Regarding the shipbuilding matters, they would have to be set aside for now. Spandain would need to arrange some manpower to look into it.
Although Master Tom had also worked on some designs during the journey, nothing had been finalized in the end. He could continue that work over the next period.
Valthior also kept his word. He immediately set aside five billion Berries and invested it in Master Tom so he could fulfill his dream.
Among the five newly planned ports that had not yet started construction, he also directly gave him one with an excellent location to use as a shipbuilding port.
"Now that everything is decided, we are on the same side." Valthior gave an order. "Lincoln, take Master Tom outside and let him choose a house he likes. Have it cleaned up."
Lincoln immediately stepped forward and answered. After that, he left with Tom.
Once the two of them were gone, Valthior and Spandine both turned their eyes toward Caesar Clown.
Caesar had shackles on both hands and a flattering smile on his face. Together with his strange appearance, anyone could tell at a glance that there was nothing good he would do, and nothing evil he would refuse.
"Caesar Clown..." Valthior clicked his tongue as he looked at him.
"That's me, my lord," Caesar replied with a flattering smile.
"I heard you are a beast, scum, shameless, low, and a scientist with no limits or moral burden at all?" Valthior asked without holding back.
The smile on Caesar's face did not change, but inside, he was already complaining.
Damn it, if we are talking about beasts and scum, is there anyone on this sea who can compare to you Celestial Dragons?
"No, no, those are all rumors! It was Vegapunk, that bastard, who spread them because he was jealous of me. In truth, I am only a scientist who follows the laws of nature. As for those experiments, I did them for—" Caesar seemed afraid that Valthior would get the wrong impression of him, so he quickly tried to defend himself.
After hearing this, Valthior waved his hand with a disappointed look.
"Is that so? Then it seems you are not the person I am looking for. Spandine, drag him away and shoot him for ten minutes."
"Huh?" Caesar was completely stunned.
Seeing this, Spandine smiled. "Yes, Young Master."
As he spoke, he waved his hand. Two agents behind him immediately stepped forward, grabbed Caesar, and started dragging him out to shoot him for ten minutes.
Seeing that he was really being dragged outside, Caesar panicked. He no longer cared about his image and struggled as he shouted, "Misunderstanding! This is a misunderstanding! You were right, my lord! I am a beast, a shameless piece of scum, a bastard who will do anything!"
"There we go. Wouldn't it have been better if you had admitted it earlier?" Valthior laughed and looked at Caesar. "It may not be suitable elsewhere, but here in Wano—no, here on Frost Island—you can freely show that beastly side of yours."
On Frost Island, there were troublemakers everywhere.
Now, because of Valthior's own ability, the entire island, along with the inland sea, had begun to enter a permanently frozen state. Before the cold-resistant crop seeds brought in from other winter islands arrived, this place had no way to support itself for the time being.
Perhaps a larger-scale "rebellion" had not yet erupted, but there was no need to doubt it. In another two months, once these unruly commoners' stored grain ran out and they realized the winter that should have ended showed no sign of receding, they would surely launch an even greater uprising.
To Valthior, instead of letting these people die in the cold wind or be suppressed during a rebellion, it was better to hand them over to Caesar and let them create more value.
As for Caesar being a beast, the same logic still applied.
He and the troublemakers of Wano were a perfect match.
Inside the great hall, Valthior leaned back on the couch. Spandine sat on a chair below him, holding a cup of hot tea and drinking it happily.
As for Caesar, he was kneeling below the couch, answering Valthior's questions.
"I plan to build a military industry production base here," Valthior said. "As a scientific research expert in weapons and arms, I assume you will not disappoint me, right?"
"I certainly won't disappoint you," Caesar answered at once, then quickly added, "However, Saint Valthior, my research in the field of weapons is mainly focused on poison gas and weapons of mass destruction. As for ordinary arms and weapons, I…"
"That is fine. Just work according to your strengths. As for ordinary arms, the former Wano still has a strong foundation, so we are not lacking in that area for now. You only need to keep an eye on it and make sure nothing goes wrong," Valthior said.
"Then there will be no problem," Caesar said with a nod.
Valthior casually threw a map in front of Caesar, and Caesar immediately caught it, opened it, and spread it across the floor.
"I drew a circle on this map. This place used to be the Kuri region of Wano, but now it has been renamed Frost Island Industrial Park. The buildings inside have already been flattened, and the ruins are being cleared away, but nothing else has been built yet. After you leave here, go there and take a look. Mark out an area for your laboratory and research center, then submit a plan to me. Write down what equipment and materials you need, and I will arrange people to buy them," Valthior said.
When Caesar heard that, his heart started pounding, and excitement filled him.
Doesn't this mean Saint Valthior is going to fund my work?
What else is there to say?
I thought I was brought here to suffer, but who would have thought I was here to enjoy myself?
There are plenty of troublesome locals who can be used as test materials for all kinds of cruel experiments, and there is also the young master of a Five Elders family funding me. I can build a first-rate research center and complete all my wonderful ideas!
