"Wano Country?"
The Den Den Mushi looked troubled.
"That place is very far from here. At our current speed, the earliest we could arrive would be the end of this year."
"Although it might be a bit rude to ask, how much Berry can you offer as payment?"
"Ah, apologies, but we're so poor we can barely afford to eat, please forgive us."
"It's fine. Is one billion Berry enough?"
'One billion Berry!?'
Hanafuda looked shocked and urgently waved his arms frantically in front of Bazel.
Trying to convey the message of where would the Beasts Pirates even get one billion Berry.
Bazel waved his hand, placing his index finger in front of his lips, signaling Hanafuda to keep quiet.
"Of course, of course it's enough, your excellency, no no no!"
"Respected client, please wait patiently for a while. We, Weatheria, will absolutely get to Wano Country at the fastest speed possible!!!"
"Whether it rains or shines, we will definitely meet all your needs!!"
Bazel replied with a smile:
"No rush. We're actually out traveling due to some matters ourselves. As long as you can arrive by early 1494 in the Sea Circle Calendar, it's enough."
"Ah, in that case, the timing is very flexible. Thank you for your understanding. We will maintain contact with you subsequently. That's all for now!"
Kacha…
The moment the Den Den Mushi hung up, Hanafuda's roar erupted.
"Bastard! You look down on me calling me trash, but aren't you just a liar too?!"
"Liar? When did I lie?"
Bazel looked innocent.
"I just gave them a future check, that's all."
"Isn't a gentle mermaid lady who can solve your lifelong problems worth one billion Berry?"
Hanafuda fell silent.
"Once we reach Wano Country and develop for a while, do you really think one billion Berry is a lot, my good brother?"
Bazel put his arm around Hanafuda's shoulders, his tone airy.
As if it could carry the listener away to a beautiful future.
"Just think about it. Cool pimping ocean sports cars, diamond-encrusted Seastone supreme limited edition ceremonial swords..."
"Hanafuda, my good friend, don't underestimate those brainless Celestial Dragons. The money in their pockets is definitely on the level of the Pirate King."
"How much do you think a limited edition ocean Seastone supreme treasure sword could be worth?"
Hanafuda began to sweat profusely.
"All we need to do is spend a little money on some hype, say this sword represents the authority of the seas, that only the strongest creature can draw it. So then, the question is, how much is it worth?"
Hanafuda felt his throat go very dry.
"Driving the latest, coolest ocean sports car, wearing the most authoritative, domineering treasure sword at your waist… that's the only way to highlight the majesty of a god~"
"Guiding public opinion is the best tool to fool those brainless idiots."
"Trust me, Hanafuda. Once our little ads can sprinkle down into Holy Land Mary Geoise, our Beasts Pirates will become hugely wealthy soon after!"
Hanafuda frequently licked his lips, "But Bazel, how are you going to get ads into Holy Land Mary Geoise?"
"Doesn't Kaido know how to fly?" Bazel's rhetorical question made Hanafuda's face instantly green.
"Hey, you're not planning to have Kaido-sama personally fly over and throw down ads, are you!?"
"Is this embarrassing?"
Bazel patted Hanafuda's shoulder, his tone earnest.
"You didn't say it was embarrassing when we had no money. Now that we're starting to make money, you think the method is beneath you."
"If Kaido doesn't go, who will? He's the captain. If I were the captain, I'd go myself."
"This concerns the future plans of the Beasts Pirates. What's a little sacrifice for the captain?"
Remembering the massive debt he owed at the Mermaid Cafe, Hanafuda coughed lightly, his expression switching in an instant.
"You're right, Bazel."
"This is for the future of the Beasts. The captain should carry the heavy burden!"
"Good brother!"
The two shook hands, their eyes full of mutual appreciation and recognition.
"I'll buy you a drink when we're rich!"
Just as Bazel and Hanafuda were in perfect harmony, King walked into the laboratory with a look of disdain.
"What are you two idiots plotting now?"
"Heh~"
Hanafuda sneered, putting his arm around Bazel's shoulders as they walked out.
