Buy your silence!
Sengoku lowered his head and could only make this decision.
The intelligence about the ancient weapons must absolutely not be leaked.
The best way is to eliminate the Phantom Organization—only the dead can keep secrets. But that's unrealistic. If it were possible, he'd have done it long ago. Why wait until now?
If they can't eliminate them and the Phantom Organization refuses to sell the information, then the only option is to pay hush money.
Fortunately, despite their shamelessness and treachery, the Phantom Organization is different from ordinary pirates—they still somewhat value credibility. They probably won't turn hostile in the short term.
As for whether they truly possess intelligence about the ancient weapons—Sengoku dare not bet on it. As long as there's a ten percent chance it's real, he won't risk it.
Moreover, the Navy currently has information on Pluto. At least it gives him some time—he's confident he can get his hands on Pluto!
Once he has it, dealing with the Phantom Organization will be top priority!
Thinking of this, Sengoku said in a deep voice: "As long as you don't leak any information about the ancient weapons, we can pay you 100 million berries every month!"
"Are you trying to bribe a beggar?" Vladimir flapped his wings and slowly descended to the ground, then took the Den Den Mushi from Kizaru's hand. "Give us three Devil Fruits a month. If you fall behind on payments, I'll immediately auction off the intelligence about the ancient weapons to the highest bidder in the world."
This kind of hush money can't be paid all at once. The monthly payment method benefits both sides.
"You… dream!" Sengoku gritted his teeth. "Do you know how much manpower it takes to recover a single Devil Fruit?!"
Of course I do, Vladimir thought silently. The Sea Beast Legion sacrificed half their cannon fodder, spending months to salvage only two Devil Fruits from the deep sea. That shows how difficult it is.
Vladimir mentally sneered, but kept a calm face. "Then give me ten fruits upfront."
"No!" Sengoku snapped bitterly. "One fruit per month—that's the highest price I can offer!"
One per month, twelve in a year—that's a huge blow to the Navy's budget. They couldn't afford this kind of hush money.
Sengoku could only appeal to the World Government. After all, the Celestial Dragons had plenty of these fruits. Better to take out the Devil Fruits and use them to appease the Phantom Organization than let them fall into the wrong hands.
Vladimir considered for a moment, then nodded. "Fine. Since you're 'old customers,' we'll be a little more generous—one fruit per month."
Seeing this, Shiki was stunned.
The Navy collecting "protection fees" from the World Government—only the Phantom Organization does that.
Back in the day, Roger didn't have such shameless tactics!
For the Phantom Organization, as long as they keep the intelligence secret, they get one Devil Fruit per month.
Of course, this is just a verbal agreement. Whether they actually follow through is another matter.
Shiki sneered inwardly. The Navy is only getting more and more pathetic—threatened by pirates, they can only swallow their pride and accept.
"Hmph, I don't believe the Phantom Organization will keep its word. When the time comes, I bet they'll secretly sell the info to me. In the end, that fool Sengoku will be left with nothing!"
All three parties had their own plans, yet somehow, a fight never broke out.
Kedaruk, standing nearby, was somewhat enlightened. He gained a new understanding of the Phantom Organization's deterrence—though he wasn't sure if the intel was real or fake. Just the mention of it made even the Navy's Marshal hesitate; they wouldn't dare gamble on it.
This was no longer just fear—it was trust.
Sengoku actually believed that the Phantom Organization truly had such intelligence!
"I give up. I lost without shame!" Kedaruk took a deep breath, grimacing in pain, then closed his eyes and fainted.
...
Meanwhile, inside the darkness space.
On the inverted floating island, a massive iceberg pressed down on the island, with all the pirates gathered underneath.
Inside the cave within the iceberg, the Red Stone had shattered due to the iceberg's collapse—now broken into two pieces.
Suddenly, with a loud crack, a pile of shattered ice suddenly burst open, and a large white-furred dog, about seven or eight meters tall, leapt out. In its mouth, it was holding a young girl.
"Ouch… Big Dog, you idiot! Can't you be a little gentler?"
Nini Poland rubbed her little arms and legs, crying out in pain.
But after saying that, she couldn't help but shake her head, secretly thinking she was talking to a plush toy again.
"Woof woof!"
At this moment, the large white dog barked loudly toward the front.
Nini Poland looked ahead and saw a tall man standing in front of the shattered Red Stone.
"Ka… Kaido!"
Nini's face was full of terror, trembling uncontrollably. She couldn't believe it—Four Emperors Kaido was actually here!
"What a mess… It's fake after all," the burly man said, punching the Red Stone to shatter it. "The real Red Stone doesn't look like this—size, shape, everything's wrong!"
There are four pieces of the Red Stone in total. One in his hand, one in Big Mom's, and the other two—he didn't know yet. Only some clues.
"Y-You, don't come any closer!" Nini's fear grew. She was too scared to care whether the Red Stone was real or fake. She kept retreating. "Big Dog, protect me!"
Hearing this, Kaido turned around and looked down at her, sneering. "You're the Vice Captain of the Unicorn. A Toy-Toy Fruit user?"
Nini swallowed her saliva nervously. Her heart was pounding with fear…
She knew how powerful the Four Emperors were—she'd fought the Whitebeard Pirates before, and Whitebeard had wiped out all her toys with a single punch!
"Perfect." Kaido grinned. "I know you have a toy called 'Treasure-Seeking Mouse,' which can find treasures based on scent. I have a real copy of the Red Stone, with its aura. Help me find the real one, and I'll spare your life."
"R-Really? It's not fake?" Annie's eyes flickered.
"Hmph, stupid. Of course it's fake. Probably made by the Phantom Organization to lure you in. The real Red Stone is in Big Mom's hands—and it might even be on the island!"
Kaido slapped the large dog away and walked up to Nini, grabbing her like a chick and lifting her up.
"Listen carefully—Phantom Organization and the Navy are teaming up to wipe out all three of our big pirate crews. Right now, the Storm Pirates are almost finished, and Lance's Pirates are the fastest to escape. Only you, Unicorn, are left."
"Ka… Kaido… Save my brother, and I'll help you!" Nini begged desperately.
____________________
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