Chapter 23: The Temptation of Celestial Gold
"Tian Shang Jin?"
Mio's hand froze mid-air as the words reached his ears. His expression shifted, and his mind began to spin rapidly, analyzing the implications.
Tian Shang Jin—also known as the "Celestial Gold"—was the annual tribute that the World Government's member states paid to the Celestial Dragons. With 170 countries under its banner, many of them in the North Blue, this tribute was nothing to scoff at. These riches were escorted by the Navy and delivered directly to the Holy Land of Marijoa. Every ship involved carried an enormous amount of wealth. Some rulers even offered Devil Fruits as part of the tribute to curry favor with the Celestial Dragons.
However...
"With how seriously the World Government and the Celestial Dragons treat Tian Shang Jin, you should understand the consequences of targeting it," Mio said in a low, serious voice.
To strike against the Celestial Gold was to provoke the wrath of the Celestial Dragons—a direct insult that could not go unanswered. This kind of transgression would unleash the Navy and the World Government in full force. And while Mio wasn't afraid of a challenge, he wasn't about to pick a fight without proper preparation. Still, the spark in his eyes betrayed a flicker of interest.
"Hehehehe... since I invited you, of course I'm confident the World Government won't suspect us. If the Donquixote Family wasn't short on manpower, I wouldn't have shared this opportunity," Doflamingo replied through the Den Den Mushi, his chuckling voice calm and sinister. "You should know better than anyone—once you agree, we're both stuck in the same boat. One misstep, and either of us could drag the other down."
"That's true," Mio acknowledged coolly. "But I also know who you really are."
The Den Den Mushi went quiet.