"One Piece:The True Codex"Chapter 362: Only Interests
The room where Dampier met the Five Elders was spacious and bright, yet devoid of excessive luxury or extravagant decorations.
With just a glance, Dampier could tell that these five figures were individuals with immense inner strength and self-assurance. At their level, they no longer needed external objects to signify their status. On the contrary, any precious or luxurious items would gain value simply through their association.
In the center of the room, a small round table was surrounded by several sofas. Around it, either sitting or standing, were five tall and imposing elderly men.
The one closest to the door appeared to be the oldest. He wore a black flat hat and sat on a single-seater sofa. His side profile revealed a long scar on the left side of his face, stretching from his forehead, crossing his temple, and disappearing into the bushy white beard on his chin. He seemed lost in thought, staring intently at the cane he held, as if he hadn't noticed Dampier's arrival.
A bit farther away, on a longer sofa, sat two other elders. Both were white-haired, but one had long hair cascading straight down his back, while the other was bald, with a prominent birthmark on his forehead that resembled a map of islands.
Another elder, with short golden hair, looked relatively younger compared to his companions, whose hair had turned gray with age. He reclined on the last single-seater sofa in the room, his eyes scanning Dampier with keen interest.
The final elder, leaning casually against the wall, stood out from the others. While the other four wore dark suits, he was dressed in a loose white kimono that exposed his bony chest. Moreover, he was the only one holding a weapon—a nearly man-sized katana, which he cradled in his arms.
When Dampier entered the room, none of the Five Elders spoke. They remained silent until Dampier broke the ice with his question.
Since being imprisoned in the Holy Land's dungeons, Dampier had been interrogated repeatedly by the World Government's intelligence agency. From the very beginning, he had made it clear that if they dared to harm him, Garp and the captured Marines would suffer even greater torment. Because of this, and because the World Government and Marine leadership had yet to decide how to deal with William's crew—or more importantly, how to handle the Garp situation—Dampier's captors refrained from inflicting severe physical torture. However, they subjected him to sleep deprivation and confinement in harsh conditions.
Throughout the interrogations, Dampier said only one thing: that he was representing William to convey a desire for peace and that he wished to meet the Five Elders. Beyond that, he remained tight-lipped.
Though Dampier had come voluntarily to request negotiations, he showed no urgency. Despite being held without sleep for three days, leaving him visibly weary, he remained composed and unflustered.
The World Government and the Five Elders, on the other hand, also appeared in no hurry. It seemed they had no intention of investing significant effort in Dampier. They understood that someone sent on such a mission would undoubtedly have been prepared for the possibility of capture, and that William would have taken measures to prevent any critical information from being leaked. Moreover, negotiation was not the World Government's first choice. After all, the Marines had suffered a humiliating blow in the East Blue. While the Five Elders didn't place much importance on the Marines' reputation, disregarding it would require substantial interests and leverage.
It wasn't until the third day, after Dampier had been thoroughly searched by the World Government's intelligence personnel, that he was finally brought before the Five Elders.
Dampier knew that this sudden change in the World Government's attitude must have been triggered by some external event during his imprisonment. Something had occurred that made the Five Elders decide it was worth "having a chat" to see what cards William held.
This was why Dampier's first question upon entering the room was whether the Four Emperors had contacted William.
The elder with the scar on his left face, who had been staring at his cane, finally turned to look at Dampier.
"'The Pirate Scholar,' Albert Dampier," he said. "Only now do I believe that when Morgan William was captured and imprisoned, it was truly you who managed things outside, rather than William orchestrating everything from within the prison."
Without waiting for Dampier's response, the elder returned his gaze to his cane, as if it held some profound mystery.
"It was William who set the strategy. I merely followed orders," Dampier replied courteously. Despite three sleepless days leaving him pale and weary, he maintained a composed and polite demeanor.
The elder with the map-like birthmark on his forehead leaned back on the sofa, crossing his hands over his stomach. Narrowing his eyes at Dampier, he asked, "You claim to represent Morgan William in seeking negotiations. Is it because he wishes to become one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea? Does Morgan William think he has already won? Or does he believe that holding Garp and a few Marines hostage is enough to threaten the World Government into passively accepting his demands?"
"The position of the Seven Warlords is not a bargaining chip," interjected the elder in the white kimono. "And if the Seven Warlords were to be granted based on threats to the Marines and the World Government, it would undermine the very foundation of the system. One Garp and a few warships—such losses are far from crippling for the Marines. The Marines' strength can still easily crush you if we give the order."
Their words, of course, were not entirely truthful. Among the current Seven Warlords, Donquixote Doflamingo had secured his position through threats against the World Government and the Marines. However, as a Celestial Dragon, Doflamingo's situation involved the legitimacy of the World Government itself, making it difficult to address. Similarly, Jinbe, the "Knight of the Sea," had been granted the title as part of the Five Elders' efforts to promote racial harmony between Fish-Men and humans.
"Only soldiers on the battlefield pursue a fight to the death," Dampier replied with a smile, unfazed by the Five Elders' veiled threats. "And even among soldiers, only the most reckless commanders would disregard losses in pursuit of mutual destruction.
"There are countless individuals and groups in this world who are at odds with the Marines and the World Government. Do you intend to exhaust all your resources and strength to completely eliminate every single one of them? If so, no matter how powerful the World Government and the Marines are, no matter how deep your foundations run, it wouldn't take long before you collapse from within."
"William once told me," Dampier continued, "that true politicians understand the importance of seeking common ground while reserving differences. Mature politicians, when necessary, can even find shared interests in opposition, turning enemies into allies and forming unified fronts."
Dampier glanced around at the Five Elders, whose expressions remained inscrutable, betraying no hint of their thoughts.
"He also told me that to secure a position among the Seven Warlords, relying solely on Garp and the Marines' lives as leverage for a verbal agreement from the Government is meaningless. The only way to truly cement an alliance and form a unified front with the Government is through interests!"
(End of Chapter)
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