...Ever since surviving the recent war, the Vice-Captain has changed as well...
Revising his internal assessment of Daz Bonez—the crew's Vice-Captain, who used to fixate on hierarchy, or rather, on strength and martial prowess—Tesoro gave a slight glance toward his colleague, Galdino.
"I see..." Galdino murmured, adjusting his glasses.
His colleague, who could operate as an internal affairs officer like himself but was simultaneously gaining military experience as a fleet staff officer, was a reliable presence to have due to his differing perspective at times like this.
"You want to reduce even the slightest possibility that the Government might ignore their own calculations of profit and loss and direct their military forces at the 'Black Cats' once again..." Galdino looked at the Vice-Captain. "Is that right?"
"Yeah, exactly," Daz Bonez confirmed with a nod.
The concerns of the young pirate currently managing the Black Cats were the exact same concerns shared by those in charge of internal affairs.
"The Superior Kingdom," Tesoro began, "Ultimately, we absolutely must achieve the conquest of the adjacent, land-connected Ligalo Kingdom. But if we do that... I figured we would inevitably be stretched thin with just the soldiers we have stationed there."
"I agree completely," Daz replied, crossing his arms. "Even though a powerful asset like Mr. Crocodile has temporarily joined us, given his reasons for joining, we can't completely trust him. And no matter how you look at it, he is still just one person."
"...That's true," Galdino sighed. "Even though the marines have joined us, while we might have commanders, we lack soldiers."
A map was spread out on the table. It wasn't just an ordinary map. It was a map inscribed with highly sensitive, classified information: the previous year's harvest yields for the islands and territories under the Black Cats' control, population demographics—such as the gender ratio and the number of capable workers—and potential bridgehead candidates for recapture operations in the unlikely event of an uprising or an occupation by pirates or the Navy.
"To add to that, we also lack citizens," Tesoro pointed out, tracing a finger over the demographics. "We plan to allocate a percentage of our soldiers to agricultural duties to help with food production, but even so, it's not enough to stimulate rapid growth."
"Regarding food, we were able to bring back a substantial amount from the recent base raid," Galdino countered politely. "Thanks to Germa's preservation technology, we actually have plenty of leeway, but... when you think about next year and beyond, well..."
"If the citizens of the Superior Kingdom... were also taken away, then we are certainly facing a labor shortage," Daz grunted.
"We've managed to lay enough groundwork to somehow get through the year, but it's still not enough to call it stable," Tesoro admitted. "...Even if there are those who want to become soldiers, we ultimately have no choice but to have them engage in some kind of production work."
In short, even if they were to increase the number of soldiers, under the current circumstances, it would take a considerable amount of time before they became minimally useful. The education and training of soldiers naturally took time, but right now, the delay would be even greater.
Now that their defensive perimeter had expanded, if the enemy were a small elite force, it might be manageable; but if they came with overwhelming numbers, damage to the mainland—their production center—would be unavoidable. This was the shared consensus among the three men present.
"If we had a bit more leeway with our troop numbers, we could have taken the initiative to launch skirmishes against the Navy's key supply points to put pressure on them, but..." Daz trailed off, shaking his head.
"With the sudden surge of unpredictable forces like pirates, it's far too risky in our current situation, which is akin to walking a tightrope, that's why we want to incite revolutionary factions in various regions—in other words, anti-World Government forces—to scatter the Government's attention and buy us some time. ...The idea itself isn't wrong. I think it's the correct move. The problem is the method," Tesoro said sharply. "If they determine that we are deeply involved with the revolutionary forces, it will make it much easier for them to justify deploying a large-scale military expedition against us."
Exactly. If they were nothing more than a violent gang, this wouldn't be an issue at all. They could just steal from wherever they pleased. They could just scatter any enemies that got in their way. They could just cut loose anyone who dragged them down.
However, the people here were the 'Black Cats'. They were individuals who wielded intellect and martial prowess to properly resolve problems, rather than using violence to simply shelve them.
"...May I interject for a moment? This is strictly based on my own personal impressions, but..."
The man who spoke up was almost a newcomer; moreover, despite being a surrendered general who had once plotted against them, he now served as a staff officer for the First Fleet and had been recognized for his achievements in commanding a detached unit during the recent battle.
Galdino continued, "When it comes to revolutionary factions—specifically those showing highly organized movements—an emerging power known as the 'Revolutionary Army' would be a reasonable target for our support. And as for their leader, a man named Dragon... I speculate that he was likely a military man."
"...The military?" Daz raised an eyebrow.
"What makes you think that?" Tesoro asked.
Galdino was originally part of a pirate alliance—more accurately, he was one of the individuals gathered as a subordinate under Shiki. After getting involved in various shady dealings in his native South Blue, he ended up drawing the ire of the mafia. Taking an offer that promised to "fly him out to the West Blue" along with a decent upfront payment, he went through various twists and turns before finally ending up under the umbrella of the 'Black Cats'.
