The layout of the top floor was equally luxurious, with gold, exquisite blankets, and splendid golden furnishings. Fujitora might be blind, but Rowen was starting to feel a bit tired of the extravagance.
Rowen adjusted the cufflinks on his suit sleeves and took a seat with Fujitora, beginning to savor the delicacies.
The food was equally extravagant, with the most succulent parts of Large-Scale Sea Kings served one after another. Just these alone would require the meat from at least two Sea Kings.
Wines from the East Blue, salmon from the West Blue, cheese from the North Blue, and fruits from the South Blue— delicacies from all corners of the world and even seasonal specialties were gathered here.
It was clear that while Tesoro had a sinister side, his outward appearance truly lived up to his title of “Gold Emperor.” The food, clothing, and furnishings were not only the most expensive but also the finest.
Fujitora was a down-to-earth guy. Upon catching a whiff of the delicious food and wine, he immediately dug in. Taking advantage of a good deal was his philosophy, and Rowen was equally satisfied with the feast.
Seeing this, Tesoro breathed a sigh of relief.
Even with his wealth, collecting all these items on the table wouldn’t be an easy feat.
Being able to eat was a good thing, and it created a pleasant atmosphere for conversation. It was just worrisome if they didn’t eat and kept finding faults—it would reveal everything.
After indulging in a sumptuous meal, the three of them enjoyed some tea to aid digestion. Then, Tesoro led them to a hot spring pool he had crafted from Pure Gold. He summoned a group of ladies in swimsuits, and everyone sat in the pool, sipping wine.
The pool’s design was clever, with a suitable depth. Even Ability users sitting in it wouldn’t feel too drained. They could enjoy the soothing touch of the hot spring water while feeling a slight relaxation in their bodies.
Coupled with the enchanting females and fine wine around them, it was easy to get lost in the moment.
Fujitora was a guy who didn’t know how to enjoy himself. When those women tried to massage him, he suddenly tensed up, and his old face turned bright red. It was unclear if it was from the thick steam of the hot spring or something else.
Rowen, on the other hand, was unfazed. He allowed them to massage him while holding his wine glass, exchanging banter with them.
This banquet was a delight for both the host and the guests!
Tesoro was very pleased with the performance of the two men. With two women now massaging him, he spoke.
“I wonder, Fujitora San, have you considered my proposal?”
‘Here it comes!’
Fujitora opened his lifeless, gray-white eyes. The woman holding the wine glass on his back trembled in fear. After a moment’s pause, he slowly spoke.
“This is a mutually beneficial arrangement. I have no reason to refuse. However…”
“Fujitora San, please rest assured! I will absolutely not interfere with any aspect of Century City’s operation. We will only exchange shares and dividends, and contact will only be made when necessary.”
Fujitora had just begun with a “however” when Tesoro immediately reassured him.
He definitely couldn’t bring up the things he used against past partners with Fujitora. He couldn’t afford the consequences.
This was also the influence that Rowen’s open and covert struggles had on him during the journey… With the crafty Marine Vice Admiral behind Fujitora’s support, even though they were both major shareholders of Century City, Tesoro was the first to make concessions.
With strength, cunning, and status… even someone who could punch Celestial Dragons without repercussions, Tesoro didn’t want to provoke him when he was already full and satisfied.
Fujitora was very pleased with this outcome. Just as he was about to nod, Rowen interjected, “But how can this be? After all, we are partners. This would make things seem too distant.”
“Oh? I wonder what Vice Admiral means?”
‘Here it comes!’
Tesoro’s heart skipped a beat, and his lips twitched slightly as he smiled and asked.
“I believe we should all interact more regularly on ordinary days! Money may be limitless, but who would refuse the opportunity to earn more?”
Interact more?
Oh… Is he trying to get me to work for free?! Tesoro’s eyes widened.
The connections and customer base of Golden City far surpassed what Century City could currently compare to. Rowen’s suggestion was simply to have Tesoro leverage his resources to pave the way for Century City’s development. Of course, he wouldn’t allow Tesoro to casually meddle in the operational management of Century City.
