"One Piece:The True Codex"Chapter 363: The Train Network
"So, Garp and the other captured Marines' lives aren't the chips Morgan William is using to secure a position among the Seven Warlords of the Sea?" The golden-haired elder shifted his posture on the sofa, asking with evident interest. "Then what exactly is the benefit you can offer to the Government?"
The other Five Elders turned their probing gazes toward Dampier, clearly intrigued. They couldn't fathom what leverage William had beyond Garp and the captured Marines that could possibly be weighty enough to exchange for a seat among the Seven Warlords.
Technology? The World Government already possessed world-class technology, professional laboratories, and numerous scientific talents. Their advancements were sophisticated and comprehensive. While William's innovative steam-powered ships were impressive, they weren't irreplaceable for the Government, which had its own Seastone technology and other advanced innovations that had simply not been revealed to the public.
Strength? The World Government's Marines Headquarters alone was considered one of the three major powers of the Grand Line. The Fleet Admiral and the three Admirals had always been synonymous with top-tier strength.
Although William had achieved several victories in the East Blue, the fact that Garp had managed to capture him by surprise and imprison him showed that his strength hadn't yet reached the pinnacle.
Dampier slowly raised his hand and pointed to the east. The Five Elders followed his gesture, only to see a blank wall.
What Dampier was referring to wasn't the wall but the entire Grand Line's first half in that direction. "The prosperity and stability of the entire first half of the Grand Line under the World Government's jurisdiction!"
"Arrogant nonsense!" The others remained silent, but the elder in the white kimono couldn't help but sneer.
The rampant rise of pirates in the first half of the Grand Line had always been a thorny issue for the World Government and the Marines. If the Four Emperors and other major pirates were like ferocious beasts—lions and tigers—then their massive size made them clear targets. As long as the Government and Marines prepared adequately and were stronger, they could eventually eliminate them.
In contrast, the countless pirates swarming into the first half of the Grand Line from the four seas were like endless termites and rats, constantly gnawing at the Government and Marines' rear lines. While the Government prepared to confront the Four Emperors, these termites and rats would continuously devour their supplies and sabotage their camps.
The terrifying aspect of these pirates lay in their sheer numbers. They were impossible to eradicate entirely. Like weeds, cutting one batch would only lead to another sprouting up. Moreover, under the pressure of pursuit and suppression, some of these pirates would reveal their talents and potential. Eventually, they would enter the New World and join the ranks of the Four Emperors, effectively bolstering the enemy.
To address this issue, the Government had tried numerous methods, including establishing the Seven Warlords of the Sea system. Despite the criticism it drew, they recruited powerful pirates to help hunt down these troublesome rats.
The Seven Warlords were deliberately kept at seven, corresponding to the seven sea routes in the first half of the Grand Line. According to the system, their targets for legal plundering were undeveloped areas—non-member nations and other pirates.
This was why other pirates harbored deep hatred for the Seven Warlords. The World Government essentially mimicked the pirates' own methods of plundering merchant ships and civilians. By allowing these seven great pirates to prey on other pirates, the Government ensured their survival and growth. Pirates despised the Warlords in the same way civilians despised pirates.
Seven was the ideal number. Too few, and there would be gaps; too many, and internal conflicts would arise due to competition over territory and resources, much like predators on a savanna. In theory, the Seven Warlords system should have effectively curbed the surge of pirates in the Grand Line. However, while the concept was ideal, reality was far less so. The Warlords were far from obedient, often failing to stay within their designated routes or actively hunt other pirates.
In such a chaotic environment, the overall prosperity of the Grand Line's first half was naturally out of reach.
"So, does the 'Lionheart King' and the 'Pirate Scholar' have any brilliant strategies to resolve the current situation in the first half of the Grand Line?" The golden-haired elder, unlike the kimono-clad one, didn't outright dismiss Dampier's claim. Though skeptical, he still asked the question.
Dampier glanced at each of the five elders in turn before slowly replying, "A train network. A joint-stock company."
…
Sabaody Archipelago.
While Gin was sent by William to gather intelligence on the Marines' movements and determine whether they should set sail immediately, William stayed behind at the dock, casually chatting with Portia.
More precisely, William was learning about the sea train and the changes it had brought to the cities it connected.
"Pucci is one of the few cities with access to the sea train. Why did you take the risk to come all the way to the Sabaody Archipelago?" William asked lazily, lying on a mattress near the dock. Supporting his head with one arm, he bit into an apple as he spoke.
With no chairs in the tent, Portia carefully smoothed her skirt, spread a handkerchief on the ground, and sat sideways. "The convenience of the sea train has made maritime transport between nearby islands less profitable than before. I thought I'd try my luck farther away. The route from Pucci to the Sabaody Archipelago is long and challenging, but the profits are much higher."
Also in the tent was Perona, who was under William's direct supervision. Like William, she was biting into an apple. Though her complexion was still pale, she had recovered significantly. Hearing Portia's words, she curiously asked, "Then why didn't you just destroy that sea train or whatever it's called?"
William couldn't help but grin at her response. Perona, after all, had been a pirate, and her first instinct when something threatened her interests was to destroy it.
Portia, however, had a more upright perspective. She looked at Perona with surprise. "The sea train may have impacted my family's business, but its emergence is a groundbreaking development. Its role in the growth of the surrounding islands is undeniable. Why would we consider destroying it?"
Despite the challenges the sea train had brought to her livelihood, Portia's admiration for it was evident.
"Groundbreaking? Is it really that impressive?" Perona asked, skeptical.
"The sea train doesn't rely on wind power, and its tracks float just below the sea's surface, making it resistant to waves and bad weather. And if there's one thing the Grand Line has in abundance, it's bad weather. Moreover, the tracks serve as a guide, eliminating the need for a Log Pose. The sound of the wheels on the tracks even drives away Sea Kings. What do you think?" William explained leisurely.
For sailing ships powered by wind, encountering bad weather often meant losing their way or worse. Only by experiencing the challenges of maritime travel in this world could one truly appreciate the significance of the sea train and the genius of its inventor, Tom.
"That's not all," Portia added, glancing at Perona. "With fewer ships traveling between islands, pirates lose a major target for plundering. As a result, the number of pirates has decreased significantly."
"That doesn't sound right," Perona instinctively argued, slipping back into a pirate's mindset. "I'd think a train running on fixed tracks would be even easier to rob than a merchant ship!"
"But the sea train and its tracks are much easier to guard than the open sea," Portia countered.
"Then..." William suddenly sat up, his interest piqued. "What if we could extend the sea train network to connect more islands, effectively reducing transportation costs, stimulating economic and labor circulation, and turning each island's local resources into economic advantages? What do you think of that plan?"
Portia gave William a puzzled look, unable to fathom why a notorious criminal would be so interested in the sea train. Nonetheless, she answered honestly, "I'm afraid it's not very realistic. While the sea train is easier to guard and only requires onboard personnel, the tracks are vulnerable to sabotage. The current routes work because one of them connects to Enies Lobby, which is near Marine Headquarters. The Marines' presence is a strong deterrent. If too many routes are established, the Marines might not have enough manpower to protect the trains and tracks."
"What if we involve the Seven Warlords?" William asked, still intrigued.
Portia didn't reply immediately. Instead, she glanced meaningfully at Perona, as if to say, "The answer is right in front of you—just look at what the Warlords are like."
Perona, oblivious to the implication, remained confused. But William understood Portia's point perfectly. Smiling faintly, he said, "Then what if... the entire train network was owned by the Seven Warlords themselves?"
(End of Chapter)
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