Sengoku, are you saying Nero spent five billion Berries during her three days in Marineford?
In Mary Geoise, Saint Nashorou, bald and dressed in a kimono, gripped his sword tighter.
Strictly speaking, after rounding, it's 5.14692 billion Berries! The Marine strictly followed the Gorosei's request.
"We did our best to fulfill all the requests of Nero Claudius Palace, which also included five precious Logia Devil Fruits."
The den den mushi with frog-eye glasses reported even more detailed figures without changing its expression, causing Saint Nashorou to rub his forehead with a black line.
"Sengoku! You even gave her Logia Devil Fruits? And five of them?"
"Yes! These are the only ones the Marine has in stock. If it weren't for fulfilling the World Government's mission, the Marine would never have used such valuable strategic resources."
Sengoku seemed oblivious to Saint Nashorou's displeasure, reporting meticulously like an honest, simple man.
Choked by Sengoku's words, Saint Nashorou fell silent. Forget it, it wasn't a huge sum. Since she was given the status of a Celestial Dragon, these minor details weren't worth bothering about.
"Six billion Berries in funding will be approved within three days. As for Devil Fruits, there will be a maximum of three..."
His words were cut off halfway by Sengoku's vehement interruption from the other side: "Three? How can three be enough? Every Logia user can become a core force in the Marine! And this is all for the Gorosei's orders!"
"You're too loud, Sengoku, mind your status! This is already decided; there's no room for you to object!"
Saint Nashorou stopped Sengoku's words with an even firmer tone: "Next time Nero comes, use your head to figure out how to save some money without affecting Nero's mood!"
"Don't think the World Government will clean up such messes for you Marines every time!"
Pushing the problem directly onto the Marine, Saint Nashorou added a hint of threat. He hadn't expected Sengoku to lie.
After all, Sengoku's reputation was built up bit by bit; it was hard to believe this thick-browed, big-eyed fellow would secretly take kickbacks.
"But..."
"No buts!"
The den den mushi wilted, indicating that the other party had cut off the call.
Sengoku sat silently in the Fleet Admiral's office, trying his best to suppress the corners of his mouth from turning up, telling himself to maintain his composure.
He failed... It only took two seconds for the corners of his mouth to turn up into a hearty laugh.
A huge profit!!!
A three hundred million Berry bill was actually reimbursed for five billion, and two Zoan Fruits and one Paramecia Fruit truly exchanged for three Logia Fruits!
The method Nero taught him was really effective. The Gorosei didn't suspect at all that Nero's three-day expenses were five billion Berries? What a wicked Emperor!
Sengoku was so inflated at this moment that he didn't even want to deal with work. He just wanted to quietly drink a cup of tea and marvel at how amazing he was... Meanwhile, Nero and Hathaway did not return to Nicuss, but continued sailing towards their next destination.
As for Stella, she actually preferred to stay quietly in Nicuss, reading books and having afternoon tea with other noble ladies, rather than sailing out to sea.
And perhaps because she was always with Hathaway, Nero often felt that her Queen, in many ways, was more like her mother.
She was becoming increasingly adept at taking care of her, which was great! But there was a misconception of being treated like a child, which made Nero feel a bit awkward at times.
"Your Majesty, today's newspaper!" Hathaway walked over, her steps seeming a bit more hurried than usual.
Nero took the newspaper and casually asked, "Did something happen?"
"Fisher Tiger... is dead."
"What?" Nero unfolded the newspaper, frowning. The front page prominently featured the Fall of the slave-liberating extremist, Fisher Tiger.
"Died from severe injuries? Foolshaut Island, I remember they were supposed to escort a little girl back to her hometown? Is that it?"
Although it was a question, Nero's tone was not inquisitive but rather very certain.
"Hmm, for my sake, neither the Marine nor the World Government would openly pursue him, so there must have been external intervention."
Hathaway stood silently by, as Nero was actually thinking and didn't need an answer.
"Hmm... a lack of information... is it racial conflict?"
Having roughly pieced together most of the truth, Nero exhaled, feeling a bit melancholic.
Besides Shanks and Buggy, the one she admired most on this vast sea was probably this red sea bream Fishman.
"The curtain call of a hero! Always beautiful, tragic, and full of regret. Hathaway, bring a bottle of wine."
Nero raised her hand towards the sun, making a toasting gesture: "Let me and you, together, raise a glass to the hero!"
"Oh! Can that bottle of Deep Sea Ship be used?" Hathaway nodded and asked.
"Hmm, this bottle is perfect! I should say there's no better bottle than this one."
After the wine was brought and they drank, they observed a minute of silence for Tiger.
Nero, whether from the wine or some other reason, suddenly spoke: "Hathaway, do you think I should do something for this world?"
Hathaway looked at Nero in surprise, seemingly shocked that Nero even had such a thought.
"Hmm, don't look at me like that, it was just a sudden thought!"
Nero turned her head, as if her previous words were just a joke.
"Then how does Your Majesty think the world should change to be good?"
Hathaway was silent for a moment before asking this question.
"Captain Roger's longed-for Joy Boy, and the legend of Nika, the Warrior of Liberation, among the ancient Buccaneer Race."
"Hmm, all races living happily together, singing, drinking, and eating meat joyfully," Nero continued.
"But that's impossible! The former Great Kingdom also met its demise. Racial differences and differing ideologies mean that even peace cannot last."
"The world needs to be governed, which means order. Even if the current World Government collapses, it will only be replaced by the next World Government."
Hathaway nodded: "So, Your Majesty decided to only care about the prosperity of the Nicuss Empire and remain indifferent to everything else?"
"Hmm, because I know it's not a problem of power."
"Then what is Your Majesty hesitating about now?"
Nero picked up the red wine from the table and poured it into a stemmed glass. The wine overflowed the rim, but due to surface tension, it didn't spill.
"Because my future might be even stronger than the world combined."
The last drop of wine fell, creating ripples. The surface tension in the glass was broken, and the red wine slowly spilled down the side of the glass onto the table.
Hathaway remained silent...
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