"So… Shanks, Your Majesty Ymir, now you've seen just how dirty the World Government's hands truly are…"
Wright's words snapped Shanks and King Ymir back to their senses. As expected of the King of Giants, Ymir quickly shook off his shock and fury, his gaze sharpening as it fixed on Wright with a newfound intensity.
"Fleet Admiral… That's not the kind of thing one expects to hear from a subordinate of the World Government. Especially you—the Fleet Admiral of the Marines!"
"Exactly. That's why I'm saying it here, in front of Shanks… You didn't think my dream of 'world peace' was a joke, did you?"
Wright shrugged casually.
"Strictly speaking, as Fleet Admiral, I should be the one who upholds Justice above all others. And yet—how many of the World Government's actions can truly be called just?"
"This…"
King Ymir glanced at Shanks, who burst into hearty laughter.
"Well? What did I tell you, Your Majesty? This Fleet Admiral is nothing like the ones before him."
"He's not just trying to preserve the Marines' ideals of justice—he's aiming to do what none of his predecessors ever achieved: to purify that justice, and make the Marines a true embodiment of it!"
"So then, Shanks—what about that 'opportunity for cooperation' I mentioned earlier? What do you think of it now?"
Wright stood up and spoke solemnly.
"The Marines cannot afford to go to war with Elbaf right now—or with any faction that counts a Yonko among its allies. Likewise, we won't be taking action against you either."
"I used to wonder what exactly brought you and Elbaf together… but it doesn't matter anymore. Since you're standing here in person, and you've already formed an alliance, then our goals have clearly aligned."
Looking between the now-serious expressions of King Ymir and Shanks, Wright spoke each word with deliberate weight:
"'Big Mom'—Charlotte Linlin—is a target the Marines must eliminate. Shanks, balance can't last forever. And when it breaks… let it be the Marines who tip the scale!"
"The World Government won't sit idly by and let the pirate factions collapse too quickly. If the Marines grow too powerful, they'll face retaliation. How will you handle it then?"
Shanks frowned. He knew the World Government all too well.
Though the Marines had already taken down Whitebeard, the remaining three Emperors still held enough power to utterly overwhelm them if united.
And if the Marines were to defeat even one more Emperor, the World Government would almost certainly step in.
"Those five old bastards really trust you, don't they?" Shanks muttered.
Wright gave a knowing smile, prompting Shanks to sigh.
"If the Yonko vanish from the New World, chaos will only worsen. Pirates scrambling to fill the power vacuum will wreak nearly as much havoc as the Emperors themselves."
"In fact, without the fear of a Yonko's might holding them back, all manner of monsters and madmen will crawl out of the woodwork. The Marines will have their hands full suppressing them all."
"But only then… can I finally turn my focus to where it truly belongs."
Golden light flickered in Wright's eyes, making even King Ymir shudder slightly.
"When it's time to clean up the filth, it doesn't matter how many small-fry pirates are around. But figures like the Yonko… the ones who might stab you in the back? Not a single one can be allowed to remain!"
"…Heh. Sounds like I'm on that list too."
Shanks scratched his chin and gave King Ymir a wry glance—Wright had just declared in front of a Yonko and his ally that none of them would be spared.
Was this the kind of boldness one expected from a Fleet Admiral?
"If you're an ally, then it's fine… right?" Wright chuckled, extending his right hand toward Shanks.
"So? Until the final battle comes, go ahead and keep playing the role of Emperor of the Seas. But when war breaks out—how about standing with me?"
"You…"
Shanks stared at Wright's smiling face for a long moment… then slowly began to smile himself.
"You've got more weight behind your words now than the last time we met."
"Alright then… let's see how far you can go."
He stepped forward and clasped Wright's outstretched hand.
"If this isn't a battle to die in, I'll be there. But if it's just a fool charging at the gods—don't blame me for preserving the last spark."
"Have you ever seen me go in without a plan?"
Wright laughed heartily, slapping Shanks on the shoulder.
"There's still time. Just watch. Though I am curious… What exactly is your status in Elbaf?"
"I find it hard to believe they'd let a mere 'ally' use the sacred path through the World Tree."
"Uh…"
Shanks gave King Ymir a sheepish look, while the latter was still somewhat dazed.
Was this… was this a Marines–Yonko alliance?
And their enemy…
"Count us in!"
King Ymir's voice boomed like thunder, and for the first time, the King of Giants revealed the full majesty of a top-tier warrior.
"The World Government dared to deceive Elbaf for decades! Beneath the eyes of our gods—how dare they!"
His stern expression twisted with fury as the armrests of his throne creaked under his grip.
"In the name of the God of Elbaf, I swear—they will pay the price!"
"This is a holy war of vengeance! The warriors of Elbaf must be part of it!"
"And as for Shanks…"
The anger faded from King Ymir's face, revealing the calm control of a seasoned ruler.
"In Elbaf, Shanks holds the title of 'Judicator'!"
"Judicator?!"
Wright's eyes gleamed with astonishment. That title… In any faction, it ranked among the absolute highest. It was practically equivalent to a position in the Marine's central court!
"Through his actions, Shanks proved himself a protector of oaths and a champion of honor. He embodies true justice and unwavering dedication!"
King Ymir's voice rang with pride.
"At his suggestion, Elbaf has moved away from resolving every dispute with sacred duels. While dueling is still an honorable tradition, too many tragedies have resulted from it."
"For ordinary disputes, Shanks presides as a Judicator to mediate and resolve conflict."
"Only when no resolution can be found do our warriors invoke sacred duel. This change has significantly strengthened Elbaf."
Wright turned toward the sheepishly grinning Shanks with new admiration in his eyes.
"Well damn. Never figured a drunkard like you had it in you."
"…You're not settling those disputes with drinking contests, are you?"
"Uh…"
Wright's face darkened as both Shanks and King Ymir exchanged awkward glances.
"Oi—don't tell me you're serious!"
"It's just one method, alright?!"
Shanks scratched his head and laughed.
"So then… Your Majesty Ymir, since we're all on the same page now, how about giving the Fleet Admiral here a tour of Elbaf's military strength?"
"But of course!"
King Ymir burst into hearty laughter.
"Come, Fleet Admiral Wright! Witness for yourself the power that the World Government has coveted for centuries!"
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