43. After Completing This Vote, We Will Close The Net!

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Boom!

The whole world was in an uproar.

"The Marines actually opened a bank, and they're guaranteeing compensation! What are we waiting for, honey? Let's put our money in there quickly!"

"I knew there had to be a reason why a Marine Bank suddenly opened in the center of town recently. It's to protect our berries!"

"With the Marine's reputation and the guarantee of real gold from the ancient city, what's there to fear? Let's go deposit our money."

"Those damn pirates won't get the best of us. I'm going to save all my money and get ahead!"

"Brother, hurry up! Why are you still watching the live broadcast? If you don't deposit now, there might not be any space left later."

"Marine's definitely going to win! Stop watching and follow me!"

On an island near the Marine G-5 base...

Admiral Sengoku looked around.

The crowds that had been packed together just moments ago disappeared in an instant. Everyone ran home, eager to deposit all their hidden berries into the Marine Bank.

"Akira..."

Sengoku gazed at the screen, full of complex emotions, watching the confident figure supported by soldiers.

At that moment, a long-forgotten sense of frustration welled up inside him.

"Why do you always have so many new ideas?"

"Am I really getting old?"

In the Holy Land, Mariejois...

The Five Elders were also watching the live broadcast.

"Is it really worth a quadrillion berries?" Saint Saturn, the Martial God of Agriculture, couldn't help but ask.

"My lord!" A masked CP0 member dressed in all white appeared, knelt on the floor, and replied respectfully:

"According to the latest information, it was Acting Fleet Admiral Akira who coerced and lured hundreds of appraisers into giving false quotes."

"While the exact valuation is unclear, there's certainly no way it's worth a quadrillion berries."

Saint Saturn waved his hand, puzzled, and looked at his four colleagues as the CP0 agent stepped back.

"He plans to make a trillion with this kind of deception? Is that even possible?"

The Golden City, which obviously isn't worth tens of billions, has been inflated to a value that doesn't belong to it.

This kind of false pricing… only the clever will see the truth.

Who would believe it?

Saint Warcury, Saint Marcus, and Saint Ju Peter didn't respond. This kind of financial matter wasn't their expertise, and they didn't want to risk making a joke by speaking out of turn.

So, they all turned their attention to Saint Nusjuro, the Warrior God of Finance.

Saint Nusjuro pinched his chin, staring at Akira on the screen with eyes full of shock.

After a long pause, he exhaled slowly and explained:

"I don't know if he can make a trillion by this method, but many people will definitely deposit their berries."

"You have to remember, there are still a lot of gullible people in the lower realm. If a hundred appraisers say it's worth a quadrillion, they'll believe that the Golden City is truly worth that much."

"Even if some smart or well-informed people know the valuation is false, can their total wealth really surpass that of the Golden City?"

"This is a conspiracy! You know Marine Bank doesn't have trillions, and he knows that you know. But as long as their total assets don't exceed the value of the Golden City, they won't be afraid that the Marines can't pay them!"

"Aside from the World Government, which kingdom could gather enough berries to buy this Golden City?"

"Plus, you've been in the Holy Land all this time, so you may not fully grasp the chaos in the lower world. Pirates have been plundering berries relentlessly, and civilians are truly insecure."

"At a time like this, a bank with strong backing and sufficient funds that guarantees full compensation if deposits are stolen—do you think people won't be tempted?"

"Not to mention that this Akira has tied the bank entirely to the Marines' 800-year-old reputation and strength."

"Brilliant, absolutely brilliant!"

The more the Warrior God of Finance spoke, the more a gleam of excitement lit up in his eyes.

"Even if someone were to warn the public that the Marines don't have trillions, telling them not to deposit their money, it wouldn't matter.

"As long as the Golden City remains intact, those who fear their wealth being stolen by pirates will convince themselves to trust the Marines.

"Akira is not only clever but also incredibly adept at making money. I'm quite interested in him."

A heavy silence fell among the Five Elders.

The other four Warrior Gods exchanged uneasy glances. They were clearly concerned, but seeing the Warrior God of Finance treat Akira like a newfound treasure, they hesitated to voice their doubts.

The Warrior God of Finance noticed their hesitation. 

He calmly stroked his sword and said, "Don't worry, I've already sent someone to keep an eye on things. I won't let the Marines slip out of our control.

"Once the end-of-month crisis is resolved and the Marines secure their trillions, I'll set up a plan to replicate this model.

"Between the 'World Government Bank' and 'Marine Headquarters Bank,' I'm certain the people in the lower world will eventually place more trust in the World Government."

He spoke with confidence about the "World Government Bank," which hadn't even been established yet. To him, it was clear that the institution would be just as powerful, if not more so, than the Marines.

