Bonus Chapter for 100 Powerstones.
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"You know they announced the Warlord system, but they still haven't gathered enough members, right?" Tsuru asked.
"Yes. I believe the few who did join were recently defeated by Whitebeard's allies or other New World pirates."
"They thought that with the Government's backing, they could order around the Navy's forces. They didn't care about our own plans," Tsuru explained.
Are they idiots?
Even if they were friendly, things wouldn't just work out perfectly when moving forces. Plus, if a pirate tried to control the Navy's actions, there would usually be strong resistance.
Even if I was being very generous, they should have first cooperated with the Navy's actions to build trust...
"Well, as a result, they went crazy on their own and were sunk on their own. Now there are no strong Warlords, and the Navy is losing ground to the pirates just by numbers," Tsuru said.
"Did the Government not secure strong pirates before announcing the Warlord system?"
"The pirates who would be useful would just think it was a trap if someone talked to them about it beforehand. It just made them suspicious," Tsuru replied.
Ah, I see. So that's it. I remember hearing that distress signals were often used as traps during the Punk Hazard incident. And seeing Fisher Tiger's past, I think they shouldn't put the possibility of a trap on something that relies on trust...
Anyway, anyone would be wary of fishy offers from the Government or the Marines. If I think about it, Crocodile hasn't even become a Warlord yet.
I can't worry about Hancock or Mihawk, but what will happen to Moria...?
"That's why the Government wants you," Tsuru stated.
As a Warlord? I'll punch the World Government. So, the frequent meetings are just a show to prove I am friendly enough to talk to the Government?
"Did they forget why I and Amisu became pirates?"
"Surely they didn't forget that," Tsuru insisted.
"...And they still want me?"
"Yes," she confirmed.
If this wasn't happening in the middle of a negotiation with the Navy, I might have lost my temper. Those guys, honestly...
"Even if I joined, the Warlords is a group of seven pirates. What are they planning to do about the other six?"
"No, that's not it, Kuro," Tsuru corrected.
"They want to make your subordinates into Warlords. And they want to pull you into the Government's side as the one who oversees them."
I'm really going to punch those guys! Wait a second, does that mean they are wasting time to..
"Fleet Admiral, is there a chance that rumors about us are spreading in a weird way?"
"The information isn't twisted, but the details of the Pirate Alliance incident in the West Blue are slowly starting to spread to Marines in other seas," Sengoku replied gravely.
Those bastards! They're trying to corner us from the outside! And by the 'details of the Pirate Alliance,' do they mean they are intentionally skipping over the part about the enslaved Marines that started it? Those creeps!
"Isn't it a good deal for you too, Black Cat?" Kizaru, who is still at Mary Geoise, spoke up. I honestly find him more difficult to deal with than Akainu.
Both as a person and in terms of strength.
"If you become a Warlord and join the Government's si—" Kizaru continued, drawing out his words.
"What guarantee do I have that the Government won't just cancel the Warlord system unilaterally as soon as things calm down?"
No matter what kind of conditions they offer, I will never join the Government.
Honestly, their trustworthiness is about the same as any other pirate.
I might take on a few small jobs under a contract, but I will never fully join them. Even setting aside Robin's situation.
"Given the incident that started all this and their actions afterward, the Government is completely untrustworthy."
If I could, I'd flat out say, "Those guys are actual scum," but I know I shouldn't.
There's a chance Kizaru is connected to the Government... or wait, wasn't it mentioned somewhere in the story that Navy Admirals are basically the Celestial Dragons' lapdogs?
Well, if a Government official asks, a Marine would have to answer, even if they try to cover it up. If that's the case, I'll use it. I apologize to the soldiers listening, but I'll make them my loudspeakers.
"I won't completely deny the World Government's existence, but I absolutely do not think their way of ruling is good."
If I use the Warlord system to develop non-member countries, I feel like they'll just take them over. If that happens, I'd have to refuse the takeover so other countries they rule don't get worried, which could lead to small fights or even war with the Navy and Government forces.
"...Then what are you going to do?" Kizaru asked, his voice slow. "Are you just going to remain a pirate group and keep being chased?"
"Of course not."
