Chapter 88: Beasts Pirates And War (part 2)
“Keep going.”
Kaido did not dwell on this issue for long, but continued to inquire about La’s plans afterward.
“The core of this planning is to establish a military-industrial system capable of monopolizing the market.”
“As for what comes after, it’s just as I said earlier. After occupying sufficient market share, we can use it to influence a country’s regime.
After all, not every country has its subjects united as one. There are plenty of countries troubled by rebel armies.
And even if there aren’t any, we can make them have some.”
Perhaps due to not ingesting human factors for a long time, causing a slight imbalance, La suddenly said something at the end that crossed the bottom line of humanity, drowning everyone in silence.
Aoxi instinctively felt somewhat uncomfortable and moved her body closer to Obei’s side, but was pushed back somewhat disdainfully with a finger.
“In this way, these kingdoms will become both our biggest customers and our leverage for inciting world war.
Tell me, if you were a rebel soldier, and now there’s weaponry superior to the kingdom army’s, would you buy it?
If you were a king, and suddenly discovered that the peasant rebels who could only wield wooden sticks and pitchforks now have guns more powerful than your royal guard’s, what would you do?”
Devilish words continued to be transmitted through an ethereal and holy voice, with an indescribable coldness permeating between the lines, like the highest level of blasphemy.
“When we’ve exhausted both sides’ purchasing power, we throw out some highly destructive weapons to help one side win decisively in a single battle.
This way, we both showcase the Beasts Pirates’ strength and run a wave of advertising, making surrounding countries even more eager for the Beasts Pirates’ weapons.”
“And when the Beasts Pirates’ military industry truly gains fame and becomes a byword for victory, acquiring our arms will require more than just paying Belly.”
『Hiss—! This is way too ruthless!』
Pirates always act simply and brutally. Sometimes they use tactics like taking commoners hostage for threats.
And in cases of national civil unrest, they mostly play the role of opportunists looting in the chaos, occasionally acting as mercenaries, but it’s not uncommon for them to betray their employers right after getting paid.
Whereas in the way La described—without personally getting involved, but inciting others’ internal conflicts, profiting from both sides, and after draining them dry, using them as gunpowder, igniting them, and blowing them into bits of flesh and blood foam for those around…
The three expressed that they’d truly seen something new today.
Seeming to notice her own impropriety just now, La promptly stopped.
“Of course, the above is just the ideal scenario.
After all, the World Government and Navy won’t ignore their affiliated nations, and non-affiliated countries are often weak in strength, scarce in resources, and lack significant purchasing power.”
“Moreover, sometimes merely relying on arms and weapons isn’t enough to sway the battlefield. In cases where the strength gap between both sides is too great, winning through weapon superiority is probably impossible.” Ember also added.
“Mm, indeed.
Those Navy branches are all well-equipped, but Boss Kaido goes whenever he wants and leaves whenever he wants.”
As a seasoned seafarer, Burufaruto also deeply knew how powerless so-called sturdy ships and sharp cannons were against true powerhouses.
The personal martial prowess gap in this world is simply too vast.
“I’ve considered this point as well.
So I think the Beasts Pirates can provide mercenary services alongside selling arms, which would nicely address Brother Burufaruto’s concern about martial laxity in pirate crews.
In summary, with arms trade as the main focus, any field involving war demands, the Beasts Pirates must get involved.”
“Make the Beasts Pirates a byword for war.” La made a summary at the end.
This was actually the fourth stage in La’s planning, crossing from selling weapons to selling war.
……
“Good! Well said! The Beasts Pirates are war itself, and war is the Beasts Pirates’ reason for existence. Uro-ro-ro-ro!”
The always silent Kaido finally took action at this moment. He laughed extremely freely and heartily, so free that it was somewhat out of control, even rousing his Conqueror’s Haki.
Waves of soul-impacting fluctuations spread continuously with Kaido’s laughter. Even Ember and Burufaruto were shaken to the point of unsteady footing, while Aoxi and Obei were also affected, stopping their playful actions.
“Gah! Captain, what the hell are you doing!” Aoxi tidying her blown-messy hair, said dissatisfiedly.
Obei also hurriedly used her hand to protect the remaining small cakes.
“Boss Kaido, you…”
It was also the first time Burufaruto had seen such a discomposed side of Kaido.
