"Hey guys, how's the progress?" Alex asked the trio as they approached Baratie.
"Almost done," replied Yosaku. "Just have to do the calculations like you mentioned. We'll host a free membership for one bounty hunting, and then we'll decide."
"Okay. Remember the phone I gave you? Now you can make voice and video calls with it. Let me show you."
Alex showed the trio and the nearby restaurant workers how the phone worked, demonstrating basic communication features.
"This thing is awesome," Gin said, impressed. "I've seen a couple of Den Den Mushi while I was working in the seas, but this thing is better."
"But boss, how will this help us? What are we going to do with just talking to each other?" asked a confused Johnny.
"Listen," Alex began, "I'll give you guys a hundred of these. Just store them and keep them fully charged at all times. When you make new bounty hunting teams with rookies, create teams with no weaknesses. Make the team like a proper crew: a sniper, a close-range fighter, and whatever else you get from feedback."
"Make a leader among them who has more experience or is the strongest, and give them these phones. First as a trial, and then when they complete the request, charge them either by selling these or letting them in a membership."
"But boss, what happens when they don't return or die in battle, or if the phone is destroyed?" Johnny asked, concerned.
"Good point. While they're taking it on trial or in a membership, make a rulebook and contract. Mention some of the rules in there and take a video of them signing it on your phone as evidence. Clearly state that while they haven't paid and bought the device, the device is guild property."
"If they lose it or it's destroyed during the mission, have them work without getting paid until that amount is covered. If they're killed during the quest, store their phone somewhere safe, then later change its number."
"If they run away after taking it or sell it without permission, post a bounty on them around half the price of the device, block their number, and let everyone buy only one of these and have their basic information available."
"It's good, but what if someone tries to make a copy of this and sell it?" Gin asked, aware of the unpredictability of the sea and devil fruits.
"Then that's even better. Let them spread it as much as they want," Alex replied.
"Huh? But won't we be at a loss if everyone starts buying it from somewhere else?" Gin asked.
"No. Our main income source will be the services we offer with this device, not the device itself with only voice and video communication. Just wait and see," Alex said confidently.
"Okay, if you say so," Gin agreed.
"Then start posting bounties and the format for the recruitment of the first team. Add that we're giving free access to the battle team, with free meals and minimal risk of dying, and a guarantee of getting stronger."
"That's a lot to give. We don't even have money. The meals we can manage with this restaurant, but things like team management and travel expenses—where would we get that? And forget about the bounties," Gin said, concerned.
"Don't worry. This is an investment. We have to take a little risk, but it has great returns. Tell them we're taking just 10% of the bounty received and the remaining they will decide by themselves. Also, inform them that the Marines know about this, so there's no problem fighting pirates openly. If they are mistaken as pirates someday, we can talk to the authorities."
"But still, the money..." Gin trailed off.
"Yeah, I forgot about that. Wait a moment." Alex turned to Nami, who was coming out of the restaurant. "Oy, Nami."
"Yeah?" Nami replied.
"Can you give Gin around 50 million beli?" Alex asked.
"50 million?!" Nami screamed. "Do you know how much money that is? How much I had to travel and fight just to get a million, and you're asking for 50 million? Why do you need so much money?"
"Listen, don't worry. We're not wasting it. This is an investment. If it works out, you can make billions with this or maybe you won't need beli anymore. And if it fails, I'll return your money after we go to the Grand Line," Alex reassured her.
"Really? You're not lying, right? Can we have that much money?" Nami asked seriously, calculating the risk.
"Yeah, there's no loss for you," Alex replied.
"Okay then, let me get the money from the ship," Nami said to Alex and went to the Going Merry.
Turning to Gin, Alex said, "Now there is no temporary problem of money. Just work your way with this much. I think this is more than enough for now."
"Yeah, this much is fine, I guess. But I have another doubt," Gin said.
"Ask," Alex replied.
"What will happen if people stop working after they earn some money, and if everyone becomes a bounty hunter, then what will happen when there are no pirates?"
at this question , alex began to think of new idead to deal with this problem
"Umm...for people not to leave bounty hunting, we have to make them either dependent on it or give them enough motivation to continue," Alex said thoughtfully. "Do one thing: make a lock-in period for their money. Tell them their money will be converted to credits."
"Make a credit system with 10,000 beli as one credit, and we will give them credits based on their performance—like how strong or famous the pirate they killed was, who used the best tactic, etc."
"They can withdraw their credits after accumulating 100,000 credits or completing 100 quests," Alex continued.
"Isn't 100,000 credits and 100 quests too much? Why would anyone join us with these conditions?" Gin asked.
