"Let me make a prior declaration, although Mr. Tiger, you are currently a legal citizen of Fish-Man Island, if overseas you commit acts that harm civilians, attack merchant ships, or other true pirate activities, I still have the right to lead a fleet to annihilate you at the first instance." Kuzan sleepily rubbed his cheeks and turned to walk towards the door.
"Wait! Then what is your suggestion?" Tiger was somewhat bewildered by this Vice Admiral's casual attitude. Seeing Kuzan walk out of the palace without looking back, he hastily called out to ask.
"Suggestion?" The yawning supreme commander of the Deep Sea Fleet turned his head, his expression even more blank than the explorer's: "How come I don't know I gave any suggestion?"
Having said that, seemingly overcome by drowsiness, the Ice-Ice Fruit user stood at the door and began to snore.
Tiger had an expression like he'd seen a ghost. He had thought the Navy unit that won the hearts of everyone on Fish-Man Island would have a more brilliant and divinely martial general commanding them.
But it seemed the beautiful fantasy shattered amidst this Vice Admiral Kuzan's snores...
Before he could ask Neptune what was going on, Kuzan popped his snot bubble with a "Bo" sound: "Ara ara, how did I fall asleep here... Indeed, it's better to go back to the warship and catch up on sleep."
"...It's fine, normal phenomenon... It's already a blessing that Master Uncle woke up half an hour earlier than usual." Otohime's reaction was much calmer than the two big old men, Tiger and Neptune. Although Kuzan, as her Haki training instructor, didn't exactly slack off daily, he certainly didn't do less napping while Otohime practiced on her own.
Neptune, however, still hesitated slightly. If Tiger's intended actions could receive some guidance, perhaps their survival probability would be greatly enhanced.
Otohime looked at the King of Ryugu Kingdom who wanted to speak but hesitated, only then realizing these two hadn't understood the key point yet.
Compared to Neptune, who only discussed Fish-Man Island's public affairs and major policies with the Navy, as a newbie disciple, she spent the most time with Kuzan.
Kuzan's hidden words, like the tip of an iceberg, had completely confused Neptune and Tiger. But Otohime, familiar with his usual thought patterns, sensed something fishy.
"Master Uncle Kuzan has actually already pointed out a path for Mr. Tiger," Otohime slowed her speech, carefully recalling Kuzan's seemingly contradictory words before and after.
Tiger Fisher and Neptune looked at each other. Ultimately, it was His Majesty the King who first broke the shameful feeling of being intellectually suppressed: "Otohime, how about explaining it to us in detail?"
"Of course. When Master Uncle first met you, he jokingly asked Mr. Tiger if he would become a pirate. But just now, he seemingly inexplicably warned Mr. Tiger not to commit true pirate acts, becoming a menace..." Otohime slowly connected the two events. "These seemingly contradictory things actually point to one thing: Mr. Tiger can choose to be a legal pirate."
"A legal pirate?" Too long in prison and slavery caused Tiger to miss the major news and intelligence of the past few years. He still looked somewhat blankly at Otohime, not understanding the meaning of this "legal."
But Neptune came back to his senses, slapping his forehead suddenly: "This is indeed a method, but having to say it so obscurely..."
Tiger became even more confused, unable to resist interrupting: "Wait, Your Majesty, Your Highness, what exactly are you talking about?"
Neptune and Otohime looked at each other and smiled: "The Seven Warlords of the Sea!"
"The Seven Warlords of the Sea!" Through a triple-encrypted private phone call, Sakazuki was currently berating Kuzan on the other end of the Den Den Mushi. "What kind of damn rotten idea is this!"
Kuzan had an "I knew this would happen" expression, listening to the roar from the other end of the encrypted Den Den Mushi: "The Navy's face has been completely thrown away by you! Damn thing!"
The Ice-Ice Fruit user knew this was just the beginning. This senior brother of his was good at everything, but when it came to the issue of the Navy's face, this rigid fellow would not make the slightest concession.
Sure enough, Sakazuki's angry斥責 followed closely: "Where is your stance as a Marine? Still Seven Warlords? Kuzan! Do you think the World Government are all pig brains?"