"I have a plan."
The bigger problem is that the World Government is still prioritizing their plan to corner me at this point... What should I do?
...Hey, Hina-young lady, those are my sweets.
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In a corner of the port town a little ways from the Mogwa Kingdom's royal castle, which is the main base for the ordinary crew members of the Black Cat Pirates, the Second-in-Command, Daz Bonez, the senior crew member Perona, and the First Fleet Admiral, Hancock, who should be at the Mopuchi Country main base, were all looking worried.
"So, the civilians have finally started fighting over food," Daz Bonez said, placing a report on the table.
"Luckily, when me and the Marines found it, it was just a small fight, so I quickly silenced them with my Negative Hollow, but..." Perona trailed off, sighing.
"...Hmm," Daz Bonez hummed, rubbing his chin.
He then spread out several reports from the Navy on a simple table, his face more troubled than usual.
"The food the marines hands out is mainly bread and preserved food. It seems they were handing it out just like before, without much thought..." Daz noted.
"The problem is that it is the kind of food people can easily hide away," Hancock stated. "If people save it out of fear of the future, others will want it. ...Now I realize we should have noticed this sooner."
"If only the free trade proposed by the Captain had been ready, things would not have gotten this bad..." Daz lamented.
"I heard that Fleet Admiral Sengoku tried to make it happen," Hancock said. "The fact that only some of it was achieved means someone got in the way."
The fighting is not happening in the areas directly controlled by the 'Black Cat'.
It is all happening in the refugee shelters of the member countries.
"I don't care what happens in the Government's territory, but it will be a pain if they turn into rioters and then pirates," Daz said.
"A bunch of people who are just numbers won't be a big deal," Perona scoffed. "Even without Kuro, it'll be easy if me or one of the Amisu is there."
"...That's true if they all stay in one place," Daz conceded. "But if they scatter, the trouble factor increases greatly."
Daz wrote down the locations and sizes of the riots and fights on a map from the reports, placing large circles near the areas under our control.
"Then what should we do, Vice Captain? ...Should we give them some of our extra food? We might be able to calm things down a bit if we limit it to nearby areas," Hancock suggested.
"It will work in the short term, but you're right, it's just a drop in the ocean in this situation," Daz replied, nodding slightly. "Winter is still long, and things won't be fixed as soon as spring comes. Plus, it might even make the fighting worse."
He confirmed her point but looked even more troubled.
"If we give them food temporarily, and fighting breaks out over that food, making things worse, it's pointless. Besides, it will only reach a very small number of people. We need a more fundamental solution."
"But Daz, the root problem is that there isn't enough food, right?" Perona asked, sounding tired. "Should we just pray for spring to come quickly?"
"No..." Daz denied, shaking his head.
He wrote the necessary information on the map and thought.
This was the habit of the head of this pirate crew, Kuro. To write down everything he knew, compare it, analyze it, and re-summarize the information simply before thinking.
"They had enough food for their daily needs. There were no signs or rumors that it would run out. ...Despite this, the public's anxiety is growing," Daz realized aloud. "...The trouble is focused in areas somewhat far from the rescue centers built by the Navy."
"Could it be that the sense of security from having the Marines nearby is making the civilians worry about other things?" Hancock mused.
"That's a possibility. Or..." Daz replied, trailing off.
Perona, who is the least motivated among the three crew leaders here but not lazy, was the first to realize something.
"Hey Daz, do you think it's the person who was causing trouble since the Pirate Alliance incident?" she asked.
"That's also a possibility," Daz admitted.
"You sound unsure! Everything is just 'a possibility'!" Perona complained, throwing her hands up.
"It can't be helped, Perona. We still don't have enough information... but that certainly could be it," Daz responded calmly.
Hancock put on the jacket that she had modified when she became Admiral and stood up.
"I will use the personal guards under my command," Hancock declared. "We have enough regular forces for patrols and sea battles. If we use the personal guards to investigate different areas while we handle the fighting, we might find something."
"Can the soldiers handle the extra work?" Daz asked, concerned about burnout.
"The soldiers wounded in the attack on that island are just returning to full duty," Hancock explained. "so the Marines should be able to increase their patrols. Besides, while our crew is getting used to fighting, we cannot rely on the guards forever, can we?"
