If Hancock abandoned Amazon Lily and established a base here, the World Government would readily offer 1 billion Berries.
This would be mutually beneficial.
First, Amazon Lily would no longer threaten Impel Down. Second, it could help eliminate pirates passing through Mock Town.
For these two reasons, 1 billion Berries would be insignificant.
But Alistair hadn't considered this, and Amazon Lily wouldn't allow it.
Even without the first point, the World Government would welcome Hancock establishing her territory here.
Mock Town lacked major powers—no Yonko or World Government affiliated countries. It was unclaimed land; giving it to a Shichibukai was inconsequential.
Developing Mock Town would be beneficial; eliminating pirates passing through would be even better.
The Marines would only gain.
Alistair would use Hancock's name and legitimized status to turn Mock Town into a revolutionary haven.
There might be business losses; ordinary people might feel aggrieved, but national credibility is built step by step.
Alistair's only way to quickly establish Mock Town as his base was to build credibility, attracting funds from the shopkeepers—who had technically lost their property but gained advantages—to revitalize Mock Town.
His plan was intricate.
Why was Skypeia essential?
Because of its strategic importance. Skypeia's gold was crucial war funding; its shells were important tools; Skypeia itself was a defensible base.
Alistair wouldn't let Mock Town fall into others' hands.
They might not be able to develop Skypeia yet, but foresight was necessary.
Alistair easily conceived several methods of ascent, descent being even simpler.
Developing Skypeia was still a distant goal; the priority was Mock Town.
"We need: high-quality, high-density, lightweight canvas; Adam Wood; gunpowder, cannons, and muskets; and Devil Fruits."
Adam Wood alone was worth 200 million Berries; Devil Fruits started at 100 million. The shopkeepers lacked the capital for such items, but they could provide canvas, gunpowder, and muskets.
And more: "We'll buy iron and lumber in large quantities. Set your prices; become our long-term partners."
Experienced businessmen knew the importance of being a government's long-term partner—it wasn't just about money (though local governments often defaulted). It meant close relations, facilitating future endeavors.
Alistair implied Mock Town would be developed by Hancock, a Shichibukai. The shopkeepers envisioned pirates safely spending their money—this was enough. As long as pirates didn't cause trouble, their spending and unspent treasure would make Mock Town the largest treasure trove in the early Grand Line. A share of this was enough to make them rich.
Becoming a Shichibukai partner would give them more influence.
The benefits extended further. The auction house in Sabaody Archipelago had a Donquixote share, allowing it to thrive and attract Celestial Dragons. The shopkeepers had already calculated their prices.
Alistair smiled. The threats and incentives were bait, but using the Shichibukai's name would easily exploit the shopkeepers' greed.
At 50% profit, merchants take risks; at 100%, they disregard laws; at 300%, they'd sell the rope to hang themselves.
The current profit was far greater. He could obtain massive supplies without spending money; the shopkeepers would even pay extra, just for the "Shichibukai partnership"!
"Let's auction the treasures." Alistair winked at Nico Robin.
Robin turned the board, reading the gold and jewelry listed. "Five hundred kilograms of gold and jewelry. Starting bid: 0 Berries. Place your bids."
This was the limitation of not controlling the currency—why Alistair said the World Government wasn't short of money. Gold and Berries were the hard currencies.
Gold was inconvenient, only used for hoarding. Most pirate treasure was gold—some weapons or jewelry, rarely Devil Fruits.
But with control over currency, the World Government could print Berries freely. The lack of communication between the Four Seas meant they could distribute Berries without inflation—even if there was inflation, the commoners could die, right?
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