Totto Land had an almost unlimited food supply, along with countless amusing Homies. In the niche markets of cheap food and high-end toys, it possessed an overwhelming inherent advantage.
It had previously been limited by Totto Land's inadequate maritime shipping capacity, but now Charlotte Brulee's ability could be used to ship goods directly through the Mirror World. Storage and logistics costs were practically zero, and no one could compete on price.
Still, Mousse was only thinking about it. Export trade required a peaceful environment, and with the family facing the grim possibility of an all-out war with the Marines at any moment, it simply was not realistic.
In fact, even when they had still maintained a tacit understanding with the Marines, the BIG Pirates' main source of income had been plunder rather than trade.
After all, pirates were pirates. Why trade for wealth when they could simply seize it by force?
Just like the Western colonizers on Earth, they only settled down to do business honestly like normal merchants when plundering brought such fierce retaliation that it was no longer worth it.
Even if the family is powerful and values intelligence enough to rarely fail, robbery income is ultimately one-time income and not stable enough. Besides, one hundred percent of it goes into "public funds" controlled by Mother. Even the two older brothers can't get so much as half a Berry. Export trade income was never much to begin with, and the amount each island exported on its own was even less. Now that they've completely fallen out with the Marines, business has become even harder. So even becoming an island lord doesn't bring in much money. Sister Amande really is planning ahead!
Mousse understood all this, but he would not say it aloud.
As Mother's most favored child, Mousse