Wind-Snow Twin Islands

"But you don't have that much money right now, so you can't buy the main frame... If you only buy the materials separately, they won't throw anything in for free. The material costs will definitely be much higher..."

After hearing Baroen's words, Mark roughly understood what he meant.

He meant that buying everything in one go came with a discount. Buying it separately meant no discount, so it would cost much more.

"About how much more?"

"About a hundred million Beli!" Jerry said.

"That much?" Mark asked in surprise.

A hundred million Beli was enough for an ordinary person to live a lifetime without worrying about food or clothing.

"Then a hundred million it is." Mark gritted his teeth.

Daisy whispered into Mark's ear, "Mark, that's 1.4 billion. We only have 500 million Beli right now. Where are we going to get the rest?"

Mark patted Daisy's little hand and said softly, "Leave it to me."

At that moment, seeing that Mark had decided to pay the 500 million first, Jerry said,

"Since you've decided, I won't try to talk you out of it. But materials worth 500 million Beli will only cover one month of work. After one month, you'll need to settle all the remaining costs at once. Is that acceptable?"

"No problem!" Mark nodded, then casually asked, "Master Jerry, is there any pirate gathering place nearby?"

"A pirate gathering place?" Jerry glanced at Mark, thought for a moment, then said, "There are two islands south of here... One is called Wind Island, and the other is Snow Island. Outsiders call them the Wind-Snow Twin Islands. They're a well-known pirate gathering place around here."

After asking Jerry and the others a few more questions, Mark finally left.

When they returned, their group of four had become five. Housen had joined them as well.

Of course, he was only there to collect the money and appraise the pirate ship while he was at it.

Perhaps because of what had just happened, things were a little unpleasant between them, and no one had much to say.

The group arrived at the alley entrance in silence.

Mark paid without hesitation. Crocus had introduced them, and with Mark's strength, he wasn't worried about them taking the money without doing the work.

Still, it was a pity about the Moss... Its total value was only 80 million Beli...

The cannons alone accounted for 60 million Beli, which meant the Moss itself was worth only 20 million Beli.

That had to do with the Moss's severe damage.

"If you choose to sell those five cannons, you can definitely get 140 million for them. That way, we can buy the main frame first, and you'll save some money too," Housen said.

Mark glanced at the five cannons. After thinking it over, he still shook his head.

Twenty-four-pounders could be bought on the black market, but thirty-two-pounders were priceless and unavailable. If he sold them, he might not be able to get his hands on such cannons again for a long time.

"Let's leave it at that."

Housen gave Mark a deep look. After humming in acknowledgment, he and Baroen sailed the pirate ship into the shipyard's inner dock. They still needed to dismantle it further.

Before leaving, however, Mark borrowed a small sailboat from them.

Perhaps because Mark had brought them such a big deal, Baroen lent him one for free.

Then Mark rented a travel shop in Solomon.

"Daisy, you and Chiu Chiu stay here and keep watch over our unfinished pirate ship. Don't let them cut corners. I'm going out for a while," Mark told them.

Chiu Chiu said, "Boss, what are you going to do?"

Mark said, "I'm going to find a way to gather the rest of the money."

Daisy said, "You mean..."

"Yes." Mark nodded.

Concern flashed through Daisy's eyes. "Take me with you. If you get hurt, I can help treat you."

Mark smiled and stroked Daisy's little head.

"You stay with Chiu Chiu. I'll be careful on my own, and I'll make preparations beforehand. Don't worry."

Daisy was still worried, but Mark had made up his mind, and there was nothing she could say.

After settling the two of them, Mark boarded the sailboat and headed straight for the Wind-Snow Twin Islands Jerry had mentioned.

At the moment he set out, the Moss Pirates' bounty posters were updated.

New World--

A coffin boat sailed beneath burning dark green candles, with a sail tied to its cross-shaped mast. A well-dressed man in black wearing a top hat revealed a pair of hawk-like eyes. A huge black sword rested on his back, calm and magnificent.

The world's greatest swordsman—Dracule Mihawk.

He swirled a goblet of crimson wine in his hand, savoring it slowly.

Not far away from him was a massive twin-hulled sailing ship.

Just as the twin-hulled ship drew closer and closer to the coffin boat,

Dracule Mihawk frowned slightly. The twin-hulled ship was far too noisy. The chaotic shouts made the wine in his cup seem no longer sweet.

Mihawk set down his wine, slowly rose to his feet, and drew Black Blade Yoru, one of the Supreme Grade Blades.

Clang! Shing!

A faint sound like a wind chant rang out.

Then Mihawk sheathed Black Blade Yoru on his back, slowly sat down, and picked up the wine on the table to savor it once more.

Mm... It really did taste good.

Only, the twin-hulled sailing ship had gone from deafeningly noisy to completely silent.

After Mihawk's coffin boat slowly passed the twin-hulled ship,

Riiip! The sound of wood splitting rang out. Then came a creaking groan as the enormous twin-hulled ship broke apart down the middle. The entire vessel turned into neatly sliced fragments and fell into the sea.

The people aboard remained completely silent. Only the fragments sinking into the sea revealed scattered traces of crimson.

At Mihawk's side lay a bounty poster.

It was... Mark's new bounty poster.

Moby Dick--

"Gurarararara! Have the descendants of those guys already made a name for themselves on the seas?"

A man over six meters tall burst into laughter. He wore a white cape, his mustache curved like two white crescent blades, his muscles as solid as rock, and a naginata in his hand.

This man was the world's strongest man—Whitebeard Edward Newgate.

"Pops, stop drinking already. The doctor said your body needs rest," Marco, commander of Whitebeard's First Division, said irritably.

"Gurarararara! Don't worry about that, Marco. Look at this!"

Whitebeard handed a bounty poster to Marco.

"Pops, what is this?" Marco asked as he took the poster.

The division commanders all looked curious, wanting to see what Whitebeard was showing Marco.

Marshall D. Teach also put on a curious expression and crowded closer.

"A bounty poster?" The division commanders looked puzzled.

"Pops, do you know this guy?" Marco asked, looking at the man on the poster who was surrounded by an aura of darkness.

"He's the junior of an old acquaintance..." Whitebeard said with a sigh.