Chapter 148: Seastone Mine
On the Golden Ark, Brook met with Udon’s daimyo, Ametsuki Maiken, along with the Oniwabanshu. Since the new city wasn’t ready yet, the Golden Ark remained the most luxurious place for receiving guests.
"Brook, while I don’t oppose Oden-sama taking you as his master, he is the shogun’s only son. He cannot stray far from the Flower Capital."
Ametsuki Maiken glanced at the young Kozuki Oden standing behind Brook, but Oden’s impatient and irritated expression made it clear he had no intention of going back. Maiken couldn’t help but feel a headache coming on.
Not long after, following a second report from the Oniwabanshu to Shogun Kozuki Sukiyaki, new orders were issued: Oden would be allowed to train in Kuri, but half of the Oniwabanshu would stay behind to protect—and monitor—him. Their secondary task, of course, was to keep an eye on Brook and his outsiders. Brook didn’t object. For now, his main goals were simple: get his hands on Seastone... and quietly drain Wano’s economy dry.
"Ametsuki-sama, do you remember the Seastone mine we discussed before? I’d like to send all those bandits and thugs from Kuri to work there. Give them a chance to redeem themselves through labor."
Brook smiled as he spoke, pulling out the leasing contract for the Seastone mine. A few dozen platinum coins were attached for good measure, enough to make Ametsuki Maiken’s eyes widen with temptation.
The Seastone mine wasn’t heavily used—aside from crafting restraints and tools for the Shogunate, it had been largely neglected. Seeing Brook willing to spend a fortune on the lease... Maiken found it impossible not to be swayed.
As for where Brook got so much platinum? That was thanks to the News Coo. Since the Golden Ark couldn’t leave port to buy more, Shakky had urgently reached out through Antonio and Mortomas. Every day now, flocks of News Coos were delivering shipments of platinum.
Even if each bird only carried one pound a day, with a hundred birds, they managed to smuggle in seven to eight hundred pounds of platinum in just a week.
Shakky had immediately launched her grand exchange plan—but she couldn’t flood the market too quickly, or platinum’s value would crash.
Instead, she began discreetly buying up industries across Wano, snapping up assets before anyone realized what was happening—getting maximum value for minimum cost.
After Brook and Ametsuki Maiken signed the mine lease, Shakky also bought several storefronts in Udon and acquired land near the mine to set up a Seastone processing plant.