Chapter 306: Five Billion
The next morning, Dalton returned in full guard attire and led Axel, Vivi, and Karoo toward the royal castle.
"This is where His Majesty resides," he said as they approached. "When you meet the King, remember to observe proper etiquette."
Dalton glanced toward the distant coast.
"I have patrol duties, so I'll leave you here."
Vivi nodded politely.
Axel, on the other hand, looked completely unconcerned.
Before them stood an enormous fortress covered in frost.
A thin layer of white clung to its walls, softening the massive structure without diminishing its imposing appearance. Beneath the snow and ice lay thick masonry, each block fitted together to form a stronghold capable of enduring the harsh climate of Drum Island.
The castle was almost entirely white, yet it did not feel plain.
Against the surrounding snowfields and mountains, it stood like a massive bulwark carved from winter itself.
Royal guards escorted Axel and Vivi through the fortress until they stopped before a large door.
"His Majesty is waiting inside."
The guard's tone carried a subtle warning.
Once they entered, there would be no opportunity to prepare themselves.
Wapol was not known for patience or consideration. The guard seemed less concerned about whether the visitors would offend the King than whether their actions would somehow drag him into the consequences.
The doors opened.
Crunch.
Crunch.
Crunch.
The first sound that greeted them was chewing.
But it was nothing like the sound of ordinary food being eaten.
Metal scraped against teeth with an unpleasant clang.
Sitting on an oversized chair was a large, broad-bodied man dressed in a thick winter cloak and cotton hat.
His hair was messy.
Stubble covered his chin.
Nothing about him carried the dignity one might expect from a king.
If anything, he resembled an immensely wealthy glutton who had somehow wandered onto a throne.
His enormous mouth occupied nearly half his face.
And what he was chewing was not food.
It was some kind of brand-new metal machine.
Axel stared at it for a moment.
Even knowing about the Munch-Munch Fruit, seeing someone casually chew through machinery was still rather unpleasant.
Vivi lowered her gaze.
Out of habit and respect for royal protocol, she started to kneel.
Before she could, Axel caught her arm and stopped her.
Vivi looked up at him in surprise.
Axel was still staring at Wapol.
"I really don't understand how he can swallow that."
He frowned.
"Just watching it is making me lose my appetite."
His voice was not loud.
Unfortunately, the throne room was quiet enough that everyone heard him perfectly.
Several guards immediately turned toward him.
A few seconds passed before one finally shouted,
"Insolent! Why are you not kneeling before His Majesty the King?!"
Axel ignored him.
The guards exchanged awkward looks.
Oddly enough, Wapol himself had shown no reaction.
He simply kept eating.
Crunch.
Crunch.
Only after swallowing the last piece of machinery did Wapol finally raise his head.
"Who are you?"
Without waiting for an answer, he picked up another piece of metal and stuffed it into his mouth.
Axel looked at him.
"Does it matter?"
Wapol chewed thoughtfully.
"Not really."
He swallowed.
"But you interrupted my meal."
His wide mouth curved into an unpleasant grin.
"If you don't give me a good reason, maybe I'll eat you instead."
He looked Axel over.
"I've always wondered what someone with skin that pale would taste like."
Axel stared at him.
"What a disgusting sense of humor."
He could hardly imagine anyone except the owner of the Munch-Munch Fruit saying something like that so casually.
"I came because I need doctors."
Wapol scratched his head.
"Doctors?"
A guard hurried forward and whispered into his ear.
After listening for a moment, Wapol seemed to remember.
"Oh, right."
"I did order all the best doctors in the kingdom to serve me exclusively."
He leaned back.
"So you want to use my doctors?"
"Yes."
Wapol grinned.
"Then what are you going to pay me?"
"Berries."
That immediately caught his interest.
"How much?"
Wapol leaned forward.
"You should know that a small amount won't impress me."
"And if you wasted my time for nothing, I might really eat you."
Axel raised one finger.
Wapol frowned.
"I hate guessing games."
"And riddles."
"Say the number."
Axel smiled.
"One hundred million Berries."
The room fell silent.
Even the guards were stunned.
One hundred million Berries was no trivial amount.
Vivi turned sharply toward Axel.
For Alabasta in its current condition, that kind of money was enormous.
Before the crisis, one hundred million Berries would already have been substantial.
Now, with rebellion spreading and the kingdom deteriorating, such a sum could support an entire town or buy valuable time for people suffering under the worsening situation.
And Axel was offering it simply for medical treatment.
Wapol's eyes widened.
"One hundred million?"
His expression became suspicious.
"You'd better not be lying."
"I hate liars."
"It's real."
Axel remained calm.
"But I'm not asking for one doctor."
"I want all twenty of the doctors under your control."
He paused.
"And I have a few requirements of my own."
Wapol waved dismissively.
"I don't care about your requirements."
"If you bring me one hundred million Berries, you can use the doctors however you like."
Then he pointed a finger at Axel.
"But you can't take them off the island."
"Fine."
Wapol rubbed his hands together.
"So when do I get the money?"
His attention had already wandered.
"One hundred million Berries..."
He muttered to himself.
"How much steel could I buy with that?"
"That alloy I ate last time was pretty good too..."
Axel interrupted his thoughts.
"The payment will arrive a little later."
Wapol stopped.
"What?"
"I don't have that much money with me."
Axel spoke as though this were entirely normal.
"But someone owes me."
"I'll contact him."
"The money should arrive soon."
Wapol's expression darkened immediately.
"Later?"
His voice became heavier.
"I hate waiting."
"You won't have to wait long."
Axel turned toward the door.
Before Wapol could say anything else, he simply pushed it open and walked out.
Vivi hurried after him.
Once they were outside the castle, she finally caught up.
"Where are you planning to get one hundred million Berries?"
Axel glanced at her.
"I already told you."
"Someone owes me money."
Vivi stared at him.
The problem was not that his explanation made no sense.
It was that he said it far too casually.
"Even if someone owes you that much, how are you supposed to contact them from all the way out here?"
She paused.
Then Axel reached inside his clothes.
Vivi stopped talking.
A gleaming Golden Transponder Snail appeared in his hand.
"...Never mind."
She immediately understood how he planned to make contact.
Still, there was another problem.
"Fine. You can contact him."
"But how are you going to make someone deliver one hundred million Berries all the way here?"
Vivi shook her head.
"Collecting a debt is difficult enough when you're standing in front of the person."
"Doing it from another island on the Grand Line is even worse."
Axel's lips curved into a meaningful smile.
"Don't worry."
"That person hates owing anyone."
He looked down at the Golden Transponder Snail.
"And he especially hates owing me."
"If I give him an opportunity to clear part of the debt, he'll probably be delighted."
Vivi blinked.
"What a strange person."
Then curiosity got the better of her.
"How much does he owe you, anyway?"
Axel answered without hesitation.
"Five billion Berries."
Vivi stopped walking.
For several seconds, she simply stared at him in complete silence.
....
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