One Piece: Starting with Coercion and Enticement of Nami

The banquet was held in the hall, where a lavish spread of high-end ingredients and fine wines filled the tables.

Melka's wife and daughter Koya also attended the banquet.

After five courses of food and three rounds of drinks,

Thoth, along with the mouse and Melka, went to the study to discuss important matters.

Meanwhile, Nami, Karina, and the others played with Melka's daughter, Kaya.

This is a cute but sickly blonde girl.

In the study.

After hearing Thoth and the rat's follow-up plan against Crow, Melka's expression turned serious. However, he had no reason or room to refuse.

Firstly, he couldn't afford to offend either side, and secondly, this matter posed no threat to him.

By getting involved in this matter, he can also better connect with the two of them.

The advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.

As a successful businessman, he is not lacking in insight and decisiveness in judging people and situations.

Well, Kro doesn't count; he's too cunning.

And in his entire life, that was the only time he misjudged Crow.

The matter was quickly settled.

The two saw the rat off together. On the shore, Tot watched as the warship, carrying Klo and Zango, left the village of Sirob.

Melka turned her head to look at Tot, a hint of something real flashing in her eyes.

"Mr. Toth, would you like to have a chat?"

Thoth looked at him and smiled slightly:

"Okay, come aboard my boat. Let's have a drink together."

Soon, after calling Johnny and the others on the nearby boat to lower the footboard, Tot led Melka aboard to the living room sofa.

The two sat facing each other.

Merka picked up his glass, took a sip of the fine wine, and gave a flattering smile: "Good wine."

After drinking, he looked at Thoth and gave a wry smile:

"You can probably see just how powerless a businessman like me, who only has money, is on this vast ocean."

At this point, he continued to complain:

"Having money but lacking the ability to protect it often leads to shipwreck and loss of life when encountering a major storm."

"I don't know much about commercial risks, but I think they are no less than those of taking risks at sea."

Thoth looked at him calmly: "Although we work in different fields, we both risk our lives at sea."

Each has its own advantages and risks.

Melka was surprised by Tote's understanding and approved of it, but then smiled bitterly: "There are advantages to doing business. As long as you have the courage and the means, you can make money quickly and it can be a little more stable. But the risks you face are also greater."

Natural disasters and man-made calamities, the unpredictability of the climate, the treacherous nature of the sea, the scheming and infighting of merchants, and the watchful eyes of all kinds of greedy hyenas.

Sometimes having more money in your pocket isn't necessarily a good thing.

Just like the powerful Chloe, who lurked beside me without my noticing, and before I knew it, my family was destroyed and I was dead.

At this point, he looked intently at Thoth: "I have paid attention to you, no, rather, I pay close attention to all the famous free men who roam this East Sea."

You are a capable man, with great strength and a strong moral compass.

Thoth looked at him and smiled: "You want to recruit me?"

“No, no.” Melka waved his hands repeatedly upon hearing this, his face showing helplessness and embarrassment: “I know my own limitations. A man as capable and wealthy as you is not capable of attracting you.”

Before today, he had some confidence that his daughter Kaya would definitely be a great beauty in the future, and that Thoth was young, strong, and handsome, making him a very good candidate for a son-in-law.

But now, none of the three women beside Toth are less attractive than his daughter.

Moreover, he had instinctively sensed that the greedy rat colonel of the 16th branch was subtly trying to please the boy in front of him.

This shocked him greatly.

He didn't know the boy's background. If the rat was currying favor with him because of his possible background, it proved that the boy had enormous potential.

But if... it's because of his own methods that he managed to make the rats obey, then this boy has limitless potential.

What's especially noteworthy is that he had previously saved his entire family.

"What I want to say is that I want to cooperate with you. I am the absolute controlling shareholder of the Ya'an Chamber of Commerce, which covers channels in medicine, tourism, clothing, and beverages."

My chamber of commerce has influence in several prosperous areas of the East China Sea.

I own 15% of the shares in top-tier clothing brand 'Hey Panda' in Donghai.

At this point, he took a deep breath:

"I would like to establish an alliance with you by giving up 5% of the equity in 'Hey Panda'."

This 5% equity stake can generate an annual net profit of 5 million peggs.

All I need is for you to come to our rescue if my family ever faces an insurmountable crisis.

Of course, this rescue is provided it doesn't cross your bottom line. If it does, you can refuse directly.

This is practically free money.

They give away 500 million peles every year for free.

This guy has quite the guts.

Thoth's eyes flickered slightly as he looked at the pleading look in the middle-aged man's eyes. He had to admit that the man was very humble, giving him face while speaking in a pleasant tone.

“I will not stay in the East China Sea forever. When I think the time is right, I will lead my companions to the Great Sea Route.”

Melka's expression froze, but then Tote spoke up with a smile:

“I don’t need the shares, but I can be your friend.”

