"It looks like the answer will have to wait until next time," Lord Reid said to the children, who were burning with curiosity. He casually flicked Ace's chin, nudging him away from the table. "As for now…"
He turned to face Whitebeard.
Then he looked straight at Whitebeard.
"I already told you I would go all out for this banquet."
"Gurarararara! If you say you are going all out, then I am really looking forward to it," Whitebeard laughed.
Reid's blood mist surged and suddenly spread out into a massive projection screen.
"I want to play a game with everyone."
The moment he said it, the crowd split into two camps.
The first group showed no interest at all.
Dracule Mihawk leaned against a wine barrel, black blade in hand. "Boring. The wine here is excellent. You go play your games. I want to savor the drinks."
Donquixote Doflamingo's sunglasses caught the light. "Fufufufu. If the prize is interesting enough."
Monkey D. Garp lay sprawled across a table piled with donuts, snoring loudly.
The red teddy bear said, "Our mission is to prevent chaos at sea. We despise taking part in pirate games."
The red teddy bear had truly terrible people skills. Even allied kings wanted to join in, yet he dismissed it as a pirate game. Was he not asking for trouble?
"What kind of quality is this supposed to be from the Marines?"
"Right. Can people like this really protect us?"
Watching through a Den Den Mushi, Sengoku felt a headache coming on. Garp going to see Lord Reid had indeed boosted the Marines' image, but Sakazuki's remarks left everyone uncomfortable.
Sengoku steadied himself and told the three admirals beside the Den Den Mushi, "You do not need to participate. Just eat quietly and see this banquet through."
The second group, on the other hand, was completely on board.
Whitebeard drove Murakumogiri into the ground. "Gurarararara! This old man will play with the youngsters!"
Vinsmoke Judge dropped to one knee, his tech armor clanking. "As expected of Lord Reid! What a creative team building activity. Germa 66 stands ready to serve!"
The Empress, who had just come over from her uncle's table, said, "Uncle, no matter how boring the game is, I will join. This is my way of supporting you."
Lord Reid was genuinely sweating now. He clapped his hands.
His blood mist tore open the sky, revealing the massive platform at the highest point of Golden City.
Whoosh!
Five billion berries poured down like a waterfall, glittering in the sunlight. Bundles of banknotes piled into a mountain of gold.
(The author has never seen five billion stacked in real life, so this is an imaginative guess. If anyone has seen it, please tell me what it really looks like.)
A sharp intake of breath rippled through the crowd.
The golden glow of five billion berries plunged Golden City into eerie silence, followed by an earth shaking roar of voices.
"Mine! All mine!" A pirate with a thirty million bounty, eyes bloodshot, stomped on his companions' heads and lunged toward the golden mountain.
Crackle!
Enel lazily extended his golden staff. A lightning dragon crashed down and turned the man to charcoal. "Scum like that are only fit to be background props."
But that was only the beginning. Wealth drove people mad.
"First come, first served!"
"Whoever grabs it gets it!"
Dozens of pirates burst into motion. Even the guards of several allied kings quietly reached for their weapons.
Bang!
Tesoro's gigantic golden fist slammed down in front of the money pile. His gold rimmed glasses flashed coldly. "First rule. Anyone who touches the prize before the game begins will die."
Blood mist snapped into a noose and hoisted three nobles who had been sneaking bills into their sleeves up into the air. Lord Reid smiled faintly and wagged a finger.
"Second rule. My money, my rules."
Doflamingo's sunglasses slipped down his nose. "Fufufufu. How interesting." He flicked out his strings and snagged two fleeing kings. "Since you are already here, you might as well…"
"Hold out until the end."
Mihawk silently slid his black blade back behind him. "I am suddenly a little interested."
Garp's snot bubble popped. "Huh? Is it time to eat already?"
Sakazuki clenched his magma fist until it cracked. "Pirate farce…"
"Sakazuki!" Sengoku roared through the Den Den Mushi. "You will participate!"
Reid was very pleased with the reaction. No pirate could resist this. As for the allied kings, they were simply another kind of pirate in different clothes.
In a way, One Piece was the dream of pirates and the moonlight of all men on the open seas. The five billion berries on the high platform were naked reality. That sum was equal to the wealth of a Pirate King. No one could stay calm in the face of it. It represented a lifetime of glory and fortune, and it was within reach.
Because it was right there.
"Looks like everyone likes the prize I prepared. As sailors, there is only first place. All you have to do is take first." Lord Reid pointed to the golden mountain.
"Do you see it? Five billion berries. You can withdraw this money anywhere within the Crimson Alliance's territories. Take as much as you like. We will safeguard it for you. The Crimson Pirates will guarantee it, and I, the Lord of Crimson Mist, will guarantee it as well."
"Gurarara!" Whitebeard's laughter made the golden goblets hum. He raised Murakumogiri with one hand and pointed at the mountain. "Lord Reid, you really did go all out!"
Marco rubbed his forehead. "Old man, you are not thinking…"
"Of course I am joining!" Whitebeard slapped Marco's shoulder. "My sons are stronger than this rabble!"
Jozu's diamond arm clanged. "With five billion berries, I could move an entire city!"
Vista's twin blades gleamed coldly. "Those five billion belong to the Whitebeard Pirates. We will win." He shot a teasing glance at the nobles still hanging in midair.
Magma dripped from Sakazuki's fist. "Fleet Admiral Sengoku, do we really have to…"
"Shut up!" Sengoku bellowed through the Den Den Mushi. "The whole world is watching! Do you want the Marines to look like cowards who are too scared to even play a game?"
Reid thought to himself that Sengoku had not said that earlier.
Borsalino slowly raised his hand. "Yay. This old man wants to join too."
"Approved!" Sengoku answered instantly. "Aokiji, keep an eye on Sakazuki!"
Kuzan sighed.
Reid gestured for everyone to quiet down.
The venue fell silent in an instant. No one wanted to miss a single word from him.
"The sea belongs to the young. We old folks will sit this one out," Lord Reid said, looking straight at the three admirals.
Yes, he meant them. Had they not seen Whitebeard staying put like a good sport?
Just then, Charlotte Perospero stepped forward.
"Mr. Reid, may we join as well? Rest assured, we will not disrupt the quality of the banquet."
Reid glanced at him. "Of course. Even you personally can take part."
"All participants must be adults."
"What the heck."
Everyone at the kids' table quietly started sneaking toward the Bruno Jackson ship.