The girl, who was once seen only as a Kuza child somehow mixed in with the 'Black Cat', had become a person known to every Marine in the West Blue, thanks to her beautiful face and black hair.
"The battle plans without the guards are slowly taking shape. It wouldn't hurt to boost the fame of the First Fleet right now," Hancock finished.
After watching the beautiful Admiral leave the room saying she was going ahead, the remaining two long-time crew members, Daz and Perona, looked at each other.
"Battle plans... was she talking about that style?" Perona asked Daz.
"We are also improving our cannon battle tactics and normal close-quarters fighting. But that is the style she prefers most," Daz replied.
"The Marines who came to collect supplies the other day were grossed out by the piles of bodies," Perona said, shivering delicately.
"Well... those kinds of tactics are necessary," Daz reasoned. "In fact, they result in the least loss of soldiers and supplies. And if there is no damage to the rescued people or the loot we collect, there can be no complaints."
"Well, that's true, but..." Perona conceded.
Perona brewed the roasted barley tea and poured it into a cup, taking a deep breath, since her favorite cocoa is currently in short supply.
"Darn it, I thought things would be somewhat settled by the time Kuro gets back, but it doesn't look that easy," Perona sighed.
"That means we have work to do," Daz said.
"Oh? What is it, Daz? Do you want a chance to shine?" Perona teased.
"In a way, yes," Daz answered.
Daz accepted the cup Perona offered, took a sip, and then said, "If we can show the results of our work as the 'Black Cat' here, it will give the Captain in Mary Geoise more leverage."
"If the Government takes us seriously," Perona noted.
"I think that's very likely. If the Government saw us as just regular pirates, they would have already tried to capture us or Robin," Daz mused.
"Well, I guess so..." Perona conceded.
The drink, which was made by lightly roasting barley and boiling it with hot water, which Mihawk said was pretty good for a first attempt, helped to ease the chill.
"So, should we focus on capturing the agitator... if there is one?" Perona asked.
"...To stop a riot, you need to remove the source of fear, or you need a pillar that people can believe in to overcome it," Daz explained.
Daz looked back at the map, pointing to the islands scattered across the sea they control.
"Maybe the Captain is right—that a large ruling organization, different from the Government but able to coexist with it, is completely necessary."
"But to move forward with that plan, all the non-member countries are now... oh?" Perona trailed off as a knock sounded.
Perona said, "Come in," and the door opened—
"Hancock? I thought you went to the port," Perona asked.
"Yes, I did, but... we have a visitor," Hancock replied. And behind her was—
"Yo, sorry to interrupt your chat," Kuzan greeted them casually.
"Kuzan!?" Daz exclaimed, jumping to his feet.
"Aokiji... you came all this way?" Perona asked in surprise.
"I was heading to the port when I saw him coming here. I called out to him, and he said he had something to talk about," Hancock explained.
"My bad. I got lost when I came here to talk to you guys," Kuzan admitted with a lazy wave.
"Are you crazy?! It's not safe for an Admiral to come here alone! Just come in and sit down. I'll make you some roasted barley tea if that's okay," Perona urged him, pulling out a chair.
"No, thanks. I'll take it. I was hoping for something warm," Kuzan accepted, sitting down.
"Horo-horo-horo, even an ice man needs some heat, huh? Wait up, this is Mihawk's special barley," Perona teased him, heading to the kettle.
Perona is surprisingly well-liked by the marines personnel.
It's partly because of her appearance, which is still childlike, but she also has knowledge of herbs and basic medical skills, having helped treat Marines' injuries.
"...So, Aokiji. What do you need to discuss?" Daz asked, leaning forward.
"For you to come here, it must be something very serious," Perona added, bringing the cup over.
"Ah, no. It's not a big deal. Well, it is a big deal, but it's hard for us to deal with it... so, I need a favor," Kuzan explained.
Kuzan put a small piece of ice in the cup of barley tea Perona brought to cool it down, drank the entire thing in one go, and sighed.
"Can you guys buy some people?"
"...Huh?" Daz and Perona responded in shocked unison.
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