Kaido ignored everyone and just kept laughing heartily.
Until even Ember couldn’t help but want to step forward and remind him, Kaido gradually restrained his laughter and turned to look at La.
Seeing that small figure completely unshaken under his Conqueror’s Haki, he couldn’t help but grin again.
“La brat, I now think that bringing you to the Beasts Pirates that day was the most correct decision I’ve made in my life.”
“My honor.” La’s expression unchanged, responded candidly.
“So according to your idea, how much grasp do we have of succeeding in this, and how long will it take?”
Kaido asked the final question, also the most realistic one.
“To establish a mature military-industrial system, the initial resource accumulation is the most time-consuming.
With our current territory and resources, even basic construction would take at least ten years, and to achieve the ultimate goal, conservatively estimated at least twenty to thirty years later.”
At this point, La paused.
“As for how much grasp… forgive my bluntness, Captain Kaido, what do you think the probability is of the world suddenly exploding tomorrow?
As long as the probability of accidents isn’t zero, so-called grasp is all empty talk.”
“Mm.”
Kaido nodded, acknowledging La’s statement.
“But the time is too long. This old man can’t wait that long!
Is there any method to speed it up? This old man still wants to personally jump in and fight heartily when inciting world war!”
Kaido looked at La expectantly, hoping this little guy who kept bringing him surprises could give him a satisfactory answer once more.
“There are naturally ways, like suddenly having a place that’s not only rich in resources and populous, but also in a hidden location that’s easy to defend and hard to attack.
Ah~ best if it has some specialty rare ore, and that ore happens to be able to forge powerful weapons…
Oh~ right! If the locals are also skilled at forging, that would be perfect.”
La clapped her hands, said with a teasing tone.
Perhaps intentionally making up for the earlier coldness, her tone in saying this was made very lively and spirited.
“And does that place also happen to have a king who proactively invites me over and enthusiastically cooperates with us?”
Burufaruto also caught the joking intent in La’s words, so he chuckled along.
“Exactly so~”
La smiled and ended the teasing, then said seriously to Kaido:
“Unfortunately, Captain Kaido.
Just like taller buildings require deeper foundations, rushing it could lead to failure at the last step.
Time cost is the hardest to save and the one that shouldn’t be saved.
Unless some favorable accidents occur for us, twenty years is the baseline time.
Not to mention anything else, even building the simplest weapon factory now would require us to save up money for one or two years…”
“You mean if we had enough money now, we could shorten the time?” Ember asked.
“Mm, if money can be secured directly, the initial foundation-laying time can be appropriately shortened.
But currently, the fastest way to accumulate wealth is as I said before: developing territory and expanding trade.”
“There’s another method, which is directly robbing other great pirates’ treasure.”
Kaido narrowed his eyes, seeming to recall that figure he’d already cast aside.
“Eh~ if only gold would suddenly fall from the sky…”
Somewhat bored, Aoxi rested her head on the table, said with her face turned sideways.
Obei had finished her small cake and also somewhat wanted to leave here.
“Hahaha~ Gold falling from the sky. When this old man was your age, I had dreams like that too. I remember it was in the Fish-Man District…”
Burufaruto’s words weren’t finished when suddenly a pirate rushed in shouting to report.
“Report—! Captain, several unidentified pirate ships spotted on the shore. The leader on board is clamoring to see you and Brother Burufaruto.”
“Hm? Could they be here to defect? Or is it an acquaintance of yours, Burufaruto?”
Kaido looked toward Burufaruto, after all, the visitor had specifically mentioned his name.
“Acquaintance… could it be Tiger?” Burufaruto thought of his childhood friend from the Fish-Man District.
“What does that person look like? Is he a Fish-Man? Did he say his name?” Burufaruto hurriedly continued asking the reporting pirate.
“Uh, this… sorry, Brother Burufaruto, they were a bit far, I didn’t see the appearance clearly.
But he doesn’t seem to be a Fish-Man. He said he was called… something like Suke… Skep or whatever.”
……
Don’t doubt it, no mistake.
This 16,000-word free chapter is my burst update, which is all my manuscript.
Starting tomorrow, formal subscription chapters will be released.
Actually, mainly because you guys probably find these background settings boring, but I itch all over if I don’t write them, so I put them all in the free chapters.
