Capítulo 53: Chapter 53 : The old man is old, but not senile!
And as for the rest of the money, it was used to sustain the enormous expenditure like fight associated with the Four Emperors.
Maintaining a group of Four Emperors was no simple feat. It required a structured system and careful planning.
Marco's words were nothing but a misdirection.
Did White Beard really lack funds? But the White Beard Pirates lacking funds? This was utter nonsense!
Both were entirely different concepts.
How could such a massive fleet lack funds?
Were they really using this excuse to soften Kahn's stance? Did they believe he was a fool?
Marco might have more to say on the matter, but Kahn's voice cut in, "I might be old, but I'm not senile. I can distinguish between White Beard's personal wealth and the resources of the White Beard Pirates."
With that, the phone bug once again fell silent.
Soon, the appearance of the bug shifted.
White Beard's voice resounded, "Ten billion Berries, that's my final offer."
Kahn sneered.
He promptly raised it by five billion.
As he suspected.
The renowned White Beard Pirates didn't lack money.
With his suspicions confirmed, Kahn wasn't about to hesitate.
"Seventy billion. Consider this: the entire upper echelon of the Navy knows that I've captured Fire Fist Ace. If I let him go, where will that leave my reputation? And I'll be held accountable! I'll be taking a massive risk."
This was how business negotiations went—each party displayed their assets in pursuit of greater gains.
But the final price White Beard had suggested was, for Kahn, merely a joke.
"Fifteen billion!" White Beard's voice interjected.
"Old beard , are you a man or not? You're raising your price like a woman bartering in a market. I start at minus ten billion and minus ten billion, yet you raise it by five billion and five billion? Are you looking down on me?" Kahn was becoming visibly agitated.
"Get lost! You damn old-timer. Do you think my money just blows away with the wind? Twenty billion. Take it or leave it!" White Beard roared.
He, too, was growing frustrated with Kahn.
If not for the distance, he would have loved to see if Kahn had the qualifications to blackmail him.
"Sixty billion. Consider this: given this kid's unique identity, what will you do if he manages to truly become a threat? Of course, if you're willing to witness his execution, then consider him yours."
"Twenty-five billion," White Beard began.
But Kahn cut him off mid-sentence.
"Get out! Are you insane? I am part of the Navy! You know? The Navy! What the hell! I have to take on the risk! Those five old timers have noticed this kid. If I release him, how am I supposed to explain? Sixty billion. This is my bottom line. If it doesn't suit you, then get lost. I won't bear such a risk."
White Beard once again fell silent.
He knew very well who the "five old timers" Kahn was referring to were.
Ace, who was listening from the sidelines, was dumbfounded.
Observing Kahn swearing at his father, his worldview seemed to be drastically shifting.
However, this was swiftly followed by a profound sense of guilt.
Why had he been captured?
"Dad, don't worry about me! Don't give him the money! I'm not worth the trouble, Dad, I'm so sorry."
"Shut up! What kind of father ignores his son in times of trouble?" White Beard's voice retorted.
Ace was deeply moved by his words.
"Dad!"
Kahn felt a bit grateful. It was fortunate he hadn't taken action to suppress the kid earlier.
Otherwise, such a touching scene might not have transpired.
Of course, he wasn't truly moved. From a pragmatic perspective, it was still better to demand a ransom.
After all, father-son relationships were not deeply profound, so asking for ransom was a safer bet.
"Kahn, my final offer is thirty billion. If you disagree, then I'll see you in the first half of the Grand Line!" White Beard's tone resonated with authority.
As the mightiest of the Four Emperors and the strongest man in the world, his words carried undeniable power.
In his role as the mightiest of the Four Emperors and the world's strongest individual, White Beard's authoritative tone was only natural.
"No, let's both compromise at 45 billion. As for your mention of the first half of the Grand Line, I'm not intimidated. You should realize that if this were in the past, this kid would have been dead long ago. But now, I've taken a liking to certain hobbies. I want to save up some money for retirement. Otherwise, why would I offer you this chance?"
White Beard almost ran out of breath speaking those words.
A pension of 35 billion? Couldn't they just bury him in a coffin?
"No, 35 billion is my final bottom line. If not, then let's resort to war!"
Kahn fell silent this time.
He sensed that this might be White Beard's ultimate stance.
In fact, 35 billion Berries far exceeded Kahn's expectations.
Initially, he had only sought 10 billion.
However, boosted by the acquisition of the Water of Life, his confidence had swelled, leading to his earlier boldness.
He was actually on the brink of securing such an outcome now.
Considering this, Kahn stated unequivocally, "Alright, I'll agree to your terms. 35 billion."
White Beard was close to bursting a vein.
When had this old man become so concerned about his image?
"Fine! I hope you can sleep soundly with your newfound wealth!" White Beard's words dripped with icy scorn.
"Whether you're able to handle it or not is none of my concern. I won't disturb you any further. So, let's consider this settled. I'll be waiting near Jaya Island for the exchange. And mind you, don't try any tricks on me. Also, I will give you a week, don't let it drag on."
After conveying these words, Kahn promptly hung up the phone.
He couldn't help but smile to himself.
Indeed, none of the Four Emperors were ordinary. The White Beard Pirates exemplified this, but what about the other pirate crews?
Among the Four Emperors, Kaido's Hundred Beasts Pirates were the wealthiest. Two decades ago, Kaido had exerted control over all of Wano and nearly monopolized the global arms trade.
Even though Wano was easily defensible and challenging to revolt, the Hundred Beasts Pirates had reigned there for a considerable period. They were undoubtedly the richest of the Four Emperors.
The second wealthiest were the BIGMOM Pirates.
Charlotte Linlin ruled over a vast expanse, more comprehensively than the White Beard Pirates. It was akin to a pirate nation, involving numerous territories and demanding exorbitant protection fees. The crew also maintained links with various underground factions, further contributing to their wealth.
In third place were the White Beard Pirates, with an extensive sphere of influence but certain vulnerabilities.
The last on this list were the Red Hair Pirates.
Having held their position for the shortest duration, their territorial reach was comparatively smaller than the other crews. Nevertheless, they still ranked as one of the Four Emperors, with a background that far surpassed that of ordinary pirate crews.
Within the Four Emperors, the BIGMOM Pirates were the weakest, while the White Beard Pirates stood as the current strongest. Following them were the Red Hair Pirates.
Kaido's Hundred Beasts Pirates would fall into the third position.
In fact, when it came to ranking the top pirate groups, Kahn leaned more towards the Red Hair Pirates.
This was due to the strength of Ben Beckman.
While this pirate crew's might was rather average, their recent ascension to power hindered their standing.
Kahn's thoughts began to meander.
Ultimately, strength was the deciding factor. Anyone who possessed it would need to pay the price, regardless of who they were.
End of this chapter
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