"That hateful Nero!"
Sengoku slammed his fist on the table, a vein throbbing on his forehead.
"And the World Government, what do they mean by 'repatriate the person back to Nicuss without affecting Nero's mood'?"
"Sengoku!" Tsuru also looked troubled, "Right now, we should be discussing the aftermath of the Fish-Man Island incident."
"...Sorry, Tsuru, I'm a bit agitated." Sengoku took off his glasses and rubbed his temples, then was annoyed by the crunching sound next to him. "Garp, you scoundrel, stop eating!"
"...Crunch...munch munch...crunch, crunch..." Garp didn't speak, but accelerated his raid on Sengoku's stash.
"Forget it, Garp isn't good at this kind of mental work." Tsuru took a sip of green tea. "Fish-Man Island has now been designated as Nero's territory. The first half of the Grand Line is suppressed by the Shichibukai, and the current number of pirates has significantly decreased."
"Ah, but many evildoers have also reached the New World via Fish-Man Island."
"Doesn't that just show that the current strategy is working? These evildoers going to the New World constantly challenge the Four Emperors, relieving a lot of pressure on the Marine."
"Using pirates to suppress pirates not only makes it easier for the Marine, but it's also a long-term endeavor. The Four Emperors might even be overthrown one day."
"But pirates who can overthrow the Four Emperors will become new Four Emperors. How can such an expedient measure be used long-term?"
Sengoku frowned. He actually didn't agree with abandoning the New World, but the Marine's forces were stretched thin, and he couldn't find a better solution at the moment.
"Moreover, if Fish-Man Island is prohibited by Nero, then the Four Emperors could focus on developing their forces without interruption. It's hard to say what level they might reach in the future."
At this, Tsuru also frowned deeply. Don't underestimate these newcomers. It's precisely these greenhorns who can have the greatest impact on the Four Emperors' forces.
The truly powerful ones are the Four Emperors themselves; their subordinates' uneven forces will still be impacted.
Although newcomers inevitably perish or submit in the end, the destruction caused during this period is very real.
"Don't worry too much about that. In the end, the World Government should step in to resolve it."
Garp, having finished his senbei, downed another cup of tea. Seeing that both of them looked rather grim, he spoke up to comfort them.
World Government?
Sengoku and Tsuru were stunned. After a brief thought, they quickly understood the crucial point, their brows relaxing into a smile.
Although Garp didn't like to use his brain, he was always very perceptive at grasping the key points of a situation.
The World Government was also afraid that if another Nero appeared among these guys, it would be a huge problem.
After all, Nero was once a Four Emperor. Regardless of the reason, the World Government would certainly strengthen its prevention and control in this regard.
And indeed, as they expected, the World Government did not focus on the Marine.
Their people had already arrived at Fish-Man Island, prepared to negotiate with Nero.
The World Government naturally knew that Nero had gone to Kuja, but judging by Nero's unpredictable mood recently...
They decided to communicate with others on Fish-Man Island first, since this place was now also Nicuss's territory... CP9, as the lowest tier among the World Government's CP organizations, still offered a good starting point for most people to become a member.
Rob Lucci was one such person. Hailed as a genius rarely seen in eight hundred years, he had been busy since graduating from the training camp.
First, he had to monitor a little girl, ensuring she didn't come into contact with historical documents, remaining undetected, and in a life-or-death crisis, sacrificing himself rather than letting anything happen to her.
Lucci spent several years on this troublesome job. Then the little girl got involved with the Shichibukai, and he was finally transferred.
After being transferred, Lucci's second mission was to monitor a fat Fishman, trying to steal the Pluton blueprints from him. In a life-or-death situation, he had to sacrifice himself rather than let anything happen to the fat Fishman.
There was no time limit, and due to inaccurate intelligence, it could be considered a long-term mission.
So Lucci and his companions, to better infiltrate, even found jobs in Water Seven.
Earning two salaries, just as he was getting used to the peaceful life, he received a sudden short-term mission: to accompany World Government officials to Fish-Man Island to negotiate with the Nicuss Empress.
Under the pretext of going home to visit relatives, Lucci boarded a large ship bound for Fish-Man Island.
The mission required the Empress to agree that Fish-Man Island could allow outsiders to enter, as it did before.
The Empress's mood was very important; if necessary, he had to sacrifice his life rather than make her angry.
Rob Lucci felt like he couldn't go on. This messed-up World Government was doomed. Even if he was an agent, could every mission really involve sacrificing himself?
Was an agent's life not a life? The previous ones were better; some special talents were indeed more important than him. But this one? Her bad mood was more important than his life?
Lucci once again profoundly realized that weakness was the original sin.
After the ship docked at Fish-Man Island, a burly blue-haired Fishman led a group to greet them.
"Where is King Neptune? You should know who we represent, right?"
The leading official didn't speak. Another agent next to him stepped forward and shouted at the Fishman.
Lucci frowned. Fukaboshi, the former prince of Fish-Man Island. The World Government officials arrived, and they only sent a prince? Such a test was a bit foolish, as the former royal family were potential targets for persuasion in these negotiations.
Sure enough, Fukaboshi, who had been somewhat dazed moments before, immediately looked displeased upon hearing this. "Mayor Neptune is busy right now. I know you are from the World Government, but do you know where this is?"
"How dare you! A mere Fishman actually..."
His words were cut short by the leading officer of this mission, who immediately stopped him. The officer, who had been cold and arrogant moments before, instantly smiled warmly.
"Forgive my poor eyesight, isn't this First Prince Fukaboshi? My apologies, my apologies, I was distracted thinking about something just now. I truly offended you."
But Prince Fukaboshi on the other side didn't buy it. Although his movements were stiff, he was completely impolite with his words: "Fishmen are the only race openly protected by the Nicu... rose emperor. What do you mean by 'a mere Fishman'?"
"No, no, no, we absolutely did not mean that. It's just that this fellow speaks without thinking, he's just thick-headed."
As he spoke, the leading officer punched the man in the face.
"This is punishment for his loose tongue. Is that acceptable to you?"
Fukaboshi was startled. He was about to agree when one of the Fishmen behind him immediately coughed twice, stopping his intended agreement.
The officer's smile instantly froze. A moment later, his gaze slowly turned cold as he looked at the agent.
He slowly drew a pistol from his waist, all the while observing Fukaboshi's expression.
Seeing that Fukaboshi's expression wavered but he made no move to stop him, the officer suddenly accelerated his action and pulled the trigger, in the agent's disbelieving eyes.
"..."
"..."
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