Chapter 60 – Talking Money Hurts Feelings, Sengoku
In the end, Sengoku personally accompanied Ator on a tour of all the main facilities around Marine Headquarters.
After they finished dinner together, Sengoku thoughtfully arranged a quiet room so Ator could get a proper night's rest.
The next day, just past noon, Ator was led by a messenger into the main headquarters building to attend a small, private meeting.
As everyone knew:
Big matters are handled in small meetings. Small matters don't require meetings at all. Routine affairs get big meetings.
At this moment, Sengoku sat representing the Marines, while Ator represented the interests of the angel investors.
Inside the Fleet Admiral's office, a few people were gathered around a modest round table. Ator and Sengoku sat opposite each other, and several Vice Admirals stationed at headquarters occupied the remaining seats.
"Where's Sister Tsuru? She's not here?"
Ator looked around but didn't see the woman who'd left such a deep impression on him—Vice Admiral Tsuru, already in her forties but still dignified and elegant.
The first time he'd visited the Marines, it was Tsuru who had received him. They had immediately found common ground in their discussions about planning and logistics, and Tsuru's insights into commerce had been especially striking.
If she hadn't been a Marine, Ator would probably have invited her to be his advisor—or even his personal secretary—long ago.
"Tsuru went to the front lines with Fleet Admiral Kong," Sengoku explained.
Most of their generation in the Marines were warriors first and foremost; there were precious few who could really think strategically. At the front, someone steady and able to coordinate was indispensable—and naturally, Tsuru was the obvious choice.
Ator nodded and didn't press the issue further. Instead, he went straight to the point:
"I've received word that the fighting in the North Blue is escalating by the day. Within about five years, the conflict will be settled decisively—
Either the underworld syndicates will be destroyed, or the kingdoms will be forced to surrender.
Meanwhile, the Vinsmoke family has begun taking on mercenary contracts and has become increasingly active. From what I hear, they're also leaning toward switching sides outright to support the kingdoms.
And the Vinsmokes' weaponry is significantly more advanced than anything in the South Blue. There isn't much of it, but it's enough to tip the balance for at least two years of warfare.
The other two factions have already reached out to me, hoping to purchase arms."
Ator's intentions were crystal clear.
In the past, just selling weapons to the kingdoms had already brought in massive profits. And now, with the underworld syndicates jumping into the fray too, the potential profits were beyond imagination.
Especially considering that this lucrative arms business could easily continue for another two years.
If the Vinsmoke family did end up fully switching sides, the war would reach a swift and overwhelming conclusion.
But such an enormous slice of profit wasn't something Ator could devour alone—not even with the Navy's current backing. Reinforcements would be necessary. The Marines had to send more people to help.
If they didn't? Then the remainder of the pie would be handed over to the Nasdaq family to manage. Naturally, they had their own ways of convincing anyone foolish enough to try and intercept a shipment.
This wasn't a negotiation—it was a notification.
After all, the Marines and the Nasdaq family were tightly linked now. If everyone could sit at the table, enjoy the meat, and sip the soup together, that was clearly the best outcome.
Across from him, Sengoku rested his elbows on the table and propped his chin on his hands, lost in thought.
The surrounding Vice Admirals—except Garp, who was snoring away—leaned back in their chairs, silently stroking their chins.
Everyone knew the Navy had been unusually well-funded this year. Even the normally timid Fleet Admiral Kong had marched boldly into the New World with a full fleet. Who knew? They might even be building a new major base by next year.
And now, Ator was saying that these good times could get even better?
The Vice Admirals were all tempted. More wealth meant more funding, bigger bonuses, maybe even pay raises. Their ideals and their wallets were aligning nicely.
But the one with final say was Sengoku, so they could only pretend to weigh the matter—while shooting him increasingly obvious glances.
Come on, Sengoku! What's the hesitation? Just send more people! You can sit here and handle paperwork while we get deployed out there to make a fortune!
Everybody wins!
As for resisting Ator's role as an arms dealer? Sure, some within the Marines might object… but none of those people were in this room.
In fact, most of the Navy brass now agreed with Ator's philosophy: only a region with a dominant voice can truly know peace.
Today's sacrifices were for the sake of a better tomorrow—for the children.
The Navy Headquarters' residential district stood as living proof of that philosophy.
Sengoku finally broke the silence.
"Well, Ator… You know the Navy can send reinforcements, but the frontlines have been rough lately. We're barely scraping by ourselves."
"Especially Fleet Admiral Kong. You know how it is—until you're in charge, you never understand how expensive everything is. He's been shipping cannons and bombs like they're free candy. Not to mention the whole Momo Fruit incident recently… The Navy's practically starving now!"
"So maybe… you could cut us a bit of a deal on the weapons? Then we could put those savings toward other important matters..."
Sengoku had made up his mind—but he wasn't about to skip the performance. If you're going to act poor, act like you're desperate.
He wasn't just representing himself—he was carrying the Navy's entire financial burden on his shoulders. He had to set the tone.
On the other side of the table, Ator watched Sengoku's dramatic finger-rubbing gesture—the classic "money's tight" mime—and couldn't help feeling a little embarrassed.
What is it with these old guys? First Garp, now Sengoku. Do all Marine top brass have no shame? The profits here are enormous, and you still want a bigger cut?
"Sengoku-san," Ator said, sounding wounded, "talking about money like this… it really hurts the relationship between us, doesn't it? You know I still owe my father seventy billion Berries, right?
Add in all the support and that one Ancient Zoan Devil Fruit I gave away—this whole operation's cost me at least a hundred billion!"
Ator shook his head, voice laced with pity, his youthful appearance making the whole act even more pitiful.
Acting? He could do that too.
Sengoku smacked his lips silently. Ator's grown, he thought.
Ever since he'd managed to squeeze a few billion out of Ator last time, the kid had clearly trained himself up. These old tricks weren't going to cut it anymore.
Time to play the emotional card.
And so the delightful tug-of-war began.
For the next two full hours, Sengoku and Ator took turns pulling out every card they had—tragedy, poverty, brotherhood, ethics, investment angles—you name it.
Two foxes, one old and one young, each trying to outfox the other without backing down.
The Vice Admirals stayed silent the whole time, quietly enjoying the show. For once, being a Vice Admiral felt great—they just got to sit back and watch one of the greatest verbal battles of their lives.
In the end, Sengoku had the edge.
He managed to wring out a small profit from Ator. Not much, but solid and guaranteed.
"Damn it, I'm still too young… That old bastard's obsessed with money!" Ator grumbled inwardly as he stared at Sengoku's smiling face, his own expression stiff with annoyance.
It wasn't about the tiny slice of profit he'd lost—he didn't care about that. What irritated him was being outplayed.
"So that's how thick Sengoku's skin is, huh? Well, I've learned something new today."
Tsk tsk… "Only Sengoku would bully a kid like this," the Vice Admirals mused internally, keeping straight faces while their inner commentary ran wild. "No wonder he never got married—probably scared his wife would discover his true nature and chase him around the house."
When the meeting finally ended and the Fleet Admiral's office doors closed, Sengoku immediately left with Ator.
"…Huh? Where is everyone?"
Garp had just woken up, blinking around in confusion.
"Hey! We're supposed to be best buddies, Sengoku! And you didn't even wake me for the end of the meeting?!"
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