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Sakazuki was taken aback, filled with doubts.
A slight shock!
What could it be?
But clearly, now wasn't the time to ask questions, as it would disrupt the atmosphere.
So, he'd have to rely on himself to understand what the boss meant.
"Should I show them something impressive?"
"What I really want to do right now is melt that old man."
Sakazuki thought to himself.
He firmly believes in absolute justice, and in his eyes, there's no room for compromise.
To him, anyone who doesn't cooperate with the Marines is as "evil" as a pirate, and he'd rather eliminate them than let them go.
The old appraiser leading the group, after rejecting Akira, was already marked for death in Sakazuki's mind.
Akira's intent should align with his own.
Lava began to ooze from Sakazuki's right hand, his whole body exuding a strong sulfuric smell as he moved forward like a ferocious beast.
The old appraiser's heart raced wildly.
Feeling Sakazuki's undisguised killing intent, his face turned pale, and he collapsed to the ground, trembling in fear.
The Admiral candidate, forged in the fires of countless battles, exuded a killing intent that would terrify even a pirate with a bounty of hundreds of millions.
Let alone this old appraiser, who had never known hardship or violence.
"Cough cough..."
A light cough came from the Den Den Mushi behind him, causing Sakazuki to pause.
He reconsidered and then vanished, reappearing moments later.
This time, he was holding the neck of a pirate who had been imprisoned on a warship.
Sizzle!
Magma erupted from his arm, enveloping the pirate entirely.
The pirate didn't even have time to scream before melting into a pool of liquid that dripped onto the ice.
The appraisers witnessed this horrifying scene, and their breath caught in their throats.
"Do you want to try this little Marine shock too?"
"Don't worry, not a single bone will be left. I'll make sure your family gets what's left of you after you fuse with the magma."
Sakazuki stepped forward, grabbed the old appraiser by the collar, and held him up.
The old appraiser's pants were soaked.
At that moment, all his pride and dignity vanished.
Before the threat of death, no one remains calm.
"The Golden City is worth tens of trillions of berries. I swear it on my reputation and my life."
The old appraiser's voice was as shrill as a eunuch's.
Sakazuki looked past him, eyeing the others.
"The value of this Golden City is immeasurable, not just quadrillions or trillions, it's worth far more."
"In fact, I've wanted to say it's worth tens of trillions for a while, but I didn't get the chance."
"I swear on the life of the senior appraiser, it's definitely worth it."
The ninety-nine appraisers, seeing the situation, quickly agreed, speaking earnestly.
Afraid that if they hesitated, they too would melt into liquid and disappear from the world.
The Den Den Mushi listening quietly, its corners slightly curved in a smirk.
"It's happening, it's happening, the appraisers are finally giving their estimate."
"Come on, give us a number already!"
"It's worth at least a billion berries."
"Where do you think you are, backwater townsfolk? If this Golden City is only worth a billion, how many fools do you take us for!"
The people at the port were eager to know the true value of the Golden City.
A hundred appraisers emerged.
The old appraiser leading them was supported to the front, his legs trembling.
"Everyone, everyone! After a thorough and responsible discussion, our hundred appraisers have reached a consensus.
In the end, we agreed that this Golden City cannot be assessed with ordinary standards."
The old appraiser swallowed hard.
As he hesitated, the sea breeze brushed past him, and doubts crept back in.
His family had been in the gold appraisal business for over 300 years. If their valuation was exposed as fraudulent, their reputation would be completely ruined.
But just then, a burning sensation flared up from his back, and the clear killing intent jolted him awake.
To hell with a 300-year-old family business—if the Marines, who have upheld justice for 800 years, don't care about reputation, why should he?
There were still a few concubines waiting for him at home.
The old appraiser's resolve hardened, and his tone became confident, steady, and quick.
"As you all know, this batch of gold was excavated by the Marines from the long-lost Shandora, and it's been 400 years since then."
"Do you realize what this time span represents? It means that this Golden City is a cultural relic of immense value."
"Imagine if your family had a toilet that was bought for 10 berries 400 years ago. Today, it would be worth at least a few million berries at auction. Now, consider the grandeur of this Golden City."
"And just so you know, I took a closer look earlier. This city is not only filled with a large number of Shandian totems and inscriptions, but it also contains many gold-carved objects that can only be described as masterpieces."
"This is incredibly significant for scholars. How did the Shandians, who relied on primitive tools for fire, melt gold and craft such intricate objects? Understanding the development process of that era holds enormous historical value."
"Moreover, the gold here is incredibly pure, unlike the market's counterfeit gold, which is mixed with all sorts of impurities. This gold is like the purest, most noble bloodline—the VIP of gold."
