"So you're planning to form a merchant fleet and trade goods between the various islands. Is that what you mean?"
After hearing him out, Franky couldn't help asking. But Lina shook his head.
"I'm going to establish a trading company. I'm not recruiting a merchant fleet—I'm inviting the countries of the Grand Line to join and do business under my alliance system."
"Huh?"
Franky blinked, looking a little lost. He'd been a delinquent, but he'd also started his own shipbreaking company, so he could at least claim some experience in business.
He understood how enormous the profits could be if someone managed to establish a merchant fleet free from the restrictions imposed by various powers.
But Lina had lost him with talk of a trading company recruiting countries.
"I'm not planning to trade goods myself. Buying low and selling high might seem profitable, but once the entire trade route is active, the price differences will gradually shrink."
"Unless I violently monopolize the trade routes, this kind of business won't last. And I don't want to do that."
Lina continued explaining his plan.
With his current reputation and strength, plenty of people would be willing to join him if he established a trading company. Monopolizing the trade along a particular route wouldn't be difficult either, but he wasn't going down that path.
He was going to make money with dignity!
He wanted people to willingly and eagerly send him money, then go around singing his praises.
And the business he had in mind wasn't trading with merchants. It was trading with countries.
"As for the name, let's call it the Black Snake Trading Company. I'll protect every country that joins, so they won't have to worry about pirate raids or threats from the underworld."
"On top of that, the Black Snake