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Chapter 49: Celestial Dragons Are Valuable
"I see..." The rest of the Five Elders looked at each other and finally, they all smiled wryly. For the Celestial Dragons, bloodline matters, but it's not everything. The powerful have never shown mercy or pity. Only benefits are eternal. Besides, a son can be replaced at any time.
"What a sensible kid."
"This saves us a lot of trouble."
"One billion Baileys is not a small amount."
"Indeed."
The Five Elders gave their approval.
Saint Damocles smiled and said, "Darren is a smart kid. Maybe after this incident, we can maintain a long-term relationship with him."
Upon hearing this, the eyes of the other Five Elders lit up slightly. It was a good idea. Anyone could see that Rogers Darren, the Admiral of the North Blue, would soon join the highest decision-making level of the Marines. With his skills and intelligence, it could be only a matter of time before he became a Marine Admiral. Having a Marine Admiral who answers directly to the World Government would increase their control over the Marines and allow them to monitor the other generals.
Seeing the expressions of his colleagues change, Damocles secretly sneered. He was already a high authority in the World Government, with tremendous power. A mere order or glance from him could destroy a country. Yet, he wanted more. His name was Damocles, the symbol of divine authority! His ultimate goal was to become the head of the Five Elders. However, his family's influence in the Holy Land was not as significant as his colleagues'. If he wanted to reach the top, he needed external forces.
The Marines, the largest enforcer of the World Government's laws, was where he would start. He planned to support Rogers Darren's rise to power within the Marines, gradually taking control step by step. Eventually, his influence in the World Government would greatly increase.
"But before that, let's examine the results of this investigation," Saint Damocles said, changing the topic with a smile as he opened the file in his hand.
---
North Blue, Branch 321.
In the base chief's office, after seeing off Sengoku, Darren returned from Bhatia Island with Flying Squirrel and the others.
"So... Are you sure everything is fine with the Holy Land?" Flying Squirrel asked Darren, who sat calmly puffing on his cigar.
Darren exhaled a cloud of smoke and smiled slyly, "I sent a rather generous condolence to Saint Shields' family, which they couldn't turn down." He put particular emphasis on the word "generous."
"Condolences? What kind?" Flying Squirrel inquired, puzzled.
"One billion Baileys."
"What!?" Flying Squirrel gasped, in disbelief.
A billion Baileys wasn't a small amount. It equaled the annual taxes of many small to medium-sized kingdoms. In the entire North Blue region, the taxes collected by supporting numerous mafia families and criminal groups only slightly exceeded 2 billion Baileys a year. Now, they had spent half a year's work in North Blue just to offer their "condolences."
In their original plan, the establishment of the North Blue Marine fleet never included such an immense allocation of resources and funding.
"Are you crazy?" asked Flying Squirrel, looking helplessly at the calm Darren.
As Darren's adjutant, he served as both a steward and a staff officer.
Witnessing Darren spend money so freely, it seemed to Flying Squirrel that his heart was bleeding.
"It's all worth it," Darren said, flicking ash off his cigarette.
"If you lose money, you can make more, but not everyone has the chance to give gifts to Celestial Dragons. If I hadn't established connections with St. Damocles this time, the merchant ship I sent wouldn't have been allowed to enter the inland sea of the Red Line."
One billion Baileys was indeed an astronomical sum.
After all, it was only the year 1492 of the Sea Circle Calendar, the era of great pirates had not yet begun, inflation was far from terrifying, and the Bailey still had strong purchasing power.
Even for a legendary pirate like Byrnndi Waldo, known as the "World Destroyer," the bounty was only 200 million Baileys.
One billion Baileys was equal to five Byrnndi Waldos.
But to Darren, the expense was justified.
In this world, strength was always the top priority, with power a close second, not money.
After hearing Darren's explanation, Flying Squirrel pondered it carefully and conceded that it wasn't unreasonable, yet he still felt a twinge of pain:
"It's still too expensive..."
"Expensive?" Darren looked up at him, then broke into a smile, "I think it's sort of amusing."
Flying Squirrel asked, puzzled, "What do you mean?"
Darren leaned back, taking a puff of his cigar, "Celestial Dragons wield supreme power in this world. They can plunder and trade people like pigs, dogs, and other animals. For them, money is everything."
He paused, then laughed mockingly, "But this time, it demonstrates one thing... even the lives of Celestial Dragons have a price."
Flying Squirrel sadly acknowledged the truth of this.
Darren, with his unique way of thinking and a hint of madness in his bones, could only come up with such a notion.
A moment later, Flying Squirrel recalled something and asked slowly, "The investigation about the Marine..."
Darren smiled, "The report has been submitted. I've provided everything the government needs without condition."
"The sailing conditions of the warships at the time of the incident and the positions of the Marine officers... Of course, our North Blue Marine is included."
Flying Squirrel frowned, "What about you?"
"Me?" Darren said with a half-smile, "I, the Admiral of North Blue, was on Bhatia Island at the time, fulfilling my duties."
"On this point, the leaders of the North Blue Marine fleet and members of the Naval Headquarters inspection team, Major Kake and Major Gion, can vouch for me."
He then added, "It's the perfect alibi."
After speaking, Darren snuffed out his cigar, donned his Marine cape, and said, "Let's go. Now that the headquarters' officials have left, we have work to do."
"Where are you going?" Flying Squirrel asked in surprise.
Darren continued walking, pushing the door open. The cold sea breeze caused his cape to billow behind him.
"Money taken from one Celestial Dragon must be reclaimed from another," Darren declared.
Flying Squirrel was taken aback at first but then immediately understood.
A name came to mind—Don Quixote Doflamingo.