Bone-chilling cold filled the air, making everyone present hold their breath, not daring to move.
Caesar's eyes gleamed with cold light as he stared at Karasu.
"Ahem, Caesar, Karasu and the others' actions were indeed somewhat reckless, but your people didn't die, right? How about this - I'll add another ten billion Berries, and you let them go this time," Dragon said solemnly to Caesar.
"Heh, thinking 'they didn't die' solves the problem? Aren't you being too naive, Dragon."
Caesar still held Hiyori without putting her down, but walked toward Dragon, his voice cold.
"How about this, Page One! Come here and cut his head off too. If he can survive, then we'll consider the debt settled."
Page One struggled free from his sister Ulti's embrace, opened his mouth, and said quietly.
"Sir, I..."
Before he could finish speaking, Ulti slapped him on the forehead, making him stagger.
"Sister! What are you doing?" Page One covered his head, feeling wronged.
Ulti glared sternly and scolded angrily, "Little Page! Why are you being so hesitant? The other party cut your head off!"
As Ulti spoke, her eyes reddened, tears falling pattering down.
"If you died, what would I do?"
Karasu's face darkened.
Gritting his teeth, he was about to step forward when Lindbergh behind him quickly reached out and grabbed him tightly.
"Don't be impulsive, Karasu. Leave it to the boss," Lindbergh hurriedly whispered.
Dragon watched Caesar approach, gritted his teeth, and spoke again.
"Another twenty billion! Caesar, I'll add another twenty billion Berries to settle this matter. We still need to continue our cooperation in the future. Karasu's abilities are quite good, and his nature isn't bad—just a bit extreme."
Caesar halted, tilting his head to look at Dragon.
"It seems this kid holds great value in your eyes. Hundreds of billions of Berries, offered just like that. Heh."
Caesar shook his head and chuckled, "Fine! How about this—one hundred billion! Give me another hundred billion, and I'll let them go."
"One hundred billion? Are you joking? Do you think the Revolutionary Army's money grows on trees?"
Dragon grunted, feeling stifled and frustrated.
"Grows on trees? Nonsense! Your Revolutionary Army's money comes faster than if it were blown in by the wind! You overthrow a country every now and then—how much a country is worth goes without saying. Cut the crap—yes or no?"
Caesar was blunt and direct.
Dragon felt as though his heart were bleeding.
Dealing with Caesar was truly the most humiliating experience of his life.
If he could turn back time, he would never have come to Wano Country to wade into this mess.
Now, not only had he failed to obtain the ancient weapon, but he had also lost billions in Berries and had to hand over three hard-won countries.
What kind of situation was this?
"Fine!" Dragon spat the word out through clenched teeth.
"Leader!" Karasu, hearing Dragon actually agree to Caesar's unreasonable demand, felt both moved and filled with rage toward Caesar.
"Hmm?"
Sensing Karasu's hateful gaze, Caesar suddenly smiled.
BOOM!!
The next moment, a deafening thunderclap erupted as if the sky were collapsing!
Caesar's right arm instantly swelled dozens of times, transforming into a massive black limb over ten meters long, crashing down like a falling pillar onto Karasu's head!
In an instant, Karasu's body disintegrated, turning into countless fragments of flesh and blood.
Under the terrifying force, these fragments were pulverized into fine dust.
In the end, Karasu, without even having a chance to use his Logia ability, was utterly annihilated by Caesar's sudden strike.
The air filled with drifting dust, settling on Ivankov, Lindbergh, and Morley, plunging them into a deathly silence.
"Caesar!! What have you done?!"
Dragon erupted in fury, his eyes wide as he roared at Caesar.
This was merely a wind-element clone of his, utterly incapable of stopping Caesar's sudden outburst.
Truth be told, even if his true self were here, he likely couldn't have prevented it.
After all, Dragon was already severely injured.
If he rashly appeared before Caesar now, he might very well meet his end here.
That bastard Caesar had no sense of honor whatsoever.
Everyone was stunned.
Page One and Ulti stared blankly at the scene, rendered speechless for a long time.
Hiyori had long buried her face deep into Caesar's chest, too afraid to look.
Caesar shrugged and curled his lip, "I wasn't pleased, so I killed him. What about it? Want to fight me?"
"You...!"
Dragon's chest heaved violently, his aura instantly thrown into disarray.
Wisps of wind element leaked from his body, nearly causing the clone to dissipate on the spot.
"Useless trash with no strength, doesn't even know how to hide his emotions. Hmph! Did he really think I'd indulge him? I'm not his father!"
Caesar ignored the bloodshot eyes of the Revolutionary Army members, leisurely turned around, and carrying the fragrant Hiyori, walked back to his original position.
Without looking back, he said.
"One hundred and twenty billion Berries, plus three countries. Remember that, Dragon."
"You killed Karasu! You...!" Lindbergh's eyes were crimson with rage, his entire body trembling.
Caesar turned his head and raised a finger.
"Shh... Keep your voice down. My wife is asleep. If you wake her and disturb my child's rest, I'll kill you, you, and you."
Caesar pointed at Lindbergh and the others one by one, then finally glanced at Dragon, tilting his head as he said.
"Dragon, what do you think?"
Dragon's face was so dark it seemed like water could drip from it.
After a long, long silence, he finally spoke in a strained voice.
"No problem!"
"Borororo, good! Now, take your people and get the hell out of Wano Country immediately!"
Dragon silently walked up to Black Maria, picked up Koala and Betty, and resolutely turned to leave.
"Dragon!" Ivankov and the others hurriedly followed.
When they had moved far away from Caesar and the others, Ivankov spoke with difficulty.
"Dragon, 120 billion Berries is no small amount. Are we really going to give it to him? Also, what's the deal with those three countries?"
Dragon sighed: "We have to give it. If we didn't agree, everyone except me would have died here today. That guy Caesar is not someone who shows mercy. If it weren't for the benefits that moved him, he probably would have completely severed ties with our Revolutionary Army by now."
Ivankov felt somewhat aggrieved, but the words to refute Dragon that came to his lips were swallowed back down.
Barbarossa Caesar truly made him feel a fear that came from the depths of his soul.
"You're absolutely right. For now, our Revolutionary Army still can't afford to provoke this person, to provoke the Beast God Pirates. Sigh, what a pity. We've already found the Pluton, yet we can't control it. With Caesar obtaining the ancient weapon, his power will probably begin to expand by leaps and bounds!"
"The New World will completely become the backyard of the Beast God Pirates!"