On the island, Mihawk was left dumbfounded when Ortoren ntioned needing two hundred billion to secure him a position as one of the Shichibukai.
After a long pause, Mihawk pulled a crumpled invitation from his pocket and held it up. "You an this? The Shichibukai?"
Ortoren took the wrinkled paper, opened it, and after a quick glance cursed under his breath.
"Are these things everywhere now? What the hell, they're all over the place!"
He handed it back to Mihawk. "That's the one. Interested?"
"It doesn't say anything here about paying two hundred billion Belly." Mihawk's sharp gaze locked on Ortoren.
"It doesn't spell it out, but it's the unspoken rule. That's just how the World Governnt works," Ortoren replied casually.
"Corruption and bribery?" Mihawk frowned, his tone laced with skepticism.
"You could put it that way." Ortoren thought for a mont, then nodded.
Mihawk chuckled. "Your World Governnt is quite sothing..."
After a brief pause, he asked, "And if I don't pay?"
"Then I'd make sure you don't beco a Shichibukai," Ortoren admitted without hesitation.
"Then I'm not interested. It's not sothing I particularly need anyway." Mihawk didn't even think twice, tossing the invitation straight to the ground.
Sure, he looked like a noble with his attire and lived in a castle, but the truth was he was flat broke. Two hundred billion? He couldn't even scrape together two billion.
And even if he could, there was no way he'd hand it over to that bastard Ortoren.
"You could always reconsider..." Ortoren said helplessly.
"No money. I've only got two hundred thousand Belly to my na," Mihawk stated flatly.
"Becoming a Shichibukai makes you part of the World Governnt—an ally of the Marines, our brother organization. We've got plenty of swordsn in the Marines. You could challenge them anyti without worrying about being hunted down..." Ortoren tried to tempt him.
Mihawk couldn't care less about being hunted or not—it didn't matter to him. But the thought of being able to challenge Marine swordsn freely... that did stir his interest.
Still, having to pay Ortoren for that privilege? Not worth it.
After a mont of hesitation, Mihawk shook his head. "Forget it. I'm not interested for now. If I change my mind later, I'll consider it."
Seeing Mihawk's refusal, Ortoren sighed and waved his hand. "If you change your mind, just contact anyti..."
With that, he turned to leave.
But after only two steps, Mihawk called out, "Wait."
A grin tugged at Ortoren's lips. You say no, but your body betrays you, he thought. Turning back with a smirk, he teased, "What? Changed your mind already? I told you, two hundred billion isn't a loss, it's a—"
Before he could finish, Mihawk pulled out a Den Den Mushi. "We haven't synced frequencies yet. How am I supposed to contact you?"
Ortoren froze, his expression slightly awkward. He pulled out his own Den Den Mushi, exchanged signals with Mihawk's, and without another word, turned and walked away.
Mihawk pocketed his Den Den Mushi as well, not bothering to stop him, and headed off in the opposite direction.
...
A short while later, Ortoren returned to the restaurant entrance. Seeing Vergo giving him a curious look, he waved it off. "Ran into an old friend I hadn't seen in years. Just went to say hello. Let's go."
Vergo didn't ask further and followed Ortoren inside.
anwhile, upstairs on the second floor, Moria finally let out a breath of relief. The guy had finally arrived.
He straightened up, adjusting his posture, and put on an air of solemn composure as he sat at the table.
Before long, Ortoren and Vergo ca up the stairs. The mont Ortoren saw Moria, his face lit up with a warm smile. He stepped forward and greeted him enthusiastically. "Moria-san, I've long heard of you. An honor."
Moria had felt nervous at first. He didn't even know why he was putting on airs like this—it was pure impulse. Maybe it was because of his humiliating defeat before, leaving him bitter and unsatisfied. Now, with the World Governnt coming to his door, he couldn't resist posturing.
Maybe, in his own way, he was trying to erase the sha and frustration of losing to Kaidou.
People are strange that way. Even when you know sothing is foolish, a stubborn streak pushes you into doing it anyway.
When the Marines inford him that Ortoren would co in person, he had been worried. Ortoren's reputation preceded him, and he had even crossed swords with Kaidou himself. As soone who had personally faced Kaidou, Moria knew all too well just how strong Kaidou was.
