"It seems the answer will have to wait until next time~" Rhett said to the expectant children. He pulled Ace's chin off the table. "Now then..."
He turned to face Whitebeard.
"I told you I was going all out for this banquet."
"Gurararara. I'm really looking forward to something that even you would call going all out~" Whitebeard laughed.
Rhett's blood mist suddenly expanded into a giant projection screen. "I want to play a game with everyone—"
The moment Rhett finished speaking, everyone started talking. They could be divided into two groups.
The first group was indifferent.
"Boring." Mihawk leaned against a wine barrel, holding his black blade. "The alcohol here is indeed good. You all go play. I want to enjoy these drinks."
Doflamingo's sunglasses glinted. "Fufufu If the prize is interesting enough"
Garp was snoring loudly at the donut table. "Zzzzz! Zzzzz!"
The red teddy bear spoke. "Our mission is to prevent chaos on the seas. We won't stoop to participating in pirates' games."
The red teddy bear had low emotional intelligence. There were member nation kings who wanted to participate. He was calling their games "pirates' games." Was he looking for trouble?
"What kind of quality do the Marines have?"
"Exactly. With this kind of quality, can they really protect us?"
Sengoku, watching the scene through a Den Den Mushi, had a headache. Garp being welcomed by Rhett had raised the Marines' prestige. A few sentences from Sakazuki had ruined it all.
Sengoku adjusted his mindset and said to the three Admirals, "Don't participate. Just let them get through the banquet peacefully."
The second group was fully supportive.
Whitebeard slammed his naginata on the ground. "Gurarara! I'll play along with the kids!"
Judge knelt on one knee. His technology armor clicked. "As expected of Lord Rhett! Such innovative team building! Germa 66 will do whatever it takes!"
Hancock had just come from the "uncles' table." "Uncle, no matter how boring the game is, I will participate. This is my support for you."
Rhett was sweating as he listened. Rhett clapped his hands.
Rhett's blood mist suddenly tore open the sky, revealing a giant platform at the highest point of the Golden City.
"WHOOSH—"
Five billion berries poured down like a waterfall. The light reflected off them was blinding. Stacks of bills formed a mountain.
"GASP—"
The golden light of the five billion berries made the entire Golden City fall into strange silence. Then an earth-shaking commotion erupted.
"Mine! It's all mine!" A pirate with a thirty million bounty had bloodshot eyes. He stepped on his companion's head to reach the money mountain.
"CRACKLE—"
Enel's gold staff pointed casually. A thunder dragon fell from the sky and turned the man into charcoal. "Small fry should just stay background."
But this was only the beginning. Wealth made people crazy.
"Charge!"
"Whoever grabs it gets it!"
Dozens of pirates suddenly charged. A few guards of member nation kings also quietly reached for their weapons.
"THUD!"
Tesoro's gold giant fist suddenly slammed in front of the money mountain. "Rule one—" His gold-rimmed glasses glinted coldly. "Touch the prize before the game starts, and you die."
The blood mist suddenly formed a noose and hung three nobles who had sneaked the bills in the air. Rhett smiled and waved his finger. "Rule two—"
"My money, my rules."
Doflamingo's sunglasses slid down to the tip of his nose. "Fufufu... this is interesting~" He suddenly threw strings to wrap around two fleeing kings. "Since you're here—"
"Play to the end!"
Mihawk silently put his black blade back on his back. "...I'm suddenly a little interested."
Garp's snot bubble popped. "Huh? Is dinner ready?"
Akainu's magma fists crackled. "A pirates' farce..."
"Sakazuki." Sengoku ordered through gritted teeth. "Participate!"
Rhett was very satisfied with everyone's reactions. There was no pirate who wouldn't go crazy over this. For the member nation kings, they were just another kind of pirate.
In a certain sense, One Piece was the ideal of pirates. It was the dream of every man on the seas. The five billion on that platform, which they could actually touch, was reality. Those five billion equaled one Pirate King. Everyone would go crazy. It represented a lifetime of wealth and glory.
It was right there.
"It seems everyone likes the prize I prepared. As men of the sea, only first place matters." Rhett pointed at the mountain of money with his right hand.
"Do you see it? Five billion berries. You can take it all. Don't worry about being robbed. It will be stored in the bank of the Blood Member Nation. You can withdraw the money from any territory of the Blood Member Nation. Withdraw as much as you need. We will keep it safe for you. Guaranteed by the Blood Dawn Pirates. Guaranteed by me, 'Mist Lord' Rhett."
"Gurarara!" Whitebeard's laugh made the gold cups ring. He raised his naginata and pointed it at the money mountain with one hand. "Rhett kid, you really are going all out!"
Marco put a hand to his forehead. "Dad, you wouldn't want to—"
"Of course I'm going to participate!" Whitebeard patted Marco's shoulder. "My sons are much stronger than these small fry!"
Jozu's diamond arm crackled. "For five billion, I could move this whole city!"
Vista's twin swords glinted coldly. "The Whitebeard Pirates are determined to win this five billion~" He glanced mockingly at the nobles hanging in the air.
Akainu's magma melted through the floor. "Mr. Sengoku! Are we really going to—"
"Shut up!" Sengoku's roar came from the Den Den Mushi. "The whole world is watching! Do you want the Marines to be seen as cowards who are afraid to play a game?!"
Rhett: That's not what you said just now.
Kizaru slowly raised his hand. "Yeah this old man would also like to participate"
"Approved!" Sengoku answered instantly. "Aokiji, keep an eye on Akainu!"
Aokiji sighed.
Rhett gestured for everyone to quiet down.
The venue fell silent instantly. They didn't want to miss a single word Rhett said.
"The seas belong to the young. Old-timers from my era should not participate." Rhett looked at the three Admirals.
That's right. He was talking about them. Didn't you see Whitebeard staying put?
Just then, Perospero also stepped forward.
"Mr. Rhett, may I ask if we can also participate? Rest assured, we will not affect the quality of this banquet."
Rhett glanced at Perospero. "Of course. Even you yourself can participate."
"All participants in this game must be adults."
"What~"
Everyone at the "uncles' table" was quietly sneaking toward the Bruma Jackson.