HPDBC Chapter 232: Am I a Marine or a Businessman?
Chapter 232: Am I a Marine or a Businessman?
On the transfer station island near Amazon Lily, five newly constructed warships were moored, their hulls towering over the bustling docks. The Calm Belt's specialty fruits were being loaded onto the ships while a short, thin man in a Marine Vice Admiral's coat stood nearby, holding a small notebook, scribbling calculations.
"After deducting all expenses, the net profit of this trip is at most 100 million Berries... maybe even less," Vice Admiral Momonga muttered under his breath, his expression sour.
As a real power Vice Admiral of Marine Headquarters, the past two years had seen Momonga stationed in the Calm Belt, taking on the heavy responsibility of managing "transport logistics." However, the profits from this assignment were meager. The five warships, loaded to the brim with specialty fruits from the Calm Belt, would barely net a profit of 100 million Berries once expenses were deducted.
To put it into perspective, this amount wasn't even enough to cover the cost of one warship. It would take at least two round trips to earn enough to build a single vessel and each round trip took a month. For five warships and 10,000 Marines, this was far from efficient. At this rate, Momonga thought bitterly, it might be more lucrative to become a pirate. With a bit of luck, the spoils from raiding would easily pay for several warships.
"When will they find a proper mineral vein?" Momonga lamented, rubbing his temples. "Even an iron or copper mine would do!"
He watched the Marines moving back and forth, loading the fruits with practiced efficiency. If these ships were loaded with iron ore instead of fruit, the net profit could easily exceed 1 billion Berries per trip. That kind of revenue could quickly fund new warships, and as the scale of operations expanded, profits would snowball. Within a few years, Marine Headquarters could rake in tens or even hundreds of billions of Berries annually from multiple veins, strengthening their financial resources. With such wealth, the Marines could easily bolster their forces, and perhaps even fight the New World pirates head-on without fear.
As Momonga daydreamed about this grand future, he paused, touching his chin thoughtfully. "Since when did I become a businessman? Am I not a Vice Admiral of Marine Headquarters?"
He chuckled at his own self-mockery but quickly dismissed the thought. After all, while fighting pirates was an honorable task, developing the Calm Belt to strengthen the Marines' power was just as important, if not more so. Sure, it might lack the immediate satisfaction of enforcing justice, but the long-term benefits for the Marines were undeniable.
---
Momonga felt a wave of frustration rise within him. Her imperious attitude and the immense backing she had made it impossible to argue with her. Swallowing his irritation, he tried again. "Without a valid reason, I have no authority to mobilize additional warships."
Hancock remained silent for a moment, then spoke without even glancing at him. "Fisher Tiger has discovered an island rich in iron ore. It's an open-pit mine, making it easy to extract. His team has already started mining. With 30,000 Fish-Men, they can extract enough ore to fill ten warships within a month. Do I need to say more?"
Momonga was taken aback. After all this time, they had finally discovered a mineral vein! His heart surged with excitement, but at the same time, he couldn't help but feel exasperated. Why couldn't she just convey the news straightforwardly instead of maintaining her tsundere act?
Although annoyed, Momonga couldn't deny his excitement. "Understood," he said, nodding. "I'll handle the arrangements."
Hancock didn't acknowledge his response. She simply let out a dismissive "Hmph," turned on her heel, and began walking away. Her sole purpose in coming here was to deliver the news. As for why she hadn't used a Den Den Mushi? The answer was simple—Boa Hancock, the Pirate Empress, deemed Momonga unworthy of having her contact information.
---
Meanwhile, back at Marine Headquarters in Marineford, Sengoku received the news and was elated.
"Finally! Progress in the Calm Belt!" Sengoku exclaimed, pacing his office with excitement. "An island with rich iron ore, this is a game changer! I can already see cannons, bases, and warships taking shape!"
After confirming the report with Momonga, Sengoku made an immediate decision to bolster the Calm Belt development project. Fifteen additional warships would be deployed, along with reinforcements, to expedite the operation.
From another perspective, this development solidified Momonga as one of the most powerful Vice Admirals in Marine Headquarters. With 20 massive warships and nearly 30,000 Marine soldiers under his command, his resources far exceeded those of an average Vice Admiral, who typically had three warships at most. This project could potentially elevate his status to unprecedented heights.