What a cunning move!
Tesoro was about to explode, but considering the power dynamic among the three, he held back and nodded while holding his wine glass.
“Vice Admiral Soryu makes a valid point. How about this… Currently, both the Grand Line First Half and Second Half have luxury entertainment cities in place, and the customer base is already quite diversified. However, the Four Seas still lacks an impressive entertainment city. Why don’t we pool our resources to establish a branch in the Four Seas? Just like Vice Admiral Soryu (Azure Dragon) suggested, let’s make even more money.”
“Starting Century City was tough. Just dealing with Gatt Island is giving us a headache. As a Marine, I have to be cautious. Fujitora may be capable, but he doesn’t have as many underlings as the Gold Emperor to share the pressure. Implementing this plan will be difficult for now.”
Hmph!
Playing games with me?
Rowen inwardly smirked. How should I put it? Asking someone to do twice the work for one paycheck, is truly a businessman’s move.
“Very well, that is truly regrettable.”
Tesoro cursed inwardly at the cunning move, but he didn’t dare to show it on the surface. He continued, “Since that’s the case, how should we go about drafting the specific agreement? If you’ll pardon my frankness, Vice Admiral Soryu (Azure Dragon), it’s better to be prepared in advance.”
“Don’t worry. Before coming here, I had already entrusted the financial advisor of the White Gull Chamber of Commerce and Marine’s Chief of Staff Tsuru to discuss this… You, bring me my suit.”
The White Gull Chamber of Commerce, the largest chamber of commerce to emerge from East Blue, had substantial holdings even in the Grand Line. The old captain owed Rowen a favor after being saved in the East Blue, so he agreed to act as a go-between.
These purely commercial matters were beyond Tsuru’s expertise.
At the words, a young woman nodded and walked out. She returned shortly, holding Rowen’s grey-blue suit, and knelt down.
She pulled out a draft of the agreement from the pocket and handed it to Tesoro.
“Take a look first…”
“So Vice Admiral Soryu (Azure Dragon) came prepared!”
Then, Tesoro began to argue over the various items in the agreement.
For example, not only would Golden City provide Century City’s hospitality vouchers, but Century City would also provide Golden City’s hospitality vouchers. For example, in the event of a simultaneous accident, while Fujitora had the right to address Century City’s issues first, Golden City would also bear a portion of the losses incurred during that time, and vice versa.
For example, Golden City’s suppliers would also be open to Century City, but the pricing would need to be negotiated by them personally.
For example…
In this process, Fujitora stared with his seemingly sightless eyes, dumbfounded, as the negotiation over the agreement unfolded. A multitude of issues he had never considered were spread out on that thin draft agreement, ultimately securing him the greatest initiative.
Finally, Tesoro, perhaps influenced by the scantily clad young woman beside him, turned bright red, his nostrils flaring as he breathed heavily.
“That’s about it. Have someone redraft it. Once it’s signed, we’ll be partners!”
Rowen took a sip of wine to moisten his throat, finally putting an end to the bargaining. Tesoro let out a long sigh of relief, waved his hand, and had a woman step forward to take the draft of the agreement.
It was then that Rowen realized the woman who had been kneeling behind him was none other than the famous songstress Carina from the original story. Thinking of the events in the original Golden City arc, he smiled wryly and said, “Isn’t that the renowned songstress Carina? Tesoro San, you’re quite fortunate…”
Although he took a slight loss in the agreement, the fact that he managed to rope in both Rowen and Fujitora into his money-making venture left Tesoro in high spirits. He raised an eyebrow and revealed a knowing smile that all men understood.
“Vice Admiral Soryu (Azure Dragon), are you interested? I can arrange something for you…”
“That would be wonderful!”
Rowen beamed with joy, but then suddenly turned somber, furrowing his brows. “However, I must say, I don’t enjoy being associated with others or being part of a group…”
Tesoro: (=ω=)!
What did you say? I don’t understand!
(End of this chapter)
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