The Sky Gold was stored in a large warehouse on the warship.
When Mio and the others stepped inside, the sight before them was staggering. As expected, apart from Erica and Warwick—who didn't care much for wealth—everyone else was left in stunned silence.
There was simply too much treasure.
Piles upon piles of Baileys, gold coins glimmering under the faint warehouse lighting, and assorted jewelry lay scattered in shining heaps. The entire place resembled a mountain of gold. It was the kind of wealth that made people freeze in awe, reluctant to even blink.
By Mio's rough estimate, the treasure in this warehouse alone was worth at least over 5 billion berries—and this was only the Sky Gold collected from the North Blue. Considering that the majority of the World Government's member nations were located in the Grand Line, one could only imagine how terrifying the total Sky Gold across the world must be.
But Mio's eyes weren't fixed on the coins for long. His gaze shifted upward—at the very top of the mountain of gold sat three very familiar objects.
Devil Fruits.
Their unique shapes and swirling patterns made them stand out immediately, almost as if they were beckoning him.
"Hiya, hiya, hiya… Looks like you're in luck," Doflamingo said with a toothy grin, turning to Mio.
"Not bad indeed," Mio replied calmly, though a glimmer of excitement surfaced in his expression. Devil Fruits weren't exactly everyday treasures. For many people, seeing even one in a lifetime was a distant dream. To find three at once was an incredible stroke of fortune.
Mio leapt lightly onto the top of the golden pile, landing with graceful ease. With a cheerful smile, he scooped the three Devil Fruits into his arms. Looking down at Doflamingo, he spoke firmly. "I'll take only one billion berries from this treasure. The rest is your payment for helping me find these Devil Fruits."
Carrying too much wealth could be troublesome. If word got out, it would draw unwanted attention. Mio had no intention of lugging around vast riches that would only bring problems. One billion was more than enough. It would cover expenses when they arrived at Water 7 in the Grand Line to build their own ship, and they didn't have many other expenses to begin with.
As for whether Doflamingo would accept the money—Mio wasn't worried.
Doflamingo had already seen what Mio, Erica, and Warwick were capable of. In this sea, a strong ally was worth more than a mountain of gold. If the amount of money left behind had been several times larger, it might have tempted the underworld broker—but not this.
Besides, both sides now held leverage over each other. It wasn't in Doflamingo's best interest to cause any trouble unless he was absolutely confident he could get away with it. Even as a former Celestial Dragon, Doflamingo didn't fully trust the Five Elders of the World Government. Without knowing where he stood, he wouldn't act recklessly.
"Fufufufu… Alright, alright. Coincidentally, one of my subordinates recently found the insect you've been looking for. I'll have it delivered to you when I return," Doflamingo said, his grin widening.
He was more than happy to accept the arrangement. Mio's one billion berries was generous, and the leftover funds would greatly accelerate the plans he had for the Donquixote Family. For the next few years, money would no longer be a problem.
"Dressrosa… Fufufu, I'll be back there soon," he thought to himself with a sinister chuckle, though his expression remained neutral.
After assigning Erica and Warwick to transport the one billion berries and the Devil Fruits back to their ship, Mio handed over the remaining treasure to Doflamingo. The man was well-prepared; he had already arranged for over a dozen subordinates to await orders in the town nearby. Once summoned, they quickly moved in to collect the treasure.
The moment they laid eyes on the warehouse's contents, every single one of them froze in shock.
Mio could only chuckle at their reactions and shook his head as he walked away.
He had no doubt that once the job was done, those men would be silenced permanently. Too many witnesses was never a good thing.
After leaving the warehouse, Mio gave his next order. Erica and Warwick would return to their ship with the valuables. Meanwhile, he had a different task.
He was searching for something else—something perhaps even more valuable in the long run.
Domineering Haki training methods.
The Navy's Rokushiki (Six Styles) technique manuals.
These were what Mio truly sought.
He had a good chance of finding them, too. During his fight with the marine officer Aiden, Mio had noticed something. Aiden's Haki usage had been weak—barely at entry-level—and his use of the Six Styles was clumsy and incomplete. That could only mean one thing.
Aiden must have been studying them recently, likely carrying training materials with him.
Fueled by this theory, Mio began searching the warship.
The vessel was large, and combing through it took time. Room by room, he checked every drawer, every shelf. The first warship yielded nothing useful—plenty of notebooks, but most were mundane journals. One even included an awkward record of the author's romantic adventures.
Mio raised an eyebrow. "What a waste of ink…"
Fortunately, his luck took a turn for the better once he boarded the second warship.
"This room… looks fancier than the others. Must be the brigadier general's quarters," Mio muttered as he stepped inside.
The place was clearly of higher quality—spacious, well-decorated, and complete with furniture like desks and bookshelves. It didn't take long before Mio found two leather-bound notebooks tucked inside a drawer.
They were personal diaries. But as he skimmed through the pages, he smiled in satisfaction. The diaries belonged to the brigadier general himself and included detailed notes about his training in both Haki and the Navy's Six Styles. Best of all, they recorded entire conversations with the instructors who had taught him.
Step-by-step training methods.
Mio had hit the jackpot.
With the notebooks secured, he was about to leave when something odd caught his eye.
A wooden corner poked out from beneath the bed's quilt.
Intrigued, Mio walked over and lifted the quilt, revealing a rectangular box hidden underneath. He opened it—and his eyes lit up.
"A good sword… no, a great one," he whispered.
Inside the box lay a katana with a deep blue sheen. Lightning-like patterns danced along its blade, which emitted a subtle cold glow. Even at a glance, Mio could tell—this was no ordinary weapon. It was at least a Grade Sword, perhaps even higher.
A grin spread across his face.
Between the Devil Fruits, the training manuals, and now this blade…
This trip had been more than worth it.