"This idea," Burns mused, his mind rapidly calculating the potential, "is indeed excellent. If successfully implemented, it would be equivalent to completely controlling the entire trade flow between the Four Seas and the Grand Line. Just the transportation business alone... my god, it could generate enormous profits. Moreover, there's a significant price disparity between the seas that could be exploited for massive, massive gains."
He paused, his practical, political mind identifying the core problem.
"However, the question is, how do you ensure everyone else will choose to post their missions with us? What stops a merchant from simply sailing the route themselves as they've always done?"
Lancelot gave a slight, confident shrug.
"As for those unwilling to come to the Four Seas Exchange to post missions," he said, as if stating the obvious, "we'll simply have them pay a toll fee."
"Wh-what? A toll fee?" Burns was momentarily stunned upon hearing this, clearly unable to keep up with Lancelot's audacious leap in thinking.
Lancelot then explained unhurriedly, a predatory smile on his face.
"That's right. Cactus Island is the gateway. Any ships or personnel, merchant or pirate, wishing to pass through Reverse Mountain must pay us a certain amount of Berries as a toll fee. Either they pay for our safe, guaranteed transport service via the Exchange, or they pay a 'passage tax' to travel the dangerous route themselves. Either way, they pay us."
After hearing these words, Burns couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth slightly.
After all, having established himself and thrived in the chaotic, hyper-competitive, and utterly ruthless environment of the Holy Land, he was certainly no kind-hearted soul.
Thus, he had always believed his heart was already hardened and unscrupulous enough.
But at this moment, he suddenly realized that the offspring he had produced was actually several times more unscrupulous, more brilliantly corrupt, than himself.
This approach was truly plucking feathers from a passing goose—exploiting every possible opportunity, coming and going.
"Ahem..." Burns cleared his throat lightly, composing himself and calming his racing, excited mind.
"Lancelot, my boy, this approach... it's really quite... inappropriate! Doing so will undoubtedly provoke strong public discontent and stir up popular anger. It could lead to severe consequences. Even if you have the power to suppress the pirates, it will affect your current prospects and reputation within the Navy."
"More importantly," Burns warned, "acting in this manner will offend many powerful and influential figures who rely on that free trade route, some of whom possess terrifying strength of their own."
Lancelot just shrugged again and spread his hands in a gesture of helplessness.
"What does that have to do with me?"
He leaned in closer to the Den Den Mushi, his voice taking on a conspiratorial, long-suffering tone.
"You should know, old man... this isn't my plan. This is an order issued by the Celestial Dragons! I'm just an unlucky fellow, their loyal servant, who happened to be caught and forced to carry it out... Tsk... tsk tsk... tsk..."
As he spoke, he repeatedly shook his head and sighed, a perfect picture of a beleaguered subordinate.
Hearing this, Burns, who had been on the other end of the line, froze in place for a moment.
A slow, dawning grin spread across his face.
'What a guy...' he thought, 'truly a remarkable guy!'
He was directly shifting all the responsibility, all the inevitable hatred and backlash, onto the Celestial Dragons themselves.
He was planning to make them bear this huge, black pot!
However, upon second thought, Burns realized... would the Celestial Dragons even care about carrying such a black pot? It seemed they wouldn't mind in the slightest.
After all, their usual, daily actions had already earned them a notoriously horrific reputation.
Their public image couldn't possibly be any darker.
Even if they were burdened with one more incident like this, it probably wouldn't matter to them at all.
Moreover, those lofty Celestial Dragons only had eyes for one thing: shiny, glorious Berries.
As long as they could obtain enough wealth from this venture, they simply couldn't be bothered with the complaints of "lesser" humans.
It was worth noting that, for those people, far more outrageous and heinous acts were already too numerous to count.
For instance, the horrific Buster Call—they could, on a whim, mercilessly order the bloody massacre of an entire country or island.
The cruelty of it was simply unimaginable.
And the ones issuing such commands were none other than the Celestial Dragons.
In this vast ocean, who would dare to defy their will?
Thinking of this, Burns could no longer contain his inner delight and couldn't help but burst into unrestrained, proud laughter.
"Hahahaha... Lancelot, you brilliant bastard! Don't you worry! I will find a way to make the Celestial Dragons personally speak up and proactively propose this plan to the World Government themselves!"
Hearing this, a smug smile also appeared on Lancelot's face.
He knew well that if this plan could be initiated by the Celestial Dragons, its implementation would proceed much more smoothly.
