"What do you want in return?"
Golden Lion had no intention of making Carlos help for free. Though they were allies, Carlos could take less in benefits, but he could not take nothing at all.
"That depends on just how far you intend to go. If you only plan to clash with the Whitebeard Pirates, then cede me a nearby island."
"If you want to fight the Whitebeard Pirates to the death, then five islands would be the starting price..." Carlos exhaled a puff of white smoke and spoke calmly as he watched the rain in the distance.
"Fine, one island it is. I currently have no intention of fighting the Whitebeard Pirates to the death."
"Alright. How about I take a guess at why you're targeting the Whitebeard Pirates?"
"Go ahead. Let's see whether you can guess correctly..." Golden Lion grinned through the Den Den Mushi and lit a cigar.
"Competition in the New World is growing fiercer by the day. You, Golden Lion, are still as ambitious as ever and want to reclaim your former glory. But times have changed. Compared to its peak, the Flying Pirates' reputation and strength have both plummeted."
"The Whitebeard Pirates, on the other hand, have maintained their reputation, even becoming more renowned than before. You want to use the Whitebeard Pirates as a stepping stone to restore your fame and expand on a grand scale, don't you?"
"Not a bad guess. That's part of the reason."
"There's another reason?"
"That's right. I've disliked Whitebeard for a long time. I want to teach him a lesson. He's just as arrogant when he talks to me!"
Carlos: "..."
"Fair enough. That's a powerful reason."
"So, what do you plan to do?"
"Are the two of us going to join forces and besiege Whitebeard?"
"Can