"As you know, up until recently, I was flying around to various places inciting the masses... During that time, I visited countries that had been influenced by the Revolutionary Army. So I've seen their methods firsthand, at least to some extent."
He received a cup of freshly brewed black tea from a blonde-haired young girl—the very same girl Galdino had once tried to sell off—and took a small sip.
"And so, this is something I've felt particularly strongly since joining the Black Cats... The Revolutionary Army, you see..." Galdino paused. "...Are remarkably bad at making money."
Gild Tesoro reacted slightly to the words "making money." In a sense, it was a phrase that perfectly described his very own line of work.
"When operating as an organization, the Black Cats factored the concept of productive capacity into their calculations from the very beginning," Galdino explained. "The kids in the Guard told me all sorts of things, but wasn't the reason you were doing all those various tasks alongside the Vice-Captain and Miss Robin, even before the Black Cats were officially founded, because you were highly conscious of future production and the economic trade of those goods?"
"Ah... now that you mention it, we did do a lot of things," Daz recalled their life on the uninhabited island.
While keeping company with the training of Amisu and the others who were practically still recruits, they had tanned the hides of beasts they hunted and dried meat and fish to make them last even a little bit longer.
"In contrast, the Revolutionary Army's military aptitude is undeniably magnificent. Even during their early days as the 'Freedom Fighters', despite being outnumbered, they successfully overthrew numerous countries plagued by rampant tyranny," Galdino said. "The source of that light footwork bothers me a little... but anyway."
Placing his cup, now a third empty, on the table—carefully positioning it away so as to absolutely not stain the map—the First Fleet's Chief of Staff continued.
"Despite that, they rarely strengthen the ties between the countries they've conquered, nor do they establish trade routes between them. They'll exchange resources if there are surpluses or shortages, but fundamentally, economic connections are left almost entirely untouched. Looking at the speed and trends of their expansion, their core forces are likely moving from battle to battle across various regions, earning funds much like mercenaries."
"...Are they unfamiliar with the concept of economics?" Tesoro asked incredulously.
"I wouldn't go that far, but... they likely have almost zero accumulated know-how. That is their major difference from the 'Black Cats'."
The slightly unrefined taste of the black tea—something he could probably only experience because he was in an organization like the Black Cats—was actually quite good; it was brewed from tea leaves that the 'Teacher of Death', Mihawk, had tried growing as a test on a nearby island.
If experience and refinements were added to its cultivation and processing, this too would become a splendid commodity, helping to enrich the organization's coffers.
"Between their fighting strength and their military results, they excel at utilizing the resources at hand. But seeing how scattered the countries they overthrow are... well, you see," Galdino concluded.
"Their military capability is high, and they can produce the best results with limited supplies, but they are still developing when it comes to managing those resources," Daz mused. "...I see, a military man. An ex-military man."
Galdino nodded in affirmation at Daz Bonez's words. "Well, if we directly handed them funds or provisions, they would surely put them to good use and expand their influence. ...But then it becomes a question of how we hand those things over. ...My apologies, I analyzed it with a knowing look, but it seems we are right back to square one..."
"...We could disguise a ship loaded with supplies as a shipwreck and set it adrift..." Daz suggested, then frowned. "No, even a small boat is valuable to us right now."
"We are even using our available craftsmen to undertake ship reinforcements and modifications at bargain prices for those who wish to fish, after all..." Tesoro added.
The strategy Daz Bonez presented wasn't bad. The same applied to military strength, but forcing the World Government to direct its most troublesome non-combat forces—like espionage and conspiracy—at someone other than the Black Cats was extremely crucial.
"...It's impossible for us to aid a faction that is currently fighting, but if it's a country where things have settled down, we might be able to do something," Daz murmured.
Above all, the Vice-Captain had voiced what he wanted to do, and it was undeniably something that would benefit the organization. Making this a reality was exactly the job—and the duty—of the man named Gild Tesoro.
The organization was about to make its move. They couldn't afford to waste time. In this brief, fleeting moment, having considered every possible method, a single plan sprang to Gild Tesoro's mind.
"Naturally, a country where a revolution has succeeded and things have settled down will require funds and supplies for reconstruction," Tesoro stated.
"Well, yeah... that's exactly the same as our situation," Daz agreed.
"Yes, we cannot hand over supplies or funds. And naturally, we cannot spare troops either." Tesoro grinned. "――Therefore, what we are providing is the place and the opportunity."
Tesoro pulled out a blank map of the entire West Blue and began writing down information while looking at the notebook he always carried. It contained information from right before the war with the Navy, marking the locations of member nations where revolutions had succeeded.
"It would be limited to areas close to our sphere of influence, but how about we expand our patrol range and stabilize the public order in the corresponding sea areas?" Tesoro proposed.
