Alabasta Kingdom, Royal Palace Council Hall. Baccarat, who had been rejected by Cobra, still had the same smile on her face. After gently tucking a strand of her burgundy hair that was draped over her shoulder, she said, unhurriedly:
"King Cobra, I don't think you need to be in such a hurry to refuse." "Don't you want to hear what conditions our Umbrella Corporation has offered?"
Hearing this, a hint of doubt flickered in Cobra's eyes, and he asked, somewhat curiously:
"Oh!? Then tell me, what price is the Umbrella Corporation prepared to pay to purchase the mineral extraction rights?" "In addition to the normal monetary return, our Company can also provide Alabasta Kingdom with support for rain-making machines and environmental transformation technology."
"Rain-making machines?" The moment he heard this term, a look of disgust instinctively appeared on Cobra's face. "Miss Baccarat, are you talking about those machines that use dancing powder for artificial rain?" In response, Baccarat simply curved the corners of her mouth slightly, revealing a smile with profound meaning:
"Hehe-! King Cobra, you're mistaken!
Using dancing powder for rain, this criminal method prohibited by the World Government, our Umbrella Corporation would never do it! Our Umbrella Corporation's technological level in meteorology is far beyond the times...
Our Company's rain-making machines can use inexhaustible seawater, desalinate it, and then, through precise meteorological instrument control, form rain clouds in a designated area for precise rainfall with absolutely no side effects. According to my investigation, Alabasta, as a desert kingdom, does not have much rainfall annually, and local droughts often occur.
This year, in addition to the capital Alubarna, other cities have not had a single drop of rain. I think that the current Alabasta Kingdom should be in great need of rainwater to solve the urgent problem, right?
If you are willing to cooperate with our Umbrella Corporation, I can make the decision to provide the rain-making machines to Alabasta Kingdom for use, guaranteeing that your country will have favorable weather every year." "..." To be honest, looking at Baccarat's tone and demeanor, Cobra suddenly felt that she was definitely hinting at something.
First, Alabasta Kingdom experienced a widespread drought across the country, and then the dancing powder incident occurred in the capital Alubarna, causing widespread public anger and a crisis of trust among the citizens towards him.
Now, someone from the Umbrella Corporation suddenly arrives and says that their Company's meteorological technology is amazing and can control weather changes in designated areas. If Baccarat wasn't bragging about the Umbrella Corporation's meteorological technology, assuming what she said was true.
Then, connecting all of the above, no matter how you look at it, the Umbrella Corporation seems to be the mastermind behind the series of events in Alabasta Kingdom!? Could all of this be a conspiracy by the Umbrella Corporation? Is it just to force me to sell the mineral extraction rights of the four areas to the Umbrella Corporation?...... Cobra thought to himself. So, now the question is!
If he continues to refuse the Umbrella Corporation, what will happen to Alabasta Kingdom? Continuous national drought, countless citizens suffering from hunger! This slightly absurd, yet unavoidable thought, lingered in Cobra's mind. He found it truly hard to imagine that someone would use such despicable methods just to obtain the extraction rights for a few mineral resources. Wait!
Thinking carefully, it seems I offended the Umbrella Corporation at the World Conference! The law that prohibited any enterprise or organization from accepting protection from illegal Pirates forces for corresponding benefit exchange was something I, along with other kings, strongly pushed for.
At that time, Tesoro, the head of the Umbrella Corporation, even tried to obstruct the implementation of this law, but he was severely reprimanded by me... After that law was implemented, I heard that the Umbrella Corporation's industries began to shrink significantly and suffered heavy losses. So that's it, they are coming to make trouble for me!
It is obvious that the Umbrella Corporation's action is aimed at reclaiming a portion of their losses from Alabasta Kingdom. Thinking of this, a bitter smile couldn't help but appear on Cobra's face. He never expected that the Umbrella Corporation, after losing a round at the World Conference, was now preparing to use schemes and tricks to win back a round.
Cobra sighed softly, saying somewhat helplessly:
"Alas~! Alright! I've changed my mind. Alabasta Kingdom can sell the mineral extraction rights of those four areas to your Umbrella Corporation. However, you also cannot make my country suffer too much..." Baccarat smiled and nodded:
"Of course! In addition to the rain-making machines, our Company has also prepared other things..."
From Cobra's initial refusal to his reluctant agreement, it was all within Baccarat's expectations.
She precisely utilized Cobra's conflict with Tesoro at the World Conference, as well as the drought in Alabasta Kingdom, coupled with her own deliberately feigned expressions and demeanor, to portray the Umbrella Corporation as the mastermind, thereby coercing him into agreeing to sell the mineral extraction rights. As for what would happen if Cobra still refused even then...
According to Sephiroth's intention, their Umbrella Corporation could consider helping Alabasta Kingdom replace its government! On the other side, in the corridor outside the Council Hall, a beautiful young girl with waist-length light blue hair and wearing a white dress, eavesdropped on every word of the conversation between Cobra and Baccarat through the slightly ajar door.
Immediately, a thoughtful expression appeared on the girl's face, and she turned and left the entrance of the Council Hall.