Onepiece: I Am Aizen, The Strongest Admiral

"Three billion Baileys! That's quite the statement. But is Shadow Hunter's head alone worth all that trouble?" Aizen's voice carried a calm authority as he stood on the second floor, his golden mane catching the light.

Aizen, seated below, allowed a sly smile to form on his lips. "Of course, Shadow Hunter alone isn't worth that much. The true value lies in challenging the Whitebeard Pirates themselves. Without that extra factor, you wouldn't even consider it, would you?"

The gathered bounty hunters felt the tension rise as Aizen and the Hunter's Guild president exchanged words. Aizen's tone was laced with subtle provocation, deliberately testing the resolve of this so-called Hunter's Guild.

Golden Lion chuckled, leaning back with an air of confidence. "You've got guts, Marine. I'll give you that. But the Whitebeard Pirates aren't some petty New World crew. Do you think your Marine rank is enough to shield you from the storm this will bring?"

Aizen didn't flinch. Instead, he spread his arms in mock innocence. "The Marines? Oh no, this isn't their business. This is *my* business. The question isn't whether *I* can handle the consequences. The real question is—can *you*?"

Golden Lion's grin widened, his interest clearly piqued. "Interesting. Alright, I'll take the job. But the Hunter's Guild has rules. You pay upfront. Three billion Baileys, here and now. Think you can handle that, Marine?"

Without missing a beat, Aizen nodded. "Done. The funds are already prepared. My men will deliver them shortly."

The bounty hunters in the room exchanged hushed whispers. Some finally recognized the infamous Aizen, the Marine Vice Admiral rumored to have crushed countless pirate crews in the New World. But even with his reputation, provoking Whitebeard was seen as nothing short of madness.

"Stella," Golden Lion called out to his subordinate, the blonde woman who had initially greeted Aizen. "Go to the warship and retrieve the money."

"Yes, President." Stella nodded, leaving quickly to carry out her task.

Aizen pulled out a Den Den Mushi and issued a simple command to his crew. "Deliver three billion Baileys to the Hunter's Guild. Stella will escort you." The calmness in his voice belied the chaos such an order might bring.

Over the next hour, word of the mission spread like wildfire. The Hunter's Guild, already a hub for bounty hunters and mercenaries, was now teeming with curious onlookers, all eager to witness the drama unfold.

Soon enough, Stella returned, accompanied by a squad of Marines carrying a dozen massive suitcases. Each case was filled to the brim with Baileys, the sheer weight of the bounty causing the room to go silent.

When the cases were opened, the gleam of cash illuminated the room, and the collective gasp of the crowd broke the tension. It was an almost obscene display of wealth.

The bounty hunters present couldn't help but let their minds wander. With three billion Baileys in their grasp, they could buy entire fleets, establish empires, or simply disappear into a life of unimaginable luxury. Some even entertained the idea of stealing the fortune right there and then.

Golden Lion's sharp gaze swept the room, immediately sensing the growing greed in the air. His expression darkened as a wave of *Reiatsu*—blended with his Conqueror's Haki—burst out, flooding the room with crushing pressure.

The weaker bounty hunters collapsed to the ground, gasping for air, while the more experienced ones broke out in cold sweat, frozen in place.

"Hmph!" Golden Lion sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "If you're not here to do business, get lost. I don't have time for worthless rats."

The oppressive aura cleared the room of anyone without the resolve to stand firm. Those who remained dared not make another move.

Golden Lion looked down at Aizen, his grin returning. "I'll take the job. But when the Whitebeard Pirates come knocking, don't think I'll stick my neck out for Marine Headquarters."

Aizen rose from his seat, his calm demeanor unshaken. "That's the beauty of this arrangement. You won't have to. By the time Whitebeard realizes what's happened, the Hunter's Guild will already have a reputation as the organization that dared to take on the emperor's wrath."

Golden Lion laughed, the sound echoing through the hall. "You're playing a dangerous game, Aizen. I like it."

As Aizen turned to leave, the whispers among the remaining bounty hunters resumed, louder and more frantic than before. For better or worse, the name of the Hunter's Guild had now been tied to an act of defiance that would soon rock the seas.