"What?"
A flash of genuine astonishment crossed Kuzan's usually placid features.
"You're talking about the treasures hidden in the depths of the sea?" He fell silent, his brilliant mind rapidly processing the implications.
What the young Captain said... made a terrifying amount of sense.
In the chaotic era of the Great Pirate Age, countless pirates had set sail in search of fame and fortune.
Most of them, however, met their end in the unforgiving waters of the Grand Line.
The vast wealth they plundered, aside from what they squandered, mostly sank with their ships, forever buried beneath the waves.
An untold fortune, belonging to no one, just waiting to be claimed.
"A tempting proposal," Kuzan murmured, a faint glimmer in his eyes.
"If the Marines could excavate those treasures, it would significantly reduce our dependence on the World Government for funding." He paused, his practical nature kicking in.
"But... the depths of this ocean are home to creatures not to be underestimated. Sea Kings. Even the Navy wouldn't lightly provoke those monsters."
"Actually, Sea Kings aren't an insurmountable problem," Mike said with a confident smile, gesturing in the vague direction of the warship.
"If the Navy can embed Sea-Prism Stone into the hulls of warships to safely traverse the Calm Belt, then developing a deep-sea mining submarine with a Sea-Prism Stone exterior to avoid Sea Kings shouldn't be too difficult."
"Using Sea-Prism Stone and a submarine..." Kuzan was taken aback.
Submarines existed, but they were a niche, underutilized technology.
"Exactly," Mike said, his confidence unwavering. "Besides, you and that big-headed science guy are pretty close, aren't you?"
"You're talking about... Dr. Vegapunk?" Kuzan's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Who else?" Mike chuckled. "For a genius 500 years ahead of his time, a submarine is child's play. He has the resources, the budget... the only issue is the World Government's constant surveillance."
"Correct," Kuzan said, his expression turning grim.
"His research is always tightly monitored by Saint Jaygarcia Saturn of the Five Elders."
"And with his intelligence... do you really think that surveillance is an issue?" Mike retorted with a smirk.
"Just lay out the plan to him. Tell him, 'I have a super profitable, secret project, but we have to keep it from the World Government. The profits will give you all the independent research funding you could ever dream of.' Are you kidding me? He'd jump at the chance! He'd probably be more eager to start than you are."
"But Kizaru is the highest-ranking officer of the Navy's Science Unit," Kuzan voiced his final concern.
"To meet with Vegapunk, Borsalino would be unavoidable."
"Old Man Kizaru?" Mike laughed lightly. "He won't be bothered with these things. Vegapunk is his friend. He'd want his friend to be happier and better off. He'd rather spend his time trimming his nails in the office than meddling in a friend's 'side-hustle'."
"..."
Kuzan fell silent, his gaze fixed on Mike.
If everything this kid said was true... this could actually work.
Money was the foundation of everything.
With sufficient, independent funding, the Navy would have the leverage to break free from the World Government's control.
They would no longer be mere tools, but an organization that could act according to its own will, its own Justice.
Without the Navy as their primary military force, how much power could the World Government truly exert over the seas?
A flame unlike any before suddenly ignited in Kuzan's heart.
He could almost see it... a New Navy, where he could make his own decisions based on his own sense of what was right.
He could hardly wait to speak with Vegapunk.
"Admiral Kuzan," Mike smiled faintly, watching as the Admiral's eyes grew fervent.
'Truly a man who's cold on the outside but burning within. He's already catching fire'.
"Don't rush," he advised. "Even with a fleet of submarines, how long could you salvage treasures in secret? For the Navy's vast military expenses, it would still just be a drop in the bucket."
"Is there another solution?" Kuzan's voice was now brimming with anticipation.
He was absolutely certain now; this young man's perspective illuminated blind spots he had overlooked for years.
"There is," Mike nodded solemnly.
He leaned forward, his voice dropping to a low whisper.
"There's an entire race of people, powerful and skilled in the ways of the deep sea, who are yearning for equality, waiting for the Navy to save them."
He paused, letting the weight of his next words sink in.
"The merfolk and fish-men of Fish-Man Island. With their recognition and assistance, all the treasures in the depths of these seas could become the Navy's wealth."