Chapter 96 Crazy Plunder, The Bet Between Carlos And Bullet

As soon as Kaido's words were spoken, the entire area fell into a stunned silence.

The onlookers, including the likes of Vasco Shot and the Avalo Pizarro, exchanged glances, swallowing nervously. Kaido's proposal had left them shaken.

This wasn't just about a billion or even ten billion.

He had mentioned 100 billion Berries!

Even a wealthy nation would need years to amass such a fortune, and he had limited the challenge to just one month.

With the power the two of them possessed, even if they destroyed a pirate crew every day, it still wouldn't be enough!

Shiryu, licking his lips, began to smile, his expression turning excited.

"It looks like there's going to be a massive storm sweeping through these seas."

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Bullet spoke slowly:

"It's indeed a very challenging task... but I'm up for it."

"Alright, I accept your proposal!"

With that, both parties reached an agreement. A sly smile played across Kaido's face.

Meanwhile, at Marineford...

In the office of Fleet Admiral Carlos, the Den Den Mushi on his desk came to life.

"Gion, what's the status on your end?" Carlos asked.

"The uprisings in the six regions, including Makabaka and the Vodka Kingdom, have been fully suppressed. The original kings have been restored to power," Gion reported crisply. "Just yesterday, the World Government collected the Heavenly Tribute and is preparing to transport it back to Mariejois. The Marines have deployed six thousand troops to protect it."

"Excellent," Carlos responded. "Keep me updated on your movements."

"As you command, Fleet Admiral!" Gion acknowledged.

Ten Days Later, Somewhere in the New World...

A gargantuan ship, over 10,000 meters long and adorned with golden plating, sat silently on the sea.

This was Gran Tesoro.

The world's largest entertainment city, an independent nation and a demilitarized zone recognized by the World Government.

However, the vibrant and bustling spectacle that usually defined Gran Tesoro was gone, replaced by a scene of utter destruction.

The streets of the town were littered with bloodied corpses, while pirates roamed freely, looting and pillaging with no restraint.

Thick plumes of smoke rose from all around.

Groups of pirates, armed with blades and muskets, broke into casinos, restaurants, and brothels in twos and threes, ransacking everything in sight.

Women and children were dragged from their homes, screaming and crying.

Anyone who dared resist was met with swift, brutal death.

The once-thriving city was now in chaos.

Gild Tesoro, the man once known as the "Golden Emperor," lay battered and bruised on the ground, his once-great wealth now meaningless. Two years ago, Tesoro had seized the Paramecia Golden Fruit at an auction hosted by the Donquixote family. Using his sharp intellect and obsessive ambition, his wealth grew exponentially, earning him the title of "Golden Emperor."

His business empire and influence spanned the globe, and he even manipulated the power of the World Government through sheer wealth.

But now, Tesoro lay crumpled like a discarded rag, barely clinging to life.

A massive hand reached down, lifting him off the ground effortlessly.

"You're the richest man in the world, aren't you?" Bullet's deep voice rumbled.

"If you want to live, hand over all your wealth."

Bullet looked at the broken man in front of him with cold eyes.

To win the bet with Kaido, Bullet had taken Shiryu's advice and led thousands of pirates from Beehive Island to raid Gran Tesoro.

The opulence and excess of this place, the grandeur that Tesoro had built, was astonishing—even to someone like Bullet.

But in the face of overwhelming power, wealth was nothing more than an illusion.

Shiryu bit down on his cigar, casually wiping the blood from his blade, and said coldly:

"This guy's got the Golden Fruit. Judging from the fight earlier, it looks like his ability has awakened. I suggest we take him back to Beehive Island and let him keep generating wealth for us."

Vasco Shot, Avalo Pizarro, and others approached, excitement written all over their faces as they reported the outcome of the operation.

"Boss, we've loaded all the loot onto the ship. In total, it's worth more than 120 billion Berries. Unbelievable—what an insane haul!"

"And we're only one-third into the one-month deadline. We've already surpassed our goal. As expected of the Golden Emperor, the guy's filthy rich, hahaha!"

Hearing this, Bullet couldn't help but laugh heartily, feeling pleased with the results.

"Is that so? Well then, I've got something to say," Bullet declared, his voice booming. "Submit to me, or face the consequences!"

Holy Land Mariejois, Pangaea Castle

In the grand hall, the Five Elders were unsettled as they listened to the report from the CP0.

"What did you say? The fleet carrying the Heavenly Tribute was attacked? Who would dare attempt such a thing?"

"The attackers are flying the flag of the Dragon Pirates," the CP0 agent replied.

"Dragon Pirates?" The Five Elders exchanged confused looks. The name sounded unfamiliar to them.

The CP0 agent quickly clarified, "They're a pirate group based on Beehive Island, led by Bullet, the Descendant of the Devil, and Kaido, the King of Beasts. Many of their members were once prisoners in Impel Down."

The room fell silent for a moment, shock evident on their faces.

"Bullet and Kaido... I didn't expect these two to actually join forces. We're in serious trouble now," one of the Elders muttered.

"Curse Magellan!" another growled. "I knew those scum wouldn't stay quiet forever. I just didn't expect they'd dare to pull off something this brazen!"

"Their actions amount to nothing less than a declaration of war against the World Government!" another Elder exclaimed.

After venting their frustrations, the Five Elders grew more somber, realizing the gravity of the situation.

"We just managed to drive back the Revolutionary Army and suppress rebellions in six nations. And now this—200 billion Berries worth of Heavenly Tribute, in the hands of pirates!"

"Instead of wasting time on blame, let's focus on how to fix this," another suggested.

"The Holy Land must remain well-defended. This time, we'll leave it to the Marines to handle," one Elder decided. "Kaido and Bullet, even individually, would require Admiral-level forces to deal with. Now that they've joined forces, we may have no choice but to initiate another Buster Call."

Saturn, one of the Elders, spread a map of the New World on the table and studied it carefully. After a few moments, he spoke in a deep, thoughtful tone:

"The situation might not be as bad as it seems."

He traced a path on the map with his finger.

"Bullet just raided Gran Tesoro not long ago. No matter how fast they move, it's unlikely he participated in the attack on the Heavenly Tribute. That means we only need to deal with Kaido this time."

The Elders exhaled in relief, their tension easing slightly. They turned to the CP0 agent for further details.

"Do we have any concrete intel?" one of the Elders asked.

"Based on eyewitness reports, Bullet wasn't seen at the scene," the CP0 agent confirmed, hesitating for a moment before adding, "but..."

"But what?" the Elders demanded, eyes narrowing.

The CPO agent faltered under their stern gazes but continued cautiously, "It appears that the former Marine Admiral, Kuzan, was present."

This revelation caused a ripple of shock through the room.

The Elders' expressions darkened.

"Are you telling me a former Marine Admiral has turned pirate?" one Elder snapped. "He's actually siding against the World Government?"

Saturn stood abruptly from the sofa, his voice sharp and decisive.

"It looks like there's a serious problem brewing within the Marines. I'll head to Marineford immediately to get things under control."

"Agreed. We can't ignore the situation in the New World any longer. If we let this slide, there's no telling what these bastards will do next. Keep a close eye on Carlos and make sure the Marines are prepared for deployment."

"And we mustn't forget about the Heavenly Tribute. Since Shanks is now a member of the Holy Knights, let him handle the situation. This will be a good test of his loyalty and competence."

"Yes, if the Red-Haired Pirates are involved, this issue should be manageable," another Elder agreed.

"Indeed," the others echoed, nodding in unison.

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