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"5 billion Berries!"
Katakuri's fist tightened.
One medium-sized warship only costs 100 million Berries. This much money is enough for Totto Land to assemble another large fleet!
"Too expensive?"
Daichi raised an eyebrow.
"If you think it's too expensive, you don't have to rent him!"
Katakuri's veins bulged, and his fist was wrapped in Haki!
Bastard!
"You think it's expensive? I think it's expensive too!"
Daichi pulled Caesar in front of him and earnestly said, "Our Caesar is one of the strongest scientists in the world. He's one of a kind, with no branches. What's 5 billion Berries? Right, Caesar?"
"Shurororo~~"
Caesar's face was almost twisted with laughter, becoming increasingly arrogant with his self-satisfaction.
"Of course!"
"Who do you think I am?"
"Fool, my scientific technology is number one in the world!"
Daichi pushed Caesar away, his gaze sincere.
"See? This is professionalism!"
"As long as you rent Caesar, forget about all those messy research projects. As long as the funds are in place, even if you want to research the Gigantification Drug, Caesar can develop it for you!"
Katakuri's expression darkened.
Daichi knew Mama's objective!
But as the other party said, Totto Land had no other choice. World-class scientists were few and far between. Only Vegapunk and a few others who had worked with him, like Caesar, could possibly develop the Gigantification Drug.
If he didn't bring Caesar back, Mama would be furious. Mama had been looking forward to this for so long; if she didn't get Caesar, she could do anything.
For Totto Land, it would definitely be a disaster!
The problem was that 5 billion Berries was too much. Totto Land could indeed come up with the money, but the consequence would be that their liquid funds would run dry.
Moreover, this bastard was openly extorting him. He couldn't swallow this insult, and Totto Land certainly couldn't.
Katakuri's face was icy cold.
"2 billion Berries!"
"5 billion, not a Berry less!"
"3 billion Berries!"
"5 billion, take it or leave it!"
Apparently, Mr. Katakuri was not good at bargaining. After a long silence, his clenched fist finally relaxed.
"I'll remember this debt!"
"Thank you, please come again!"
Daichi was beaming with joy.
If this guy had held out a little longer, he might have relented. 3 billion Berries was his psychological price.
Hee hee, the company's start-up capital is secured.
"It's our turn."
Daichi looked at Doflamingo, and his face immediately turned cold.
"I'm selling Caesar to you for 10 billion Berries."
"Huh?"
"Huh??"
Doflamingo was stunned.
Katakuri was also momentarily taken aback.
Good heavens, the asking price is even steeper than before.
Wait, didn't this bastard just sell Caesar to him?
Doflamingo frowned, momentarily confused by Daichi's meaning. Although they had a personal feud, they were on the same side.
What did he mean by selling Caesar to him?
They were allies!
And 10 billion Berries?!
That's enough to fill a large cart with treasure!
"Fufufufu~~ Mr. Daichi, that's not a good joke to make."
"Who's joking with you?"
Daichi snorted coldly, "Losing Caesar is your problem, what does it have to do with me? Now Caesar is my man. If you want to take him, bring 10 billion to buy him!"
Doflamingo's face grew even darker.
He had received the banquet invitation and knew it was about Caesar's ownership, but the current situation was not within his expectations.
Daichi calmly swirled his wine glass.
"Doflamingo, Caesar is one of the world's top scientists. You should understand he's worth that price."
"Also, if you can't take Caesar, you won't be able to produce SMILEs. If you can't produce SMILEs, your deal with us Beast Pirates will be..."
"Tsk tsk, just thinking about it is terrifying."
"Kaido will be angry!"
Kaido!
Doflamingo broke out in a cold sweat.
If he couldn't provide SMILEs, Kaido would surely kill him!
"If Kaido knew—"
"So what if he knew?"
Daichi smiled playfully.
"Doflamingo, you don't think we Beast Pirates are reasonable and upright people, do you? As pirates, there's no reason to give away our things for free."
"You are the one who made a deal with us Beast Pirates. If you can't provide the agreed-upon items, Kaido will naturally come looking for you."
"Once Kaido gets angry, his spiked club will surely see blood."
"Moreover, Caesar is my man now. I can completely take him back and have him manufacture SMILEs for us."
"But then, you'll be useless."
Doflamingo's face gradually paled.
SMILEs were his most important and irreplaceable bargaining chip for allying with Kaido. Once he lost this chip, his fate was imaginable.
He was afraid to face an enraged Kaido.
"I don't have that much money!"
"You don't have it?"
Daichi snorted coldly.
Still playing dumb with him?
He was determined to get this money!
Even if anyone came, they couldn't stop him!
"Six years ago, Dressrosa was invaded by a group of pirates. Facing the pirate threat, King Riku, to save his country, gathered a ransom of 10 billion Berries from the entire nation."
"Do I need to continue?"
"The current King of Dressrosa, Donquixote Doflamingo."
Doflamingo felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, his hands and feet growing cold.
All his secrets had been uncovered.
Daichi spoke calmly.
"I'm actually very easy to talk to, so let's do this: I'll give you half a month to send this money to Hachinosu. I'll be waiting for you there."
"If I don't see the money, you know the consequences."
"You can leave now."
"Wait!"
Katakuri couldn't sit still and quickly spoke to stop him. The matter hadn't been made clear, how could he let him leave?
Katakuri glared at Daichi, "You rented Caesar to me, so why are you selling Caesar to Doflamingo now?!"
"Katakuri."
Daichi shrugged and explained, "I'm just renting Caesar's next project to you, not selling him as a person."
"After the banquet, you can take Caesar back to Totto Land to report to Mama and discuss the specific research matters."
"Then you can transfer Caesar to Doflamingo."
"As far as I know, Mr. Doflamingo is very understanding. He'll get it."
Daichi looked at Doflamingo and asked with a smile.
"Right, Mr. Doflamingo?"
Doflamingo's fist, hidden under the table, clenched tightly. Suppressing his immense anger and humiliation, he nodded with difficulty.
The strong dominate the weak; he had long understood this principle, but he never expected that he, too, would have a day when he became the weak.
Neither Beast Pirates nor Totto Land.
He couldn't afford to offend them.
"Hmph!"
Katakuri snorted coldly, realizing he had been played, but the most important thing now was to bring Caesar back; everything else could wait.
Daichi stood up, smiling broadly.
"This banquet was very pleasant, and most importantly, we reached a consensus. We must celebrate!"
"Come, come, let's have a drink!"
"To the great evil scientist: Mr. Caesar Clown!"
Caesar blinked in confusion.
Had he been sold several times?
Eh?!!!