"Indeed. Given the current situation, the World Government will never let us go. Since I was stripped of my Shichibukai status, there's no chance of being pardoned either. The only way to survive freely is to change this world." Rosen spoke with absolute seriousness.
"You really are someone who defies conventions," Hathaway murmured, suddenly feeling both envious and awed by Rosen. This man dared to think and do anything—he lived with true freedom!
Unlike her, who, even when cornered multiple times, had never considered changing the world. In her mind, making the World Government pay by taking down a few key figures was already the extent of what they could achieve.
"BOSS!" Nico Robin stood up in the hot spring, her flawless figure on full display. But her shock at this moment far surpassed anything she had ever felt before.
Because even the mere hint of such an idea would prompt the World Government to eradicate them at all costs.
This world already faced a massive crisis from the Revolutionary Army's Dragon alone. If another force like that were to rise, the threat to the World Government would be unimaginable.
"Don't worry, Robin. Think of it another way—isn't this a good thing? If the World Government can hunt us, why can't we hunt them?" A fierce glint flashed in Rosen's eyes.
"How do you plan to do it?" Hathaway's beautiful eyes fixed on Rosen, trying to discern whether he was a madman, an ambitious schemer, or both.
"My plan for establishing a new order can be divided into four parts. First, we accumulate strength. Our initial goal is to become one of the Four Emperors—or even the Pirate King. Only by reaching that level will we have the qualifications to expand our influence and stabilize our growth. This step requires overwhelming combat power and the right timing. We've already caught the attention of the world's major powers, but we're still weak. So, growing stronger is our top priority now."
"The second part is to use key points to influence broader areas—allying with non-affiliated or victimized nations across regions, testing the World Government's limits while gathering more allies to build an ideal nation and shake its rule. By this stage, direct confrontation will be unavoidable. It'll test whether we can withstand the pressure from the World Government. Only if we endure will the third part begin."
"The third part: overthrow and dismantle the allied nations, isolating the World Government. Whether through force, political upheaval, or winning hearts—whatever it takes. The World Government has ruled for centuries and surely has hidden cards. Before the final battle, we must weaken them as much as possible."
"The fourth part: establish a new order, replacing the old rule with a world where the strong and weak can coexist, where human rights and the right to life are guaranteed."
Since he had decided to act, Rosen already had a rough framework in mind. Though they were only in the early-mid stages of the first part, as long as they didn't meet an early end, he would follow these four steps meticulously.
Hathaway and Robin listened in silence, unable to hide their astonishment. He had actually planned everything out—this wasn't some impulsive outburst but a clearly structured strategy.
Hathaway remained quiet for a long time, committing the four parts of the new order to memory and mentally simulating them. It seemed feasible—to some extent.
Why only "some extent"? Because plans often changed, but having a clear overarching goal was essential.
"The people of Lantis will stand with you in this fight." After careful consideration, Queen Hathaway made the decision on behalf of her people. Rather than aimless retaliation, a unified effort to overthrow the World Government's rule was the better path.
"If you're certain, then there's something I must say upfront. If you can't meet this condition, our alliance is void." This had originally been Rosen's goal, but even after giving up, they had circled back to it.
"What is it?" Hathaway didn't quite understand.
"If the people of Lantis form an alliance with us, I need command authority equal to or just below yours. In other words, I must be able to mobilize your forces!" This was crucial—not because Rosen craved power, but because without sufficient authority, if Hathaway or other leaders were lost or betrayed, the entire alliance could collapse, leading to catastrophic consequences.
Hathaway frowned at Rosen's words. Handing over partial control to an outsider? This was no trivial matter. Though she had the authority to decide alone, she preferred to let the people of Lantis make the choice themselves.
Still, she understood the reasoning. Essentially, Rosen was asking her to acknowledge him as the supreme leader of the new order, unifying command.
"I can't agree to that immediately. But once we return to Garland Island, I'll convene a meeting and let them decide. Though I suspect they'll likely consent." Hathaway answered honestly. She approved, and with Alice and Hoddman likely supporting it too, granting Rosen secondary command wouldn't be difficult. However, equal authority might be hard for the Lantisians to accept—after all, Hathaway was their "goddess."
"Naturally, I'm in no rush. We'll stay on the island for a few more days. But once the alliance is confirmed, we'll need a hidden base for development. I already have a target in mind, but there's no hurry. After I personally scout it, I'll inform you." If the Lantisians abandoned their reclusive lifestyle, they'd need extensive preparations. A stable, powerful faction required two things: wealth and territory.
For wealth, Rosen had his eyes on the golden city of Skypiea—its massive gold reserves were the perfect source. As for territory, he was eyeing the Andia Kingdom. But they couldn't attack directly. Even if they conquered it, his current strength couldn't withstand the World Government's retaliation.
So, they had to work behind the scenes, seizing opportunities to control it covertly and allow the Lantisians to recuperate.
"Very well." Hathaway nodded and turned to leave. Rosen couldn't help stealing another glance—her beauty was truly mesmerizing.
No wonder they said beauties were dangerous. Someone as angelic as her was nearly impossible to resist—even for women.
"Queen, why are you so pretty? Will Natalie grow up to be this beautiful too?" Natalie stared dreamily at Hathaway's retreating figure.
Rosen sighed inwardly, closing his eyes to rest. This kid… if she kept training so intensely from such a young age, she'd probably end up more like a muscular doll than a delicate girl.
"Oh, Robin—about those bloodline potions I gave you earlier. After the break, find time to take them. They should be quite beneficial. Keep two in reserve, and distribute the rest to the most reliable and promising members." Rosen suddenly remembered.
"Understood, BOSS. Would you like a shoulder massage?" Robin seemed distracted, still mulling over Rosen's vision for the new order.
"You know how to massage?" Rosen was surprised. Since when had Robin become so proactive? Was there something else on her mind?
"A little."
"Then I won't refuse." Rosen saw no reason to turn her down—it'd be hypocritical. After all, they were here to relax.
"BOSS, could you tell me more about your vision for the ideal nation?" Robin's gentle hands had only just begun kneading his shoulders when she steered the conversation back to the topic.
"I imagine it'll be far better than this era..." Rosen had thought she wanted something else, but it seemed Robin was genuinely interested in the new order.
Naturally, he didn't hold back. His ideas were rooted in his past life's experiences—a time when things had been much better than this chaotic world.
As he reminisced, he continued discussing the structure of the new order with Robin.
(End of Chapter)