Since Dragon hadn't fully thought things through, he wasn't going to make a hasty decision. In the end, he didn't make the call.
By the time Diarmuid finally received a call from Dragon, it was already seven days later.
Diarmuid was sitting on the sofa in the cabin of Smoker's ship. This ship was essentially a small sanctuary for Diarmuid and Hina. Although Diarmuid couldn't be called a 'smoker,' he was an old chain-smoker, and Hina had been an incorrigible smoker since childhood.
Smoker, the user of the Smoke-Smoke Fruit, had no hobbies other than collecting rare cigars and tobacco. This ship contained many precious cigars and cigarettes, some of which money couldn't buy, and Diarmuid rarely encountered them. Of course, he usually only smoked the special cigars supplied by Marine Headquarters, which were also unavailable for purchase.
The fleet at Endless Island had finished gathering two days prior. The first wave of cannon fodder had already begun their attack on Totto Land's Whole Cake Island sea area. The momentum of the Double White Alliance was strong, led by Whitebeard Pirate commanders and supplemented by forces from Smoker's crew. Rich and powerful, they quickly thrust into the Totto Land waters and initiated battle with the Pirate Alliance of Big Mom and the Beasts Pirates.
The front-line situation was incredibly fierce. Pirate ships, large and small, rallied their friends and plunged into the battlefield in droves. Right from the start, this was a great sea battle involving tens of thousands of people. This situation could continue to escalate into a war where hundreds, even thousands, of ships bombarded each other, a clash that could last for several days with continuous replenishment, sinking, and rotation of warships.
In terms of the actual combat effectiveness, a sea battle of this scale posed no threat whatsoever to truly top-tier experts like Diarmuid, Newgate, Kaido, or Charlotte Linlin. Any one of them could obliterate this massive war. Once their power reached this level, conventional warfare held little significance.
So why engage in such a massive war?
Because it was a demonstration by both warring parties to the New World, and the world at large, of their dominance.
Not only do we have supreme individual strength, but we also have powerful enough forces under our command to suppress all sides!
Without such a vast and powerful pirate force, how could so many affiliated nations in the New World be persuaded to dutifully pay protection fees?
In the cabin, Diarmuid was taking tobacco from a box and personally rolling a cigarette with specialized paper, all while complaining into the Den Den Mushi on the table.
"Seriously? Do you know what the New World looks like right now? With Endless Island as the frontline and the Totto Land sea area as the focus of the war, extending into the territories of the four great pirate forces, countless cannonballs are flying out of muzzles every moment, and untold numbers of people are fighting in a bloodbath..." Diarmuid spoke into the receiver.
"It's not your turn to make a move yet, is it?" Dragon's voice came from the other side.
"What do you mean? I'm currently in the Totto Land waters, and I could be attacked by the Big Mom Pirates or the Beasts Pirates at any moment! I'm on edge..." Diarmuid rolled the tobacco, examined it, and said distractedly.
It was true that the ship was within the Totto Land sea area, but it was surrounded by his own warships. It was considered the front but hadn't reached the heart of the action yet. And there was no need to rush to the front.
Diarmuid was patient. As long as Kaido and Charlotte Linlin didn't show up, they absolutely wouldn't expose the fact that the Marines were intervening!
Of course, he didn't know that on the actual frontline, an old geezer named Rayleigh was currently earning a fortune as a mercenary. He rushed to wherever the fighting was fiercest and the settlement fees were highest, yet somehow always managed to survive... And this old geezer already knew Diarmuid's group was mixed into the war, but he hadn't told anyone.
"In short, are you interested in cooperating?" Dragon gave up on the pleasantries and asked directly.
"Cooperate on what exactly? You keep bringing up cooperation, but you haven't mentioned a single project. You're not trying to get me to secretly sell you the old, decommissioned Marine weaponry, are you? That's too dangerous; I don't want any public association with you," Diarmuid held up the rolling paper, found it uneven, and continued adjusting it while casually replying.
"Are you treating me like a junk collector?" Dragon said, clearly annoyed.
"Seriously, do you actually have the money to buy new goods now?" Diarmuid asked in surprise.
Dragon was silent for a moment on the other end, then gritted his teeth. "No..."
That was correct. The weaponry used by Dragon's people was all second-hand from the black market, and indeed, much of it had been retired by the Marines. However, the Marines certainly wouldn't send it to the black market themselves; they would return it to Mariejois in exchange for new equipment. The rampant corruption in Mariejois would then quickly sell these items, which were supposed to be destroyed, to the black market.
This was the primary source of Dragon's supplies. Doflamingo, for instance, not only dealt in new military hardware but also engaged in this business of being a second-hand arms dealer.
"I knew it," Diarmuid said, finally relieved. You guys are so used to being poor; how could you suddenly get rich?
Unlike me, an Admiral... This was how important choosing a good career was.
"It's precisely because I don't have money that I'm looking to cooperate with you. I believe you're also finding ways to raise money everywhere, right? You must be secretly pocketing a good portion of the annual tribute Stussy sends to the World Government," Dragon said grimly.
He had long suspected that Diarmuid was planning something with the Marines, and the constraints on the Marines were so great that no one could afford their massive military expenses except for Mariejois.
So, while Dragon thought the Marines couldn't break those shackles, he believed Diarmuid must be doing his utmost to break them and was certainly raising funds in secret. The money from Stussy's Pleasure District and her partnership with the Amway Group likely involved Diarmuid.
