Gloriosa was silent for a moment, then spoke cautiously, "Admiral, what do you mean by guiding Amazon Lily onto the right path?"
"Times are progressing. Humans used to be unable to enter the Calm Belt, but now, the Marines have developed safe technology that has reduced the risk to a minimum. Generally speaking, military use is at the forefront of civilian use. Perhaps in a few decades, this technology will be popularized on ordinary ships, and by then, the Calm Belt will never be as isolated as it is now," Finn said softly.
After a brief pause, Finn looked at Gloriosa. "Because of this, you at Amazon Lily will no longer be independent of the world system as you are now. So, may I ask, when that time comes, what kind of troubles will you face when you face the world as pirates?"
Gloriosa's expression changed several times before she finally said, "It's very dangerous. The world is hostile to us."
"That's right. You're in this situation now. Everyone thinks you're a barbaric and brutal pirate nation, but because of the Calm Belt, you don't have to care about this perception. When the Calm Belt can no longer protect you, you'll have to face this hostility. If you're not careful, you'll be doomed," Finn said with a smile.
"So Admiral, you can help us, right?" Gloriosa asked softly.
"How should I put it? This should be a very good opportunity. You and Shakuyaku were indeed a pirate, and you are indeed a pirate nation, but fortunately, due to various reasons, you've stopped your pirate activities in the past few years, and Shakuyaku has 'passed away', and it's naturally impossible to hold a dead woman accountable. If at this stage you choose to join the Marines and cooperate with us, the resistance to you within the Marines won't be that strong. On the contrary, the Marines attach great importance to the development of the Calm Belt, and perhaps you can be of use," Finn said, nodding.
It had to be said, now was indeed a good time.
Gloriosa was silent for a moment before saying, "We can be used in the development of the Calm Belt?"
"Yes. Actually, we're also short of manpower. This development will be an ongoing project and won't stop in the short term. At the same time, I also think this is an important opportunity for Amazon Lily to transform. If you can seize this opportunity, you'll be able to gain a firm foothold in the Calm Belt in the future. At the same time, with the endorsement of the Marines, it will be easier for you to rehabilitate your reputation," Finn said with a smile.
Gloriosa nodded. "Actually, we at Amazon Lily are not as ferocious and violent as the outside world imagines."
On this point, Gloriosa wasn't lying.
In fact, although Amazon Lily was a nation of warriors, it was surprisingly simple in nature.
Even though it was a pirate nation, its essence was survival.
If one looked at it from another angle, one could actually classify their pirate behavior as normal warfare between nations.
"That's why I think you can be saved," Finn said meaningfully.
"If your nation were like Totto Land, it would never be possible for you to get such an opportunity. I would definitely seize the chance to destroy you," Finn said bluntly.
After a brief pause, Finn said, without waiting for Gloriosa to speak, "That's the truth. Think carefully about whether you want to cooperate with the Marines."
Gloriosa didn't hesitate at all and nodded without delay. "Yes!"
Finn had already explained the situation to her very clearly.
Either Amazon Lily cooperated with the Marines, or the Marines would eliminate them.
Finn had expressed his position right from the start: no threats would be allowed to exist in the entire Southern Calm Belt.
The only Marine threat in the Southern Calm Belt was Amazon Lily.
Then how could she choose?
Choose to confront the Marines head-on?
That was definitely an option that would destroy the nation, but Gloriosa wasn't that stubborn.
"Very good," Finn nodded, then said to Hina beside him, "Go and bring those three here."
"Yes," Hina responded quickly, then stood up and left.
About ten minutes later, the three Hancock sisters were brought over by Hina.
The moment she saw Gloriosa, Hancock asked in surprise, "Granny!"
"Hancock!" Gloriosa also breathed a sigh of relief. Looking at the condition of Hancock and the other two, they hadn't been treated harshly by the Marines.
It seemed Admiral Finn really did have good intentions toward them.
"You've seen them. The Marines never tortured them. On the contrary, we rescued them from evil slave traders. Isn't this a favor?" Finn asked after taking a bite of beef.
Gloriosa nodded quickly. "Admiral, we at Amazon Lily will never forget your kindness."
Gloriosa was also a smart person. If she could take this opportunity to establish some kind of friendship and relationship with Admiral Finn, it would definitely be good for Amazon Lily.
"Very good," Finn nodded, then looked at the three Hancock sisters. "Marigold and Sandersonia, you can take these two back to Amazon Lily."
Gloriosa nodded first, then asked worriedly, "What about Hancock?"
"Boa Hancock..." Finn glanced at Hancock, who was pretending to be calm, then smiled. "She'll join the Marines. I'll recommend her to go to Marineford and study until she reaches adulthood."
