"Using pirates to constrain pirates — what exactly does that mean?" Sengoku immediately pressed Kong after hearing his words.
There was no precedent for such an approach. But given the speed with which Inazuma had annihilated the Beasts Pirates, Sengoku had some guesses about what the World Government was thinking.
Still, pirates were pirates. How could you get them to willingly help police the seas?
"Under this concept, the World Government has drafted an entirely new system — the Seven Warlords of the Sea." Kong said. "By offering certain benefits, select pirates would be brought to the World Government's side, helping to balance the ever-growing pirate forces on the seas."
"Those chosen as Warlords must possess sufficient strength and agree to follow World Government directives to a certain degree. Naturally, the number cannot be large. For now, they've decided to limit it to seven individuals."
"Absolutely ridiculous." Garp spoke up immediately. "Using pirates to control pirates — and giving them benefits on top of it? Only those idiots in the World Government could come up with something this stupid!"
"Garp!" Tsuru didn't bat an eye, taking a calm sip of tea before rebuking him.
"Is that something I shouldn't say? Fine, pretend I never said it." Garp scratched his nose without a care in the world, then lay down right there. From the look of it, he had no intention of paying any further attention to this meeting.
Kong had no answer for the old man. He could only sigh and continue.
"This is the World Government's decision. I can't refuse it. Sengoku, when you sit in this chair, you'll understand my frustrations."
"Regardless, there are a number of suitable candidates right now. It would be best to finalize the roster within the year."
"Before that — could you explain specifically what benefits the Warlords would receive, and what obligations they'd be expected to fulfill?" Tsuru asked.
"First: bounty revocation. Upon becoming a Warlord, any previously issued bounty would be voided. The Marines would no longer treat them as enemies or pursue them."
"Second: legal plundering rights, subject to a tax paid to the World Government." Kong spoke the words with visible difficulty.
Sengoku and the others grimaced. This was almost indistinguishable from the World Government hiring pirates directly.
And the legal plundering rights were clearly limited in scope. Nations that were member states of the World Government wouldn't need to worry.
But what about the non-affiliated nations?
This was, in essence, the World Government applying pressure on those countries through an indirect channel.
"Have they lost their minds? Or have their brains completely rotted?" Garp leapt to his feet, spraying spit as he shouted.
"What kind of system is this? If we implement this, what would ordinary citizens think? What about all the Marines who've died fighting pirates? This cannot be allowed to pass!"
"This isn't something you or I can decide!" Kong was already at his wits' end, and he roared back at Garp.
"The proposal has already been approved at the highest level. It'll be formally implemented within a year or two at most!"
"All we can do now is try to select candidates who aren't irredeemable... and make them Warlords..."
Kong's voice grew quieter and quieter as he spoke, until he seemed to deflate entirely, the energy draining from his body.
That things had come to this was, in many ways, a failure on the Marines' part.
The public execution at Loguetown had been a catastrophic miscalculation.
Or rather — that thick-browed bastard Roger had been far too cunning. He must have known the Marines would give him a public execution, and that was precisely why he'd turned himself in.
"Garp, calm down."
In this situation, Tsuru was the only one who could get through to him.
"In any case, the situation is what it is. Among the current candidates is the Raiden Shogun of Inazuma. He recently destroyed Kaido and the Beasts Pirates, making him a major topic of discussion."
"Furthermore, Inazuma maintains a neutral stance in most maritime affairs, which makes him a very suitable candidate."
"I suspect that's not the only reason." Garp folded his arms, his voice cold. "The World Government must also have their eyes on those Automata weapons of his. How ironic — they're the ones who classified Inazuma as pirates in the first place, and now they want to make their leader a Warlord."
Sengoku swore to himself that in all his years, he had never seen Garp be this perceptive.
And Garp had hit the nail squarely on the head. The World Government had been interested in the Ancient Automata series for a long time, but their efforts to reverse-engineer the Ancient Guardians had made almost no progress.
Kong ignored him entirely, turning his gaze to Sengoku and Tsuru.
"Keep an eye on suitable candidates during this period. Make contact when appropriate. Ideally, we should have the full roster confirmed by the end of the year."
"If we don't, the World Government will publish the Warlord selection criteria publicly, and that would be far from ideal."
"Understood. I'll make initial contact with Inazuma. As for the remaining candidates, we should look for promising pirates."
"Though there's no need to limit ourselves to the New World. If we can stop certain pirates in Paradise, so much the better," Sengoku said.
"Good. Aside from that — have those people investigating the Poneglyphs in secret been dealt with yet?"
"Things seem to have quieted down on the Ohara front."
"Those scholars are absolutely going to cause trouble eventually."
It wasn't long after the Marines' meeting concluded before Sengoku dispatched an envoy to Inazuma.
The man currently aboard the ship was a rising star of the Marines — Kuzan.
"Ara ara... the Seven Warlords of the Sea? I can't believe they're creating 'legal' pirates now." Kuzan was still a vigorous young man at this point, though he had heard whispers about the past of his former instructor at Marine training camp, Zephyr.
He was personally opposed to the Warlord system. But as a mere Vice Admiral, his opinion carried little weight.
The Marine ship was fast. Within days, Kuzan arrived at Lisetsu Island.
Ren happened to have some free time, so he agreed to receive him.
"I'm Vice Admiral Kuzan of Marine Headquarters. I've been sent on behalf of the World Government to extend an invitation for you to join the Seven Warlords of the Sea." Kuzan handed Ren a paper document.
But Ren didn't even glance at it, tossing it directly to Yuko.
"The Seven Warlords of the Sea? I'm not interested."
Ren actually quite liked the character of Aokiji, which was why he'd agreed to meet in the first place. Anyone else might not have even been granted an audience.
"There are considerable advantages to becoming a Warlord, and the obligations are minimal. The World Government is extending this invitation proactively. If you miss this opportunity, obtaining the title later would be far more difficult."
"There's no need. Go back and tell the World Government — if they want to arrest me, they're welcome to try."
"A king?"
"Heh. I AM the king."
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