In Rorschach's view, the current World Government is, in essence, an organization that has gained the recognition of the vast majority of nations around the world—an organization that can legally and monopolistically wield violence.
Yes, recognition.
Regardless of whether that recognition stems from the lingering prestige of the twenty kings who created the world eight hundred years ago, or from the immense military might the World Government currently wields—
Whether it's passive recognition or active recognition—
The World Government of today is the officially acknowledged law enforcement agency of the world's nations.
On this blue planet where the seas outweigh the lands, the World Government has established a powerful navy with bases spread all over the world.
They forbid the member nations from maintaining their own naval forces. In this way, when these nations are ravaged by pirates, they have no choice but to turn to the World Government for military intervention.
Of course, the World Government's intervention isn't free—it comes at a cost. This fee is akin to the "protection money" that pirates extort from the territories under their control.
That is, the Heavenly Tribute.
Under the burden of the Heavenly Tribute, the member nations can generally be divided into two categories.
The first are those that are prosperous, economically developed, and powerful enough to easily afford the tribute.
These nations are all world-class powers. They don't care about paying a bit of Heavenly Tribute each year; with that, they can easily hire the Marines to eliminate the threat of pirates.
For example: Alabasta, the Kingdom of Bollywood, the Kingdom of Roshuwang, and other powerful nations often invited to the Reverie.
The second type consists of the weaker nations that, due to being tormented by pirates, barely scraped together enough to join the World Government.
These countries often have small territories, scarce resources, and underdeveloped economies. They can hardly feed themselves, let alone pay the enormous Heavenly Tribute every year.
Among them are the Goa Kingdom of the East Blue, the Sorbet Kingdom of the South Blue, the Kingdom of Lulusia of the North Blue, and the Drum Kingdom on the Grand Line.
When the royal families and nobles lack the money—or the will—to pay the Heavenly Tribute out of their own pockets, yet still want to keep the World Government's protection, they have only one choice: exploit the commoners, squeezing the wealth from the working class.
As a result, the lower-class citizens of these kingdoms, crushed under the burden of the Heavenly Tribute, live in unbearable misery. Many, unable to survive any longer, take to the seas as pirates.
The World Government exploits its weaker member states. Those member states, in turn, exploit their own citizens. The citizens, unable to live, become pirates. The pirates attack the member nations, and the nations once again turn to the World Government for protection.
Thus, a cycle is formed.
Until these weak nations eventually collapse—unable to continue paying the Heavenly Tribute—they are expelled, stripped of protection, and descend into even greater chaos.
Rorschach concluded, "If we compare the World Government to a massive pirate crew, then the Five Elders and the Holy Knights are its senior officers. The Marines, the Holy Land Guard, and the Army are its subordinate pirate crews. The member nations are the territories marked with the World Government's flag—its 'protected lands.'"
"Among these so-called protected lands, the wealthy don't care about the cost of protection, so they won't rebel. The poor are too weak to resist, and even if they do, they can't stir up more than a ripple. And that—" Rorschach tapped the table lightly—"is the fundamental reason the World Government has managed to sit atop the world for eight hundred long years!"
The strong won't rebel. The weak can't rebel. Naturally, the World Government can remain unmoved, no matter how fierce the storms.
Furthermore, it's worth noting that even weak nations like the Drum Kingdom, Goa Kingdom, and Sorbet Kingdom are still qualified to attend the Reverie.
That alone shows just how feeble the remaining hundred or so nations—those not even qualified to attend—must be.
Many so-called "kingdoms" in this world are, in reality, nothing more than small islands.
Not every country has vast lands like Alabasta.
Hibari listened intently, nodding repeatedly. Rorschach's analysis struck him as deeply insightful.
His mind swirled with countless thoughts; he almost wished to write down every word Rorschach said and study it carefully later.
He quickly picked up a wine jug and refilled Rorschach's cup, then shifted over to sit beside him on the stone bench. Licking his lips, eyes full of expectation, he asked, "Then, what do you think we should do if we want to pull down this supreme ruler?"
Rorschach took a sip from his cup, smacked his lips, rubbed his chin, and pondered for a while.
Hibari stayed silent, not daring to interrupt Rorschach's thoughts, quietly waiting for his answer.
After a moment, Rorschach said solemnly, "If you want to bring down the World Government, you must first understand the gap between yourself and it."
Hibari nodded like a pecking chicken, his expression one of total attentiveness.
"We can think of the relationship between the World Government and all other powers as a complete food chain in nature.
The World Government is the predator at the top—the Sea King.
The powers capable of threatening it—the strong member nations, the Four Emperors, the Shichibukai, and the Revolutionary Army—are the middle of the chain—the sharks.
The weak member nations and the unaffiliated ones are at the very bottom—the shrimps."
"Mr. Hibari, your Revolutionary Army may seem enormous and unstoppable to those weak 'shrimps.' But before the Sea Kings, even the biggest, sharpest-toothed sharks can be swallowed whole in one or two bites."
"No matter how many shrimps there are, they can't harm a Sea King in the slightest. To threaten a Sea King, you must unite many sharks of comparable size to attack together."
Rorschach turned to Hibari, his eyes filled with genuine respect. "Mr. Hibari, do you know why I've never regarded your Revolutionary Army as my enemy?"
Without waiting for a reply, Rorschach continued, "Because what you're doing—rescuing the weak, helpless 'shrimps' from the jaws of the Sea Kings—is something truly noble. Even if most people see it as a futile act, an ant trying to shake a tree, in my eyes, it's unquestionably great."
"Thank you," Hibari said softly, patting Rorschach's shoulder. "Rorschach, I sincerely invite you to join the Revolutionary Army. Your insight and understanding of this world are exactly what we need. Together, we can be comrades-in-arms, reshape this world, and save more people."
Rorschach smiled faintly and shook his head. "Let me finish first."
"Alright, go on," Hibari said quickly, his disappointment flashing only for a moment before he gestured for Rorschach to continue.
"The Four Seas are the foundation of this world. They may seem weak, but they hold the majority of the world's population. Mr. Hibari, you were right to develop the Revolutionary Army in the Four Seas. Protecting the weak and valuing life—that is true justice. But…"
"The relatively stable environment of the Four Seas means few strong individuals are born there. And this world belongs to the strong."
"I know what I'm about to say may sound cruel or unreasonable, but this is the truth of the world."
"No matter how many small nations the Revolutionary Army unites across the Four Seas, it cannot compare to winning over a single great nation like Alabasta on the Grand Line—or an emperor-level force in the New World. The Revolutionary Army's activities in the Four Seas may change local chaos, but they will do little to shake the World Government's dominion."
Rorschach picked up a long loaf of bread, tapped it in front of Hibari.
"With the strength of most Four Seas kingdoms, even if they agreed to rebel against the World Government, they probably couldn't even reach the Red Line."
"The Germa Kingdom is strong, right? The evil army dominates the North Blue, practically ruling it. But before me, it could be destroyed with the flip of a hand."
Seeing the thoughtful expression on Hibari's face, Rorschach sighed. "In this world, the strong can shatter islands, annihilate nations, even destroy the world itself. If you want to topple a behemoth like the World Government, gathering the weak is useless—you must rally enough strong ones, or control devastating weapons like the Ancient Weapons."
"And one more thing, Mr. Hibari—have you ever thought about the legitimacy of the World Government's existence?"
End of Chapter)
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