When Gawain tried to persuade these kings, the kings naturally also wanted to persuade Gawain.
When Gawain first arrived at the conference room, the kings were indeed very uneasy, even fearful.
The Celestial Dragon are feared because, in part, they are of high status.
On the other hand, the evil of the Celestial Dragon, which is rooted in a childlike heart and makes it impossible for others to predict what decisions they will make, is what is most terrifying!
Once Gawain is willing to sit down and talk with everyone, even though they don't know what he wants to talk about, they know that their lives should be safe.
Furthermore, Gawain quickly steered the conversation toward the current state of the Grand Line.
At this point, most of the kings present understood Gawain's intentions. It seemed that Saint Gawain was planning something big to take place on the Grand Line.
In particular, the fact that Gawain left behind the kings of the four most important raw material exporting countries in Four Blues world is strong evidence of a major operation!
Therefore, the wise kings immediately made their demands to Gawain.
Or rather, it was a proposal for cooperation... well, not exactly cooperation, but rather the first requirement for coordination.
That means at least reducing, or even temporarily waiving, the Heavenly Tribute type of insurance) for the next few years!
If the project wasn't large enough, why would Gawain keep so many of their kings?
Since the project is large enough, the benefits that one side receives should also be large enough!
In short, at this moment, the wise kings instantly stood in the same trench, looking expectantly at Gawain.
Gawain needs to understand them, and they also need to gradually understand Gawain through contact.
They wanted to see how Gawain would answer their questions!
And Gawain.
Under the gaze of countless kings, he simply raised his right hand and gently tapped the table in front of him.
"Of course I understand the demands of the kings. After all, the amount of Heavenly Tribute can put considerable pressure on any country, right?"
"Indeed, Saint Gawain, this year when I went to Sabaody Island, I only managed to buy thirty slaves."
The money the World Government collects is simply too much for me to bear; I'm almost unable to support myself.
However, this year is quite strange; the slave market seems to have shrunk considerably.
I don't look down on myself; my financial situation is quite good, Your Highness. I buy many slaves every year, sometimes hundreds.
But there are so few slaves this year that they've become highly sought after, and the best ones are almost gone.
In short, um, is what the master wants to instruct us on is how to boost and stimulate the slave market?
As soon as he finished speaking, the king looked at Gawain excitedly. He didn't know much about practical matters, but he was very interested in popular commodities like slaves.
And besides slaves...
Beside him, a king pondered for a moment, then turned his gaze to Neptune.
He spoke carefully.
"Also, King Neptune, there's a slight increase in the market this year for coral, hawksbill turtle shells, and other marine gems like pearls."
Don't think we don't know. We just didn't mention it to you at the conference because it was your first time attending Reverie.
You've released too many of those things into the sea this year, to the point that their market prices have been affected!
The pearls and corals in my warehouse have lost at least 20 billion Beli in value since last year, not to mention the nobles under my command!!!
As soon as he finished speaking, the king looked at Neptune with displeasure, while the other kings cautiously glanced at Gawain.
Is this an attack on Neptune? Of course not, everyone knows Neptune is one of Gawain's men.
The fact that Neptune's daughter had become the fiancée of Celestial Dragon had long been known throughout the land, which was the real reason why the kings wouldn't attack Neptune at the Reverie.
As for now...
They brought this up simply to test Gawain's attitude.
They wanted to test the limits of Gawain could tolerate!
Gawain knew exactly what they were doing, but Gawain wasn't unhappy about it at all, because he wanted to get things done!
If he doesn't want to do anything, then he's just an ordinary Celestial Dragon who can boss around kings and even kill them all.
In any case, the World Government will always make the high-ranking nobles under the kings become the new kings.
If all these kings had died in Mary Geoise, perhaps many nobles would have been grateful to Mary Geoise.
As long as the World Government doesn't enact any terrible decrees to abolish slavery or the aristocracy, which would truly shake the foundations of the entire upper class.
No one would wage a large-scale rebellion against the World Government for the lives of a few kings.
