Olivia gave him a disdainful look and turned her head away.
"It's easy for you to say, but I accomplished all this on my own. Before I started, I had no idea that games could be so captivating. If you think it's that simple, why don't you find me some talented people? With the right recruits and my training, I can build a team capable of handling basic game development and production in the future."
"Is that so? Fine then. I'll contact Morgans later and have that birdman help us out. I'll pay him to put a job advertisement in the newspaper. Oh, and while I'm at it, I'll ask him to renew the promotion for Onigashima."
Luffy's words held a confident tone, but they revealed the challenges he faced. At present, Olivia was the only serious scientist in his ranks. While Usopp was a talented inventor, his expertise didn't extend to advanced electronic technology. The rest of the crew lacked the technical skills for this kind of work. Recruiting from the outside was the only solution, and for that, Luffy had no choice but to rely on Morgans and his vast network.
The influence of the World Economic News was unparalleled, making it the ideal medium to attract talent from around the world. However, Morgans' services came at a steep price. The last time Luffy asked him to promote Onigashima, the birdman had charged a staggering 50 million Berries for a month of advertisements. It felt like daylight robbery, but the results spoke for themselves. Thanks to Morgans' publicity, Onigashima had become a global attraction, drawing tourists from every corner of the seas.
Olivia's expression softened when she heard Luffy's offer to help her recruit an assistant. "Games are one thing," she began, "but a good game also needs a machine capable of running it smoothly. You'll need to recruit talents in the machinery manufacturing industry too. And that's not all. A good game requires a solid story. You'll need to hire writers to craft engaging scripts. Oh, and there's more…"
As Olivia's excitement grew, she rattled off a long list of the types of professionals she needed. Luffy, overwhelmed by the torrent of requests, hurriedly pulled out a notebook to jot everything down. By the time she finished, Olivia had outlined the need for hundreds of technical and creative specialists.
"That should cover it for now," she said, finally satisfied. "With these people, I'll have enough resources to start my own company. I also plan to bring over the management and technical staff from my previous company to form a brand-new corporate giant."
Luffy and the others exchanged impressed looks before bursting into applause. Olivia's enthusiasm was infectious, and while her plans were ambitious, no one doubted her capabilities. After all, in addition to her current role as a Marine colonel, she was a shrewd businesswoman who had built a company worth tens of billions. With her intelligence and expertise, the idea of her starting an even bigger gaming enterprise seemed entirely feasible.
"Alright then," Luffy declared, pounding his chest with determination. "From now on, I'll entrust my military expenses to you. I'll provide all the support you need—everything except Berries—to ensure you can focus without any worries."
Olivia snorted, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "Now that's surprising. For once, you actually sound like him."
Luffy: "..."
With the tension between them resolved, Luffy and Olivia delved into a spirited discussion about the future of gaming and even the potential of the internet. Luffy proposed numerous ideas, categorizing them into genres such as role-playing, action-adventure, casual development, real-time strategy, and racing games. Even though his descriptions were brief, Hancock and the others couldn't hide their excitement, their eyes sparkling with anticipation. They couldn't wait to try these games themselves.
However, as Olivia had emphasized, creating these games would take time and manpower—both of which were in short supply. For now, these ideas would have to remain plans for the future, dependent on Luffy's success in recruiting a capable team.
While Luffy was envisioning new industries and exploring uncharted territories, trouble was brewing on Punk Hazard Island in the New World.
"Alert! Alert! Unidentified enemy attack on the south coast! All personnel, please respond immediately. I repeat, unidentified enemy attack on the south coast! All units, mobilize for support!"
The sharp blare of alarms shattered the usual stillness of the island. This highly secure research base, governed strictly by the World Government, was thrown into complete disarray. Soldiers scrambled in response to the emergency, forming organized teams to head toward the south coast.
In the depths of the base, Sentomaru observed the chaos unfolding through a surveillance Den Den Mushi. His brows furrowed in concern as he monitored the situation. Something about this attack unsettled him. Without hesitation, he picked up his Den Den Mushi to issue orders to the island's Marine commander.
"Everyone, calm down! Follow my instructions carefully and remain vigilant against the enemy's tactics. Squadrons 2, 3, 6, and 8 are to head to the south coast immediately for reinforcement. Squadrons 4, 5, and 7, maintain surveillance on the other three coasts. Squadrons 9 and 10, conduct a thorough search of the base to ensure no intruders have infiltrated our perimeter. As for Squadron 1, report to my position at once. We need medical personnel to come quickly"
...
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