It left him uneasy, but he had already put up the front, and backing down wasn't an option. Yet, seeing Ortoren greet him so warmly, showing him face, he finally relaxed.
And damn, it felt good!
So people, once you give them an inch, they'll try to take the whole mile. Moria was exactly that kind of person.
The mont he saw Ortoren's friendly attitude, he only leaned further into his act. With a haughty nod and an indifferent tone, he said, "Long admired you, Vice Admiral Benn..."
His attitude was dismissive to the extre.
Vergo shot Moria a strange look, unable to fathom how he dared to act like this.
What baffled Vergo even more was that Ortoren showed no sign of being offended. Smiling cheerfully, he sat across from Moria, pulled out a docunt, and said, "This is the official appointnt letter for the Shichibukai. Once you sign your na here, Mr. Moria, you'll be part of the World Governnt family. Rest assured, we're a very close-knit group. The Marines warmly welco a pirate of your strength and reputation into the Shichibukai, to join us in contributing to peace across the seas!"
Moria listened, but sothing about the phrasing rubbed him wrong. A great pirate? Contributing to peace? Did that logic even make sense?
Still, he didn't press on the details. Putting on airs, he lifted his teacup, took a slow sip, and finally said, "If I join the Shichibukai, the World Governnt will pardon all my past cris and grant legal rights to plunder, along with other privileges. Correct?"
"Correct, correct! From now on, when you go raiding, you'll only need to hand over a share of the spoils to the World Governnt. Then all those raids will be perfectly legal. Of course, as part of the World Governnt family, our suggestion is that you target non-mber Nations or similar powers. That way, everyone saves face. After all, they have no human rights and no legal protection..." Ortoren explained warmly, his tone almost gentle.
Moria felt as though a spring breeze had swept over him. His impression of the Marines was improving by the second. Maybe they weren't so bad after all. For Ortoren's sake, joining the Shichibukai might actually be worthwhile.
Perhaps... he could even use the power of the Marines and the World Governnt to deal with Kaidou and settle his grudge once and for all.
With that thought, his stance softened, and the conversation flowed more smoothly. Both n even shared a few laughs, the atmosphere turning surprisingly harmonious.
Once the details were settled and Moria felt he had postured enough, he took the pen and signed his na on the docunt.
Seeing his signature, Ortoren smiled, collected the papers, and extended his hand.
"Congratulations, esteed Mr. Moria. From this mont forward, you are officially recognized by the World Governnt as a mber of the Shichibukai. Now, to ensure our World Governnt family can better serve you, please pay the Shichibukai guarantee fee of two hundred billion Belly..."
Moria was just about to shake Ortoren's hand when he froze, stunned. "What? Two hundred billion?"
"The Shichibukai guarantee fee. Two hundred billion. Payable to us, the G-5 Marines. Would you prefer to settle it now, or write an IOU?" Ortoren asked with a warm smile, his tone still polite.
"I've never heard anything about paying money!!!" Moria roared, leaping to his feet and slamming his palm on the table.
Ortoren's expression instantly darkened. "You fucking ungrateful bastard, huh?"
Moria blinked in disbelief. Wasn't it Ortoren who had changed his tone so suddenly?
"I'm done being a Shichibukai!" Moria snapped, refusing to back down.
"You've already signed! You think you can just walk away? Who the hell do you think you are? You dare mock the Marines and the World Governnt? Vergo, close the door! Today I'll show him that in the New World, even pirates have to play fair. No one gets away owing Benn Ortoren money!"
With a thunderous slam of his hand on the table, Ortoren sprang to his feet and barked the order.
Before Moria could even react, Ortoren lunged forward, seizing him by the collar. He yanked him down hard, slamming his head against the table, then grabbed an ashtray and cracked it against the back of his skull.
Moria was stunned—not so much from pain, though the blow was humiliating, but because he simply couldn't process it. Just a mont ago, Ortoren had been all polite and courteous. How had it turned into this so suddenly?
As the thought crossed his mind, a sharp buzzing filled his skull.
"Admiral Sengoku sends his regards, you idiot!" Ortoren sneered.
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