"Collaborate with me?" Aeridar raised an eyebrow, not understanding what basis for cooperation they could have.
Due to the Gold-Gold Fruit, Doflamingo had constantly sent people to kill Tesoro. However, Tesoro had a Phase-Phase Fruit user with him, allowing him to stay well-hidden.
Although some of Tesoro's bases were destroyed, it didn't have much of an effect. It wasn't until two years ago that Tesoro's strength grew significantly, and he became very adept at making money, acquiring an immense amount of gold through his Gold-Gold Fruit ability.
So, Doflamingo put past animosity aside and began to treat him as a business partner, initiating a collaboration.
However, this didn't concern Aeridar much.
On the contrary, Tesoro had opened many small entertainment cities in various places. While they couldn't compare to Aeridar's own Palace Entertainment City, the world's largest and most luxurious, they were still business competitors.
Most importantly, Aeridar remembered a One Piece Film preview from before he transmigrated, where Gild Tesoro was the protagonist. He seemed destined to build a Gran Tesoro and become the master of the world's largest entertainment city.
This was absolutely something Aeridar couldn't tolerate. If Tesoro dared to pull such a stunt in front of him, Aeridar would undoubtedly eliminate him without hesitation.
"Fufufufufu~ That's right. Shall we have a good talk?" Doflamingo asked with his eerie laugh.
Aeridar's brow furrowed. Doflamingo shouldn't be unaware of such things. Why would he introduce a business rival to him? What was he planning?
Still, Aeridar considered it for a moment, then replied: "Alright. I'll be waiting for you here in a week."
"Fufufufufu~ It's settled then."
Click~
Doflamingo chuckled a few more times, then hung up the Den Den Mushi.
Similarly, Aeridar hung up the call, then straightened up, pinching his brows in irritation. He said directly, "Go investigate Gild Tesoro's recent activities. See what tricks he's playing."
"Understood, but we might not find anything," Mina nodded.
Besides serving as Aeridar's secretary, Mina was also the head of the overseas intelligence agency.
This intelligence agency was officially named the Chris Investigation Bureau,* divided into two departments. One was responsible for intelligence within the Clifford Kingdom, headed by Millie, who was also the supervisor of the Palace Entertainment City; this was called the Internal Affairs Department. The other was responsible for overseas intelligence, overseen by Mina as secretary, and called the External Affairs Department.
However, this intelligence agency had only been established recently. While the internal intelligence network within the kingdom was mostly covered, the overseas network was not. Its coverage was limited to the New World and still quite shallow, and the intelligence network in the first half of the Grand Line was even more insufficient.
"It doesn't matter. Just investigate as much as you can," Aeridar understood this point and waved his hand nonchalantly.
Thump, thump, thump…
At this moment, a knock came from outside.
"Come in!"
Aeridar said without looking up.
Creak~
The door opened, and a young man in a black suit walked in. He wore a golden hoop earring on his right ear, much like Aeridar's, though he only had one.
"Captain."
The newcomer looked at Aeridar with adoration, respectfully calling out to him, the fervor in his eyes burning like fire.
"Andy, what's up?" Aeridar looked up slightly at the newcomer, asking with a smile.
This young man with the golden hoop earring on one ear was Enoch Andy, a rookie pirate from the East Blue with an original bounty of 85,000,000 Berries.
Interestingly, he was from Shiga Island and was a former member of the Chris Syndicate. He had only joined for three months when Aeridar disbanded the Chris Syndicate, and he worshipped Aeridar fanatically.
Moreover, he was present when Aeridar disbanded the Chris Syndicate and formed the Chris Pirates. Especially when Aeridar declared, "No one can stop a man from setting sail. If you wish to set sail, find us in the Grand Line, and you can bear my name," he resolved to travel to the legendary Grand Line.
Particularly when Aeridar became a Warlord of the Sea, defeated the great pirate Demon Mask Gutte, and conquered the Clifford Kingdom to become king, gaining worldwide renown multiple times, Andy's determination to follow Aeridar to the Grand Line only grew stronger.
Finally, a year and a half ago, he formed a pirate crew and set sail. After half a year of enduring countless hardships, he reached the Clifford Kingdom and met Aeridar.
At that time, Aeridar and his crew, upon seeing a follower from their homeland, especially a former member of the Chris Syndicate, were at a loss for words. However, they decisively took him and his pirate crew in.
Currently, Andy is the managing director of this building, reporting to Millie.
"Captain, Mina-san, Millie-san asked me to inform you that Oliver-sama has returned," Andy said respectfully.
"That guy, he's finally back. I thought he'd died out there," Aeridar raised an eyebrow, pouting unhappily.
Thump, thump, thump...
Footsteps echoed from outside.
"Well, well~ Captain, isn't that a bit harsh?"
Accompanying the lazy voice, a man with an open chest, a white coat, an aquiline nose, and a faint scar on his face walked in. Two katanas hung at his waist, and he carried a languid demeanor.
"Damn it, you finally decided to come back after half a year out there? I thought some swordsman had cut you down," Aeridar said, annoyed.
Eight months ago, Oliver left on the pretext that his swordsmanship had hit a bottleneck, seeking out renowned swordsmen to challenge. He had only just returned now.
"I'm a man destined to become the Strongest Swordsman, I won't die so easily out there," Oliver grinned, sitting comfortably on the sofa opposite him.
Seeing Oliver enter, Andy looked at him with admiration but left the room without a word, closing the door behind him. He knew that matters discussed by important figures, even casual conversations, were not for his ears.
"Tch, then why didn't you become the Strongest Swordsman out there before coming back?" Aeridar rolled his eyes at him.
"I can't help it. There are rookies everywhere these days, pitifully weak, yet they keep seeking death," Oliver waved his hand, distressed.
Those rookie pirates just love causing trouble and killing people everywhere without a shred of common sense.
Oliver, sailing alone, didn't know how many times he'd been attacked. Even on land, he often encountered provocations from these pirates. Although he killed them all, it was still incredibly annoying.
——————
TN:
*As expected of Aeridar, naming everything with Chris.
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