"I've heard a story."
Yemu suddenly looked as if he were about to start telling a tale, leaving the members of the Whitebeard Pirate Crew completely baffled. Weren't they in the middle of negotiations? Yamato, on the other hand, looked full of anticipation. She loved listening to stories.
"I heard there was an obscure country in the New World. Because it was too poor to pay the Heavenly Tribute, it couldn't become a World Government member nation, and ended up as a lawless island plundered by pirates and slave traders. Then, a few decades ago, supplies and money suddenly began arriving there, sent continuously by an anonymous person. Only after that did the country slowly start to recover."
The moment that story came out, most of the Whitebeard Pirate Crew looked confused. Only the division commanders and crew members trusted by Whitebeard were shocked, because they understood that the main figure in Yemu's story, the anonymous person, was their Oyaji, Whitebeard. And that country was Oyaji's homeland.
But this story was something only those truly close to Whitebeard knew. How did Fire Dragon Yemu know about it?
At that moment, Yamato also seemed to notice something and looked at Yemu.
Just then, Yemu continued in a sighing tone.
"To be honest, it's a beautiful story, almost like a fairy tale. But I've always wondered how long such a dreamlike story can last. Will there come a day when those anonymous donations stop, and that country turns back into the lawless island it once was? Or will the island be targeted by people who covet it, then fall back into war?"
Whitebeard's brow tightened at once, but he said nothing. He only listened quietly.
"No matter how wealthy one person is, supporting an entire country is no easy thing. And a paradise that survives that way is extremely fragile. One careless step, and it may return to what it used to be. That country is already lucky. In fact, across this sea, there are countries everywhere that cannot pay the Heavenly Tribute, cannot receive protection from the World Government, and end up becoming battlefields or prey for pirates and slave traders."
"Because they cannot pay the Heavenly Tribute, their countries fall into chaos, poverty, and ruin. And because their countries fall into chaos, poverty, and ruin, there are more and more orphans. When those orphans grow up, they have no choice but to become pirates, and those pirates go on to destroy other countries. It's like an endless cycle with no way out."
"To change all this, to make there be fewer and fewer pirates in the world and make the world more stable, we have to eliminate the root of all evil: the Celestial Dragons and the World Government, then establish a new order. But eliminating pirates and making their numbers shrink is also something that has to be done. My method is to make these countries strong and prosperous on their own. When someone can support himself and his family by working hard, and doesn't have to fear outside oppression, why would he still choose to become a pirate?"
"Do you think what I'm saying makes sense, Whitebeard, Mr. Edward Newgate?"
After listening, Whitebeard's eyes flickered. His voice was extremely low as he said, "You've got real guts. To stand in front of me and say you hate pirates, and that pirates should be eliminated..."
"To me, pirate is just a convenient identity for getting things done. Compared to the Marines, pirates are a little freer. But even so, no matter how noble a reason you put on it, to ordinary people, pirates are evil, and the Marines are justice."
"Even for me, only by freeing those slaves oppressed by the Celestial Dragons can I gradually break away from the single identity of pirate. Otherwise, if I went to countries and people who had suffered under pirates and told them that I, a pirate, had come to save them, it would be a joke."
The moment those words came out, Whitebeard fell into thought. Having lived this long, how could Whitebeard not understand that reasoning?
That was exactly why he had always donated anonymously to his homeland, Sphinx.
Otherwise, if the people of Sphinx learned that the one secretly helping them was the Great Pirate Whitebeard, then never mind the Marines. Even the people of that country themselves might refuse to accept his aid out of fear.
The crew members around them also grew somber.
For crew members who had already lost everything, it was fine. They no longer cared about anything. But for those who still had relatives and friends somewhere in this world, even if they wanted to help them, they could only do so in secret. After all, the identity of a Whitebeard Pirate Crew member was no different from a death warrant. No one wanted to bring disaster down on others because of it.
Yamato stared with wide eyes, feeling as though her entire worldview had been shaken.
Yemu's words were something she had never imagined before. Born among pirates, she had never thought about anything more complicated beyond the existence of pirates themselves. Now, Yemu's words had opened a door to an entirely new world for her.
And even with her little mind, she could tell that what Yemu said made a great deal of sense.
At this moment, Whitebeard came back to himself. His gaze locked firmly onto Yemu, and he said in a low voice, "Is the story finished? If it is, then tell me the specifics of your deal."
"No problem. The deal is very simple. From the moment our cooperation is settled, the Whitebeard Pirate Crew joins the Yonkō Alliance. Aside from accepting employment from my Rainbow Country to deal with the Marines and the World Government, preventing them from entering the New World and harming my Rainbow Country, I will not interfere in anything between you. In addition, all of Rainbow Country's industries in the New World, including factories, merchant ships, and anything else, as long as they fly the flag of Rainbow Country, your Whitebeard Pirate Crew must provide protection for them. Of course, this won't be for nothing. Besides a fixed payment, every technological product I possess can be sold to you at a discounted price. Beyond that, in the name of Rainbow Country, we will use commercial trade to connect and develop your countries, making them prosperous while protecting them from harassment by pirates and slave traders."
After speaking, he thought for a moment, then added,
"As for the possibility of direct conflict with the Marines and the World Government, there's no need to worry too much. First, once I shift the battlefield of the future war to the North Blue, they may not have any spare forces. Second, if the Yonkō Alliance truly appears, that name alone will be enough to make the Marines and the World Government stop at the edge of the New World."
It had to be said that Yemu's deal was indeed very sincere. To put it simply, these future Yonkō might not even need to pay much of a price in the end, yet they would still gain huge benefits.
As for Yemu, what he needed most right now was time. Exchanging money for time was a guaranteed win for him.
As the strategist of the entire Whitebeard Pirate Crew, Marco instantly understood that this cooperation held great potential. However, everything still depended on his Oyaji's decision.
Whitebeard did not rush. Instead, he asked another question.
"As for this commercial trade you mentioned, how can I believe that you can truly make those non-World Government member nations prosperous, and protect them from harassment by pirates and slave traders?"