A sly glint flashed in Sengoku's eyes.
"A Warlord-class Seraphim costs twenty billion Berries to manufacture. Admiral-class models, not many, but each requires a hundred billion. And all of this is based on countless failed experiments."
"The real money sink is always the endless failed research attempts!"
The Five Elders, of course, understood this well. Back then, Vegapunk alone had drained five hundred billion Berries in research just to develop the Pacifista line. These new Seraphim would undoubtedly be even more expensive.
"Black technology always burns money—I understand."
"But right now, the world is overrun with pirates. Suppression alone has swallowed up vast funds, and our finances are… strained."
They exchanged glances before making a tentative offer.
"Listen. How about this? We'll allocate one trillion Berries to you first. Five hundred billion for research, and the other five hundred billion for manufacturing—say, twenty Warlord-class Seraphim and one Admiral-class Seraphim."
After all, money didn't fall from the sky. Even the World Government had to watch its purse.
"Of course, this is only temporary. Let Natsuha begin his research first. As for mass-producing Admiral-class Seraphim, we'll discuss funding again once the prototype proves itself."
They were careful to add this note, not daring to offend the boy genius.
It was a temporary budget. Once the Admiral-class Seraphim was successfully completed and tested personally by the Five Elders, Natsuha would naturally receive even greater funding for mass production.
Hearing this, Sengoku nearly leapt for joy. At last—his own out-of-pocket spending would finally be reimbursed.
Not only that, but he had managed to secure several hundred billion more in funds for Natsuha.
The Elders' decision to fund only a single Admiral-class Seraphim at first was reasonable.
After all, they had never seen one. Skepticism was to be expected. But once an Admiral-class Seraphim made its debut, Sengoku had no doubt these old foxes would open their wallets wider.
"In that case, I'll thank the Five Elders on Natsuha's behalf." Sengoku bowed with outward calm, though his heart swelled with triumph.
Seeing that Sengoku raised no objections, the Elders also breathed a sigh of relief.
The truth was, one trillion Berries was only their lowest offer.
For war machines dozens of times stronger than the Pacifista, this was hardly their true worth.
Sengoku was about to take his leave when the Five Elders suddenly stopped him.
"Don't go yet."
"There's another mission we need the Navy to handle."
"Oh?" Sengoku turned back, surprised.
The Elders' faces hardened, their earlier indulgence gone, replaced by solemn authority.
"There's a man named Blackbeard. He's captured Ace and threatens to trade him for a seat among the Warlords."
"The exchange is set for the day after tomorrow, at Banaro Island in the Grand Line."
Ace…
Sengoku's eyes narrowed sharply. The bloodline of that terrifying man, Pirate King Roger…
Capturing him would hold immeasurable significance for the Navy.
"Hmph. Who does he think he is, to negotiate with us?"
"With the Seraphim in our hands, the Warlords have already lost their value."
"Bring Ace here. If Blackbeard resists, then kill him."
"We believe this matter should be resolved with the Seraphim."
The Elders' decree was absolute.
Little did they realize—the introduction of the Seraphim into this affair would quietly alter Blackbeard's destiny…
Sengoku, seasoned by decades in politics, instantly saw through their intentions.
They wanted a field test.
No matter how powerful the Seraphim seemed on paper, if they couldn't perform in live combat, then they were still nothing but scrap metal.
Their caution was understandable.
In fact, it meant that for this mission, the commanding officer should be someone of lesser strength. Only then would the Elders believe the results weren't skewed.
"…Understood!!"
After accepting the mission, Sengoku departed from the Holy Land of Mary Geoise.
At the same time, in a hidden office of the G-5 Branch…
Vergo immediately contacted Doflamingo, reporting the latest results of the Seraphim tests.
"Report, Young Master. The new Seraphim have entered mass production. Ten units in total, all without exception reaching Warlord level."
Inside the palace of Dressrosa, Doflamingo clenched his teeth, silent for a long moment.
Beside him stood two of his top executives: the snot-dripping Trebol of the Sticky-Sticky Fruit, and Pica of the Stone-Stone Fruit, whose enormous frame belied his shrill, almost feminine voice.
Both men's eyes bulged at Vergo's words, jaws hanging open in disbelief.
They had heard the Young Master mention these machines before… but they had dismissed them as exaggeration.
Warlord-class war machines? Impossible. Surely, when the tests came, the truth would reveal itself.
They had fully expected failure.
But Natsuha had succeeded.
And not just with one or two—he had produced ten, all of them Warlord-class.
The shock left them trembling.
"What did you just say, Vergo? Ten Warlord-class machines, all at once? That's outrageous!" Trebol sputtered, his snot dangling as always.
"Yeah… Even Caesar said such a thing was impossible! Not even Vegapunk could produce so many terrifying weapons in so little time."
"Could it be that this eight-year-old brat Natsuha is… a god?" Pica squealed in his piercing falsetto, face frozen in shock.
Even Doflamingo himself struggled to believe it. Only three days had passed since the last report.
Such monstrous weapons… mass-produced in just three days? And every one a success?
"Vergo. How reliable is this information?" Doflamingo asked, frowning.
"I was on duty during the test, so I saw it with my own eyes. The Seraphim's power is real. Even Akainu—supposedly the strongest of the three Admirals—was clearly at a disadvantage against ten of them."
"Even his ultimate technique, 'Hellhound,' the move said to pierce even a Yonko, was blocked outright by their combined defense."
"These war machines are truly terrifying!!" Vergo declared gravely.
Trebol and Pica still looked ready to argue, but Doflamingo raised a hand, silencing them.
"I understand, Vergo."
"That will be all. Be careful not to let the Navy discover your contact."
"Understood."
Vergo sighed lightly as he ended the call.