Chapter 1323 - 34: Overbearing

Chapter 1323: Chapter 34: Overbearing

"It’s just an experimental model. Do you think developing explosives is that easy?"

Su Xiao’s casual response clearly didn’t convince Jack.

"The Navy probably tested an experimental model on some island. By the way, here’s some good news: if the Navy doesn’t make any breakthrough in explosives, their stock of Apollo won’t exceed five pieces."

"Apollo?"

"That’s right, I named the special model bomb Apollo."

"The Navy also calls it that."

Jack draped a bearskin cloak over his shoulders and sat in front of the test bench.

"Who do you think made the Apollos in the Navy’s hands? Apollo, Hades, and Klansman are all experimental models. Apollo belongs to the explosive combustion type, while Hades is continual combustion. I don’t recommend you use Hades—if it spreads, it could turn the entire Dressrosa to ashes. As for Klansman, never mind; its principles and structure can’t be explained to you in such a short time."

Su Xiao indeed can make Apollo and Hades. As for Klansman, it was a name he just came up with a few seconds ago; there isn’t even a corresponding explosive for it.

Dealing with a scoundrel like Jack, you must never let him see through how many skills you have. When Jack knows how many types of bombs Su Xiao can make, the time for them to break apart won’t be far behind.

"Burn a whole island?"

Jack seemed very interested in Hades. His motto was essentially that nothing grows where he goes; otherwise, he wouldn’t be called Drought·Jack.

Clearly, the traits of Hades matched Jack’s modus operandi very well.

Su Xiao took out a glass test tube about the thickness of a pinky finger from his storage space. Inside the test tube was a green liquid that gave the illusion of burning.

"This is 10 milliliters of Hades liquid. If not extinguished at the initial stage of burning, it can spread to a range that covers at least half a city."

Su Xiao took out part of the Hades liquid. Unlike Apollo, the quantity of 140 milliliters for one portion of Hades is entirely arbitrary, dictated by Su Xiao himself.

Hades doesn’t explode; it just burns. As long as there’s combustible material, it can quickly expand its burning range. Rock, steel, and surface soil are all flammable to Hades.

Su Xiao tossed the 10 milliliters of Hades liquid to Jack. Jack looked puzzled, unsure why Su Xiao, who was usually as stingy as coal black, was suddenly so generous.

The reason Su Xiao was so generous was to give Jack a taste of the benefits. Unless he experiences how useful Hades is, Jack wouldn’t offer benefits in exchange for it.

Take Apollo, for example. Jack didn’t come this time to question Su Xiao as to why the Navy had Apollos; he came to ask Su Xiao for them.

Su Xiao thinks his eloquence isn’t great, but he’s amazed to find that Jack is even worse at it. Despite Jack’s fierce glare, Su Xiao is not someone easily intimidated.

"In the near future, I need Apollo, at least fifty pieces."

"Alright, gather materials for fifty pieces, and by the way, bring 17 Great Broadswords; considering you’re a big client, 15 will do."

Su Xiao yawned, walked over to the test bench, and began making Alchemy Bombs.

"Do you really think we need you to win the war?"

Jack’s tone turned hostile. Clearly, this guy has always wanted to treat Su Xiao as free labor, even if Su Xiao’s strength was not weak.

That’s Jack—an immensely powerful but extremely proud and reckless Great Pirate.

"Of course not, but I don’t necessarily have to stay with you. Red Hair, Whitebeard, they’re all good choices."

"You..."

Jack slammed the test bench with a bang and stood up.

Su Xiao turned his head to look at Jack, his gaze calm. That’s why he chose to join the Donquixote Family instead of the Beast Pirates. Without confronting Kaido directly, joining the Beast Pirates means two outcomes: willingly being used, or being sacrificed for something.

Beside him, A Mu walked slowly to the door to block it, while Bubu Wang went to the window. In this indoor setting, if Su Xiao activated Demonic Hunt Time, he could teach Jack a lesson in no time.

Or, if it weren’t for the promotion/main task he had, Su Xiao would’ve dared to kill Jack right now. Four Emperors Kaido? He should find Su Xiao first. Cracker’s already dead; killing one more Jack is nothing.

Knock, knock, knock...

A knock came at the door. A Mu looked at Su Xiao with an inquisitive gaze, as if asking whether to open it.

"Special price for you: five Apollos, one Great Broadsword."

"Hmph."

Jack snorted coldly, got up, and walked to the door. Failing to extort made him very upset, and he sensed that Su Xiao wasn’t bluffing; this guy was really willing to fight to the death.

Jack pushed the door open and left. Doflamingo walked into the room and, seeing Jack, instantly understood his purpose for being here.

"Joker."

Jack suddenly called out to Doflamingo, who halted momentarily, his first reaction was thinking that Su Xiao had sold him out.

"Regarding Great Broadswords, you must have connections."

"?"

Doflamingo was momentarily confused; the surprise was clear in his eyes behind his sunglasses. What Jack seemed to imply was a willingness to have an ’equal value exchange’ with Su Xiao.

"Lately, I need a few Great Broadswords."

Jack turned slightly, facing away from Doflamingo.

"This... is quite difficult."

"..."

Jack took a step forward, possibly realizing that Doflamingo was also not the kind of trading partner one could extort from, leaving him feeling rather frustrated.

"Lord Kaido has an urgent matter, so I will temporarily take the fleet away from Dressrosa."

With that, Jack walked out of the villa without looking back.

Su Xiao watched Jack’s departing figure through the window, a smile on his face. That troublemaker was finally gone.

Indeed, in Su Xiao’s eyes, Jack was a troublemaker. There’s something off about the people in the Beast Pirates—when both sides can benefit, they refuse fair cooperation and instead find ways to exploit their partners unless the situation is dire.

If everyone in the Beast Pirates is like this, it’s only a matter of time before they find enemies everywhere.

In reality, except for Doflamingo as an ally, the Beast Pirates have essentially no other allies, and Doflamingo constantly walks on eggshells.

Doflamingo knows full well that Beast Kaido is a ’maniac,’ and if you anger that guy who enjoys suicide, he would absolutely come to Dressrosa to wipe out the Donquixote Family.

Doflamingo distinctly remembers that when the Artificial Devil Fruits went into mass production, Kaido surprisingly sat on the ground weeping, shouting about building a Devil Fruit User Legion together.

But when it came to the pricing and selling of Devil Fruits, Kaido’s demeanor changed instantly.

Among the Four Emperors, Red Hair is the most well-connected and rarely takes over other territories, maintaining a stance of not provoking unless provoked. As a result, most countries in the New World prefer to live peacefully under Red Hair’s shelter.

Next is Whitebeard, with the largest territory. The civilians in his territory live and work in peace due to Whitebeard’s illustrious reputation.

Even though Big Mom has a bad temper, she has a vast network, with the Long Arm Tribe, Three-Eyed Tribe, and others leaning toward the Big Mom Pirate Group.

Only Kaido, with Doflamingo as his only ally, leaves Doflamingo in constant fear.