"And the most crucial point—this is the world's first Golden City. We're not talking about small items like gold crowns or rings. This is an entire city!"
"Do you understand what this means? It's a [True Gold Ancient City] that has withstood 400 years of history and remains standing today!"
The old appraiser suddenly brought the amplified Den Den Mushi in front of him, his voice full of pride as he roared out.
The expression on his flushed face made it seem like this Golden City was indeed worth trillions of berries.
Even though the people at the port and the world residents watching the live broadcast might not fully grasp the significance, they could tell from the old appraiser's expression that this Golden City was something extraordinary.
"In the eyes of those who know its worth, this Golden City is remarkable."
"Its value can't be calculated simply by the price of gold; there are so many attributes to consider."
"Literary value!"
"Archaeological significance!"
"Artistic craftsmanship!"
"The pure gold unit price!"
The old appraiser rattled off dozens of professional terms in quick succession.
He left not only the entire world stunned, but even the appraisers behind him were taken aback, their mouths agape as they stared at the old appraiser in admiration.
For all their differences, his eloquence was something they couldn't even dream of matching.
Indeed, an old hand in the trade is like a treasure!
At least now, with enough convincing reasons, they could deceive people with confidence.
And after all that talk, there was only one point to convey: with so many layers of meaning stacked on top, it wouldn't be unreasonable to add a little more berries to the base valuation, right?
Sure enough, after fifteen minutes, the old appraiser, nearly out of breath, paused to catch it.
After regaining his composure, he continued:
"All of us agree that the valuation of Golden City is complex and can't be captured with a single number."
"But if we absolutely must express it in berries, then its total value is..."
The old appraiser glanced back, signaling with his eyes.
The sharp look in those old eyes made it clear: they were all in this together, and no one could afford to backstab anyone else.
The other appraisers exchanged looks and finally nodded in resignation.
"Its total value is..." the old appraiser raised his hand and shouted.
Ninety-nine appraisers stepped forward in unison and shouted loudly:
"Quadrillion!" x100
Their voices swept across the sea and echoed through the crowd at the port ahead.
The entire world heard the declaration through the live Den Den Mushi broadcast.
"Pfft~~~" Borsalino, who was previously lounging without a care, immediately lost his composure upon hearing the valuation, his face filled with disbelief.
What the hell?
Is this Golden City really worth a quadrillion berries?
You've got to be kidding me.
Even Kuzan's eyes widened in surprise.
Sensing the questioning gazes from both of them, Sakazuki shook his head slightly and said in a low voice, "I'll explain everything after today is over. Focus on the present for now."
At that moment, a heavy silence fell over everyone.
Even the Marine soldiers tasked with maintaining order were struck speechless by the sheer magnitude of the valuation.
All eyes turned to the Golden City, which still glimmered with a noble golden light under the sun. Their gazes were filled with greed.
No, it should be called the True Gold Ancient City.
This was 100% pure gold, purer than any gold on the market, and it held immense value as a collector's item.
Almost unconsciously, everyone stretched out their hands and moved forward, as if they were trying to resist the urge to claim it for themselves.
Hum.
Suddenly, a powerful force surged, forming a gust of wind that swept in all directions.
Sakazuki, Polusalino, and Kuzan quickly gathered their focus, their Devil Fruit abilities ready to be unleashed.
Sakazuki: "Finally, they can't hold back any longer?"
Borsalino: "I recognize a lot of familiar faces, but weren't these monsters supposed to be in the New World?"
Kuzan: "This is going to be troublesome. It seems like it might be tough for just the three of us to handle."
Pirates and mafia members hiding in the shadows grinned with bloodthirsty smiles, ready to make their move.
But just then!
Zizizi.
The sound of electricity crackled, cutting through the tension, and simultaneously, a figure appeared on live broadcast screens around the world.
The prepared Den Den Mushi at the port projected the image as well.
"Such a valuable treasure is unique in the entire world."
"We, the Marines, are not pirates; we would never destroy the True Gold Ancient City to sell it off."
Seated in the Fleet Admiral's office, Akira, dressed in a black suit with the word "Justice" draped across his back, appeared on everyone's screens.
"People all over the world who are watching the live broadcast, this is the current acting Fleet Admiral of the Marines, Lord Akira."
"Next, on behalf of the Marines, he will explain the plan for the disposition of the True Gold Ancient City."
A voice from off-screen introduced him.
For those who weren't aware, this was the moment they learned of Akira's identity.
Akira looked serious as he clasped his hands and propped his chin, speaking solemnly:
"The True Gold Ancient City remained hidden on Sky Island for four hundred years, only to reappear in this era of great pirates. I believe it seeks to contribute to justice."
