The Five Elders Were Alarmed

"This was indeed a good idea. If it could be successfully carried out, it would amount to completely controlling trade between the Four Blues and the Grand Line. Transportation alone could bring in enormous profits. Not to mention the massive price differences that could be exploited for windfall gains. But the question was, how could they ensure that everyone would choose to post their assignments at the Four Seas Exchange?"

Ener gave a slight shrug, looking completely confident. "As for those unwilling to come to the Four Seas Exchange to post assignments, they could just pay a toll."

"A... a toll?" Burns was dumbfounded for a moment, clearly unable to keep up with Ener's wildly jumping train of thought.

Ener explained unhurriedly, "That's right. Any ship or person wishing to pass through Cactus Island would have to pay us a certain amount of Beli as a toll."

After hearing this, the corner of Burns's mouth twitched several times. After all, anyone who could establish himself and thrive in the chaotic, fiercely competitive environment of the Holy Land was naturally no kindhearted person.

So Burns had always believed that his own heart was hard and black enough. But now, he suddenly realized that the brat he had fathered was several times more ruthless than he was.

This was practically plucking every feather from a passing goose!

"Cough, cough..."

Burns coughed lightly several times to compose himself. "This approach is truly inappropriate! It would certainly arouse intense dissatisfaction among the people. Stirring up public outrage would have extremely serious consequences."

Even if he had the strength to suppress it, it would still affect his future in the Marines.

More importantly, acting this way would offend countless influential figures, even people with terrifying strength.

Ener shrugged and spread his hands. "And what did that have to do with me?"

"After all, this was an order from the Celestial Dragons to establish it! I was merely an unlucky fellow who had been forcibly dragged in to carry it out... Tsk... tsk tsk... tsk..."

As he spoke, he repeatedly shook his head and sighed.

Burns froze on the spot upon hearing that, secretly thinking, ...What a guy. What a guy indeed!

He was actually planning to shove all responsibility onto the Celestial Dragons and make them take the blame for this enormous mess!

But on second thought, did the Celestial Dragons really care about taking the blame?

Apparently not.

After all, their daily actions had long since made them infamous. Their reputation could not possibly get any worse. Even if they took the blame for one more thing, it would probably mean nothing to them.

Besides, those lofty Celestial Dragons only had eyes for glittering Beli. So long as they could obtain enough wealth, they could not be bothered to care about something like this.

For people like them, even more excessive and outrageous acts were already too numerous to count. Take the horrifying Buster Call, for example. They could mercilessly launch a bloody massacre against an entire country or island, their cruelty utterly beyond imagination! And the ones issuing those orders were precisely the lofty Celestial Dragons. Across these vast seas, who would dare defy a Celestial Dragon's command?

At that thought, Burns could no longer suppress his wild delight and burst into unrestrained laughter. "Hahahaha... Rest assured, I will definitely find a way to make the Celestial Dragons speak personally and take the initiative to propose this plan to the World Government."

Hearing that, Ener revealed a pleased smile as well. He knew that if the Celestial Dragons themselves put forward this plan, its implementation would go much more smoothly, and its chances of success would naturally increase greatly. That way, what they had planned would take half the effort for twice the result, bringing them another step closer to their ultimate goal.

After all, no matter what it was, as long as the Celestial Dragons were involved, even the most absurd thing would become perfectly justified.

Time passed quickly, and several more days went by in the blink of an eye. Ener and his group had already passed many small islands.

They were even nearing the Alabasta Kingdom, where Princess Vivi was.

At that moment, a News Coo flew above Ener's head and circled over them once.

Seeing this, Ener flicked out a coin.

After catching the coin, the News Coo dropped a newspaper.

Ener caught it and began flipping through it with great interest. But after just one glance, an astonished expression appeared on his face.

Because he saw the Supernovas of the Worst Generation.

The captain of the Kid Pirates, from the South Blue, bounty: 220 million Beli.

Basil Hawkins, 180 million Beli.

X Drake, 162 million Beli.

Trafalgar Law, 130 million Beli.

Scratchmen Apoo, 126 million Beli.

Killer, 112 million Beli.

Jewelry Bonney, 1.1 billion Beli.

Capone Bege, 108 million Beli.

Urouge, 88 million Beli.

Monkey D. Luffy, 40 million Beli.

Vinsmoke Sanji, 30 million Beli.

Well, damn. Aside from the few who were already on the Grand Line, these people had not even made their way out of their respective seas yet!

And their bounties were already this high.

Luffy in particular. Ener had never expected that even after Luo and Arlong had been taken down by him, Luffy's bounty would still reach 40 million.

He had defeated the remaining three pirates in the East Blue with bounties exceeding ten million, aside from that hurricane-powered user, including Buggy the Clown.

However, he had only begun to truly rise after reaching the Grand Line. So he could not compare with the others.

After all, this guy had begun his ascent by defeating Crocodile in the Alabasta Kingdom. Ener just had not expected that after Zoro joined him,

Sanji would become one of the eleven Supernovas.

And the bounties of these people also reflected the respective strength of the Four Blues.

The corners of Ener's mouth curled up slightly. "Interesting..."

In the Holy Land, the Five Elders narrowed their eyes as they held the proposal that had been sent to them.

Saint Nusjuro, Saint Peter, Saint Warcury, Saint Mars, and Saint Saturn exchanged looks.

To be honest, they were extremely pleased.

Because if this plan succeeded, they would completely grasp the economic lifeline of the Four Blues. It would be immensely useful in stabilizing the Four Blues.

But while it sounded simple, carrying it out was another matter entirely.

Take the East Blue, for example. The pirates had practically been wiped out, and there were few powerful people left. Implementing this plan there would face no obstacles whatsoever.

But the other three seas would not be so easy. Not only were there numerous pirates, but the various forces were tangled and complicated, with extraordinary strength behind them.

It was simply impossible to make them give up their own interests. Once this plan was implemented, any Four Seas Exchange ship sent there would likely be robbed.