"One Piece:The True Codex"Chapter 365: The United Kingdom of Navia, Faraise, and Goa
The World Government's heavy-handed rule had already ignited flames of rebellion across its territories. Its federated structure was far more fragile and disjointed than the Soviet Union of William's previous life, and the people felt little allegiance to it. Should the economy collapse due to the construction of the train network, coupled with opportunists like William waiting in the wings, the Government could very well face disintegration in an instant.
However, the Five Elders were not so reckless. Or rather, with a better alternative now on the table, even if they had initially considered building the train network themselves, they now leaned toward William's proposal.
By involving the Seven Warlords of the Sea as stakeholders, the train network project could proceed without severely depleting the World Government's resources. This would allow them to maintain their influence in the New World and the Four Seas, avoiding a decline in power and making what was once an incredibly difficult plan suddenly feasible.
But there was a problem: the Seven Warlords were not as obedient as the Marines or the Government's officials.
If the World Government were to invest and lead the project themselves, they would naturally have full control. Whether it meant outsiders dictating the process, incurring exorbitant costs, or even lacking the right talent to oversee the project, as long as the higher-ups set the tone, the project would proceed regardless.
The Seven Warlords, however, were not lackeys. They were seven infamous pirates conscripted by the Government, not philanthropists. They wouldn't simply hand over money for the Government to squander just because they were told to.
"It seems Morgan William has truly racked his brain to become a Warlord," the golden-haired elder remarked.
The scar-faced elder added, "If this project were led by the Government, the Seven Warlords wouldn't trust it, let alone be interested."
The elder in the kimono continued, "To get them to voluntarily invest and diligently maintain the project, they must see its potential."
The long-haired elder followed, "In other words, the project leader must be someone they trust. Someone capable of demonstrating the project's feasibility on a small scale first, allowing the Warlords to see that their investment will yield sufficient returns."
Finally, the bald elder with the map-shaped birthmark concluded, "Only then can negotiations proceed smoothly, drawing them in one by one. This would give the Government room to maneuver and prevent the Warlords from being pushed into an adversarial position."
With their back-and-forth, the Five Elders had essentially outlined the challenges of the second plan and, in doing so, revealed William's intentions.
Getting the Seven Warlords to invest sounded simple but was, in practice, extremely difficult. However, if there were a suitable candidate to serve as an example, things would become much easier.
"This project leader must share their status—a Seven Warlord of the Sea—and, unlike the brutish pirates, possess exceptional organizational and management skills. They must have funds, manpower, and experience in overseeing large-scale projects. Among the current Seven Warlords, there is clearly no such individual," Dampier explained.
"Therefore, gentlemen, if I'm not mistaken, there is currently a vacancy among the Seven Warlords," he said, looking around at the Five Elders before solemnly continuing, "On behalf of my captain, Morgan Stolt William, I hereby recommend him to become one of the World Government's Seven Warlords of the Sea and to take charge of building the train network by establishing the Sea Train Company."
"If any of you doubt Captain William's capabilities, I believe the recent war between our crew and the Marines in the East Blue should dispel such concerns. Moreover, the transformation of the Navia Kingdom stands as proof of Captain William's experience with large-scale projects. Whether it's the Flash Gold Bank or the Four Seas Trading Company under our pirate crew, both can contribute significantly to the train network plan," Dampier said, raising his voice slightly. "I firmly believe that no one is more suited for this position than Captain William. Cooperation between the World Government and the Morgan Pirates would be mutually beneficial, while conflict would only lead to unnecessary losses. What do you think?"
The room fell silent for a moment. The Four Seas Trading Company and the Flash Gold Bank were organizations that had been exposed during the recent East Blue conflict, both of which had played significant roles in the war.
The Five Elders had to admit that, in terms of personal strength, William was not among the most elite pirates. However, when it came to intellect and management skills, he undoubtedly stood head and shoulders above his peers. This was precisely why Dampier's words had swayed them.
Building a sea train network required substantial funding, and at the very least, William had already demonstrated his ability to generate wealth.
The five elders exchanged glances for only a brief moment before the golden-haired elder stood up, adjusted his suit, and said to Dampier, "In principle, we agree."
Mimicking his gesture, Dampier dusted off his clothing and said, "It seems you recognize Captain William's capabilities. In that case, I believe it's time we discussed our terms."
"What more could you possibly want? Do you not understand that becoming a Seven Warlord of the Sea is a dream position for countless pirates?" the elder in the kimono said, frowning.
Dampier merely smiled. "So is becoming a subordinate of the Four Emperors."
"Legal plundering, shares in the train company, and its profits—aren't those enough to satisfy your appetite?" the scar-faced elder asked, tapping his cane on the floor as he glared at Dampier.
"Legal plundering is limited to pirates and undeveloped territories, requiring us to act personally and then turn over a portion to the Government. As for the train company's shares and profits, those are simply the rewards for the effort we'll put into the plan," Dampier replied calmly. "We have no intention of threatening the World Government, nor do we consider this a victory. We've come here to negotiate in good faith. However, I believe you must also understand that Captain William sent me here not to beg but to demonstrate a willingness for peace. We have options; we have alternatives. If this negotiation is an interview, I believe William has submitted an answer far exceeding your expectations. Now, it's your turn to present terms that will convince William to stay."
"What does your captain want?" the golden-haired elder asked, his brow furrowing.
"In addition to gaining the title of Seven Warlord of the Sea, William also seeks to join the World Government as the king of a united kingdom comprising Navia, Faraise, and Goa, and to participate in the Reverie as a monarch!" Dampier declared boldly.
"That's impossible!" the bald elder with the map-shaped birthmark immediately rejected. "The king of Goa Kingdom is still alive, and it's a member nation of the World Government. We cannot depose a reigning monarch and hand his country over to a pirate!"
Dampier blinked, hiding a glimmer of cunning in his eyes, and said, "If Goa Kingdom is off the table because its monarch is still alive, then what about Faraise Kingdom? Its royal family has been decimated, leaving the kingdom leaderless and in chaos. It's in dire need of a king."
The Five Elders fell silent for a moment before the scar-faced elder spoke gravely. "What is Morgan William plotting in the East Blue? If he truly becomes a Seven Warlord, he will be bound by the agreement to focus his efforts on the first half of the Grand Line. One of the key points we discussed earlier was to bring the Warlords back to their original purpose!"
The golden-haired elder also spoke sternly. "We do not want to see the initiator of this proposal, upon becoming a Warlord, immediately deviate from the plan's intent, behaving like past Warlords who neglected their duties after obtaining the title!"
"The construction of the train network requires substantial manpower and resources. William taking on the role of Faraise Kingdom's monarch is to better execute this plan," Dampier said, glancing at the golden-haired elder. "William still respects the authority of the World Government, which is why he seeks to join as a member nation and participate in the Reverie."
After a long pause, the bald elder finally said, "We need to discuss this further."
This was the first time since Dampier entered the room that the Five Elders had said they needed to deliberate privately.
The so-called Star Wars Plan was a product of the Cold War era, officially known as the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), a missile defense system that was notoriously expensive. It was "said" to have contributed to the Soviet Union's economic collapse and subsequent dissolution, although the reality was far more complex. However, applied to the World Government—whose situation was far more precarious than the Soviet Union's—the train network plan, akin to a Star Wars-esque strategy, could very well become the final straw that broke the camel's back.
(End of Chapter)
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