"When did you CP0 people become Tesoro's dogs?"
Sakazuki crushed the cigar in his hand. Beneath his Marine cap, his murderous expression was revealed as he stared coldly at Rob Lucci across from him.
"This is not for Tesoro. It is a mission."
"It is for the balance between Saint Ozz and the World Government, and for the underground profit system that has been built between both sides."
"After the previous Doflamingo incident, that system already suffered a heavy blow."
Lucci slowly removed the mask from his face. Even in front of the coldest Fleet Admiral, his expression did not change.
"The World Government needs Tesoro's money to maintain its basic operations and the Heavenly Tribute of the Celestial Dragons."
"You would not want the Marines to lack military funds, would you?"
"..."
Sakazuki fell silent.
The clenched fist in his hand poured out rolling magma, burning the crushed cigar into ash.
Damn it...
Although he was furious about this matter, Sakazuki had to admit that there was nothing he could do.
As the Fleet Admiral of the Marines and a high-ranking figure within the World Government's faction, he naturally knew something about the underground world.
After Ozz took control of the underground world, he once held a meeting at Sabaody Archipelago. Back then, the Marines had even been responsible for maintaining order.
To put it bluntly, they had helped guard the venue.
Since then, underground business had become much more orderly. The World Government benefited from it as well. The Celestial Dragons had Heavenly Tribute to squander, and the World Government had money to maintain its rule and activities.
And Ozz's direct subordinates, Doflamingo and Tesoro, had seen the enormous profit in that system.
Through business, they had tied the World Government and themselves onto the same boat to a certain extent.
That was why, when Doflamingo and Tesoro faced the danger of collapse, the World Government chose to offer a certain level of assistance.
Because this was not only Ozz's money tree.
It was theirs too.
"So you only need to shut your mouth and obediently send ten warships for me to command."
Rob Lucci spoke coldly.
Although Sakazuki could understand the reason, Lucci's attitude still stirred his anger.
Fine, he could endure being mocked by those five old men.
But who the hell did Rob Lucci think he was?
"Who do you think you're talking to?"
"You've grown quite bold, haven't you, Rob Lucci..."
...
Gran Tesoro.
At the top of the golden tower.
A figure wearing a black and gold coat stood at the edge of the tower with a cigar in her mouth, overlooking the entire Gold City.
In Crocodile's eyes, this enormous and extravagant mobile nation was practically the perfect choice for a base.
A giant Island Turtle, second only to the super-large Sea Kings, pulled the ship. Perhaps it could even be used for attacks.
The city was filled with gold, enough to purchase vast amounts of weapons and equipment.
Its mobility would allow a future military nation to avoid being found, creating a situation where the enemy was exposed while she remained hidden.
Aside from the decorative style not matching Crocodile's taste, this place could be called the ideal foundation for realizing her ambitions.
She smiled as she swept her gaze over the outline of the entire ship. Then, with the cigar in her mouth, she turned toward Ozz, who was reading a newspaper.
"Hey, Ozz. Have you thought about what to do with this massive Gold City after Tesoro loses?"
"What do you mean, what to do with it?"
Ozz's eyes slowly shifted sideways. He glanced at the ambitious Crocodile with an expressionless face, as though he did not understand what she was talking about.
"Isn't it obvious?"
Crocodile crossed her arms and spoke as if it were only natural.
"If Tesoro loses to Straw Hat here, then according to the wager, won't he lose all his wealth and this Gold City?"
This was not Crocodile's first time knowing Tesoro. She had dealt with him long ago, back when he was still a poor brat arranged by Ozz to gather ransom money.
"That man treats money like his life..."
Perhaps because she had spent too much time around Ozz, Crocodile had also developed a bit of a wicked sense of humor. A gloomy smile appeared on her face.
"If he loses a fortune that controls more than twenty percent of the world's Berries, wealth that can buy almost anything, that man will definitely suffer like never before."
"Hahahahaha."
But Ozz, unusually, did not laugh. Instead, his eyes lifted upward as though he was thinking about something.
"The thing that would make Tesoro suffer the most probably isn't losing his wealth."
Within Ozz's Observation Haki, no movement escaped his senses, including the conversation between Tesoro and Stella.
Ozz rubbed the space between his brows.
Perhaps because, back then, he had been the only symbol of authority in Tesoro's life, his influence on Tesoro had been too deep.
That line he had said just to make Tesoro work for him:
"Do you know why you can't protect Stella? Because you're poor."
Combined with Tesoro's childhood experiences, the impact on him had been a little too strong.
His faith in and pursuit of "absolute wealth" had blinded him for a time.
Even now, that guy still had not realized what he had obtained money for, or what was truly most precious to him.
"That idiot..."
He could only hope that these juniors, Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji, could beat Tesoro a few more times in his place.
Only then would he truly wake up.
"Hey! Are you even listening to me?"
Seeing Ozz staring at the sky as though he was spacing out, Crocodile could not help shouting angrily.
Perhaps finding her a little noisy, Mihawk, who had been wiping his black blade, raised his head and looked at Crocodile.
"Don't you understand this man's personality by now?"
"The more you want something, the less likely Ozz is to give it to you."
Playing with people was basically Ozz's standard habit.
"Tch..."
Crocodile bit down on her cigar, her expression turning ugly.
But she had to admit that Mihawk was right.
In any case, she was not in a hurry. They could wait until the result came out.
"Still, Tesoro probably won't end up like Doflamingo, right? Otherwise, he'll look far too ugly in the eyes of the world..."
Thinking of Doflamingo, who had always been eager to ally with her, Crocodile shook her head helplessly.
At this point, she did not even know what to say.
She both hoped Tesoro would win and hoped he would lose.
Thinking of this, she looked toward Ozz, who had been lying on the lounge chair and reading the newspaper in a daze.
"Ozz, you've always been able to see far into the future, right? Who do you think will win in the end?"
"Oh?"
Hearing that question, Ozz's lips curved into a faint smile.
"Well now... If I say it now, wouldn't that take away some of the mystery?"
"You bastard..."
...
Meanwhile, on the other side.
The Straw Hats had already begun their operation.
They split into two groups and headed out to steal the black box.
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