At that moment, Gion walked in from the restaurant door and shook her head. "No need. Hancock will stay at G-7, and I'll teach her personally."
Gion knew Finn must have other plans for Hancock, and she vaguely suspected that Hancock, born into Amazon Lily with their background, was very suitable to become a member of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
Perhaps Finn had this intention.
Therefore, sending Hancock to Marineford for training would be a bit too conspicuous. It might be more appropriate to keep her at G-7 for low-key training.
Finn was momentarily stunned but didn't object. He nodded. "Alright, then let her stay at G-7 and join the Marines immediately. Gion will teach her."
Before Gloriosa could say anything, Hancock asked, "If I join the Marines, my sisters and Amazon Lily will be protected by the Marines, right?"
"No," Finn said without hesitation.
"You're just one part of it. You alone aren't qualified to have the Marines protect Amazon Lily. From now on, Amazon Lily must stay in the Calm Belt and fully cooperate with the Marines' actions and plans. Gion."
"I'm here," Gion responded immediately.
"I'll leave this matter to you. All matters concerning Amazon Lily are under the full authority of G-7 to arrange. Do you understand?" Finn said seriously.
"Yes. Everything is for justice!" Gion immediately responded with gravity.
After saying this, Finn looked at the somewhat precocious Hancock again and asked, "Do you have any questions?"
Hancock obviously didn't want to join the Marines. After all, she had the blood of pirates that had been passed down for hundreds of years.
However, she glanced at Gloriosa and found that Gloriosa had no objections, and she also knew this matter was quite serious.
If she refused, Amazon Lily would face a catastrophic disaster.
Hancock, whose personality hadn't yet become difficult, still took these matters very seriously. She also understood the heavy responsibility she had to shoulder as the eldest of the three princess sisters.
So Hancock finally nodded. "I understand. I'll join the Marines and study at G-7."
"Very good," Finn smiled, then reached out and ruffled Hancock's hair, saying with anticipation, "I really hope you can become an excellent Marine. You won't regret this decision."
Hancock looked into Finn's eyes and said with a sigh of relief, "I hope so."
But after Finn took his hand away from her head, she still pursed her lips in dissatisfaction.
Finn didn't care about the young girl's sulkiness. He turned to look at Gloriosa and asked, "Do you have any questions?"
"Admiral, what does it mean that Amazon Lily fully cooperates with the Marines' actions and plans?" Gloriosa asked hesitantly.
"Don't worry. It's about developing the Calm Belt. Gion will explain it to you clearly later. During this process, we'll reward you according to your contributions. At a time when you're unable to engage in piracy, this seems to be a good way to obtain domestic supplies. Once this cooperation matures and runs for a few years, and we've formed a relationship of mutual trust, even if you wanted to go out to sea as pirates in the future, your people might not agree," Finn said with a smile.
Gloriosa asked with some surprise, "Fundamentally change the way Amazon Lily obtains supplies?"
After a brief pause, she nodded. "If it's really possible, it is indeed a new path for Amazon Lily."
It was obvious the Calm Belt would be developed by the Marines, and it looked like it would take a long time. Ten years? Twenty?
Once the Marines achieved their goals in the Calm Belt, the technology currently on warships would likely be civilianized.
By then, the Calm Belt would be bustling with activity, and Amazon Lily would obviously no longer be suited to using pirate methods to handle external affairs.
If they could seize the opportunity and transform, with the backing of the Marines, Amazon Lily might not have to engage in these pirate acts anymore and could become a normal nation in an upright and open manner!
To be honest, if they weren't forced to, who would be willing to turn their nation into a notorious pirate country?
Now that Finn had given them this opportunity, why not seize it?
"That's basically it. Gion, you can discuss the rest of the details with her," Finn said as he wiped his mouth with a napkin.
Then he looked at Hina and Hancock. "You two, do you want to go fishing with me?"
"No," Hina refused without hesitation.
Hancock originally wanted to refuse, but after Hina finished speaking, Finn looked obviously disappointed. She considered whether refusing again would anger this man.
So Hancock hesitated for a moment.
Before she could say anything, Finn rolled his eyes. "Don't think I'm so unreasonable, okay? You don't look like you want to go, so forget it. I'll go by myself."
Then Finn stood up, picked up his fishing gear from the wall, hummed a little tune, and sauntered out of the restaurant without paying any attention to Gion and the others.
Only then did Hancock look at Hina and couldn't help but ask, "Are all Admirals like this?"
Hina was stunned for a moment, then shook her head seriously. "No. He's the only one like this."