"This truly is cooperation, Chairman."
Faced with Cyrus's question, Vinsmoke Reiju smiled as she answered.
"After all, a large portion of the Hunter Guild's current manpower comes from the artificial soldiers provided by Germa, and my father is also very eager to join under your command."
Crocodile seemed to have known about what Reiju was saying in advance, so his expression did not change much.
"Join under my command?"
Cyrus smiled when he heard that, though nothing could be read from his expression.
Cyrus knew quite a bit about Germa, or rather, the Vinsmoke Family.
Germa's king, Vinsmoke Judge, possessed artificial soldier technology and had even used that technology on his own children.
In a certain sense, he was a very proper mad scientist.
However, Cyrus did not believe that Vinsmoke Judge had come up with this idea simply because of his fame and strength.
"So?"
Cyrus gestured for Reiju to continue.
Reiju thought for a moment after hearing that, then decided to state their goal directly.
"My father hopes to establish a Hunter Guild branch on Germa's mobile base."
That was Germa's goal.
If their previous support of artificial soldiers had been because Cyrus had given Doflamingo's weapons factories to Germa, then what Reiju was speaking of now was another objective entirely.
Cyrus lightly tapped his fingers against the table.
The room was very quiet.
The only sound was Cyrus's fingers knocking against the tabletop.
"If it's established on your mobile base, that is already equivalent to Germa completely controlling that branch."
Cyrus's fingers suddenly paused, and then he spoke.
Reiju's heart tightened.
"But I agree."
Cyrus turned to look at Crocodile.
"You'll follow up on this matter. Since Germa wants a branch, agree to it. As for the things needed to establish the branch, have Germa provide them themselves.
"However…"
As Cyrus spoke, he turned back toward Reiju.
"I know Germa's way of doing things. I also won't interfere with you. But although the Hunter Guild doesn't have many rules, once you join, there are certain rules that cannot be violated."
"Understood."
Hearing this, Reiju immediately nodded.
Of course, she understood this point.
When Judge had spoken to her about this matter, they had already considered such a possibility.
For Germa, joining the Hunter Guild was not very different from becoming a member nation of the World Government.
However, if they became a World Government member nation, they would need to pay far more.
They would also have to hand over the artificial soldier technology that Judge regarded as his lifeblood.
The Hunter Guild was different. During this period, they had already gained a clear understanding of how the Hunter Guild operated.
Compared with the coercion of being a member nation, the Guild did not have that many rules.
Moreover, anyone with decent eyesight could now see the situation on the sea.
Of course, remaining neutral might allow them to preserve themselves in the future.
But fortune was found in danger.
If they did not take a side now, then the enormous benefits of the future might be divided up by others while they could only watch helplessly.
Therefore, Germa chose to side with the Hunter Guild.
After all, the strength Cyrus had displayed was far too exaggerated.
Especially since Cyrus had once gone to the North Blue.
Cyrus could still continue growing, and his strength would become even greater.
It was only after weighing every side that Germa made this decision.
"Chairman." Reiju spoke again, the expression on her face now much more relaxed.
"My father is prepared to hand over half the income from the weapons factories to the Guild. After all, those weapons factories can be considered a gift from you, Chairman."
"You can discuss that with Crocodile."
Cyrus waved a hand, showing that he did not care much about this.
"However, Chairman, you may be somewhat interested in the buyers of those weapons."
"Hm?"
Cyrus paused and looked at Reiju, waiting for her to continue.
"Other than the Revolutionary Army purchasing a portion of them, the remaining buyers hid their identities. However, according to our investigation, after being resold through several hands, those weapons ultimately entered the World Government's possession."
Crocodile's eyes widened, and he turned to look at Cyrus.
"They're preparing for war?"
"They are indeed preparing for war."
Cyrus had known this for a long time.
"Then, Chairman, should we also prepare for war in advance?"
Crocodile's expression became grave.
"How are we supposed to prepare?"
Hearing this, Cyrus could not help laughing. Then he looked at Crocodile and asked.
"This…"
Even Crocodile felt his scalp go numb when he thought about this question.
The Hunter Guild could not possibly arm an entire army, could it?
The expenses under the Guild's current model were already terrifying. If they wanted to establish an army, those expenses would probably double, or even multiply several times over.
Besides, the Guild's loose model was not suitable for creating something like an army.
"The exam?" Crocodile asked tentatively.
"That's only to select a small group of elites."
Cyrus shook his head.
"Then what should we do afterward?"
Crocodile stared.
"Leave it to me! Capture the king first, and the rest becomes easy. As long as the main body of the World Government is destroyed, things will become simpler. After all, the World Government and the Marines are not truly united."
Cyrus waved a hand and spoke.
Hearing this, Crocodile nodded.
It seemed this really was the best method.
The only question was whether Cyrus could actually do it.
"Any news on that flamingo?"
Cyrus changed the subject, clearly not intending to discuss the topic Reiju had raised too deeply.
"Not long after Doflamingo attacked Mary Geoise last time, he attacked Mary Geoise again."
When Crocodile heard Cyrus mention Doflamingo, the corner of his mouth twitched several times.
Although the World Government and the Celestial Dragons were trying their best to hide this matter, his information channels were fairly good now.
"Oh?"
Cyrus immediately became interested.
"It seems that after the first attack, Doflamingo used other methods to divert their attention, then launched another surprise attack on Mary Geoise.
"And this time, he seems to have planted a lot of Dyna Stones in Mary Geoise."
"Dyna Stones?"
When Crocodile mentioned that item, information about it immediately surfaced in Cyrus's mind.
It was a material in this world that could be directly mined.
A tremendously powerful explosive.
However, this item was under Marine control.
That said, it seemed Doflamingo had a spy inside the Marines.
That Marine Vice Admiral who could cover his entire body in Armament Haki.
"If he continues doing things like that, you can provide appropriate support."
Cyrus waved his hand.
"Understood."
Seeing Cyrus's gesture, Crocodile nodded and prepared to leave with Reiju.
"Wait."
Cyrus looked at the huge pile of documents in front of him.
"I'll leave these things for you to handle. There is no need for me to make decisions on everything. Since I entrusted this to you, that means I trust you.
"So don't betray my trust."