Tesoro didn't say it explicitly, but he did shake hands with the person.
"Hmm... Actually, it's not impossible to negotiate. If the platinum-lead disease can be cured, it would indeed be a major breakthrough."
The sensation from his palm made his heart flutter. This matter was indeed difficult, but if handled well, it would bring huge profits.
"Sir, we also need to make money."
Although he said this, Tesoro still raised his asking price. The share he proposed was far from his upper limit.
He aimed high, so negotiations can bring him to a reasonable price; Tesoro couldn't possibly reveal his bottom line right away.
Since the other party didn't refuse, it meant the deal could be done. It just depended on how much money needed to be shared.
"The people above need to be taken care of, and the people doing the work below need to eat. Your sincerity is not enough."
"People can't be too greedy. Mrs. Wadlik and Stella have a pretty good relationship recently. If this amount doesn't work, we'll just have to call it quits this time."
"Deal, don't worry, no one will trouble you in the future. For the sake of old friends, I'll solve the licensing of your medical department."
"Pleasant cooperation."
Tesoro adjusted his non-prescription glasses, which were merely to give himself a more cultured appearance. This business earned the most for those people rather than the Hundred Beasts Fruit.
The profit he gave up was as high as 60%, but actually, the maximum share he could accept was 70%. As long as it's properly managed, the remaining portion would still be lucrative.
However, to keep those people satisfied, he had no choice but to bleed out heavily.
The person talking about taking care of the people above wasn't joking. Although a 60% profit share is big, it didn't actually leave much in his hands. The Heavenly Celestial Dragons, some royal families, and the officials above him were the real big players.
The money taken by those handling affairs below compared to this was nothing more than a drop in the bucket.
Hundred Beasts Fruit is a long-term business. If short-term profits damage future development, it would be counterproductive.
"Heh, just wait, sooner or later you'll have to give it all back to me. Let's go, Baccarat, today I'll take you to meet an important person, make sure to perform well."
Tesoro left with a girl with orange-red hair. She was a girl he discovered by chance, and because of her unique ability, he took her in.
This successful negotiation was also related to her, as she was a Paramecia-type Luck-Luck Fruit user who could change people's fortunes. Some good luck could inadvertently affect many things.
Since joining Hundred Beasts, it seems Tesoro also caught the habit of adopting kids.
The unique nature of the Luck-Luck Fruit made Tesoro groom her as a trusted aide. Coincidentally, Stella also liked this child, so they temporarily adopted her.
"Can I play with Little White?"
Persian's form might not be cute, but its cougar-like streamlined body also had a unique beauty, and Persian, living in the Tesoro household, successfully caught Baccarat's attention.
"If it agrees, then sure, be careful not to get scratched."
"I've always been lucky, no problem."
However, as she said that, a security guard more unfortunate than her inexplicably tripped over the raised floor outside the door, spilling hot soup carried by a nearby waiter, followed by a scream.
Baccarat's Luck-Luck Fruit perfectly demonstrated what is called the law of conservation of fortune. When someone has good luck, there must be someone who will be unlucky.
Baccarat couldn't grant someone fortune out of thin air; her luck was plundered from others. Through a brief pre-entry contact, she took away a portion of their good luck.
While normally, good luck and bad luck are in a balanced state, when good luck is taken, bad luck naturally clings on.
In the original timeline, this was also an overpowered ability. In the casino, relying on this ability, she could control the fate of a gambling table, outclassing any cheating with her fortune ability.
Her combat was very special; she only needed to toss a coin, and luck would help her accomplish things. However, this ability can only handle small-scale situations; real strong fighters' battles were hard to be swayed by luck.
Even the ship wheel on Golden Lion's head appeared as something after the battle.
Without lingering much, Tesoro took Baccarat on a ferry. His upcoming schedule was quite busy, first taking over the specific matters of the "special plan for taking from the rich" on Ghost Island.
After that, he decided on details with those accepting his bribes.
Once this matter was addressed, he had to go to Fishman Island to discuss the mining company's issues. It was a bit more demanding than Queen's non-stop work, but a few extra workdays were inevitable.
...
A while later, on Ghost Island, a group of new Water-type Pokémon appeared.
They were also involved in exploring nearby waters for Plate work, as regular Pokémon couldn't sense the Plates; the search was purely based on luck.
At least the Magikarp that came to pay homage hadn't brought back any valuable information, so manpower was increased this time.
Living underwater and capable of causing sufficient damage to rock layers while having mineral mining abilities, he finally decided on Swampert after some consideration.
Blue back, black fins, white belly, typically quadrupedal mudfish Pokémon.
Modified from mudskippers living in the swamps of Wano Kuni.
The special fins on its body are unique organs of Swampert, allowing it to sense changes in sea waves and wind, predicting the arrival of storms, thus adjusting mining work dates.
Some Swampert live in marshy environments, so their eyes have evolved uniquely to adapt, allowing them to see clearly even in murky muddy waters.
Seabed mining inevitably stirs up large amounts of mud and sand, and this special structure can work wonders during underwater mining.
In addition, Swampert has quite terrifying strength. Even if a yacht is stranded on the sea, it can drag the ship forward, with its arms capable of easily lifting a one-ton boulder.
Its muscular arms easily crush tough rocks, significantly saving time and manpower in both mining and transporting minerals.
Swampert in the lead, followed by the Fishman, should make the mining of minerals much smoother.
Compared to mining, disturbances from Sea Beasts and Sea Kings are actually more troublesome, as most people can't deal with those giant Sea Kings deep in the ocean.
Sea King became one of the three Ancient Weapons precisely because of her ability to control giant Sea Kings—a real catastrophe for this ocean-based world.
The comprehensive strength of the Fishman Race is not strong; once those few-thousand-meter-long giant Sea Kings are provoked, even Mandfeish can't handle them. The cushion of sea water combined with their monster-like size makes a punch on them feel like a tickle.
However, there is a way; although there's no Ancient Weapon in Pokémon, there is another special existence...