Bet

"That way, we can seize an amount of wealth comparable to the Heavenly Tribute, while taking far less risk than robbing the Heavenly Tribute itself."

After laying out the plan, Vincent smugly raised his brows at Dragon, his face practically screaming, Praise me already.

Dragon ignored Vincent's obvious plea for praise and rested his chin on his hand in thought.

The same money meant entirely different things before and after it was handed over to the Marines.

Once handed over to the Marines, it became the "Heavenly Tribute." Before that, it was merely ordinary "tax revenue."

There was nothing wrong with Vincent's plan, but the problem was...

"If we take this money, what will the Leon Kingdom use to pay the Heavenly Tribute?"

"If the Leon royal family cannot come up with the same amount in a short time, they will most likely find a way to squeeze it out of ordinary civilians."

"If ordinary people suffer even more oppression because of us, I absolutely will not agree to it!"

The moment those final words were spoken, Vincent's smug expression froze, and the atmosphere between them turned heavy.

Just as Dragon thought Vincent would argue with him, perhaps even start a fierce fight...

"Then we only need to take Shells Town's share."

Vincent slung an arm over Dragon's shoulders, his gaze lingering on the darkness within the warehouse.

"Back then, it was us Feloce people who cleared this wilderness and built the houses and port here."

"Especially when we built the port, a Sea King caused trouble. We lost twenty or thirty lives before we finally captured and killed it."

"And now that Shells Town has been established, the locals here want to break their promise and drive out those of us who gave everything."

"This is what the people of Shells Town owe us!"

"Before we leave, we have every right to take back the compensation that belongs to us!"

"..."

After hearing this history of grievances, Dragon nodded and agreed to Vincent's proposal.

Vincent had told him that afternoon that it was not just the gangs who wanted to drive out the Feloce people. The mayor and all the locals wanted the same.

They even planned to hold a legislative meeting and invite Old Felo to attend.

All so they could establish a law specifically targeting the Feloce people, then legally and rightfully drive every last one of them out.

Here, the law was not the embodiment of justice. It was merely a tool for excluding dissidents and seeking profit!

"By the way, once we get the money, where are we going to buy weapons?"

Dragon put away his emotions and discussed the next step.

Weapons sufficient to overthrow a kingdom's regime were not something ordinary arms dealers could provide.

Moreover, in recent years, although the affiliated and non-affiliated nations of the East Blue had often been at odds, they had all shown extreme restraint.

At most, there had only been minor friction between them. No major conflicts had broken out.

In such an environment, the East Blue was practically a wasteland for arms dealers. Any dealer with real capability would not come to a place like this.

As a result, even having money did not mean they could buy large quantities of weapons!

"Hehe."

Vincent grinned, lowering his voice mysteriously.

"I have an acquaintance in the Marines. We already agreed that once I get the money, I can buy a large amount of weapons."

The Marines?!

That word struck Dragon straight in the heart.

His former faith had become more and more unbearable.

Seeing Dragon's ugly expression, Vincent assumed he was worried and patted him on the shoulder.

"Don't worry. The person in the Marines also helped me plan this out. It's absolutely reliable!"

"Fine."

Dragon sighed and did not ask further.

He only assumed that this, too, was someone disappointed in "justice."

Meanwhile.

In town, beside the swimming pool of a luxurious estate.

"How about we make a bet?"

The pretty blonde, blue-eyed female agent in a black office dress took off her suit jacket and unbuttoned the collar of her white shirt, revealing her pale, delicate collarbones.

John reclined on a lounge chair, took a sip of ice-cold beer, and asked curiously,

"What are we betting on?"

"If you win, you can do anything you want to me."

The pretty female agent flirtatiously threw him a seductive glance, lightly biting her red lips.

"If you lose, you give me this estate you just bought."

John raised a brow and spread his hands in confusion.

"Why should I take that bet? This estate cost ten million Beli. It has a swimming pool, an incredibly soft bed, and a gorgeous fountain."

"Because I'll make you so happy that you'll fly into the clouds."

The pretty female agent bent down and extended her slender fingers. Her pink-painted nails slowly traced from her calf to the root of her thigh, snagging a long tear in her black stockings.

Pale flesh showed through the run in the fabric, exuding a pitiful, broken sort of temptation.

"Emmm..."

John stroked his chin and openly looked her over.

Her thighs were plump, her calves slender, and the hazy texture of the black stockings did make them beautiful legs.

But looking higher, the proportions of her waist and hips were a little lacking. She did not have that narrow waist and round butt.

Higher still, uh... there was no hope to be seen in that barren land.

At that point, John lost all interest.

What was the use of having a pretty face? What was the difference between being flat as a board and being a man?

He withdrew his gaze and calmly gave the order to leave.

"Get out."

"What?" The pretty female agent thought she had misheard him.

"Get the hell out of my estate!" John's tone turned stern.

Startled, the pretty female agent did not dare linger or argue. She hurried away in her high heels.

"Ridiculous."

After the female agent left, John waved a hand and used electromagnetism to remotely shut the estate's front gate.

Forget being flat as a board. Even if she had the voluptuous figure he liked, she still was not qualified to negotiate terms with him.

No woman could ever use that to threaten him. Never, ever!

"Now it's time to handle business."

John took out a Den Den Mushi, placed it on the coffee table, blindfolded it, and then called Morgans.

"One hundred million Beli. I want information on the whereabouts of Buckingham Stussy, a remnant of the Rocks Pirates."

"Uh..."

On the other end of the line, Morgans was caught off guard by the unfamiliar caller's bluntness.

But he quickly realized this was probably an old client unwilling to reveal his identity, which was why he had skipped the pleasantries and probing and stated both the payment and task outright.

"She's a famous remnant of the Rocks Pirates. Two hundred million Beli!"

"Eighty million Beli. If you won't do it, plenty of others will."

"Fine, fine, fine! I'll take it!"

After hanging up, John called an intelligence broker in the Underworld, likewise placing a bounty on information about Stussy's whereabouts.

In the predetermined fate, not long after the Rocks Pirates disbanded, Stussy joined MADS as a "guest."

MADS was the name of an illegal scientific research organization, led by Vegapunk and funded by the "Loan Shark King," Du Feld.