Bab 7: The Barto Mafia Pt.2
The auction that me and Bartolomeo will crash is in 2 months.
Mahogany Town isn't that bad of a place to stay if your friends with the supreme leader of the town. If you are not friends with him, you would have to pay rent to him every month or suffer the consequences.
The Mahogany townspeople don't need to worry for that longer, as I plan to recruit him into my crew. A crew mate with an ultimate defense, now that's something I need to execute my dream.
In regards to the auction though, I don't have many worries about it. If it's being held in the east blue, the bodyguards will probably be fodder. It's an easy paycheck and robbery.
It's not like I'm going to take the 300,000,000 paycheck from Bartolomeo. When your crew mates with me, which he will be soon,my money is your money and we share one home, that is the big ship I recently received.
I spent the first month here training with myself on the animals in the forest surrounding the town. It was nice training as no one else could give me a challenge.
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I was in the forest sparring with a tiger, when Bartolomeo showed up out of nowhere, panting and trying to catch a breath.
I used my Conquerors on the tiger to tell it to sit and wait, which it obliged to. I then walked over to Bartolomeo, wanting to know what's up.
" Ace, the buyer of the Rose Steel you gave me and she got an intimidating group of people. I don't want them thinking I'm a pushover. Come with me and let's intimidate them back!", he said in a hurry, not wanting to keep the buyer waiting.
Oh yeah, I did wonder what he was going to do with the Rose Steel. I guess he got a buyer by spreading the word of his stock of steel through his Transponder Snail.
I frowned, wondering why he didn't tell me sooner.
I told the tiger to stay here and wait for me, and I was about to Geppo my way there when Bartolomeo stopped me.
"You know, you should teach me that move. It's better than running on the island looking for your bum self.", he said, the last having some playfulness."Also, it's mad tiring".
Bartolomeo hopped on my back and I air walked back to town. Bartolomeo was glad I saved him some energy.
_____
As I made it to Barto Headquarters, Bartolomeo and I walked over to his lair where the buyer and her group was already there.
As I opened the door for Bartolomeo, I finally saw the buyer and her group.
Her group looked very menacing. All of them were above 7'0 tall and they were as burly as top tier bodybuilders back in my old world. I wasn't scared or anything though. If there is one thing I learned in this world, Height and muscle isn't everything.
The buyer though looked very different. She was around 5'8 and looked very elegant and rich. She looked very modest and overall, pretty. She was as old as me, yet she was bossing her grown group around.
In contrast to her group, they give off an effect that would make anyone, aside from special cases, scared.
I motioned for Bartolomeo to sit down, which he does with swagger, seeing the role I was trying to play. I was acting like his bodyguard and a one man group for him. If Bartolomeo needed me to cosplay as his subordinate for a day, then I'll do it.
I sat down right beside him, making sure to be as intimidating as possible. I let out a little Conquerors Haki to intimidate, making sure to not overdo it and knock them out.
My effect worked, as I could see her group winced once I let out my aura. The girl though, did not get affected. A strong will, I guess there is no way around it.
The girl in question was the first one to speak."Let's get on to business. We agreed over the snail a price tag around 90,000,000. Let's get it over with. I don't like being in the weak East Blue. It just that a very limited supply of that in the West Blue and you guys offered cheap"
90,000,000? Bartolomeo is getting scammed here. As his future captain, I'm not going to allow this scam to happen. It should be at least worth 130,000,000 beli.
"Actually, Bartolomeo said he wanted to negotiate for a better price. He said he wanted around 180,000,000 beli.", I said, my voice montone. Bartolomeo turned his head at shock with me.
The lady's brow furrowed at this."Do you not know who I am. I'm Persephone, one of the heads of the 5 Families In The West, one of the most known in the underworld. I do not do Negotiations".
5 Families In The West? Where did I hear that again in One Piece?
That's when it hit me. The 5 Families In The West were 5 mafias that control Underworld operations in the West Blue! Capone Bege was one of them and the other 4 were not named.
I guess Persephone here is one of them. That's what she meant by not being in her home sea.
"Yeah , and? We are in the East Blue. Here in the East Blue,, Bartolomeo is one of the most known here. You wouldn't know about it as you don't know about the East Blue Underground hierarchy", I said.
I was bluffing so hard. Bartolomeo isn't unknown , but he isn't famous in the Underground. I hoped she took it. I kept my composure to not give any signs of a lie. Bartolomeo kept his composure too, finally getting with the program .
She kept a serious glance before speaking."I'll give you a deal. 110,000,00 beli for the Rose Steel.".
"170,000,000 beli. You need the Rose Steel more than Bartolomeo needs your money", I responded.
"120,000,000".
"165,000,000".
"1-"
"150,000,000 beli. Take it or get off of my island", Bartolomeo spoke over Persphone, finally talkin. He talked in an absolute tone. I jerked my head to him in surprise before smiling.
Persephone widened her eyes in surprise before sighing."Deal, I'll pay 150,000,000 beli. Pleasure doing business with you, Bartolomeo.", she said having a hint of a smile. She turned her to one of her henchman.
"You, grab the agreed amount of money out of our ship", she said and the henchman hastily walked out the room.
After getting the money, Persephone handed it to Bartolomeo."That was fun. If you ever need something in the West Blue, call me. I'd love to negotiate with you", she said with a grin before leaving the room.
Now, I'm not one to be jealous or anything, but how did Bartolomeo leave a better impression than me? He talked like once in the whole negotiation! To her, I was just his henchman though, so I guess that's why.
There was still no reason for Persephone to be fond of Bartolomeo. She was even flirty at the end too!
Bartolomeo turned to me."That's how negotiations are done, Little Ace. ", he said with a cocky smile.
Little Ace? He was only 2 years older than me!
"You were about to settle for 90,000,000. Don't try to spin it like you were not going to be scammed before I showed up", I clapped back.
"Whatever, now leave my lair. I need some time to myself", Bartolomeo said .
"Not now. We need to get to the forest. You did say you wanted to learn Geppo. I'll teach you in the next 2 months before we go to the auction.I might even teach you more technique., I said with a devilish grin."I'll work you to the bone"
Bartolomeo's eyes widened before he gulped. It's going to be a long 2 month for him.
________
The chapter is done.
I was lowkey in my bag with this one. I wrote this so fast, even I was surprised.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone