Taking Stock

Chapter 150: Taking Stock

Rodney, who had made a fortune, laughed heartily on the ship, clutching his Berries tightly. 

"Hehe, I've hit the jackpot! That fool, Judge. When I release the news about the Germa Battle Suits on the black market, I don't believe he won't spend money to buy them."

"Hehehe, thinking of ways to take Judge's money, I'll squeeze every last Berry out of Germa Kingdom."

Robin chuckled and said, "Captain, you've caught a sheep for shearing, and that sheep will soon be bald."

The value of the Germa Battle Suits was self-evident. It was just because Rodney didn't know how to use them properly. 

Those suits required recognition, much like a Devil Fruit. Additionally, Rodney had no intention of using Germa's Battle Suits since he already possessed the Lightning Release Chakra Mode. Fighting in unfamiliar battle suits would be cumbersome.

So, he decided to purchase not three but four of those battle suits, including the two Germa Green ones he already had. By selling them on the black market, even if he didn't make a lot of money, he could bleed Judge dry once again. He had already taken a piece of flesh from Judge this time; next time, it might be an even bigger chunk.

"Well, you don't understand. I despise people like him, those who can recklessly modify their own children, strip them of their emotions, and treat them as tools. Such people deserve no sympathy; it's their own doing."

Judge had no right to be called a parent. Parents raised their children, and children cared for their parents. Through growth, deep bonds were formed that were hard to sever. 

This was the correct way for a family to grow, and it was what Rodney's family used to be like. They had laughed and joked together, had a serious father who was playful on the surface, nagged when playing cards, bullied their father, searched for his secret stash of money, and had an excellent cook for a mother. All of this had formed a complete family.

Unfortunately, they couldn't return to that life anymore.

So, Rodney had a strong aversion to people who didn't cherish their families. He didn't like Judge from the beginning, likening him to that joke where someone doesn't work hard, lays an egg, and lets the child fly first.

Judge had gone beyond letting the child fly first; he was now sitting on his children and making them fly. Instead of treating them as his sons or family, he treated them more like tools.

As for Ichiji and the others, although he had fought them ruthlessly, he felt sorry for them because they weren't living as "people," as sons, as family.

They were soldiers, modified beings, princes, frontline troops, cold and ruthless machines.

They didn't know love, hate, fear, or death. They faced everything with a cold face, even death, only knowing how to smile. Rodney didn't consider them complete humans.

To him, a true human should be capable of love, hate, and fear, possessing the complete range of human emotions.

"Captain, you're right. Such people don't deserve to live. Reiju must have had a very tough time before this," Robin said. 

Her relationship with Reiju was quite good, as they were among the few people on the ship who could talk to each other. Over time, they had become good friends.

Friendship was something precious to Robin because she had never really had friends during her childhood. After the Ohara incident, she led a nomadic life, hopping between different factions, solely focused on achieving her goals. The term "friend" was foreign and novel to her.

As a princess of the Germa Kingdom, Reiju had to learn a lot, not just combat knowledge but also history and the demeanor of a royal member. She possessed the dignity, elegance, and knowledge befitting a royal member. Although she hadn't seen through Robin's hidden dark side, she considered Robin her friend.

In a way, Reiju didn't have friends either. Raised as a soldier by Judge, she grew up with emotionally deprived brothers. At a young age, she learned to hide her true self and became a master of deception, capable of earning an Academy Award for her acting skills.

With these two together, they might as well create an Academy Award-winning duo for their strange friendship.

Rodney's thoughts wandered again, and Robin asked, "Captain, how do you plan to use this money?"

"I plan to use it... well, I'll decide later. I haven't thought about it yet. Anyway, I'll use it for Availiton's construction. Oh, by the way, have you posted recruitment notices for doctors, teachers, researchers, and craftsmen?"

"Yes, I've posted them. I bought a page in the World Economy News Paper; it cost quite a bit." 

The World Economy News Paper was the world's top-selling newspaper, and securing a spot for an advertisement was no small feat. However, it wasn't a typical advertisement. Robin had written a feature article expressing Availiton's need for talent, emphasizing the severe shortage of skilled individuals in various fields.

A page in the World Economy News Paper was expensive, and it wasn't usually used for advertisements. Although it wasn't a genuine advertisement, it was related to the Seven Warlords, so the newspaper's editors turned a blind eye to it. Otherwise, it might not have been approved.

"That's good. Soon, this island will have many visitors, including individuals from various factions, Marines, pirates, the underworld, and even the World Government's CP agents. Robin, when the time comes, use your Devil Fruit ability to discreetly observe them for any suspicious activities. I'll be recruiting fighters; I'll open positions for a fighter, a sniper, and a ship's doctor," Rodney said softly.

"A fighter, a sniper, and a ship's doctor? Captain, have you considered finding a navigator? We're in the New World, and navigation here is extremely dangerous."

The weather in the New World was terrifying. Without Rodney's ability to handle these weather anomalies, they would likely have already sunk. Without a navigator to lead the way, they had barely managed to reach Availiton, which was nothing short of a miracle.

Of course, part of the credit went to the formidable Black Pearl, which was incredibly sturdy. So, all in all, the money wasn't spent in vain.

"Navigator? Let's see. Let's see if anyone here surprises me. I still have a few Devil Fruits on hand. If it comes to it, I'll let Leicester eat the Explosion-Explosion Fruit. Of course, then he'll need to work on his physical abilities."

Because he could exchange the abilities for the Explosion-Explosion Fruit later, Rodney hadn't consumed it yet. Besides, he didn't want to lose the ability to swim; there were just too many things he could do in the water. Losing his swimming ability would be a waste.

Such behavior was senseless. He could use it to arm Availiton and recruit a few loyal subordinates...