One Piece: Groudon the Beasts

Chapter 267 The Five Elders: Finally, we've turned the tables!

Reverse Mountain, on one side of the Grand Line.

Several naval warships are stationed there.

The slave laborers sent from the Kingdom of Donghai Bridge worked day and night, desperately building the toll station.

A doctor and a whale were forced to move.

The checkpoints haven't been built yet, but the tariff policy has already been implemented.

At the same time, all member states received a notice from the World Government that they would have to pay a toll whenever they passed through Reverse Mountain.

If the vessel is a merchant ship, an additional tariff of up to 30% will be levied, and there will be dedicated personnel to conduct the inventory checks.

If a country refuses to pay tariffs, it will be stripped of its membership and listed as an enemy of the world government.

Their thuggish behavior enraged the member states, but they could only grit their teeth and endure it in the face of the world government.

Royal families around the world are well aware of the consequences of being stripped of their membership in the Union; it is not just a matter of losing human rights, but also of becoming a target for other countries to carve up.

They could even become slaves!
On the surface, the world government has long abolished slavery, but this only applies to member states. Non-member states, which have no human rights, face essentially the same fate.

Purgatory on earth.

Because that's how they treat non-member states!

However, the kings were surprised to find that even with a 30% tariff, they could still make a fortune by buying Groudon's products.

Orders from various countries have not decreased; on the contrary, they have increased rapidly like snowflakes!
Nobody knows what the future holds, so while there's still money to be made, it's natural to buy as much as possible.

Aruba Trade Port.

Officials from various countries surrounded the office.

"Why did the price suddenly increase when it was agreed upon?!"

"Huh? Do you think our company would agree to this?!"

The head of the trade port, Snack's brother Swark, looked displeased and showed no mercy to the troublemaking customers, engaging in a sharp verbal battle with the group of pigs.

"Listen carefully, the World Government also imposes tariffs on our Groudon Company, so our company has no choice but to raise the prices of all our products!"
"Ha, our company's products are already cheap enough, with profit margins as thin as paper. Are you suggesting we sell them to you at a loss?!"

"Stop dreaming!"

"If you don't buy, plenty of countries will. Look for the reasons within yourselves; have you been diligently managing your country?"

"You're complaining about such a small price increase? You have the nerve to do business? Let me tell you, not only will it increase now, it will increase in the future!"

"If you really want to negotiate, go and reason with the World Government!"

"Pah, a bunch of useless bastards!"

Swok continued to sneer.

"Alright, I'll be merciful and tell you some good news: our company has lodged a tariff protest with the world government!"

"real?!"

The messengers were delighted.

They dare not defy the World Government, but the Hoenn government behind Groudon does, because they're counting on Hoenn.

The Holy Land, the Hall of Power.

Government officials are briefing on tariff details for Upside Down Mountain, as well as trade conditions at the port of Aruba.

Today, the Port of Aruba has become the world's largest port, with its enormous trading volume and wide variety of goods attracting member states like moths to a flame.

Prior to this, the world government did not want countries to be too closely connected, and trade with each country was conducted separately. There had never been a centralized port like this before.

For all countries, the trade environment has been upgraded from a small local market to a large wholesale center.

Not only are the quantities large, but they are also inexpensive.

Countries are also shipping their surplus resources to the port of Aruba, including food, steel, timber, and more.

In just half a month, the amount of tariffs alone approached one trillion Berries, which greatly surprised the Five Elders.

I even felt scared!
"Trading volume has not only not decreased, but has actually increased rapidly?"

"how so!"

The Five Elders were sweating.

Money is just a number to them; they care more about stability.

Such mutual exchange among nations will inevitably lead to rapid growth in national strength, and may even allow them to completely abandon war and focus solely on developing their national economies.

Before long, the economic and military power of all countries will increase significantly.

But this is not what they wanted to see.

The stagnation of member states' development, or their entanglement in war, continuously depletes their national strength, which is conducive to the world government's rule. Overly powerful nations are prone to slipping out of control!

Just like the world government's relentless plundering of powerful nations, it's all to prevent member states from becoming too powerful.

Even the chaotic situation, including the number of member states, was deliberately created by the World Government; maintaining balance is the most important thing.

Ants don't need development!
The world doesn't need to progress!
"Taxes must be increased! Taxes must be increased!"

"Raise the tariff to 50%!"

"Not enough, raise it to 70%!"

"Only by raising trade costs to a level that is unacceptable to all countries can we curb their rising trade sentiment!"

The five elders broke out in a cold sweat.

They considered that the port of Aruba would have a significant impact, but their attention was focused on the Hoenn government, ignoring the ambitions of the member states.

Fortunately, it was discovered in time!
"Report, there's one more thing."

The messenger handed over the previous document.

"The Hoenn government sent a document condemning the World Government for setting up a checkpoint at Reverse Mt. and demanding that the World Government remove the checkpoint."

"condemn?"

Nassshuro picked up the document.

The message was the same as the messenger's report: the Hoenn government expressed strong condemnation and protest, and called on them to stop their malicious tariff practices for the sake of world peace and development.

This proves that they have found the weakness of the Hoenn government!

Reverse Mountain is not a new world. If war breaks out on Reverse Mountain, the Hoenn government will not only lose its geographical advantage, but also face a major problem in terms of troop reinforcement and mobilization.

The advantage lies with them!
The World Government has suffered losses at the hands of the Hoenn Government several times, but this time it will finally be able to recoup some of its losses!
“Everyone, take a look.”

"Ah."

The five elders flipped through the documents, and smiles appeared on their faces in unison, easing their long-suppressed bad moods.

OK!

Nasujiro Sei gripped the first generation Kitetsu tightly.

"This trade war should end!"

Port of Aruba.

News of the tariff increase came quickly, and the world government gave a rare deadline: the new tariff policy would be implemented in a week.

However, the 70% tariff was unacceptable to many member states. If the World Government took 70%, Groudon Corporation would also raise prices.

This means that the price of the same product has more than doubled!
"Shameless!"

Officials from various countries were outraged.

But there are even more shameless ones.

The World Government has announced that it will also establish a trading port in Rapeseed Flower Port, and products traded through the new trading port will only be subject to a 20% tariff.

Overall, some goods are slightly cheaper on the World Government's side, but that price includes tariffs.

No matter what it is, comparison is the worst thing.

Groudon's goods are not only of high quality and low price, but also free from messy taxes, making transactions very smooth for all parties involved.

The World Government, on the other hand, is clearly trying to rob us, and the price is even higher than before.

Cutting off one's source of income is like killing one's parents!

Hoenn government, Marshal's office.

"They've really lost all sense of shame."

Good listened to his subordinates' report without panicking at all. Rather than making less money, he would rather see the credibility of the World Government collapse even faster.

"Kuzan, are you ready?"

"Yes, anytime!"

Kuzan's lips curled into a smile.

After disappearing for so long, it's time to go back and see my old friends!
Let's send a message to the world!

Goode rubbed his hands together, his fighting spirit surging.

"Let the world witness the Hoenn government's military exercises!"

(End of this chapter)