"Hmph. I see..." Daz nodded slowly. "Reduce the pressure from the increasing number of pirates to make it easier for them to concentrate on reconstruction-related tasks like production and trade. Is that the plan?"
"Yes. Eventually, stable nations might provide aid to revolutionary forces currently in civil war. Well, we must basically try not to get involved with that side, and we must avoid contact from their side as much as possible."
Tesoro drew lines connecting the countries he had marked. The ones marked in ordinary black ink were countries where revolutions had just succeeded, and the red marks were countries currently in civil war. From the perspective of both the World Government and the 'Black Cats', these were nations that had to be prioritized.
"The initial movement will be slow, but stable islands under the single power of the Revolutionary Army will increase, recovering their productive capacity. Once that happens, they will eventually pour those resources into civil wars led by the Revolutionary Army."
"...As a result, the revolutionary forces will grow," Daz concluded.
"If there is a problem, it is that we must first make the neighboring countries recognize that we are not a force that intervenes for the purpose of pillaging," Tesoro warned.
"Also, we need to be prepared for skirmishes when the Navy appears in our patrol waters..." Galdino added anxiously.
"We need to flesh out a plan for that, though..." Tesoro turned to the Vice-Captain. "How does that sound?"
Even from Daz's perspective, he couldn't find any bad points. If he had to say, he was concerned about the increased burden on the soldiers accompanying the expansion of the patrol range, but it was still something they should do. Stability in the neighborhood would directly translate to a huge benefit for the 'Black Cats'.
Besides, since they had the track record of defeating an Admiral, if the Navy knew the Black Cats were patrolling, there was a good possibility they would pull back the operational range of their warships.
"Alright, let's go with that," Daz decided.
"Galdino has a suppression mission, so I will select the candidates for the patrol zones," Tesoro said, closing his notebook. "I'll arrange it so we can hold another meeting including Commodore Taki at the conclusion of this operation."
"Sorry, I'm counting on you. I have to prepare for the fleet's sortie, and I need to speak with the Admiral about the base capture we discussed—" Daz began to stand.
—It's an emergency! Excuse me, I need to see the executives of the 'Black Cats'! It's an urgent report!!
Just then, a shout echoed that sent a bad premonition down the spines of the three men.
Galdino, who still had to leave, looked at Daz awkwardly. "...Vice-Captain, that voice just now..."
"I don't recognize it. But if he has the standing to come all the way inside the castle to report..." Daz trailed off, his eyes narrowing.
"Could it be one of Capone Bege's soldiers?" Tesoro guessed.
Sure enough, after waiting a short while, a man in a black suit and sunglasses was brought into the conference room by the Guard on security duty. At a glance, he looked like a Black Cat soldier, but he didn't have the emblematic black cat embroidery.
"What is it? Since the Guard let you through, it seems to be an emergency," Daz demanded.
"Y-Yes. The thing is—a large number of refugees have arrived at Shamrock! I came to report that!" the soldier panted.
Galdino furrowed his brows. There was no way the Black Cat soldiers would overlook enough ships to carry "a large number" of people. The defense and patrol of Shamrock, the largest stronghold shared by the Black Cats and the Bege Family, were no ordinary matter. It was far from complete, but the defenses of the city, which could be called the prototype of the military trading port Kuro had once aimed for, were close to perfection.
"We haven't received any reports of suspicious ships," Galdino stated suspiciously.
"It's not ships. A large number of Fishmen and Merfolk are fleeing in via the sea. And there might be even more coming...!"
Everyone's faces tightened with tension. The Fishman issue was an extremely delicate matter right now, especially as the number of applicants wishing to migrate to Shamrock had begun to gradually increase.
"If they are fleeing, does that mean there are wounded?" Tesoro asked sharply.
"Yes. Mirei from the Guard happened to be in Shamrock, so when we consulted her, she said she would handle the wounded and asked me to run here to report it."
Daz thought for a moment that he should have used a Den Den Mushi, but he immediately reconsidered. If the information that there were a large number of Fishmen and Merfolk—and wounded ones at that, meaning their movements would be somewhat sluggish—was intercepted by the mafia, there was no telling how much pressure they would apply.
"Galdino, when you head to Shamrock, I want you to transport medical personnel and supplies with you. You may use the carriages freely," Daz ordered.
"Understood. So, what are the numbers?" Galdino asked, turning to the messenger.
This was the most important information. Depending on that, the situation would change significantly. However, upon being asked, the Family member looked repeatedly at the paper he had taken from his pocket.
"Um, I confirmed it multiple times, so there shouldn't be a mistake, but..." The gangster hesitated, sweat running down his face. "Well... it's around... four thousand people... in total. That is, just the wounded."
...
...
"""—Fou...!!!!!????!!?""" The three executives shouted in unison.