"And there's one last point, the most important one."
"We've seized a lot of treasures and Devil Fruits, many of which we don't need, but others do."
"Moreover, besides us officers, there are plenty of treasures and Devil Fruits in the hands of other pirates."
"So, I propose we establish a trading center on Hachinosu Island, a Pirate Expo, to exchange what we need."
"During this time, there must be no conflicts on Hachinosu Island, and this order will be maintained by all of us present."
"This will last for one month. After that, everyone can go their separate ways without any rules to bind us."
Li Yuan continued.
"Ha ha ha! That's a good proposal! Hachinosu Island has many of my future crew members. I don't want them to kill each other over treasures before my Flying Pirate Crew even gets established!"
The Golden Lion was pleased with Li Yuan's proposal.
Now that Rocks was dead, they could divide up the territories previously held by the Rocks Pirates.
To occupy more territory, they needed more subordinates and treasures.
The pirates on Hachinosu Island were all elite, and they wanted to peacefully recruit those pirates into their crews to strengthen their own.
After all, the time for competing for territory in the New World was approaching; the stronger the pirate crew, the more territory they could claim.
"Ha ha ha! That's right, my Flying Pirate Crew needs to recruit as well, and we need a period of peace to develop."
The Golden Lion was also very satisfied.
The other officers had no objections; they indeed required a peaceful time to digest their gains.
The discussions among the officers quickly spread across Hachinosu Island.
Those pirates with vast riches breathed a sigh of relief upon receiving the news. After all, those who had plundered the Valley of the Gods had collected a lot of treasures.
If the order in Hachinosu Island collapsed, they would become targets for other pirates.
Now that many officers were maintaining order, they felt somewhat secure.
**World Economic News Agency Headquarters:**
"President! President! This is the biggest and most explosive news ever!!"
Morgans exclaimed while looking at the news footage captured from the Valley of the Gods, his feathers shaking with excitement.
This was news about the Celestial Dragons, specifically about their massacre.
Such news had never been recorded in any of the reports he had read, nor had any news agency dared to publish it.
It could be said that the information they held was a milestone.
Once published, the status of the World Economic News Agency would be unshakeable, forever claiming the top position!!
"I say, Morgans, don't just think of the benefits; consider the drawbacks!"
Mensa, the current president of the World Economic News Agency, replied, looking troubled.
As a journalist, how could he not want to release such explosive news?
However, once it was published, there would be no room for reconciliation with the World Government and the Celestial Dragons.
"Mensa, we've already opposed the World Government by assisting Rocks, so this will only deepen the enmity; the nature of the situation hasn't changed."
"We just need to prepare in advance. The old rules apply: flee first, publish later, and we can just operate in the New World from now on."
"Even though Rocks is dead, the remaining officers from the Rocks Pirates are no pushovers."
"Among those monsters, there might emerge a new Rocks or even multiple Rocks coexisting in the future."
Morgans rarely displayed such insight beyond just news.
"Fine, maybe you're right. In that case, let's prepare to leave; it's no longer safe here."
Ultimately, Mensa was swayed by Morgans.
"The world nobles, the Celestial Dragons, were actually slaughtered by pirates?!"
"The Valley of the Gods, the gorge where gods reside, is also the place where gods fall!"
"Captain Rocks of the Rocks Pirates is dead? The culprits are actually Pirate Roger and Navy Garp?!"
"Shocked! The Pirate Expo is being held on Hachinosu Island?!"
"…"
Once Li Yuan and the others returned to Hachinosu Island, the World Economic News Agency spread news of the events that unfolded in the Valley of the Gods.
However, due to the involvement of the Celestial Dragons and the deaths of their kind, the World Economic News Agency didn't dare publish it openly. Instead, they gradually leaked it through the dark world and underground news channels.
After all, the content of the news was too shocking. Without Rocks' protection, the World Economic News Agency couldn't dare publish such alarming news.
Photos of Celestial Dragons slaughtering civilians and being killed by pirates were included, and even videos related to the dark world surfaced.
"Oh my god, the world nobles, the Celestial Dragons, were actually slaughtered by pirates!!"
