Chapter 202: Intent to Kill
Tesoro, who currently possessed the power of the Gold-Gold Fruit, was undoubtedly a money-making machine in his own right.
Only someone with that ability would have the arrogance, ambition, and funds to build a city on top of a ship.
At the same time, this also explained why the World Government had refused to provide intelligence.
With enough money, even the devil could be made to turn a millstone. Berries were not omnipotent, but bribing nobles and using them to pressure the World Government was still possible.
It also explained why Tesoro did not want the Marines sending personnel out for training.
He did not want them to notice anything wrong and stir up trouble.
After all, his Devil Fruit had once been auctioned off by Doflamingo. Tesoro had stolen and eaten it after setting a fire. Before he had enough strength, he naturally did not want to cause a commotion and attract the attention of that Underworld boss.
After Brad finished speaking, Theodore, who was standing beside them, also looked surprised.
"You're building such a large ship using Treasure Tree Adam?"
Brad's attitude toward his old friend was far less polite. His expression immediately shifted, and he looked at Theodore as if he were staring at an idiot.
"Are you stupid? Even if someone wanted to build the whole ship out of Treasure Tree Adam, they'd need enough material first."
He tapped the piece of wood in Tom's hand.
"Since Adam is such a precious material, of course it's only used for the crucial joints of the hull. It'll also be placed at the bottom of the ship to support the entire giant vessel."
No matter what kind of ship it was, there was a limit to how much weight it could bear.
If one wanted to build a giant ship large enough to hold a city, the material itself was the first hurdle.
Clearly, that hurdle had been solved using Treasure Tree Adam.
"I know that," Theodore said, clicking his tongue in admiration. "But even then, the cost must be astronomical."
Back in Marineford, he usually had to weigh the cost of even an ordinary piece of wood before deciding whether to use it.
Seeing materials used this extravagantly naturally left him emotional.
Axel also made an estimate based on Theodore's words.
Even if Treasure Tree Adam was only used in key structural joints, the material cost alone would likely reach several billion Berries.
That did not include the buildings on the ship, labor costs, or other materials.
Only Tesoro could sustain this kind of expense.
Building a giant ship like this was something even the World Nobles, the Celestial Dragons, might not be able to casually afford.
Brad brushed off Theodore's emotion.
"It's not your money. What are you worrying about?"
His words were still prickly, but this time Theodore did not get angry.
Instead, he looked at that piece of wood with deep regret.
"I'm just sorry that such good material is being wasted in your hands."
Brad's expression changed slightly.
Theodore's meaning was obvious.
He was saying Brad's craftsmanship was poor.
"You bastard! You're just an onlooker. At the very least, you'll never even get to touch material like this!"
Before the two could start cursing at each other, Axel interrupted.
"The group that asked you to build this ship, when do they come?"
Brad forced himself to calm down and thought for a moment.
"They usually come around this time to check the progress. I don't think today will be an exception."
Just as he finished speaking, footsteps sounded outside the door.
Everyone else remained unaware, but Axel's ears moved slightly.
The shipyard was filled with the chaotic noise of workers, tools, wood, and shouted instructions. But to Axel, whose mastery over his ability had long since become effortless, filtering out that noise was simple.
He could clearly hear the movement outside.
"Someone's here."
Theodore saw Axel's strange reaction and heard him say that someone was coming. He was just about to ask how Axel knew when a group of people walked through the door.
They were vicious-looking men.
Their ragged clothes, old scars, and savage expressions made it clear they were not friendly people.
"Brad!"
A man with a scar across his face shouted loudly.
Brad hurried over to meet him, lowering his posture slightly.
Those with nothing to lose were never afraid of those with something to protect.
Brad was not necessarily afraid of this group, but he saw no need to cause trouble over attitude. Harmony brought wealth, after all.
"I'm here."
"How's the situation today?" the scarred man asked perfunctorily. "The boss is pushing the progress."
It was a question he asked almost every day.
"The workers are in good condition today," Brad replied. "The progress has almost caught up."
"But from what I can see, it's still far from finished."
The scarred man's voice sharpened.
"Are you trying to play me?"
His subordinates grinned meaningfully.
Brad immediately understood.
"The workers were probably slacking off. I'll supervise them properly right now."
As he spoke, he skillfully pulled out a stack of Berries and stuffed it into the scarred man's waistband.
"Hmm. Good attitude."
The scarred man followed along smoothly.
"Looks like I was mistaken."
Since Brad was sensible and did not make things difficult, the scarred man was also willing to let the matter pass.
However, his gaze soon landed on Theodore, whose face looked rather unfriendly.
"Who's this?"
Brad turned and saw Theodore's expression.
He immediately knew his old friend's bad habit was acting up again.
Couldn't this idiot learn to be flexible?
"This is a distant relative of mine," Brad said quickly. "He has a problem. His mouth is foul, and he was born with that face."
Theodore was just about to lose his temper when Brad pulled him aside and whispered into his ear.
"Don't cause trouble. We're using their boss's money to bribe them anyway. It's not a big deal."
Only then did Theodore quiet down.
Brad hurried back and apologized repeatedly.
Seeing him act this way, the scarred man lost interest and said casually, "If his mouth is foul, don't bring him out. If not for your sake, I'd have already cut him down."
Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly noticed Axel standing nearby.
From the side, Axel's appearance was especially striking.
"What a pretty little girl," the scarred man said, his eyes lighting up. "Don't you guys think?"
His subordinates immediately jeered.
"Boss Nikler is right!"
Nikler looked toward Brad.
"Lend her to me for a couple of days. I'll return her afterward."
Could a person even be lent out?
Brad's expression immediately turned ugly.
He had originally planned to send these men away with money, but he had not expected things to become this troublesome.
The child had come here with his friend. No matter what, Brad could not simply hand him over.
Just as he was about to refuse, laughter rang out.
The sound came from the child who had made him feel uneasy earlier.
It was a chilling laugh.
A sinister, demon-like smile spread across Axel's lips.
Nikler's subordinates were frightened by that sudden laughter, and their bodies instinctively retreated several steps.
Their reaction caused the killing intent in Axel's heart to surge.
Ever since this group entered, he had been restraining the murderous impulse inside him.
He did not want to become some so-called killing machine.
But there were always people who were blind enough to walk straight toward death.
Before Axel's ability, the world unfolded like data.
Objects, people, and movement all appeared before him as calculation formulas.
Because of that, in his eyes, this group no longer looked entirely human.
They were closer to a set of data.
And he could erase their existence as easily as wiping a formula from a blackboard.
"As expected," Axel said softly. "Those drawn by wealth and riches are always this kind of trash."
His smile deepened.
"It's been a long time since anyone dared speak to me like that."
The laughter was bone-chilling.
But to Nikler, who did not know Axel, it was only an unpleasant laugh from a strange child.
What could a child possibly do?
"Don't be afraid," Nikler said. "He's just a kid."
Axel looked at him quietly.
"Are you ready to die?"
.....
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