"The Five Elders have stated that to settle this matter peacefully, we must provide the Celestial Dragons with sufficient benefits," Gunit said with a polite smile that couldn't mask his shamelessness. "They suggest that His Majesty yield at least thirty percent of Evernight City's annual profits. The distribution of that profit among the Celestial Dragons will be handled by them."
Rosinante leaned back slightly, eyes cold and voice faint. "Thirty percent? That's far too much. If it comes to that, I'd rather ban the Celestial Dragons from ever setting foot in Evernight City. Problem solved. Empty talk about taking thirty percent of my profits—do they think money falls from the sky?"
To be fair, thirty percent didn't sound outrageous—at least, not from the perspective of the World Government's bureaucrats.
If it were anyone else, they'd be ecstatic to hand over even half of their profits if it meant pleasing the Five Elders. After all, those five men held the highest authority in the world. To be in their favor meant protection, power, and access to untold wealth.
In fact, many would see it as a blessing if the Five Elders asked for only thirty percent while personally resolving such a monumental issue. To most, that was already generous.
But Rosinante Donquixote was not "most."
He wasn't about to hand over thirty percent of his future fortune for a few polite words. He knew better than anyone that if Evernight City succeeded, thirty percent of its profits would amount to a staggering, almost immeasurable sum.
Gunit chuckled awkwardly, trying to mask his unease. "Your Majesty jests. There's no place in this world where the Celestial Dragons are forbidden entry. As the gods of this world, if they cannot enter, then neither can the nobles or officials beneath them. That would rob Evernight City of its most affluent patrons."
He was sweating inside, but he dared not show it. Only Rosinante could say such things aloud. If anyone else had dared suggest barring the Celestial Dragons, Gunit would have erupted in fury on the spot.
But this man… this man wasn't just anyone. His strength, influence, and even his bloodline commanded caution. Though stripped of his Celestial Dragon status, Rosinante still carried the blood of the gods. Gunit had no choice but to swallow his indignation and smile.
"Either way, thirty percent is out of the question," Rosinante said flatly. "You can tell the Five Elders this: if they can resolve this matter, I'll give them ten percent of the profits. If they insist on thirty, fine—but they'll have to put up thirty percent of the investment themselves."
He leaned forward, his tone sharpening. "I'm investing one trillion Berries. If they want a third of the returns, they can contribute a third of the capital. Empty promises for profit? Impossible. If they don't like it, then so be it—we call the deal off. I'll even announce publicly that the project failed because the Five Elders interfered. One trillion Berries, Gunit—do you have any idea how many nations, how many people are watching this investment? Ever heard the saying, 'Cutting off a man's fortune is like killing his parents?' Tell the Five Elders to think carefully before crossing me."
Rosinante's words were calm, but every syllable carried weight like a hammer blow.
And he wasn't exaggerating. As Gunit himself had said, the Celestial Dragons were some of the world's biggest spenders. If they were barred from Evernight City—and if the World Government followed by restricting nobles and officials from entering—the city's potential profits would take a massive hit.
Most of the world's wealth was concentrated in the hands of nobles, officials, merchants, and pirates. If those groups couldn't freely visit Evernight City, its commercial value would plummet.
Of course, Rosinante knew that if his goods and attractions were truly unmatched, even the nobles would find ways to patronize the city in secret—but still, the losses would be considerable, especially in gambling and entertainment.
Gunit's forehead began to bead with sweat.
Cutting off a man's fortune is like killing his parents… The phrase hit him hard. He could already imagine the chaos that would erupt in the Five Elders' office once Rosinante's defiant words spread. The Den Den Mushi lines would explode from the flood of furious calls.
Before coming here, Gunit had already received countless hints from officials and nobles alike—all eager to secure contracts, supplies, or construction rights tied to Evernight City.
"Heh… I will, of course, relay His Majesty's words to the Five Elders," Gunit said stiffly. "I'm sure they only intervened out of concern for you—as their esteemed junior, naturally. However, to make this deal work, the Celestial Dragons' satisfaction is crucial. Many among them already disapprove of your plans. If their share is too small, even the Five Elders may find it difficult to keep them placated."
In truth, the Five Elders' primary motive in this negotiation wasn't greed—it was fear. They didn't want Rosinante clashing head-on with the Celestial Dragons. Still, profit was always a convenient reason to act.
As the rulers of the world, the Five Elders literally controlled the printing of money. Every Berries in existence was their creation, a tool of global control. But even so, currency couldn't be printed freely.
The truth was, money itself was one of their greatest weapons.
People might not realize it, but the World Government maintained its dominance not only through force—but through financial manipulation. The global economy depended entirely on the Berries. No other currency rivaled it, a testament to how tightly they controlled its circulation.
And their greatest tool for regulating its value? War.
Whenever too much Berries entered circulation and inflation loomed, or whenever the currency's stability was questioned—wars conveniently broke out.
Wars consumed enormous resources, obliterated wealth, and sank fortunes to the ocean floor. They also provided convenient excuses for the Government to seize treasures and redistribute assets—all while restoring balance to the economy.
It was a brutal but effective system. And since they commanded the strongest military force on the planet, who could stop them?
Ordinary profit margins barely interested the Five Elders. But the potential gains from Rosinante's trillion-Berries project were different. That kind of money could tempt even them.
Yet as enticing as it was, the bigger concern remained the Grey Nation itself.
The truth was, the Five Elders were deeply wary of Rosinante now. Ever since the Grey Nation crushed the Underworld Alliance in that spectacular conflict, the Government had begun to see him not as a nuisance—but as a legitimate threat.
Yes, they wanted him gone. Yes, they dreamed of erasing the Grey Nation.
But the cost of doing so would be astronomical.
Even for the Five Elders, that cost was hard to justify—especially now.
The seas were in chaos. In the New World, Whitebeard's massive pirate fleet reigned supreme. Across the globe, ever since the Pirate King's last words were broadcast, tens of thousands had taken to the sea in pursuit of his legendary treasure.
Most of these pirates posed little direct threat to the Government, but their sheer numbers overwhelmed the Navy. The constant skirmishes, the growing unrest, the angry outcries from the nations they failed to protect—it was stretching the World Government thin.
If they diverted their strength to wage war against the Grey Nation now, the consequences could be catastrophic.
And there was another factor—the man named Bins, whose spatial powers made him nearly untouchable. Until the Government found a way to neutralize that ability, any assault on Rosinante could backfire horribly.
A single misstep, and they could lose far more than they gained.
No… now was not the time for war.
That was why, the moment Rosinante announced his "Three Promises" tied to the Evernight City project, the Five Elders knew trouble was coming.
And so, they had sent Gunit—to negotiate, to pacify, and above all, to make sure nothing spiraled into the kind of disaster that even they could not undo.
...