Inside the Hall of Power, two starkly different emotions clashed fiercely.
On the Navy's side, Zephyr was so furious his hair stood on end, Fleet Admiral Kong's face was as dark as the sea before a storm, and Sengoku was lost in deep apprehension and contemplation.
Yet the reactions of the five highest authorities of the world seated above were vastly different.
"Hahahaha…"
A low chuckle shattered the dead silence.
Saint Nusjuro, the Financial War God who held the First Generation Ghost Cutter, actually laughed out loud.
He gently stroked the ancient hilt of his sword, his eyes fixed intently on Kane, his admiration completely undisguised.
"Not paying a single coin in military expenses."
"Not bearing any casualties among the soldiers."
"And even extracting massive annual tribute from these pirates in reverse?"
Saint Nusjuro shook his head, his tone filled with delight.
"Kane, you are truly the most interesting soldier I have ever met."
"This calculation is even shrewder than the financial officers of Mary Geoise."
For these five old monsters who had manipulated power for centuries, what were principles? The dignity of Justice?
Those intangible things could neither be eaten nor sustain the rule of the Celestial Dragons.
What they wanted was absolute control and the maximization of profit.
"Using thieves to control thieves—that is the highest art of statecraft," Saint Marcus Mars, the Environment War God, cast a cold glance at Kong and Zephyr below. "Kong, Zephyr, you two have lived most of your lives, yet your vision is not even as broad as that of a young man."
"Clinging rigidly to those inflexible doctrines—how can you maintain the balance of the world?"
"Your Excellencies! This absolutely cannot be allowed!"
Zephyr could no longer suppress the rage in his chest. Veins bulged on his forehead as he boldly took a step forward.
"Pirates are pirates!"
"They are inherently greedy and cruel! Once granted the status of legal plunderers, they will only intensify their pillaging of civilians!"
"This is nurturing a tiger to become a threat!"
"Boom!"
A heart-palpitating pressure suddenly descended.
The temperature in the entire hall seemed to drop by more than ten degrees.
Saint Saturn's cane struck the ground heavily, his aged eyes devoid of any trace of human warmth.
"The lives of civilians are the concern of the kings of the Affiliated Countries."
"As long as they pay the Celestial Tribute on time, the World Government will protect them."
"As for the Non-Affiliated Countries…"
He sneered coldly.
"Those are lawless lands to begin with. Let the pirates harvest wealth there and then offer it to the government—what's wrong with that?"
"You—!"
Zephyr was so enraged his blood surged, and Armament Haki uncontrollably boiled along his arms.
Just as Fleet Admiral Kong was about to forcibly restrain Zephyr, a tall figure suddenly stepped in, placing himself between Zephyr and the Five Elders.
It was Kane.
"Your Excellencies, please calm your anger! Instructor Zephyr is simply too protective of the Navy's reputation and momentarily cannot see reason."
While frantically signaling to Zephyr behind his back, facing away from the Five Elders, Kane spoke in a sincere tone to explain.
"His loyalty is absolutely beyond doubt. Please be tolerant of an old soldier's stubbornness!"
This intervention made both Kong and Sengoku sigh in relief simultaneously.
In the eyes of the Five Elders, Kane's image—"skilled in scheming, adept at maintaining superiors, and free from rigid moral purity"—instantly became utterly perfect.
This was exactly the kind of blade the World Government needed most!
A good dog that knew how to bite for its master and bring back the bones!
The Five Elders' stance was already clear.
They were extremely satisfied with this concept of the "Seven Warlords of the Sea."
"Out of respect for you, let this be the last time."
Saint Saturn withdrew that suffocating aura, his gaze returning to Kane.
"Your proposal is highly constructive."
"But... who should hold the leash of this vicious dog?"
According to the World Government's usual way of doing things, such negotiations and recruitment involving underground forces and shady dealings would typically be handed over to the directly subordinate CP Department.
Firstly, it could avoid obstruction from those rigid Navy officers, and secondly, it could also serve to suppress the Navy.
Kane, of course, understood the old men's nature.
But having thrown out such a huge cake, how could he let those CP agents take a share?
The Seven Warlords were all future cash cows—they had to be firmly grasped in his own hands!
He made an immediate decision, his Oscar-worthy acting skills kicking in once again.
"Your Excellencies, please consider!"
Kane dropped to one knee, the heavy thud causing the expensive carpet to tremble.
He raised his head, his eyes burning with a fanatical and resolute determination to share his masters' burdens.
"The core of this system lies in the word 'might'!"
"What we select will inevitably be unruly monsters of the sea!"
Kane's voice was forceful and resonant, each word carrying weight.
"If we let those CP Department agents—who only know how to hide in the shadows and assassinate, and couldn't even guard a defenseless Vegapunk—handle the negotiations, what would the pirates think?!"
Another precise critical hit, digging up the CP's already trampled face for another round of posthumous humiliation.
"They would only think the World Government is weak and easy to bully! Not only would they not obediently pay up, they would bite back instead!"
Kane slammed his own chest, the coat bearing the word "Justice" flapping loudly.
"It must be handled by someone who can beat them to a pulp, make them kneel and beg for mercy with sheer force, and who can also represent the absolute authority of the World Government in status!"
"This humble subordinate is willing to share the burdens of the Five Elders!"
"Let my G-5 Branch take full responsibility for the dirty work, the hard work, the work of bearing the world's condemnation in selecting the Seven Warlords!"
Kane lowered his voice, appropriately revealing a hint of worldly greed.
"I assure Your Excellencies, the seven dogs selected will be absolutely obedient!"
"And... absolutely capable of making money!"
Silence.
The Five Elders exchanged glances, each nodding in satisfaction.
They weren't afraid of greed; they were afraid of someone like Zephyr, who was impervious to all influence.
A Navy Admiral with immense desire for power and money was the easiest pawn to control.
"Granted."
Saint Saturn made the final decision, settling the matter.
"The authority to select and oversee the Seven Warlords of the Sea is hereby entrusted to the G-5 Branch. You may draft the list of candidates as you see fit and submit it to Mary Geoise for approval."
"Thank you for your trust, Your Excellencies! For the glory of the World Government!"
Kane loudly accepted the order, the corners of his mouth curling upward uncontrollably as he lowered his head.
At the very moment the Five Elders nodded, a synthesized system voice erupted like a tempest in Kane's mind!
[Ding!]
[Detected that the host has publicly proposed and facilitated the "Pirate Legalization" system in the presence of the Navy's Commander-in-Chief, Admirals, and the world's highest authorities!]
[This action severely violates Chapter 3, Article 17 of the Navy Military Law: "The Navy shall not engage in any form of interest exchange with Pirates"!]
[Impact Assessment: Alters the predetermined worldline progression, reshaping the landscape of the Great Pirate Era.]
[Comprehensive settlement in progress…]
[Congratulations, host! Obtained Violation Value: 900,000 points!]
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