Michael froze for a moment, then broke into laughter.
The man before him, King Riku, who looked burly and rough on the outside, was in truth an exceptionally clever person.
Why was that?
Because when he realized that Dressrosa's geographical position and overall role overlapped with Fishman Island, the first thing he thought of was not "competition," but "cooperation."
Because he knew very well…
Competing was a battle he could never win.
If nothing else, just bringing out the name "Fishman Island and the Gateway to the New World" would mean they had already lost the contest before it began.
A place even the Navy and Whitebeard Pirates had cooperated to protect—who wouldn't be curious about that?
On publicity and public opinion alone, they already had an absolute upper hand.
So King Riku straightforwardly chose to "seek cooperation."
"I must say, your wisdom really doesn't match that muscular frame of yours."
"These muscles exist to protect wisdom from being stolen by others," King Riku replied calmly. "After all, on these seas, people are more inclined to seize the fruits of others' wisdom for themselves."
"Let's set aside philosophy for later." Michael shook his head. "When it comes to business, we need to talk like businessmen… What exactly can Dressrosa bring to the table that would make Fishman Island choose to work with you?"
Business was business.
At moments like this, Michael would not take into account King Riku's relationship with Cobra.
And King Riku clearly knew that too—emphasizing their personal relationship had merely been the knock on the door that allowed him to propose cooperation.
"As for Dressrosa's special products, I'm sure you already know, so I won't waste words on that…" King Riku said seriously. "But beyond that, beneath Dressrosa, there is an underground port designed specifically as a distribution hub for goods… and that is the capital with which I'm offering cooperation."
An underground port beneath Dressrosa?
Michael thought for a moment before remembering—it was the place in the original story where Doflamingo stored and transported contraband.
That really was a good spot!
If it could handle the transport of contraband across the New World, then surely it could manage the transshipment of Fishman Island's goods throughout the New World as well.
Wasn't this basically the legendary logistics hub?
And right now, Fishman Island truly needed such a transfer point.
After all, Fishman Island was only so large. If all they did was keep exporting goods, fine—but in reality, the island's resources were always circulating…
Which meant Dressrosa's role really was essential.
And following that logic, within "Paradise," Michael also needed to choose a place that could serve the same function as Dressrosa…
There was no need to think hard about that—it would of course be the Sabaody Archipelago!
Gion and little Robin had been worrying over how to restore vitality to Sabaody for a long time.
As the gateway to Fishman Island, its traffic had already returned to its peak and even surpassed the past.
And if it could also serve as a distribution hub for goods, the economy could continue to revive, replacing old grey incomes with legitimate revenue streams.
Perfect!
"King Riku, I truly must thank you. If you hadn't brought up this cooperation, I probably wouldn't have thought of this solution for quite some time." Michael eagerly clasped King Riku's hands, shook them vigorously, and went on, "On behalf of the Fishman Island Neutral Trade Zone, I pledge cooperation with you… In the near future, come to Fishman Island. I'll have the officials responsible for this matter meet with you there."
King Riku's mouth fell open…
That simple?
With just a few words, Dressrosa had boarded the most profitable vessel in the current One Piece world?
Dressrosa was about to soar!
As a virtuous king, always beloved by and protective of his people, King Riku even felt tears welling in his eyes at that moment.
This meant not only could Dressrosa's original industries recover their vigor…
But the excess labor force could also be devoted to the underground port!
Anyone could guess that once Dressrosa gained the right to cooperate with Fishman Island, the demand for manpower at the underground port would multiply several times over.
In fact…
He thought perhaps he could negotiate with the Tontatta Tribe.
No more of that endless stealing!
Work in the port, handling transport!
...
Once cooperation was settled, King Riku very tactfully excused himself.
After all, at this table, aside from Michael, everyone else was just children.
In a sense, it wasn't the best environment to discuss serious matters.
Which was exactly why Michael had asked him to go to Fishman Island and speak with the proper officials.
"Tsk, Jack, have you never once eaten your fill?" Michael propped his chin in his hand, eyeing the cubs who were still eating nonstop, and asked curiously, "You started eating two hours ago and haven't stopped since."
"Well… kind of." Jack lowered his head, his face even tinged with embarrassment. "Before I ate the Devil Fruit, I could still hunt in the sea and eat my fill…"
Michael nodded.
So ever since eating that damned Devil Fruit, unable to hunt in the sea for extra food, he had never eaten his fill?
Truth be told, for fishmen, the downsides of Devil Fruits far outweighed the benefits.
After all, fishmen and merfolk normally lived in the sea.
"So… this massive body of yours was developed while you were actually underfed for long stretches of time?"
"Heh… to be honest, I think I've gotten a little too skinny lately…"
Too skinny.
Michael and all the cubs at the table turned to stare at Jack.
In other words, this massive body of his wasn't even at its peak? He could grow even bigger?
Michael's lips twitched.
Even among fishmen, Jack was a first-class monster, wasn't he?
Just as Michael was wondering whether he should send Jack to Vegapunk for a bit of dissecting research, Bell-mère and Stella returned.
"Ugh, dealing with royalty really is one of the most frustrating things."
Bell-mère let out a long sigh as she sat down.
She rubbed the stiff muscles in her face that had been forced into a fake smile for too long.
"Sigh, looks like I'm gradually becoming more hypocritical myself… putting on a façade and all that."
"Seems those Alabasta scholars' classes are really having an effect. Even you, the illiterate one, are using idioms now."
"Are you looking down on me?" Bell-mère rolled her eyes, then ruffled Nojiko and Nami's little heads. "I learned while the scholars were giving these two their beginner lessons."
"…Beginner lessons already teach idioms?"
Michael wiped a bead of cold sweat from his forehead.
He had really underestimated these elite scholars!
"By the way, have you seen Crocodile?"
"He just left the banquet hall with King Cobra."
At that, Michael abruptly stood and strode toward the door.
Cobra…
Was he planning to lay his cards on the table?
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