Now, Gawain is clearly not approaching everyone with the attitude of an ordinary Celestial Dragon, but rather communicating with everyone from the position of a powerful collaborator.
In that case, Gawain must at least tolerate everyone's probing, as this is a necessary means, including in diplomatic work and business negotiations.
Although Gawain is of noble status, he is not qualified to give direct orders to a large group of kings because he lacks the appropriate authority!
If the name is not correct, the words will not be proper!
Therefore, Gawain must constantly engage in a tug-of-war with the kings through negotiation and cooperation!
As for the way he pulled...
Suddenly, Gawain smiled.
Seeing Gawain's smile, Neptune gently wagged his tail.
"Ahem, Your Majesties!"
He coughed twice and said apologetically.
"I'm so sorry, but because Lord Gawain bestowed upon my Merfolk Kingdom three Sabaody Island, I've been quite eager to develop those islands lately."
You can surely understand my urgency, after all, this is the dream of us Merfolk for hundreds of years!
So... excuse my presumption, but in order to gather the materials for building the new country, I seem to have indeed impacted the international jewelry market in the past six months due to the large volume of shipments.
However, please rest assured that the jewelry market will gradually stabilize soon once my country's infrastructure construction is largely completed!
As soon as he finished speaking, Neptune smiled slightly and took the blame for the trouble the kings had been talking about.
How did he manage to stand out among a group of princes back then?
How has he been learning from experience at Reverie over the past fifteen days?
Therefore, anyone who becomes a king may be incompetent, cruel, or headstrong.
But they are always a little bit better than the vast majority of ordinary people.
Because if he's not good enough, honestly, there are just too many people eyeing the king's throne!!!
Neptune's few simple words conveyed many key points to the other kings.
First, when Gawain first collaborated with the kings, Neptune pointed out the most crucial point: Gawain was generous!
That's the territory of three large islands, given away so easily! Lord Gawain; why don't you hurry up and accept it?
Secondly, he also put some pressure on many of the kings.
If there is no cooperation, the jewelry market is destined to continue to be impacted!
It's important to understand that this world doesn't have things like real estate or the internet. Aside from basic bulk trade in commodities like oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar, and the exchange of specialty products from around the world, there's nothing else.
The jewelry market is the world's most mainstream trade market!
Think about it, which pirate ship doesn't have treasure chests? Those are the real hard currency!
If Neptune, the monarch who commands the seas, were to use the resources at his disposal to engage in a hedging strategy in the world's treasure market...
Who knows how many people will suffer huge losses!
This was one of the reasons why Gawain was the first to control the Merfolk Kingdom.
Strategically, Fish-Man Island is a strategically vital location that is contested by all military strategists.
Economically, Fish-Man Island is also a major exporter of mainstream trade products.
Aside from culture and faith, Fish-Man Island has too many advantages. Sometimes Gawain can't help but think that if he were to travel to Fish-Man Island, he might be able to tear apart the World Government that reigns supreme over the world!
As a Celestial Dragon, he needs to break down his own class to realize his ideals.
But having come from Fish-Man Island, he only needs to keep the sea in turmoil to remain invincible.
Compared to reform, simply stirring up trouble is far too easy. Without any real policy, one can recklessly churn out a mess that will turn the whole world upside down.
For example, what Gawain is doing now is turning a ladle of pink water into a ladle of red water.
He needed to use a lot of chemical methods, employ considerable technology and ruthless techniques, and finally add pigments.
But if he were born on Fish-Man Island, then the water in this world wouldn't be blue-green to him, but rather a ladle of water with lots of mud and sand at the bottom.
He doesn't need any technology or grueling work; all he needs to do is filter the silt to turn the world into the clean water he desires.
Enough of the small talk. After Neptune finished speaking, Gawain appropriately took over the Neptune.
He chuckled, patted the table, and addressed the kings opposite him.
"Neptune did this out of excitement and inner anxiety, but it did cause losses to everyone."
Next, let's talk specifically about the issue of overworking ourselves to the point of exhaustion, and strive to achieve a more harmonious economic relationship between us.
Consider this: Neptune needed to sell off a large amount of treasure because he needed a large quantity of raw materials to build his country.
"In the past year, countries that exported raw materials must have made some money, right?"
Gawain Wenchao looked over at the countries that exported those raw materials.
Meeting Gawain's gaze, the kings of the raw material exporting countries exchanged a glance, then bowed to Gawain with a wry smile.
"Saint Gawain, to be honest, we didn't make much money either."
We... sigh, it's really tough...
Pirates are rampant and their numbers are too great; the number of marines and pirates is no longer equal.
If we don't pay extra, the navies of Four Blues will almost never proactively clear major commercial shipping routes.
In short, once our goods leave our dock, they may end up in someone else's hands in the blink of an eye.
The materials King Neptune bought, who knows, they might have been sold by some pirate, sigh..."
"Hehe."
Gawain smiled noncommittally as he listened to the kings' complaints.
"Complaining is pointless, kings. When faced with a problem, the better approach is to find a solution."
As for your explanations, let me explain it to you in more detail.
It's not that you can't earn it, it's that you don't earn enough!
After speaking, Gawain gestured slightly on the table, and then continued.
"Although sea routes have been maintained in the world for thousands of years, it must be admitted that sea routes that often require several years of transport are no longer sufficient to support your gradually increasing manpower and consequently, the increasing abundance of resources."
In other words, the existing shipping routes are simply insufficient to provide you with the maximum possible profit!
In addition, with security concerns declining year after year, the number of bounty offers has continued to multiply.
This is why I have kept you all here and decided to discuss this with you!
Hearing Gawain's words, Cobra chimed in, "Gawain I'm here."
"Wait, sir, do you have a way to solve this problem?"
Previously, you came to my country Alabasta, and helped us solve the drought disaster.
But after you left, even with your support, the quality of life for the people and our nobles in Alabasta ultimately declined significantly.
So, sir, do you have channels and methods to significantly expand cargo transportation, or even increase transportation speed?
If that were the case, then any one of us could probably make a fortune from it!
As soon as he finished speaking, King Cobra rubbed his hands together with a smile, and his words immediately stirred the hearts of several kings nearby.
Although everyone knows that Cobra is Gawain's pawn, if the channel Cobra proposed really exists, then everyone can indeed earn more!
So, several hesitant glances immediately fell upon Gawain.
Gawain did not delay; meeting the kings' gazes, he nodded decisively.
"Indeed, Cobra, and you have already seen the method I proposed."
On your own soil, you have already supported my construction of a land-based train. You should know that this mode of transportation truly surpasses all existing modes of transport!
"That's right!"
Cobra nodded readily.
"Trains really opened my eyes. Those metal trains belching black smoke are much, much faster than ships. Their speed is almost 200 kilometers per hour."
Moreover, they are extremely stable, and although their carrying capacity is slightly less than that of large cargo ships, their transport speed far surpasses that of large cargo ships.
But, sir, those things require fixed tracks to be laid, right?
Can the track be laid at sea?
After saying that, Cobra looked at Gawain with an expectant expression.
Countless kings around him couldn't help but roll their Byakugan.
Cobra is quite the actor, isn't he? Anyone who's ever been near Mary Geoise knows about the Sea Train invented by that Tom.
Who among those present is unaware that Saint Gawain's plan is to promote the Sea Train?
You fucking dare to pretend you know nothing and spout such nonsense!
In an instant, the Byakugan of all the kings were practically rolling to the sky. When it comes to shamelessness, there's always someone more shameless than you!
Gawain, however, didn't care what the kings thought. Feigning madness and deafness were basic diplomatic tactics and a fundamental respect for the trade diplomacy he was conducting with the various kings.
He nodded slightly, and then he spoke directly.
"Cobra, you may not have visited some of the islands near Sabaody, so you don't know."
The train was originally called the Sea Train.
And I am determined to connect every single island on the Grand Line with the Sea Train!!!
This is why I have kept you all here for the time being!