The probability of success would naturally increase significantly.
This way, their scheme would achieve twice the result with half the effort, bringing them one step closer to their ultimate goal of controlling the world's economy.
After all, no matter what the matter, as long as it was stamped with the approval of the Celestial Dragons, even the most absurd, tyrannical things would become perfectly justified.
.....
Time passed quickly, and several days went by in the blink of an eye.
Lancelot and his group, sailing the Going Merry, had already passed by many small islands on the first half of the Grand Line.
They were even nearing the Alabasta Kingdom, the homeland of their new, unconscious "guest," Princess Vivi.
At that moment, a News Coo flew over Lancelot's head, circling above the small ship once.
Seeing this, Lancelot, who was lounging on the deck, casually flicked a coin into the air.
The News Coo deftly caught it, then dropped a folded newspaper.
Lancelot caught it and began flipping through with mild interest.
With just one glance at the front page, however, he couldn't help but show a surprised expression.
Because he saw a montage of familiar, dangerous faces.
The Supernovas. The Worst Generation.
Captain of the Kid Pirates, Eustass Kid, from the South Blue: Bounty 220 million Berries.
Basil Hawkins, the Magician, from the North Blue: 180 million Berries.
X Drake, the "Red Flag," from the North Blue: 162 million Berries.
Trafalgar Law, the "Surgeon of Death," from the North Blue: 130 million Berries.
Scratchmen Apoo, "Roar of the Sea," from the Grand Line: 126 million Berries.
Killer, the "Massacre Soldier," from the South Blue: 112 million Berries.
Jewelry Bonney, the "Big Eater," from the South Blue: 110 million Berries.
Capone "Gang" Bege, from the West Blue: 108 million Berries.
Urouge, the "Mad Monk," from the Sky Islands: 88 million Berries.
Monkey D. Luffy, "Straw Hat," from the East Blue: 40 million Berries.
Sanji, "Black Leg," from the North/East Blue: 30 million Berries.
Damn, Lancelot thought, his brow furrowing. Aside from those already on the Grand Line, like Apoo and Urouge, these guys haven't even made their big names for themselves yet, and their bounties are already this high. Especially Luffy...
He re-read the last two entries. He had never expected that even without him taking down Kuro and Arlong, Luffy's bounty would still reach 40 million.
He must have defeated the other remaining high-bounty pirates in the East Blue besides that escaped "Whirlwind" user, Matthew.
That would include Buggy the Clown and perhaps others.
'However', Lancelot mused, 'he clearly only started gaining real momentum after entering the Grand Line'.
'So he can't compare to the others yet. He's at the bottom of the list'.
Lancelot knew this guy's true rise would only begin after defeating Crocodile in Alabasta.
'I just never expected that after Zoro joined me,... Sanji would somehow become one of the Eleven Supernovas in his place. Fascinating.'
Moreover, he realized, from these bounties, one could indirectly see the comparative strength and danger levels of each of the Four Seas.
The East Blue, with Luffy's 40 million, was clearly, as stated, the weakest.
Lancelot's lips curled slightly as he folded the paper.
"Interesting..."
....
At Holy Land Mariejois, the Five Elders held the submitted proposal—the one for the "Four Seas Exchange," now officially stamped with the hoof of a Celestial Dragon—in their hands.
Their eyes narrowed unconsciously as they read.
Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro, Topman Warcury, Shepherd Ju Peter, Mars, and Saturn looked at each other, their ancient faces unreadable.
To be honest, they were quite pleased internally.
This was a brilliant economic plan.
If it succeeded, they would completely control the economic lifelines of the Four Seas, bypassing the merchant guilds and independent kingdoms.
This would play a significant, stabilizing role for their rule.
But... it's simple to say, easy to talk about.
Like in the East Blue, where Lancelot had, according to reports, almost completely wiped out the pirates and where there were few other powerful individuals.
Implementing this plan there would face no obstacles at all.
But the other three seas... they weren't so easy.
The North Blue, West Blue, and South Blue... not only were there numerous powerful pirate crews, but various forces—underworld empires, revolutionary cells, and powerful kingdoms—were complexly intertwined.
Getting them to give up their own trade interests and pay a toll? It was, they knew, fundamentally impossible.
If this plan was implemented recklessly, every ship sent by the Four Seas Exchange to those seas would likely be hijacked, looted, and sunk. It would be a disaster.