"Unlike the God Valley incident back then, this time, our cooperation isn't just about fighting."
Michael spread his hands, smiling as he looked at the three factions gathered before him.
"Back then, it was all to deal with the Rocks Pirates… But now, the Whitebeard Pirates have no intention of going to full-scale war with the Navy, right?"
"As long as the Navy doesn't provoke the Whitebeard Pirates, I've got no interest in fighting the Navy… except for you."
"Tch, once you're old, you should stop thinking about fighting every single day… Of course, we in the Navy also don't want to exhaust the people and waste resources forcing a fight with the Whitebeard Pirates."
"Michael's right. Truth be told, the Whitebeard Pirates have been keeping themselves in check in recent years… It's actually BIG MOM and Kaido who've been stirring up the New World."
Garp nodded. As the Navy's hero, his stance largely represented the Navy's position.
With both the Navy and the pirates making their positions clear, Fish-Man Island naturally had no reason to object.
After all, their hopes had always been pinned either on the Navy or on the Whitebeard Pirates.
"Since that's the case, cooperation is inevitable." Michael nodded. "As for Fish-Man Island, there's no need to worry. One way or another, the ultimate goal of this cooperation is to resolve the situation you're facing right now."
"Michael… sir, are you telling the truth?"
Fisher Tiger, who had been drinking just moments earlier, now leaned forward.
For him, it didn't matter whether it was pirates or Navy—
As long as someone could save Fish-Man Island…
Anyone would do! It didn't matter!
"Good. Since no one has objections, I'll lay out the cooperation plan for you."
"First, from the day this agreement is confirmed, Fish-Man Island will become an absolutely neutral trade buffer zone, with trade status matching that of the Sabaody Archipelago. The Navy and the Whitebeard Pirates will jointly station forces there, responsible for security."
Once Michael spoke the first point, those seated around him quietly set down their drinking cups…
And began processing it.
Even just the first clause already surpassed every previous cooperation agreement.
Absolute neutrality? Trade buffer zone? Joint garrison by Navy and pirates?
They understood each word individually, but when strung together, the concept felt strangely unfamiliar.
Especially for those lacking in education—such as a certain Navy hero and the world's strongest man—who were already rubbing their temples without realizing it…
It itched, as if they were about to grow a brain.
Queen Otohime's eyes, however, lit up.
Trade!
If there was one thing Fish-Man Island didn't lack, it was resources—massive quantities of them!
To put it bluntly, the endless resources of the entire ocean could only be harvested by Fish-Man Island.
This would magnify their advantage beyond measure!
"Second, all fish-men, merfolk, and other lawful citizens of Fish-Man Island will be under the joint protection of the Navy and the Whitebeard Pirates! Any smuggling or trafficking of fish-men or merfolk will be met with pursuit and capture from both the Navy and the Whitebeard Pirates."
This clause wasn't as shocking as the first.
However, Garp and Whitebeard both nodded repeatedly.
The Navy and Whitebeard Pirates might fight to the death—that was a matter of position.
But both equally looked down on anyone involved in slave trafficking.
Seeing everyone nodding, Michael smiled inwardly.
And it wasn't just the Navy and the Whitebeard Pirates who would hunt them down.
If some fool really dared to act against the wind, he'd hand their details straight to the Cross Guild and the Revolutionary Army.
Four-way blockade!
"Third, the Navy will establish a branch base on Fish-Man Island, and the Whitebeard Pirates will establish an office of equal standing. The costs will be borne by Ryugu Palace. Twenty percent of trade profits will go to the Navy, and ten percent to the Whitebeard Pirates."
"Profit sharing too?" Whitebeard raised an eyebrow. "Then why does the Navy get ten percent more than my crew?"
"Don't make trouble, old man." Michael rolled his eyes. "Your Whitebeard Pirates only have so many people. Calling it joint defense is really just borrowing your name—most of the work will fall on the Navy. Is there really a problem with us getting a bigger share?"
Michael's words left Whitebeard silent for a moment.
Fair point.
The Whitebeard Pirates didn't have that many people. If they did send forces for defense, it would be just one or two divisions rotating shifts.
Barely a hundred men—indeed, a small number…
But then Whitebeard thought about it differently and touched his own face without thinking.
He was the world's strongest man!
His reputation alone was worth that extra ten percent.
As for the additional troops…
Consider them a gift to Neptune, his friend!
"Hmph, fine, I suppose you've got a point."
Michael shrugged.
That's the advantage of negotiating with someone who values reputation.
"Alright, now for the fourth and final clause." Michael cleared his throat. "Fish-men and merfolk from Fish-Man Island may join either the Whitebeard Pirates or the Navy, and will form part of Fish-Man Island's defensive line."
The dagger was finally revealed!
This had been Michael's real goal all along.
While that twenty percent share of trade profits was important, nothing outweighed the value of manpower.
Still, in the eyes of the others, this last clause seemed the least significant.
Thus, among the Navy, the pirates, and Fish-Man Island, the later-famous "New World Gateway and Fish-Man Island United Front" was officially established.
And the outside world had no idea that the one who orchestrated all this was merely a Rear Admiral from Navy Headquarters.
...
"Michael, I can more or less understand the terms of this cooperation… but I can't shake the feeling that it's not as simple as it looks on the surface."
After the banquet, Michael and Garp returned to their warship.
Standing at the bow, gazing at the dazzling beauty of Fish-Man Island, Garp spoke to Michael.
"Old man Garp, isn't it simple?" Michael stepped up beside him with a smile. "With this agreement, it means… whenever we're on Fish-Man Island or in its surrounding waters, the Navy and the Whitebeard Pirates can be considered the same camp."
"Because here, peaceful coexistence and cooperation are driven by a huge shared interest. And interest is the most stable, most unbreakable bond between people… Once they get used to working side by side here, will they instantly turn hostile the moment they leave Fish-Man Island's waters? Human emotions have inertia—that's almost impossible. Which means…"
"We've indirectly dealt with the world's most powerful pirate crew."
"The Navy's pressure in the New World will drop sharply! Even someone like Sakazuki, who thinks all pirates deserve death… will be forced to put on a smile uglier than crying, bring the entire G1 Branch, and have every single one of them say, 'Michael is awesome.'"
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