Kaido, Charlotte Linlin, and Ortolan's Three-Way Wager!
After chatting for a while at the port, the group boarded the Homies carriage and soon arrived at the Cake Island castle.
Ortolan and Katakuri got off the car, while Gion, Rouge, and the others went to their residence to rest.
As they entered the Whole Cake Chateau, Ortolan said, "The grain production in the Calm Belt is enough to supply the entire New World Marines, but Totto Land's still a significant shortfall. Those shortfalls will have to be filled by our Totto Land Marines..."
In recent years, the Calm Belt has been vigorously developing its agricultural industry. Relying on its excellent environment, it can achieve high yields with one, two, or even three harvests per year. However, due to the limited time since its development, it doesn't have a deep foundation. Currently, it can only meet the needs of the New World's Marines, and there is still a significant gap for the vast number of Marines scattered all over the world.
Katakuri laughed upon hearing this, saying, "We haven't even fought yet, and you're already using the word 'us' to refer to the Totto Land?"
"Confidence," Ortolan replied with a smile.
Katakuri didn't dwell on this minor issue, but calmly said, "If you ask us, Whole Totto Land, to contribute money or military expenses, we might sell ourselves and still not be able to support this massive Marines. But if we're just talking about food supplies, in this world, I'm afraid only Totto Land Totto Land Island can withstand this pressure... So don't worry, as long as you can really take down Mom and Kaido first, the food problem will no longer be an issue."
Just kidding, what do they have the most of Totto Land Totto Land?
They have the most food. Not to mention that all their islands have a lot of grain-producing land, which is cultivated by the Homies and cared for day and night with great care, resulting in extremely high yields.
Just look at the various food-type Devil Fruit User in their Big Mom Pirates —there are so many that you can't count them on two hands. If these Devil Fruit User were to unleash their full power and specialize in creating food, they could truly benefit the world.
Why is the happiness index so high among the people of the entire Totto Land of Totto Land?
The main reason is that the cost of living is very low, and almost all citizens have no worries about food and drink.
In the early days, when the Totto Land Totto Land system was at its simplest, the citizens only needed to pay their Soul Tax on time. They didn't have to do anything else. As long as you paid your Soul Tax on time, you would have no worries about food and drink, and you could do whatever you wanted. With plenty of time to do your own thing, how could the happiness index not be high?
Now, after several reforms, the tax system in Totto Land Totto Land is no longer a single Soul Tax; it is now selective. You can exempt yourself from the Soul Tax by paying Money Tax, or you can continue to pay the Soul Tax if you don't want to pay money.
But whichever it is, as long as you pay taxes, you won't starve in the Totto Land of Totto Land.
In essence, this Soul Tax means that the soul you pay will become Homies and perform labor on your behalf, such as in the construction of the country. So if you pay enough, you will naturally not need to pay any more souls.
While chatting about these things, Ortolan soon arrived at the castle's main hall, where he saw the two figures who had been waiting for him for a long time.
In Charlotte Linlin's reception hall, there was a huge long table piled high with all sorts of ingredients, desserts, juices, drinks, and wines.
Meanwhile, the tall Charlotte Linlin was sitting on the edge of the long table, stuffing something into her mouth.
Not far from her, Kaido his equally tall figure, leaned back on a bench, holding a sake jug in his hand, occasionally eating some snacks with his sake, looking quite natural.
It's clear that Kaido has gotten used to life here over this period of time.
"Is he here? The man standing in the sky..." Charlotte Linlin laughed and teased when she saw Ortolan.
Kaido, standing to the side, couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Hearing this, a vein throbbed with displeasure on Ortolan's forehead. He turned to Katakuri beside him and said, "I call her an old woman, and her fighting power increases by ten percent. She says I'm standing in the heavens, and my fighting power increases too..."
After complaining to Katakuri, Ortolan didn't stand on ceremony. He pulled out a chair, sat down at the table, picked up the juice in front of him, and drank it all in one gulp before speaking, "Old woman, how have you been lately? Have you had any relapses? Look at me, I've already cured my illness. Just thinking about you still suffering from this ailment makes me feel terrible. I've come here specifically to show my filial piety to you!"
Upon hearing Ortolan's use of the term "old woman," Charlotte Linlin's lips twitched, and a flash of annoyance crossed her eyes. "You brat, don't think you can act arrogantly in front of me just because you defeated Whitebeard!"
Ortolan casually grabbed a small cake from the table, took a bite, and grinned maliciously as he chewed. "If you're not satisfied, let's have a one-on-one fight?"
Charlotte Linlin's expression turned angry, but she calmed down in the next second and sneered, "Isn't it unnecessary to use such a low-level provocation tactic?"
Kaido then chimed in, "Stop with the nonsense, I'm getting impatient!"
Ortolan stopped putting on his arrogant act and returned to his normal demeanor. He took another sip of juice before continuing, "Although Katakuri told me on the way here that I still need to confirm with you before we make a move... The gambling table is right in front of us. Have you all made up your minds and put all your chips on?"
This question was primarily directed at Kaido.
Kaido, of course, could sense this as well, so he took a swig of sake and said, "Since you're confident you can take on two at once, wouldn't it make me look even more pathetic if I said anything else? So don't bother testing me. Today I'll make things clear to you face to face: if you can defeat me, I'll hand over the Beasts Pirates to you without hesitation!"
Charlotte Linlin grinned, a cruel smile spreading across her face. "You're my own son, how could I go back on my word? Just like Kaido said, if you win, you'll be in charge of Totto Land Totto Land Island... But if you lose..."
Upon hearing this, Ortolan waved his hand and said, "I've already made it very clear before. I can't back down on the Marines's side. After all, we're different from you. If I lose, I'll give you everything: Hachinosu Island, Dressrosa, the North Blue business, the Atlantis Merchant Association, and all the assets in the Calm Belt."
This is a high-stakes gamble; Kaido and Charlotte Linlin have both placed their bets, so Ortolan naturally can't expect to get something for nothing.
Marines forces and troops are not something Ortolan could bring to the table. Those things are different from their pirate crews and are not suitable for the game.
Over the years, he has accumulated various resources, channels, chambers of commerce, and funds, and he has put them all on this gambling table.
If he loses, it will be a devastating blow to Ortolan, and the current favorable situation of the New World Marines will collapse instantly, leaving him vulnerable to attack again.
In other words, he can no longer be the boss.
So for Ortolan, this is a huge gamble; he absolutely cannot afford to lose!
The three people at the gambling table had essentially staked their future and prospects on it.
As soon as Ortolan finished speaking, the three of them exchanged glances, and then Kaido said, "What? Want to sign an agreement?"
"Hahahaha..." Ortolan laughed loudly and then said, "No more. The so-called agreement has no binding meaning for us. Besides, sitting at this table, if we lose, what right do we have to resist? And putting all that aside... we are now truly one family. We still have trust in each other."
After saying this, Ortolan asked directly, "What about the venue? Have you chosen it yet?"
Ortolan was still very Haki. Not only did he fight two opponents at once, but he also handed over the power to choose the battlefield to Kaido and Charlotte Linlin. His main point was confidence: he had the right time, place, and people.
I will still win!
Therefore, after losing, Kaido and Charlotte Linlin could not find any excuses or reasons and could only accept it!