"You don't know human behavior, Gin. Bounty hunters in this sea hunt small pirates and just roam around doing nothing special. But when they're part of an organization, there's engagement. And for the people at higher posts like team leaders or advisors, there's a little fame."
"We will take care of their daily expenses, so they won't have anything to spend their money on. They will just do what they usually do while also thinking they are part of something bigger."
"We just have to convey this subconscious message to their brain before they withdraw their credits and attempt to leave."
"And from the remaining money, open a small bank where they can loan money to buy their weapons or for any personal use, with the money being cut from their remaining credits. And using our services, like the phone, will cost credits."
"And for your second problem—what to do when there are no pirates—just wait for 2-3 months. I think there are enough pirates for this duration."
"Why 2-3 months?" asked a curious Gin.
"Then we will change their lifestyle to one with much less violence. By then, they won't even realize how much they are paying just for services they didn't think they needed," Alex explained.
"I don't understand," Gin admitted.
"Let me explain. They do pirate hunting because they want to survive, be entertained, be engaged, and get stronger. Some do it for the thrill and travel."
"What if we can provide all that without pirating?" Alex asked.
"Then they won't need to do pirate hunting. But how will we do that?" Zoro asked, intrigued by the conversation.
"It's not that hard. We just have to make their everyday and recurring expenses fulfilled by our currency. Hire some blacksmiths to make better quality swords than the market and sell them in the guild. Invite all famous blacksmiths to the guild, give them a place to live, good food, respect, fame, and credits to gain confidence."
"Create an environment like a small school where experienced blacksmiths teach younger ones. Charge them for their learning and condition them to work for three months only for the guild. Make a system so that the blacksmiths never want to leave."
"Like an achievement for best-selling blacksmith and promoting them, increasing sales, just so no blacksmith wants to go back to their previous lifestyle. Do this, and most of the blacksmiths will come work for us."
"People will have to search for blacksmiths if they do not join us. They will get higher prices, lower quality, and might get killed in battle. That will be a strong promotion for us and a reason to stay in the guild."
"Aside from weapons, there is food, which could be managed by this restaurant. Invite all available cooks from East Blue to attend an event hosted by this restaurant—a competition for the best cook with a prize of 100,000 beli and a lesson to improve their cooking skills."
"Do this regularly, until there are enough people. Someone from Baratie will win. Then, in the improvement class, the chefs here will teach rookie cooks to make better food. Offer them a chance to join Baratie and offer their services as cooks here."
"Make their salary double, give them free cooking lessons, and create a system where they earn money by completing orders, not by time. Long-term users and loyal members can become Baratie franchise owners. Give them a restaurant on loan, sell them ingredients, charge rent, interest, and royalty per customer, making them oblivious of the ignored charges."
"By the time they get comfortable in the system, drop their salaries to a quarter of what they used to receive, saying it will be converted into other services or membership, or don't say anything."
"Food is solved. Do the same with fame, power, and other psychological needs. If they need fame, give them awards at the month's end in front of other members. Create new positions, form communities of every 50 people, and make communities of communities to keep them engaged."
"If they want power, the quickest way to get it should be with us. Keep updating your training mechanism, teach them strategies, make their path in life simple without much thinking, issue customized requests, make them powerful step-by-step, and start selling devil fruits if you find any."
"We just have to make sure whatever they want, they can have by simply joining us, or they have a rough life. Promote this standard of living to normal people and create a tourism service starting with the Grand Line. When we go to the Grand Line, I will find a safe route within the first half of the Grand Line to travel to nearby islands and open branches there."
"The people who dream of going to the Grand Line will go with our services, or book a slot on our cruise ship with triple the money and fewer luxurious facilities."
"For the coming months, you have one goal," Alex said, looking at Gin.
"Make the people who join us think this is the best life can give them. And for those who don't join us, somehow make them feel they are missing out in life," Alex said seriously.
The crew, Gin, and the people standing there had their mouths open upon hearing Alex's words.
"This...this is...I don't know what to call it. You are a genius," exclaimed Gin.
"Although the plan is good, it doesn't seem easy," said Sanji.
"It's not easy, but it's interesting, and you'll love making it happen," Alex said, glancing at the trio.
"Yeah, this will be an adventure. We will be so busy, hahaha," laughed Gin and the chefs.
"Wait..." Gin suddenly thought of something and said, staring at Alex, "Is this what you call engagement? A purpose in life? Being part of something big? And being bound to an organization that provides what they can't get elsewhere, like me being freed from pirating and being hunted for bounty?"