And even if he were to lose this opportunity and the plan didn't meet expectations, he had another strategy up his sleeve: to forcibly take over Marine Bank and rebrand it as the World Government Bank.

In fact, the second option seemed far less troublesome than creating a new bank from scratch. 

But he had promised to let the Marines handle fundraising on their own, and if he were to take such action immediately, it would cause everyone to lose face. It would also make the Five Elders appear too heavy-handed, which would be a disgrace.

Besides, the Marines were still under their control for now. There was no need to go that far. At least not until the excitement of the Great Pirate Era began to fade and the world returned to a more stable state.

...

The four other Warrior Gods sighed in relief.

Since the Warrior God of Finance had made his decision, there was no reason to worry.

At that moment, the screen displayed a new development.

Alabasta.

The port was buzzing with excitement as civilians discussed the new Marine Bank.

In the era of great pirates, keeping money hidden at home was dangerous. If a powerful force like the Marines could collect and protect their wealth, allowing access whenever needed, there would be no reason to keep it at home, vulnerable to thieves.

Of course, the pirates were furious.

If the whole world started doing this, who would they have left to rob?

In the future, if they wanted berries, they'd have to target Marine Bank. But was robbing a Marine Bank as easy as robbing civilians?

"Hahahaha, you really think you can keep this ancient city of gold! Let me tell you, your Marines won't be able to take it away."

"You may be clever, but this Golden City isn't going anywhere."

"Without the Golden City, let's see how many banks you can open."

"Borsalino, you stinking monkey, come out and fight!"

"Brothers, let's go! Kill the Marines and take the Golden City!"

The pirates, no longer hiding, drew their weapons and charged after their captain.

The live broadcast cut back to Alabasta.

The world watched as the pirates emerged from every corner, rushing toward the Golden City.

"Comma Jewel of Eight Shaku."

"Ice Time Capsule."

"Great Eruption."

The three Marine Admirals made their move.

Standing on the deck, they unleashed their attacks on the pirate captains charging toward them.

Three terrifying forces of nature clashed with the pirate captains in an instant.

Accompanied by several violent explosions, the sea churned, and the air filled with smoke and dust.

But in the next second, several attacks sliced through the smoke.

The pirate captains, all covered in Armament Haki, emerged unharmed.

"Hahahaha, just the three of you here to escort? Your Acting Fleet Admiral is really too arrogant."

"We came all the way from that treacherous sea just to teach you a lesson."

"No matter who wins the Golden City, it won't be the Marines!"

Soon, the pirate captains reached the warship and clashed with the three admirals, including Kizaru.

The entire warship swayed, and the waters around it churned.

The Vice Admirals and Marine soldiers also joined the fray, battling fiercely with the pirates.

In just moments, what started as a peaceful operation to secure the Golden City turned into a bloody and intense battle.

"Did you see that?"

At that moment, Akira's voice suddenly echoed through the live broadcast.

The Den Den Mushi's eyes shifted toward the source of the sound, revealing a Marine reporter holding a communication Den Den Mushi.

Apparently, during the broadcast, the reporter had dialed the headquarters and connected with Akira.

"The pirates are furious because they know that once this bank is established, they'll be the biggest losers.

"If everyone deposits their money in the Marine Bank, who will they rob next?"

"Sure, they could target the Marines, but do they really think they can take anything from us?"

"Now, I'm going to show the world that the Marines have the strength to protect every single berry you deposit.

"Even if it's just a single berry, the pirates won't get their hands on it."

To gain the trust of the entire world, it wasn't enough to rely on the Marines' reputation or the security of the Golden City. They also needed to demonstrate their power, showing everyone that the Marines had the strength to protect their wealth.

You could say that the Marines at this stage weren't the strongest force, but if they claimed to be the second most powerful on the seas, no one would dare claim to be the first.

Still, in the second half of the Grand Line, the infamous Whitebeard was living freely, and there were pirates as numerous as locusts.

The Marines didn't have the immediate strength to resolve these issues.

Akira didn't have the luxury of time to let the public slowly regain faith in the Marines' power.

So, he had Kizaru and the others parade the Golden City around, all in preparation for this moment.

—He intended to use the lives of these greedy pirates to reassure the people.

"We will take the Golden City and bring it back to headquarters without a hitch."

"If you pirates are truly brave, then try to stop us."

Akira's voice was calm and indifferent.

Suddenly, a powerful pirate captain charged forward, weapon raised high, aiming to strike down the Marine reporter and the Den Den Mushi.

"You're making too much noise! I'll shut you up for good!"

The Marine reporter's eyes widened in fear—it was too late to escape.

Just as the blade was about to fall...