Diarmuid smiled at this. Dragon was still too naive. What 'secretly pocketing a good portion'? The tribute Stussy sent to Mariejois was nothing; it was purely for appearances and to blind Mariejois. The real bulk of the profit was always taken by the Marines.
In the past few years, the Marines had been accumulating vast funds. Several huge underground fortresses had been secretly constructed in Marineford. For what purpose? To store money...
Simply put, the Marine Headquarters had been simultaneously benefiting greatly from the Amway Group and relentlessly demanding funds from the Gorosei for military spending.
Furthermore, the resources within the Calm Belt, along with the shipbuilding and military industrial production Smoker had set up in the New World, could already greatly reduce the Marine's military expenditure. They no longer needed to buy; they could build everything themselves.
From raw material exports to processing and manufacturing finished products, whether it was weapons or warships, they could build it all. After manufacturing, they would just pretend to sell it to the Marines to satisfy Mariejois.
How much money did this save? A tremendous amount.
This 'increase revenue and decrease expenditure' development plan for the Marines was, of course, entirely orchestrated by Diarmuid. Now, based on this trend, even without the military funds from Mariejois, the Marines could maintain about seventy percent of their normal expenses.
But that wasn't enough; seventy percent was certainly insufficient. Not only was it only seventy percent, but that was under 'normal circumstances.' Once a major war broke out, it would be a massive drain on funds.
That's why Fleet Admiral Sengoku repeatedly warned Diarmuid not to be rash. He was worried that Diarmuid would become arrogant, think he could go it alone, and start trouble.
In Sengoku's view, he needed at least five more years to truly make the Marines financially independent. Plus, they could continue to fleece Mariejois for money during those five years—no need to waste an opportunity. Additionally, he had received Diarmuid's 'Golden City Project' from Smoker. Given Fleet Admiral Sengoku's cautious nature, he felt that implementing the Golden City first and then making their move was the most reliable approach.
Diarmuid had no objection to this; he truly had no intention of becoming arrogant. Dragon's suspicion that Diarmuid was secretly helping the Marines pocket illicit money was entirely reasonable. However, Diarmuid naturally didn't need to tell him that he was already prepared and didn't need Dragon's meager contribution.
After thinking for a moment, Diarmuid sighed. "Yeah, raising money is a hassle."
"Good, so I have a big project," Dragon said, his tone regaining some confidence.
"How big?" Diarmuid mused. Considering Dragon's status as a big boss, his 'big project' had to be worth at least ten trillion Berries, right?
As Diarmuid was thinking this, Dragon confidently stated, "It should be worth at least three to five trillion Berries, right?"
Diarmuid: ??? Is that all?
The total value of the entire Goa Kingdom certainly wasn't just a mere three to five trillion Berries, but most of that was fixed assets. Dragon wouldn't be crazy enough to try to liquidate all of it.
The reason he hadn't contacted Diarmuid for days was that he was investigating the Goa Kingdom's trade level. His final conclusion was that the market should be worth about three to five trillion Berries, and if they could take control, it would generate a steady stream of income.
A high-roller like Diarmuid naturally didn't care about a mere three to five trillion Berries. Smoker, just for a public relations stunt, could send Mariejois seven hundred billion Berries to persuade them to allow the Marines to support his operation. Not to mention the channels and Berries Diarmuid himself controlled.
But Dragon was a 'dirt farmer' right now; three to five trillion was an astronomical figure for him.
Hearing Diarmuid's silence, Dragon said seriously, "Don't think this is a small amount, alright? Maybe you're blinded by the astronomical flow of funds the Marines manage..."
"No, I'm just a little surprised that you managed to find such a 'big' business," Diarmuid said after a moment of silence, then chuckled.
Dragon thought Diarmuid was tempted and immediately spoke. "How about it? Is it big enough? It's no less than the one we pulled off in Mariejois; that was just a robbery, but this one is truly stable. As long as the two of us work together—I take seventy percent, you take thirty—we can take control of it soon. Interested?"
"No, thank you," Diarmuid replied, then hung up the Den Den Mushi directly. I'm a man who makes hundreds of thousands of Berries a second. Why would I engage in such a dangerous venture with you, Dragon, for a mere three to five trillion Berries? The fire incident in Mariejois was purely an accident, alright?
"Was that really necessary to be so heartless?" Gion sitting opposite Diarmuid asked with a slight laugh. Hina and Smoker also started laughing. As insiders, they naturally knew Diarmuid had a solid foundation and genuinely didn't care for Dragon's business deal.
But before Diarmuid could speak, the Den Den Mushi rang again.
"What do you want? I told you I'm not interested, I'm busy fighting a war!" Diarmuid lit his cigar.
"Don't keep hanging up on my Den Den Mushi! I'm a respected figure who needs to save face, alright?" Dragon complained first, then, without waiting for Diarmuid to speak, and seemingly afraid he would hang up again, he quickly said, "There's something bigger. This is just the beginning."
"What's bigger?" Diarmuid frowned slightly. He had thought Dragon was going to drag him into a robbery or a coordinated acting job. It didn't look like it... Or was Dragon planning a series of crimes?
"You're not eyeing the Heavenly Tribute, are you?" Diarmuid asked, stunned.
"Huh?" Dragon was also taken aback, then fell silent. You're right, why shouldn't I rob the Heavenly Tribute?Sigh, no, no, it's not the right time, at least not yet. Dragon quickly stabilized his thoughts, then said, "No, this is a legitimate business."
"What legitimate business?" Diarmuid pressed.
Dragon pondered for a moment, then said, "A country..."