"Let's go, Bazel. Don't discuss these important matters with some clueless miser. That guy is a monster with no emotional intelligence."
"Brainy pirates like us should unite against external threats to avoid getting infected by some brainless fool's emotional intelligence deficiency disease."
"You're right, Hanafuda. Arber is a stingy miser monster."
"You two bastards!"
King gritted his teeth, barely restraining the urge to throw a punch.
If he dared to make the first move now, he'd definitely get a beating from those two.
"Kaido-san sent me to tell you to go to the palace and get ready for the banquet tonight!"
Bazel stopped walking, turned around, and frowned, "Banquet? Didn't we agree to set sail today?"
When it came to serious business, the playful expressions vanished from the trio's faces.
"Kaido-san really likes the king of this place. If it weren't for their status as a World Government's affiliate nation, our flag might be flying over this land."
King caught up with the other two
"Bazel, this might not necessarily be a good thing. Unlike Fish-Man Island, I don't see how this kingdom can bring much benefit to our Beasts Pirates."
"No, Arber, it's too early to judge whether it's good or bad."
Bazel halted, cupping his chin with one hand as he fell into thought.
Seeing the man like this, King and Hanafuda on either side immediately fell silent.
"Hanafuda, free advertising just fell into our laps."
A moment later, Bazel's lips curled into a slight smile, his expression full of amusement.
"I remember next year is the start of the once-every-four-years Reverie, right?"
"You mean..." Hanafuda seemed to remember something, looking slightly excited, "That's right! If we can manufacture the first cool sports car before then, we can have King Riku drive it to Holy Land Mary Geoise!"
"Those Celestial Dragons will definitely ask around everywhere after seeing that vehicle. Then all we need to do is set the price and sell it secretly!!!"
Bazel: (°▽°)o☆ "BINGO!"
"Exactly! Let's go, let's have a good chat with this country's king about cooperation!"
That night.
Royal Palace of Dressrosa, Banquet Hall.
Bazel wouldn't comment on the palaces of other kingdoms, but his first impression of the Dressrosa's palace was its plain and unadorned nature.
This wasn't to say the decor was shabby, but compared to the memory of those gilded, magnificent palaces...
The one under his feet could only be called ordinary.
Forget comparing it to the Ryugu Palace, where there are pearls and treasures, this place's decorations were probably only slightly better than those in Wano Country.
Bazel glanced at King Riku and Kaido drinking competitively at the head seat.
He was calculating the most opportune moment to speak.
"Hey, Bazel~~"
Toki, sitting beside him, was holding a little girl with light red hair.
"Daughters are so wonderful. If we get married later, let's have a daughter too, okay~"
'A long-awaited easy points opportunity had arrived!'
Saying 'okay' or 'of course' now would inevitably seem perfunctory.
Even worse were responses like, 'I prefer sons' or 'Whatever, either is fine', those were death sentences.
As a representative of high emotional intelligence, with the wisdom of eight heads, Bazel naturally wouldn't talk nonsense.
"Whether it's a daughter or a son, both are fine."
"Toki, if it's a daughter, I hope she inherits your gentle personality and beautiful appearance. Even just half would be enough."
Bazel looked at Toki, his smile frank and open.
"For me, you are the rare treasure of the seas. A daughter would just be the fruit of our love."
Toki's face flushed red, a bit of steam seeming to rise from her head.
"W-What nonsense are you spouting! Princess Scarlet is right here!"
"Eh~"
"But that's such a romantic line though."
Contrary to Toki's expectation, Scarlet analyzed it like a little adult:
"Dressrosa is the country of love, but even in passionate Dressrosa, it's rare to hear a man confess to a girl like that!"
"They only ever say things like~~"
"I will make you happy! Marry me!"
"Or~"
"You are like the sun in the sky, illuminating every moment of my life!"
"These kinds of not very nutritious love lines. Well, anyway, that's all I heard when I sneaked out to play."
Scarlet looked at Bazel with amazement in her eyes.
"Toki-nee, you have a lover who can recognize a girl's wonderful virtues~"