Chapter 43: Shifting the Trouble Northward
Big Mom’s demand was essentially outright robbery. The commercial district of the Sabaody Archipelago was practically worth its weight in gold, as it was the only route for pirates arriving in the New World.
Piracy was a high-risk profession. Although their income was unstable, it was very high, and they had no concept of restraint whatsoever.
To hold an auction in Sabaody, military force alone was absolutely insufficient. None of the Four Emperors had any overt businesses on the Sabaody Archipelago. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to, but that they simply couldn’t.
The Sabaody Archipelago was very close to Marine Headquarters and not far from the Red Line. This placed it within arm’s reach of the World Government and the Marines.
The reason Donquixote Doflamingo could own businesses on the Sabaody Archipelago was entirely due to his former status as a Celestial Dragon. Regardless, Donquixote was a Celestial Dragon surname. The World Government and the Marines were unlikely to wipe them out completely; the Celestial Dragons themselves wouldn’t allow it.
Big Mom was clever. She didn’t directly demand the auction house on the Sabaody Archipelago from Doflamingo. Instead, she demanded the net profits, leaving Doflamingo to continue operating it.
If 50% of the Sabaody auction’s profits were the limit of Doflamingo’s tolerance, then the interests of the underworld were the very foundation of his standing in the New World.
Big Mom was asking for the moon. Doflamingo and Red-Haired Shanks remained expressionless. Negotiations were like this. It wasn’t that whatever Big Mom wanted, Doflamingo would give. That wasn’t negotiation; that was Doflamingo being captured by Big Mom and then ransomed.
“BIG MOM, the auction and the underworld business are off the table. However…”
A smile appeared on Doflamingo’s face. He had already thought about what he would offer before the negotiations began.
“I can give you artificial Zoan Devil Fruits.”
As soon as he said this, both Big Mom and Katakuri were stunned. What had they been fighting for all this time? Wasn’t it for the artificial Devil Fruits?
But now, Doflamingo was saying he was willing to use artificial Devil Fruits to compensate the BIG MOM Pirates for their losses?
“Long-term supply?”
Although Big Mom vaguely sensed something was wrong, she still couldn’t suppress her greed. With a supply of artificial Devil Fruits, she could create an army of ability users, which would greatly increase her power.
“It’s a permanent supply. Fufufufufu.”
Amidst Doflamingo’s laughter, even Shanks couldn’t figure out what he was thinking. Only one person’s face gradually turned cold, and that person was Katakuri.
Big Mom looked at Doflamingo with confusion, unable to guess what trick he was playing.
“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”
Su Xiao spoke. He, of course, knew Doflamingo’s plan. Before coming, the two had already privately discussed it.
“What fish?”
Although Big Mom was hostile towards Su Xiao, this was a negotiation. Even if she was hostile, she couldn’t fall out now. Besides, she didn’t understand what Su Xiao was saying.
“In simple terms, it means providing you with the manufacturing process for artificial Zoan Devil Fruits. Compared to relying on others for supply, producing them yourself is more reliable, isn’t it?”
Su Xiao exhaled a plume of blue smoke. Both he and Doflamingo were looking at Big Mom with broad smiles.
Big Mom’s face suddenly turned cold. She figured out what these two were up to.
The manufacturing process for artificial Zoan Devil Fruits? Don’t be ridiculous. In the entire New World, only Doflamingo could make that damn thing. Multiple steps were indispensable, such as Caesar Clown’s raw material supply.
“BIG MOM, I’ve given you what you want most. You… shouldn’t refuse, should you?”
Doflamingo crossed his hands in front of him, still wearing a full smile.
“Red-Hair, say something fair.”
Doflamingo turned the spearhead towards Shanks. At this moment, Shanks remained silent. He wasn’t about to take the blame for this broken pot. He was here as a notary, not to be a scapegoat.
“You two…”
Big Mom clenched her teeth. An invisible wave of air spread outwards. This was her Haoshoku Haki.
“BIG MOM, calm down.”
With a crisp crack, fine cracks appeared on the seat beneath Shanks. The entire Red Force fell into dead silence. Big Mom’s violent aura instantly dissipated, replaced by an invisible pressure that filled the entire ship. The air itself began to distort irregularly.
Thud, thud…
Sounds of bodies hitting the ground came one after another from the three nearby ships.
Su Xiao’s eyelids drooped. Arc-shaped Azure Steel Shadow energy surged across his body surface. Shanks was domineering, but his Haki wasn’t as terrifying as imagined.
After a moment, the pressure in the air disappeared. Su Xiao heard a gasp behind him. It was Pica. After Shanks released his Haki, he had actually forgotten to breathe for a short time.
“This is the sincerity our side has shown. As for whether to accept it…”
Doflamingo was not affected by Shanks’ Haki, after all, it wasn’t directed at him.
“Red-Hair, are you siding with the Donquixote Family?”
Big Mom completely ignored Doflamingo and stared intently at Shanks.
“BIG MOM, are you prepared to let the war continue?”
“Hmph.”
Big Mom gave a cold snort and said no more. The situation stalemated again. Doflamingo raised his hand, and Pica behind him immediately handed him a leather file folder, which also bore the World Government’s emblem.
“BIG MOM, this is a confidential document I obtained from the CP department. Destroy it immediately after reading.”
Doflamingo tossed the file folder to Big Mom. The sullen-faced Big Mom caught it and tore it open directly.
After more than ten seconds, Big Mom’s expression gradually softened.
“This isn’t a document you forged, is it?”
“Of course not. You can send someone to the North Blue to verify it.”
“Hmm~”
Big Mom’s attitude took a sharp turn. Judging by her expression, she seemed ready to accept Doflamingo’s seemingly insincere ‘compensation’.
“I want proof I can see right now.”
Big Mom still seemed a bit uneasy. Doflamingo hesitated for a moment, then looked at Shanks. Having sailed the seas for so many years, Shanks immediately understood what Doflamingo meant.
“I am not personally interested in the key details of your negotiations.”
“Thank you.”
After Doflamingo whispered a few words to Pica, Pica walked over to Big Mom. Standing before her, Pica said something in a low voice.
“That thing can be innate? Bloodline or something?”
Big Mom seemed very surprised, as if she were learning about the power of technology for the first time.
“Those few people, even if you haven’t seen them with your own eyes, you’ve heard of them. According to my investigation, they are not Devil Fruit users in the true sense.”
Doflamingo was now basically certain that Big Mom would agree to this deal.
After thinking it over for a full two minutes, Big Mom finally nodded.
Just then, Su Xiao whispered to Doflamingo, “Do you have a grudge against that family?”
“Cough, there were some minor frictions before.”
Doflamingo replied in a low voice.
“If they find out about this, they will definitely come from the North Blue to Dressrosa.”
The matter Su Xiao and Doflamingo were discussing concerned a certain family. That family was named Vinsmoke.