A burly figure suddenly appeared, his arms wrapped in Haki, grabbing the pirate tightly and slamming him down with immense force.

From start to finish, the pirate captain didn't even have a chance to resist and was sent crashing into the distance.

Boom!!!

The massive impact shattered the ground, and the pirate captain's figure disappeared into the debris.

The port fell silent.

Everyone turned their eyes to the powerful figure.

"Y-You're… Hero Garp!"

"Damn it, why is he here? Wasn't he supposed to be in the New World?"

"So what if it's Garp? It's not like I haven't fought him before—don't panic!"

The pirates were in disbelief.

The Marines cheered loudly.

Even the terrified civilians stopped in their tracks.

Garp took the Den Den Mushi from the reporter's hand, pinched his nose while surveying the battlefield, and said, "Akira, leave it to me. Even if that guy Whitebeard shows up, he won't be able to take the Golden City."

"Mr. Garp, the battlefield is in your hands."

The Den Den Mushi's eyes curved into a smile, and then Akira's voice continued, "I chose Alabasta as the battlefield for you. It's big enough for you to have some fun."

"I have just one request..."

"Don't let a single pirate, mafia member, or anyone else who dares covet the Golden City escape—whether they live or die."

Garp raised an eyebrow. "You're sounding a bit bloodthirsty, but fine, I'll pass on the message."

"Good, I'll be waiting for your good news at headquarters."

Click.

The Den Den Mushi went silent.

Garp grinned at the pirate captains.

Meanwhile, in North Blue...

"Hey, Doffy! Marine really set up an ambush. Lucky for us we didn't get involved."

In a high-end, luxurious building, a man wearing a quilt-like cloak, small sunglasses, and a perpetually runny nose stared at the screen with lingering fear.

"Trebol, this isn't something we should get involved in."

Doflamingo sipped the red wine in his glass, his expression shifting.

The sight of the three Marine Admirals escorting such a massive Golden City as they sailed arrogantly across the Four Seas was enough to tempt anyone.

For that Golden City, it was impossible not to be intrigued.

But as the "King of the North Blue Underground," he knew better than to get entangled in this.

Even with Borsalino, Sakazuki, and Kuzan at a distance, the aura they exuded was enough to make him feel immense pressure.

Doflamingo was certain that even if all his family members combined their efforts, they couldn't take down even one of them.

Despite having honed his Conqueror's Haki to a significant level and several members of his family mastering Armament Haki, they still wouldn't stand a chance.

This harsh reality left Doflamingo, who usually held himself in high regard, feeling deeply unsettled.

Click.

The goblet in his hand shattered, with shards falling onto the carpet from his clenched fist.

"Dover, Dover, what's wrong?" Trebol asked, puzzled.

"Nothing!"

Doflamingo opened his hands, picked up a white cloth, and slowly wiped his palm. After a moment of thought, he said, "North Blue is too small for us. We should move to the Grand Line."

"Ah? Didn't you say we'd leave in a few months?"

"I can't wait any longer. Only by competing on the same stage as those monsters can I grow stronger."

Trebol nodded and didn't question it further. He always followed Doflamingo's orders without objection.

"Should we go ahead with the deal with the Marines tomorrow?"

"Can we trust those people?"

"Yes, those Marines have been bought off for a long time. They're reliable enough, at least their reputation isn't an issue."

Torrebol confidently stepped forward, pulled out a piece of news from his pocket, and continued, "They paid a lot to get inside information. The headquarters is aware they've been selling arms while pretending to be pirates at night, robbing civilians."

"So when they plan to bail out, they're aiming to cash in big."

"It's said this deal is huge, and they've even invited West Blue's mafia to participate. Some smaller forces have also been invited."

Doflamingo glanced at the newspaper:

["A Marine by day, a pirate by night! This branch is really something—a new justice born in a new era."]

His fingers twitched slightly, and a sly smile crept onto his face.

He understood the situation well.

It all started almost two months ago when Marine began to default on wages.

However, the headquarters' influence still lingered, so these guys only dared to sell surplus Marine goods in the underground world, earning some berries to improve their lifestyle.

But after Roger's death and the onset of the Great Pirate Era, they became bolder.

They not only openly sold a large number of Marine-standard weapons but also started collecting protection fees from the public without hiding it.

Eventually, they felt the money wasn't coming in fast enough, so they turned to piracy by night.

A small glimpse was enough for Doflamingo to see the larger picture of the Marines' current struggles through this corrupt branch.

"Fufufufu, if it's the last big score, then let's make it count."

Doflamingo leaned back comfortably on the sofa and said with a grin, "When the time comes, I'll go with Diamante. These guys have made enough off of us. It's time to collect."

"I understand, Dover. We'll take both the goods and the money."