When I was still in the East China Sea, if you encountered any trouble, you could come to me; killing is my specialty.

However, in return, I need you to regularly purchase various rare and aged medicinal herbs, top-quality culinary recipes, and top-notch nautical books for me, as well as provide me with useful information about the East China Sea.

For example, if you discover any Devil Fruits or information, please let me know immediately.

Can you agree to these conditions?

Melka couldn't help but blink hard. These conditions weren't difficult for him to meet, except for the Devil Fruit.

The ease of it all made him feel a little unreal at that moment.

That's it?

He couldn't help but ask.

079. Advancement of Observation Color!

"That's all?"

Melka found it hard to believe; the man in front of her didn't seem like the kind of person who was easy to talk to.

Could it be that he has some other purpose?

His instincts as a successful businessman compelled him to speculate in that direction.

Thoth nodded calmly: "These are exactly what I need right now."

"The deal is done?"

Melka asked somewhat guiltily.

"make a deal."

Thoth nodded with a smile.

Melka took a deep breath, solemnly extended his right hand, and Thoth also extended his hand to shake it.

The two were in a tense standoff. After thinking for a moment, Melka still couldn't help but ask:

"How about I transfer my shares in my other businesses to you? You don't have to do anything, just collect the money when the contract expires."

Thoth sensed his hesitation; he wanted to build a deeper relationship with him, so he smiled faintly.

"Being too openly involved with me won't do you much good."

I'm the kind of person who easily incurs resentment, like Du Felder, the current kingpin of the underworld and a notorious loan shark.

He dispatched the East China Sea Trade General Manager, Drago, whom I just killed today.

For a big shot like him, killing his dog would definitely lead to him taking action against me later in order to save face.

Are you sure you want to get to know me better?

Melka's pupils constricted sharply. Even as a mere merchant from the East China Sea, he was intimately familiar with the infamous name of the King of Loans. Moreover, he had seen the ruthless Drago several times at banquets, but he never expected...

He wiped the fine beads of cold sweat that had unknowingly seeped from his forehead, and looked at Thoth with a hint of shock in his eyes.

"If you regret it, that's fine. I can pretend the current deal never existed."

"Aren't you afraid?" Melka's voice unconsciously carried a hint of anxiety; after all, the man before her was her family's savior.

"That big shot is a top-tier tycoon who has business interests all over the world. To be his enemy..."

"Are you courting death?" Thoth uttered the terrifying conclusion he hadn't voiced. Melka swallowed hard and nodded with difficulty. To him, the King of Usury was like the Grim Reaper. Thoth's gaze remained calm.

"When soldiers come, we'll block them; when water comes, we'll dam it. If he kills me later, it just means I'm nothing special. But if he doesn't kill me, then in the future, I'll make him kneel obediently at my feet."

It was the arrogance of youthful ignorance.

Or was he just born arrogant?

Melka wanted to see something in Tot's eyes, such as fear or apprehension.

But he couldn't see anything; all he saw was a calm as deep as a still pool.

Under that calm gaze, his anxiety and fear began to disappear without him realizing it. After a few seconds, he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled. When he opened his eyes again, his gaze had become calm, and he gave a bitter smile.

"Perhaps I'm getting old, or perhaps I've been through too much hardship in society, and I'm not as good as you."

"Just do as you say. Tell me anything you need. And I will inform you immediately if there are any unusual developments in the underworld."

"Then I'll thank you in advance."

A smile appeared on Tote's face.

"By the way, how long can you stay in Xirob? And what items do you need? I need two days to procure the first batch from nearby islands."

"Of course, if you need anything, we can arrange a convenient meeting place, and I will personally deliver the goods to you with a caravan."

Thoth thought for a moment, then smiled and said:

"Two days isn't a long time, so I'll wait here for two days."

Upon hearing this, a smile also appeared on Melka's face, but at this moment, a hint of curiosity surfaced in his eyes:

"I can understand cookbooks and nautical books, but as for expensive medicinal herbs, do you have a highly skilled doctor on board?"

Actually, what he wanted to ask was about the doctor. His daughter, Kaya, had been frail and sickly since childhood. He had consulted many famous doctors, but the only conclusion they could reach was to treat her with expensive medicine.

Although his family was wealthy, medicine always has side effects, and Ke Ya's health did not improve. She could only slowly recover as her body developed and her constitution strengthened, relying on her own resistance.

"For your daughter?"

Tote got straight to the point.

Melka was both surprised and unsurprised. After all, anyone with eyes could see that Kaya's health was poor. With a wry smile, she explained Kaya's condition.

This illness was actually something he carried from the womb. Before Kaya was born, his wife had a serious illness that threatened to affect the fetus.

When Koya was born, her body was noticeably weaker than that of ordinary babies.

"Perhaps I can take a look at her."

After a few seconds of contemplation, Toth spoke.

Merka was stunned. "You?"