"Senior Brother Sakazuki, we previously collected personal data on Tiger Fisher too. 'His influence and model role on Fish-Man Island are sufficient for him to hold the position of a Warlord of the Sea' - you said this yourself the year before last!" Kuzan, having been thoroughly scolded, couldn't resist retorting.
"That was before!" Sakazuki was furious. "If he really does that major thing according to the information you just told me, nobody can protect him!"
The Magma-Magma Fruit user, waiting on standby at Navy Headquarters, twitched the corner of his mouth: "Do you think the Five Elders are pigs? Trying to use information to trick them? If a criminal who dared to offend the Celestial Dragons and invade the Holy Land were appointed as a Warlord of the Sea, wouldn't that be clearly telling the world: If you want high status and fame, go bully the World Nobles!"
"..." Kuzan was speechless. He knew Sakazuki's words were not wrong. If Tiger, who had caused a ruckus at Mary Geoise, were truly chosen as a Warlord, the World Government would be destroying its own foundations.
When it came to daring to offend the dignity of the Celestial Dragons, the Five Elders had always adopted a zero-tolerance attitude.
From the World Government's perspective, setting a precedent of recruiting pirates who gained fame by trampling on the Celestial Dragons as Warlords was fundamentally unacceptable. Regardless of whether they were good people with excellent influence or some great prophet, as long as they were the main culprit, they must all be nipped in the bud.
"But there is still a glimmer of hope for this matter," Sakazuki took a deep breath, lowering his voice.
Kuzan, who had basically given up hope, raised an eyebrow: "How so?"
"I already said just now, in the eyes of the World Government, the main culprit who dares to provoke the Celestial Dragons must be severely punished to establish authority." Sakazuki sneered. "But what if the Five Elders discover the main culprit is someone else, and Tiger, who jumped the most fiercely at the front, was just a smokescreen used by the mastermind behind the scenes to attract their attention? No, perhaps even that Tiger was just a pawn that could be discarded at any time. What do you think they would do?"
"Isn't Tiger the main culprit... Wait, you want to find a scapegoat?" Kuzan reacted quickly. This way, the Five Elders' focus probably wouldn't be on a Fish-Man who showed no subsequent excessive actions.
And the true focus of the World Government and the Navy would be entirely on annihilating the mastermind secretly manipulating all the destructive actions.
"Who bears hatred towards the Celestial Dragons residing in the Holy Land? Who is familiar with the architecture and terrain of Mary Geoise? Who secretly controls the vast network of slave trading and could easily persuade the constrained Tiger Fisher?" Sakazuki cast his gaze towards the map, in a corner of the North Blue, marked with a conspicuous pirate flag symbol.
Regarding Sakazuki's three consecutive rhetorical questions, Kuzan knew clearly.
If it were only one of these conditions, there would be countless candidates. But a scapegoat possessing all three conditions might be unique in this world. He couldn't help but click his tongue: "Senior Brother, this move of yours is truly vicious enough. In the future, the Donquixote family will likely be erased from the world."
"A real man is ruthless. I'll take that sentence as praise, my foolish junior brother." Sakazuki stared at the world map, his finger tapping虚点 in the air repeatedly, like a chess player placing pieces one or two.
Just as Kuzan was about to hang up the phone, Sakazuki's voice came again: "Although I don't mind you guiding that Fish-Man, if he dares to lead those slaves to plunder towns, don't blame me for being merciless, Kuzan!"
Kuzan paused, feeling the words were strangely familiar.
"Rest assured, although my previous hint was subtle, I believe Queen Otohime understood my meaning. If Tiger doesn't act according to our established direction, I will personally intervene to correct this mistake made out of soft-heartedness!" The Navy Headquarters Vice Admiral stationed on Fish-Man Island gently put down the phone and walked out of the warship's captain's room.
Fish-Man Island lies in the abyss 10,000 meters below the sea. Although protected by the Sunlight Tree Eve, allowing it to see the sunlight from the sea above, it has always been devoid of wind, this kind of air current.
But in Kuzan's eyes, a fierce wind, strong enough to sweep the entire island, seemed to be blowing through the calm streets.
"The wind has risen, huh," Kuzan murmured softly.
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