"The Celestial Dragons even massacred non-World Government allied nations; it's terrifying."
"The root cause of all this is the Rocks Pirates, and now that Rocks is dead, does that mean the Rocks Pirates will disband?"
"The Pirate Expo contains many treasures and Devil Fruits looted from the Celestial Dragons?"
"…"
Once these news reports were released, they sent shockwaves through the world.
Those were the Celestial Dragons, after all, who had been killed, and in such a brutal manner.
Just from the photos alone, several Celestial Dragons had died, but how many had actually perished in the Valley of the Gods remained uncertain!
Some were excited by the news, while others were filled with fear.
Dark World kings rushed to Hachinosu Island upon hearing about the Pirate Expo.
At this moment, countless riches gathered on Hachinosu Island, and they wanted to take a share for themselves.
The Pirate Expo on Hachinosu Island was bustling, and Li Yuan also participated in this trade event he had organized, exchanging items he didn't need for those he desired.
He converted hundreds of billions of Berries into various tangible treasures, knowing full well that the World Government had the power to print Berries. When the government needed money, they would print it madly, leading to inflation and a rapid devaluation of the currency.
Only gold, silver, jewels, and famous swords held constant value.
Li Yuan even offered to buy Devil Fruits at high prices, regardless of the type, as long as he could purchase them.
**Holy Land Mariejois:**
"Damn World Economic News Agency! Even with Rocks dead, they dare to oppose us and the Celestial Dragons!"
"If the CP0 division can't locate the World Economic News Agency soon and destroy it, then replace CP0 for me!"
Agriculture God Peter Saint said angrily while looking at the newspapers in his hands.
When had the Celestial Dragons ever faced such disgrace?
In the battle of the Valley of the Gods, one hundred twenty-five Celestial Dragons had died, and nearly all members of the Knights of God, except for Galin Saint, had been wiped out!
The self-proclaimed rulers of the world, the Celestial Dragons, had never suffered such catastrophic losses before.
Although the culprit, Rocks, was dead, the anger of the Celestial Dragons had not subsided. The remaining members of the Rocks Pirates had to be eliminated!
"I thought that with Rocks dead, the remaining officers of the Rocks Pirates would fall apart and kill each other over the treasure, but I didn't expect them to resolve matters peacefully and hold a Pirate Expo to openly trade our treasures!"
Finance God Nasujuro Saint remarked.
"Let the Navy mobilize. With Rocks dead, it's time for the Navy to return to the New World and suppress the pirates."
"Without Rocks, the remaining members of the Rocks Pirates will certainly go their separate ways. The Navy may not be able to deal with the entire Rocks Pirates, but can they not handle the individual crews formed by the remaining officers?"
The Science Defense God Saturn Saint, having recovered from his injuries, stated.
**Navy Headquarters:**
"Sengoku, you and Zefa head to the New World and establish two new Navy strongholds centered around G1 Fortress."
Steel Bone Kong summoned Sengoku and Zefa to give his order.
"Admiral, what's our stance on the remaining officers of the Rocks Pirates? Should we eradicate them or…?"
Sengoku inquired.
"The order from the World Government is to eliminate the remnants of the Rocks Pirates. However, we mustn't rush into it, as they might unite against the Navy again."
"We need to solidify the Navy's influence in the New World first, and then proceed gradually, preferably targeting a weaker opponent."
Steel Bone Kong replied.
"I understand!"
Sengoku said.
A month passed quickly on Hachinosu Island, and during that time, each officer had reaped significant rewards.
"Gurararara! I'm leaving; you all do as you please!"
Whitebeard was the first to depart.
"Ha ha ha! If that's the case, I'll leave too."
"Set sail, boys!!"
With that, Li Yuan also left Hachinosu Island, carrying a treasure that dwarfed him by dozens of times.
"Ha ha ha! Since you're all leaving, this Hachinosu Island will become my Wang Zhi's territory from now on."
The last to remain was Wang Zhi, who planned to occupy the island and turn it into his stronghold.
After seven days of sailing, Li Yuan returned to his territory, the Venus Kingdom, now renamed Venus Island.
Upon returning, Li Yuan's first task was to tally his gains from the expedition.
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