"But to us Marines, it's just a dead object, and it's worthless if it's not in berries."
"However, dismantling such a precious thing into millions of pieces is not only a waste of resources, but also a loss for all of humanity."
Everyone watching nodded in agreement.
Such a symbolic and historic piece of pure gold—if it were broken down and repurposed like any other gold—it would truly be a waste.
Moreover, most people believed that with the backing of the World Government, the Marines weren't short of money, so holding onto the gold would serve little purpose.
Thus, breaking it down would be wasteful, and leaving it untouched would turn it into little more than a display—something that would be a shame to keep and a waste to discard.
"So, is the True Gold Ancient City destined to become just another relic for display?"
"No!"
"In order to ensure it serves a purpose and benefits the entire world, I've decided that..."
"Marine Headquarters will establish 'Marine Branch Banks' on various islands around the world."
"These Marine Banks will handle deposits and withdrawals for all people and safeguard the hard-earned berries of every citizen."
As Akira got up and walked out of his office, the Den Den Mushi at Marineford followed him, eventually leading him through a corridor and into the square.
There, in the square's most prominent position, a new building had sprung up.
In front of the building stood ten powerful Marine generals, wearing the word "Justice," lined up in two rows.
In the distance, thousands of soldiers formed a silent circle, guarding and defending the new structure.
Majestic, powerful!
This was the first impression of everyone watching the live broadcast.
At the top of the new building, a large plaque gleamed with golden light:
"Marine Headquarters Bank."
Below the golden letters on the plaque, two lines of clearly visible text were printed:
"800-year-old brand, very trustworthy!"
"Justice Bank, Reputation Guaranteed!"
Akira strode into the grand and luxuriously decorated hall. Inside, a sweet-looking female Marine with a friendly smile was seated at a service window, assisting a soldier with a deposit.
The soldier handed over 100,000 berries and two photos of himself. The female Marine counted the money publicly, then prepared two beautiful certificates of deposit that looked impossible to fake. She wrote the amount—100,000 berries—on them, attached the soldier's photo, stamped them for authentication, and handed one copy back to him.
The soldier carefully checked everything, signed his name after confirming the amount, and kept a copy for himself while handing the other to the female Marine. On that deposit slip, he also filled in a password that only he knew.
As soon as he left, another soldier walked in, handing over an exquisite deposit receipt. The female Marine verified his identity through the photo, compared the two deposit slips, and confirmed they matched.
"Please tell me your withdrawal password," the female Marine requested.
"123456," the soldier responded.
After verifying that the password on the deposit slip matched what he had said, she handed him 100,000 berries.
After completing the transaction, both soldiers faced the Den Den Mushi at the same time.
The female Marine smiled, showing her dimples, and confidently said, "Marine Bank: Easy deposits and withdrawals, safe and worry-free!"
The male soldier gave a thumbs up and grinned brightly, adding, "Strong security, with triple verification of identity, photo, and private password—you can trust us!"
The simple and straightforward demonstration left people who had never seen such a banking model stunned, but it was clear what they meant to convey.
Depositing a large sum of berries into Marine Bank would get you a secure certificate of deposit. When you needed to use your money, you could simply use the certificate to withdraw your berries.
To prevent theft, a unique password was set, known only to the bank and the depositor.
Is it convenient?
Very convenient!
Is it safe?
Absolutely safe!
In the next moment, the perspective shifted back to Akira, who stood in front of thousands of soldiers once again.
"Assessed and confirmed by hundreds of experts, the True Gold Ancient City, with a valuation of tens of billions of berries, will be closely tied to Marine Bank."
"So, everyone, rest assured that your berries are safe in the bank, even in the face of pirates and criminals."
"I, Akira, with Marine's 800-year legacy, assure you—"
"If the berries you deposit in Marine Bank are ever stolen, the bank will repay you in full. We will never let those who trust us suffer any losses."
"And if some big pirate were truly capable of stealing all the berries in the world, our True Gold Ancient City is more than enough to cover it."
"So, people of the world, what are you waiting for?"
"Instead of hiding your hard-earned berries at home and waiting for pirates to rob you, deposit them in Marine Bank."
"Don't be afraid when the pirates come—your money will always be safe."
"Marine won't fail, and the bank will last forever!"
Akira spread his arms wide, a confident smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
Behind him, the soldiers raised their arms in unison, roaring at the top of their lungs:
"Marine won't fail, the bank will last forever!"
Their voices thundered, shaking Marineford to its core, and sent a powerful surge of emotion through everyone watching the live broadcast. Their hearts beat like drums, and their blood boiled with excitement.