Sengoku had his pns, but Cudius wasn't without his own.

  The Calm Belt, an untapped reservoir of immeural resources, ce Cudius had been eyeing for a long time. However, for the loime, he hadn't found a practical way to exploit it. His inal idea was to wait until Amazon Lily came into py specifically, to see if their unique "sea serpent bioteology" could be of any use.

  He'd also sidered the Seastone-coated ship teology used by the Mario navigate the Calm Belt. Yet, he wasn't sure whely this teology had been developed. From his memory, this innovation came into py during the Summit War, when Vice Admiral Momonga used it to summon Boa Hancock to fulfill her Warlord obligations.

  As of now, Cudius wasn't sure if Marine had already perfected the teology. This uainty art of the reason why he had always wao probe deeper into Marine's mysterious Stific Division. Teology, after all, was the primary driver ress. Even something seemingly simple could lead to massive breakthroughs and unimaginable profits.

  Now, however, Cudius didn't o chase after the teology himself, Sengoku had delivered it right to his doorstep. Only an idiot would refuse su opportunity.

  Why had Cudius spent so much effort maintaining close ties with Marine's upper echelons over the years? Was it purely out of nostalgia for Zephyr's kindness? Perhaps a little, but not nearly enough to justify his as.

  The real reason was far more practical: Cudius wao influence Marine Headquarters in the long term. He aimed to make his personal presence felt within the Marine hierarchy.

  While direct trol over Marine simir to how the Wover wielded authority was ideal, Cudius k wasn't realistic. Marine's structure was too insuted, its systems tid. It wasn't a power easily infiltrated or trolled. So, he settled for a different approach: gradually accumuting influehin Marine, waiting for the right opportunity to leverage the banner of "justice" to his advantage.

  And this opportunity had finally arrived. Sengoku's proposal to use Cudius as a shield for broadening Marine's financial resources wasn't just about tapping into the Calm Belt. It was about opening a door, ohat allowed Cudius to embed himself in Marine's operations.

  Ohis door ened, Marine, having tasted the bes, wouldn't be able to close it again.

  For Cudius, the profits of the Calm Belt were sedary. The real prize was the influend leverage this arra gave him over Marine. After all, wealth was just money, but power was the ability to shape events.

  The Wover kept Marine under trol by holding their purse strings. The threat of cutting military expenditures was enough to force even someone like Akainu to promise. No matter how fiery his "absolute justice" burned, even Akainu had no choice but to bow to reality when the Wover trolled the funding.

  But now, thanks to Sengoku, Cudius nting a seed of independehin Marine. With this new financial el, Marine wouldn't be as strained by the Wover's budgetary whims.

  From Sengoku's perspective, this deal was a minray area, barely a viotion. With Cudius c for them, it was a negligible risk. Cudius was a Celestial Dragon, the very embodiment of the Wover's legitimacy. So long as the money was teically ing from Cudius, it was just aension of the system itself.

  But from Cudius' perspective, this was much more signifit. He was ying the groundwork to influehe Wover's stro force, making it easier to sway Marine's as iure.

  As for the immense profits of the Calm Belt, Cudius felt that with his identity and Marine's partnership, those profits were already as good as his. Even if this arra sted for seve, or ten years before the Wover caught wind of it, Cudius wouldn't lose any sleep over it.

  If they did cat, what could they even say? Cudius could easily argue that all the money had gooward strengthening the Wover's forces, specifically Marine and CP-X. It wasn't as if he were embezzling funds or using the money for personal gain.

  After all, both Marine and CP-X were officially part of the Wover. Cudius could even frame it as a move to reduce the Wover's financial burden, sparing them from the o provide annual funding.

  Although Sengoku himself cked the authority to formalize such a deal, Cudius was fident in his own ability to vihe Five Elders if necessary.

  He could present the Calm Belt's development as a win-win. If the Wover attempted to trol it directly, at least half the resources would be lost to corruption before reag their hands. Cudius, however, had no need for suderhaactics. As a Celestial Dragon, the Wover's wealth was already his wealth, there was no reason to siphon funds.

  By pg himself in charge, Cudius could ensure all resources were collected effitly and allocated transparently. And with this newfouh, Marine and CP-X could streheir forces, stabilizing the seas and seg the Wover's rule.

  It roposal that ticked every box.

  Of course, all of this hinged on Cudius remaining loyal and not overstepping his bounds. But as a Celestial Dragon especially one as high-ranking as he was, Cudius had a natural advantage in earning trust.

  After carefully weighing the pros and s, Cudius decided that Sengoku's pn was not only feasible but highly advantageous for everyone involved.

  Sharing a knowing look, Cudius and Sengoku both broke into ughter. The uandiween them had deepened, and without others to intrude, their allianow felt solidified.

  Pg a hand on Sengoku's shoulder, Cudius said with a grin, "Sengoku, I'll make sure Water 7 prioritizes this project. We'll push aside any unimportant orders and focus all our efforts on your Marine and CP-X ships. Let's make sure we plete these experimental results as soon as possible to serve the Wover."

  "Hahahaha, much appreciated, Yhness," Sengoku replied with a smile.

  "There's o stand on ceremony," Cudius said grandly. "Up until now, perhaps there's been a bit of distaween us. But starting today, we're truly on the same side. Don't worry, Sengoku I'll never shortge your Marines. How about a fifty-fifty split? I won't take advantage of you."

  Sengoku's eyes widened slightly at the offer. He had been prepared to settle for a three-to-seven or even a four-to-six split, given the weight of Cudius' involvement and his role as a protective shield. To hear Cudius suggest an even fifty-fifty split without hesitation was beyond generous.

  Cudius, a Celestial Dragon, had o make su offer, but the fact that he did was enough to leave Sengoku thhly impressed.

  ***

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