Gorosei in the kimono, who was cleaning his katana, looked up, his voice heavy.
"The hole left by two Admirals is a truly massive problem." The Gorosei with curly hair rubbed his temples. "In the New World, the new Yonko haven't settled their rivalry yet. Whether it's the Warlord of the Sea, Golden Ring Aeridar, or Blackbeard Teach, who aims for the rank of a Yonko, both are immense threats."
"It seems the time has come for Chaton and Momousagi to fill in, otherwise, where can we find strong individuals fit for the Admiral position?" The Gorosei with the long, straight mustache commented lightly.
"Absolutely not!"
The blonde Gorosei said flatly. "If those two become Admirals, who will defend the Holy Land and the New World?"
"Exactly. It hasn't reached that state of emergency yet. The Holy Land still needs those two for its defense. Otherwise, if something like the Fisher Tiger incident happens again, it could truly shake the foundations of the World Government," The curly-haired Gorosei said in a low voice.
It was precisely due to the World Government's arrogance and overconfidence that no one would dare attack Mariejois that the fish-man Fisher Tiger had caused such an incident, turning the World Government into a global laughingstock.
If Mariejois had been rigorously defended with a sufficiently powerful and quick-reacting force, even if Fisher Tiger had climbed the Red Line with his bare hands and infiltrated the Holy Land, it would have been impossible for him to release all the slaves and then casually walk away with them.
After that incident, the world was in turmoil. Countless ambitious figures rose in secret, seeking to challenge the World Government's authority. That period was the time of the greatest losses for the Cipher Pol organization, with numerous CP agents dying daily, which at one point even jeopardized the entire CP intelligence network.
"Then, a World Military Draft! A large-scale draft from all corners of the world!"
The Gorosei with the curved mustache made a surprising declaration. "We shall have the CP organization monitor closely. Any individual with great power and a clean background will be directly appointed as a Marine Rear Admiral, Vice Admiral, or even Admiral!"
With those words spoken, recruitment notices were posted in cities everywhere, immediately stirring up a huge commotion across the globe.
Countless CP agents and Marine officers rushed across the world, seeking out and inviting neutral powerhouses, then entrusting them with important positions. These recruits included bounty hunters, merchant escorts, powerful civilians, and even former royalty from various nations...
In no time, the losses suffered by the Marines during the Paramount War were being replenished at an incredible speed.
In a certain kingdom in the first half of the Grand Line.
Inside a casino, the vast gambling hall held only two people.
"Issho-san, I represent the Gorosei in inviting you to join the Marines!" A man in a black suit, a CP agent, looked seriously at the middle-aged blind man before him.
Issho slowly raised his head, opening his white, pupil-less eyes.
"It is truly an honor for the supreme leaders of the great World Government to invite a blind man like me to join the Marines."