"Our time is precious. Let us be direct, Roldy . The Underworld may have a single ruler—and that ruler may be you. But the World Government's share must not decrease. Forty percent. That is our limit."
Saint Warcury's voice echoed from the Den Den Mushi, firm and uncompromising.
Roldy merely let out a cold snort.
"Then what the hell are we even talking for? Old fossil, did I give you face or something?"
Beside him, Stussy's jaw nearly dropped to the floor.
He had already been shockingly disrespectful before—but this? Openly insulting one of the Five Elders?
Surely this world had gone mad.
From the other end of the Den Den Mushi came Warcury's furious roar.
"Roldy ! Do you understand what you are saying? Do you think we truly fear you?"
Roldy lazily dug at his ear.
The enraged expression on the Den Den Mushi's face looked theatrical to him.
"Oh? Then let's go to war."
One sentence.
And the Five Elders fell silent.
To Stussy, it felt surreal.
After several moments, Warcury's expression smoothed out, anger vanishing as though it had never existed.
"Thirty-five percent. And one favor from the World Government."
"Not enough."
Roldy had them pinned.
After centuries in power, men like the Five Elders would never allow mere insults to dictate policy. What mattered was leverage—and Roldy possessed it.
"Thirty-three percent. And two favors from the World Government."
Warcury practically ground the words out through clenched teeth.
This was the absolute limit they had agreed upon.
Roldy knew it.
He rolled his eyes slightly, then added another condition.
"That's more like it. But I want a treaty signed."
"A treaty?"
All five elders frowned.
They had intended to propose one themselves. That Roldy suggested it first unsettled them slightly—but it wasn't necessarily bad.
The World Government had no desire for total war.
The Marines had not yet reached peak strength. And if Roldy were provoked, he could roam the seas and systematically destroy allied nations. Even deploying three Admiral-level combatants might not be enough to stop him.
That cost was unacceptable.
"A peace treaty," Roldy continued lightly.
Silence lingered on the other end.
He began listing the terms:
Neither side would deliberately attack the other's territories or subordinate forces without cause.
On major global decisions issued by the World Government, Roldy , as a sovereign power, would not openly sabotage them.
In exchange, the World Government would grant Roldy certain logistical privileges—his fleets would be permitted to traverse the Red Line through official channels, similar to government vessels.
Access to select restricted trade goods.
Resource cooperation in specific areas.
Most terms were acceptable—some even necessary.
And because Roldy proposed them, the Five Elders felt oddly reassured.
Which led them to grudgingly accept a few clauses they otherwise would have rejected.
A fragile peace was established.
In the end, Roldy retained a private Den Den Mushi contact linked to Saint Warcury.
Laughter echoed from both sides as the call ended.
"Self-deceiving peace."
The line disconnected.
The Den Den Mushi now belonged to Roldy .
He tapped the table slowly, a mocking smile on his face.
Stussy felt numb.
Two sides destined to be enemies had gone from open insults to cooperation in minutes.
And the World Government's concessions were astonishing.
Some privileges even exceeded those traditionally reserved for the Celestial Dragons.
But that was beyond her station to question.
"Gahahaha! Then I look forward to working with you, Lady Fox."
Roldy turned to her with a grin.
From this moment forward, Stussy—Underworld Emperor and Cipher Pol Aigis Zero (CP0) agent—would serve as liaison between Roldy and the World Government.
On one hand, Roldy lacked direct access to many government channels.
On the other, the Government required a visible overseer to ensure he remained… cooperative.
"You are too kind, Mr. Roldy ."
Though she answered respectfully, her mind raced.
If overwhelming power could bend even the highest authority—
Then could the genius who created her, Dr. Vegapunk, one day walk free from his gilded cage?
The thought was bold.
Perhaps premature.
After all, Vegapunk was confined—but also funded beyond imagination. For a scientist of his caliber, unlimited research funding was nearly impossible to refuse.
Still.
The seed had been planted.
"Well then," Roldy waved dismissively, "if there's nothing else, go back. And contact your Underworld associates. Anyone who wants to surrender should come quickly. I don't have patience to play tug-of-war with weaklings."
His tone was domineering—yet entirely reasonable.
Stussy bowed and departed.
Truthfully, had she remained the night, Roldy likely wouldn't have objected.
She herself would not have minded deepening ties with such a figure.
But Roldy showed no such interest.
The Next Day
Under the send-off of the Big Mom Pirates, Roldy and his crew departed Whole Cake Island.
Leaving alongside them were the remaining Underworld Emperors and several major figures—including Stussy and Bell.
The other four rulers boarded Roldy 's ship with anxious expressions.
They already knew of his ambition to unify the Underworld.
This meeting would determine the concrete division of利益.
The negotiations were straightforward.
Each Underworld Emperor would hand over 60% of net profits to Roldy .
In return:
The World Government's extraction was eliminated.
They gained Roldy 's protection.
They gained access to his trade channels.
In the end—
They would earn slightly more than before.
More importantly—
They were now under the banner of the King of the Next Era.
And in the New World, having a powerful backer meant everything
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