(POV: Kuro)
As I hung up the receiver and let out a sigh, "Phew," a glass of water was slid in from the side.
"Good work, Kuro," Hina said gently.
"Oh... Thanks, Hina," I replied, taking the glass.
I knew it. Back in the Holy Land, it was mostly like this.
"Even so, you're as smooth a talker as ever," she remarked with a smirk. "Worthy of someone who argues with the Five Elders."
"When I was a secretary, drafting speeches and checking them was like a daily routine," I shrugged. "Well, since it was impromptu, there were a few slip-ups..."
Once I get back to the West Blue, I need to consult with Daz and Tesoro... and now Hancock and Commodore Taki, to rethink the text and issue a formal statement as the Black Cat. From here on, showing the organization's will to the world, even a little, will become a great asset.
"Did you do things like that even back in your merchant days?" Hina asked.
"...Well, yeah."
Accurately speaking, it was in my previous life, but whatever.
"Hey," she started again.
"Hm?"
"What will happen to the world now? You said a large-scale rebellion would occur."
"...Just as I said... but I guess it's hard to imagine?"
When I asked, Hina nodded.
"I'm curious about that too. Kuro-san, was it?" Issho, who had finally touched his sake, followed up. "How do you see the world moving from here?"
Honestly, since he has the ability to cross the Calm Belt and return, I want to establish a relationship here... but I am a pirate, after all.
Although the degree of damage differed, he was a man who denied the Seven Warlords. Naturally, he wouldn't look kindly on the existence of pirates...
Anyway, I'll answer as much as I can.
"You said there's no way to easily improve the situation... but if you were the Government, how would you move?" Hina pressed.
"...Even if you ask that..."
"Of course, if it's hard to say as a pirate—or rather, an adversary of the Government—then that's fine..."
"No, I don't mind that," I said. "In the first place, I don't really hide much from you—no, it's pretty much zero..."
I gathered my thoughts. "Premised on the fact that the degree of chaos won't change no matter how they move, I think the flow will change depending on what the Government prioritizes."
"...Prioritizes... you say?" Issho asked.
"I don't know the scale, but defections of Marines will occur more or less in every sea. The Superior Kingdom is exactly that, but there are definitely Marines whose hometowns were damaged. And their families, too. Depending on the scale, entire bases might defect or declare independence..."
It really depends on how far they went. I was truly appalled when I went to the Holy Land; the number of slaves is insane. Not only are there many, but the consumption rate is intense. It's not just working them to death; they're probably killing them on a whim. You can tell in one glance by looking at the Marines who managed to return from the Holy Land.
"Speaking strictly from the Government's perspective, there are roughly three options," I explained. "Suppression or persuasion of defecting nations and Marines, strengthening measures against the increased number of pirates, and finally, retightening control over the remaining nations."
If it were me, I'd choose the last one: retightening control. As a bureaucrat, how to persuade the higher-ups or the Five Elders is a separate issue, though.
"I understand the first two," Hina said, frowning. "But by retightening control over the remaining nations... do you mean stopping them from hiring pirates to pillage like you mentioned?"
"No, even before that, the remaining affiliated nations have their own issues."
Out of habit, I tried to use the leftover fried chicken bones and fries to create a diagram for explanation, but Issho, who is blind, is present.
If I explain using a diagram, I might lose him somewhere along the line...
Can't help it. I'll go verbal only.
"First, regarding the defecting nations... they won't act separately."
"...Everyone is dissatisfied with the World Government," Issho murmured.
"Exactly," I confirmed. "They are all nations where dissatisfaction with the Government has exploded uniformly. In other words, sooner or later, the nations in each sea that have seceded from the World Government will try to connect with one another."
A part of what the Government has been doing in the shadows has been revealed. They will undoubtedly judge that trying to cope as a single nation is suicidal.
"The same goes for defecting Marines. In fact, Marines who have stopped being the Government's—excuse the phrasing—'dogs' and have become independent are reliable forces that defecting nations would desperately want."
If they defect at this timing, it's certain they aren't under the Government's thumb, and above all, they have abundant combat experience. In the West Blue, they flowed into our 'Black Cat,' though...
"If each nation starts absorbing defected Marines, the hierarchy between former Marines will also become a factor connecting nation to nation," I continued.
"...In other words, non-affiliated nations will find it extremely easy to unite," Issho summarized.
"Precisely."
Depending on the scale, a force equivalent to the Revolutionary Army... or rather, one with enough momentum to merge with them, might be created. If such a movement happened in the West Blue, I'd incite it with everything I've got, but...
For better or worse, there's a high probability that we will end up being the vessel that accepts them...
"The problem lies with the remaining affiliated nations—I'm not talking about those who remained to wait and see or due to lack of information, but those who know everything and still stick close to the Celestial Dragons... Who is their enemy?"
"...Is it the pirates who might attack them?" Hina guessed.
"That's one thing. And—"
— I see, Just as I was about to voice the threat I had in mind, Issho spoke up before I could.