"I am willing to give my life in service to you, Saint Valthior!" Caesar said excitedly.
If he had been qualified, he would have sworn loyalty to Valthior on the spot.
"I have plenty of money. On this island, I can also satisfy all your needs. Letting you eat well, drink well, and enjoy wealth and comfort is not a problem. However, Caesar, I need to remind you of one thing. What I give you is yours. Do you understand?" Valthior raised his brow as he spoke.
Caesar was a rather showy man, and his way of living was extremely wasteful. In the original story, he had taken the money Charlotte Linlin gave him for the giantification experiments and pocketed it, using all of it to enjoy himself.
Valthior did not think there was anything wrong with satisfying one's desires, but it depended on the situation.
What I give you is yours.
What I do not give you, you are not allowed to steal.
If Caesar could create enough value for him, Valthior was fully willing to let him live above others. But if this guy dared to steal money right under his eyes, then Valthior could also make him enjoy the same treatment as the troublesome people of Wano.
Thinking about everything he had seen on the way through "Wano," and adding that to his fixed impression of the Celestial Dragons, Caesar understood very well that the man in front of him was a tyrant. He did not dare act proud because of his talent, so he immediately said, "I understand, I understand. I truly understand."
"Go. Someone outside the hall will take you there to handle proper business," Valthior said, waving his hand.
...
On the other side, Master Tom had already followed Lincoln into the city district of the Heaven Capital.
"There is actually a lot of empty space inside Seireitei. Are you truly not considering choosing a mansion there?" Lincoln asked as he walked beside Master Tom.
"A room there is enough. As for a residence, I actually need a very large space so I can work on designs and build materials whenever needed. It will definitely be noisy and cause some pollution later, so it is better not to put it inside Seireitei. If the port had already started construction, I would have planned to live there. For now, just find a large enough house in this district, and I can use it temporarily," Master Tom said.
Lincoln nodded after hearing that. After thinking it over, he already had a target in mind, and he soon brought Master Tom to the gate of a residence.
"How about this place?"
The Heaven Capital had originally been the capital of Wano, which made it the core area. In a place like this, anyone who owned a large residence must have been part of the former nobility or a wealthy merchant family.
During the Roger Pirates' time, Valthior's group had wiped out the ruling class here, leaving only a portion behind. After Valthior returned, he wiped out another group led by Kurozumi Orochi.
Even so, they still had not completely removed all the wealthy people of Wano. Some of them remained. They had not died for the Kozuki family, and they had not joined Kurozumi Orochi either. They had simply kept their heads down until now, living like invisible people, so Valthior had not noticed their existence.
Lincoln, however, knew very clearly that these people existed. Since the Young Master had not given any orders, and since they had not caused trouble and were even willing to donate money, Lincoln had not taken it upon himself to get rid of them.
For example, if he remembered correctly, the residence in front of them belonged to a certain wealthy merchant of Wano.
"Do you like this place?" Lincoln asked as he led Master Tom into the courtyard.
Master Tom was rather confused. Although the gatekeeper did not dare stop them from entering, this residence clearly had people living in it.
However, since he had only just arrived, he did not understand the situation here very well. Even though he had some doubts, he did not think too much about it. He looked around and felt that the place was large enough. It was also not too far from Seireitei, so if anything happened, it would be convenient to find Valthior. Because of that, he nodded and said, "I like it. This place will do."
"Good." Lincoln nodded, then led Master Tom back out of the courtyard. He looked at the guards waiting outside the main gate and called out, "What are you standing there for? Master Tom has taken a liking to this house. Go in and clean it up for him!"
As soon as Lincoln said that, the guards immediately moved. They rushed into the residence in perfect order. The captain even considerately shut the gate from the inside before drawing his blade and cutting down anyone he saw.
Listening to the screams and pleas coming from inside, Master Tom was completely stunned.
He moved closer and looked through the crack in the gate, only to see that they were truly slaughtering people inside.
"What is it? You do not like this one? Have you changed your mind? That is fine. We can choose another. What do you think of the one across the street?" Lincoln said, pointing to another residence on the opposite side of the road.
Master Tom turned around to look, and with just one glance, the gatekeeper across the street noticed what was happening and was so frightened that he lost control of himself, as if terrified that Master Tom would nod.
"No, no, there is no need. This place is fine," Master Tom quickly said, waving his hand.
What a sin. It seems I still do not understand the Valthior Pirates' way of doing things well enough.
Sure enough, even though Valthior treats people warmly and did not treat me like an outsider, my fixed impression of him was not wrong at all.
A pirate, and a Celestial Dragon.
Isn't that just cruelty mixed with no humanity?
However, since he had already boarded the ship, Master Tom no longer kept dwelling on it. In this situation, could he really get off the ship?
All he could do was try his best to create as little sin as possible.
Otherwise, did he really think Valthior was some kind-hearted person?
Did he think he could get off the ship just because he said so?
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