(The Vice Governor has changed since we overcame that recent war...)
While internally revising his assessment of Vice Governor Daz Bones—a man who places importance on hierarchy, or rather strength and military power—Tesoro glances slightly toward his colleague Galdino.
"I see..."
His colleague, who functions as an internal affairs officer like himself while simultaneously gaining military experience as a fleet staff officer, is reassuringly equipped with different perspectives at times like these.
"You want to reduce—even slightly—the possibility that the government will ignore cost-benefit calculations and send forces against the Black Cat again. ...Is that correct-kane?"
"Yeah, exactly."
The young pirate's concerns currently managing the Black Cat were the very concerns of those governing internal affairs.
"Superior. We must ultimately achieve suppression of the neighboring landlocked nation of Rigalo. But when that happens... I've been thinking we'll be stretched thin with stationed soldiers."
"I share that opinion-gane. Even though the powerful fighter Crocodile temporarily joined us, given his reasons for joining, we can't fully trust him. Moreover, he's ultimately one person."
"...That's right. Though Marines have joined us, while we have officers, we lack soldiers."
A map spreads across the table.
Not just any map.
It's a map inscribed with extremely critical classified information about islands and lands under Black Cat control: last year's harvest yields, population and its breakdown—male-to-female ratios, number of able-bodied workers, bridgehead candidates for recapture operations should uprisings occur or pirates or Navy occupy them.
"Incidentally, we also lack citizens. We plan to assign some percentage of soldiers to military farming colonies for food production, but even that won't be enough for rapid growth."
"Regarding food, we brought back considerable quantities from the recent base raid. With Germa's preservation technology, we have decent margins, but... considering next year onward, ne."
"If Superior's citizens were also taken... labor power must be insufficient there too."
"We've managed to create a foundation to survive the year, but it's still insufficient for stability. ...Even if some want to become soldiers, ultimately we have no choice but to have them engage in some form of production work."
In other words, even if they increase soldiers under current conditions, it will take considerable time before they're minimally useful.
Military education and training inherently require time, but beyond that—
With their defensive range now expanded, while small elite enemy forces would be manageable, if attacked with overwhelming numbers, damage to the production heartland would be unavoidable.
This is the common understanding among the three present.
"If we had more soldiers to spare, we could initiate skirmishes at Navy supply bases to apply pressure..."
"With pirate forces—unpredictable variables—explosively increasing, in our current tightrope situation that's too risky. So by inciting revolutionary forces everywhere—anti-World Government forces—to scatter the government's attention and buy time... The plan itself isn't wrong. I think it's correct-gane."
"The problem is the method. If they judge us deeply involved with revolutionary forces, it will more easily provoke large-scale deployment from them."
Right. If they were just a violent group, this would be a simple matter.
Steal from those who have it. Scatter enemies who interfere. Discard people who drag you down.
But these are the "Black Cat."
People who wield knowledge and force not to shelve problems with violence, but to properly solve them.
"...May I say something-kane? This is purely what I personally felt, but..."
The man who holds a position close to a newcomer and, despite being a surrendered general who engaged in scheming, works as First Fleet staff officer and whose command of a detachment in recent combat was recognized speaks up.
"Among revolutionary forces—particularly those showing organized movements—the emerging force called the 'Revolutionary Army' would be appropriate to support. And regarding the man called Dragon who commands them—I presume he was likely military-gane."
"...Military?"
"Why do you think that?"
Galdino was originally one of the pirate alliance—more precisely, one of the people gathered under Shiki's subordinates.
After various activities in his native South Blue that nearly drew Mafia attention, he accepted an offer to "fly you to West Blue" with decent upfront payment, and through various twists and turns ended up under the Black Cat's umbrella.
"As you know, I was flying around various locations inciting the populace until recently... During that time, I visited countries influenced by the Revolutionary Army. I've observed their methods to some extent."
He receives a freshly brewed teacup from the golden-haired girl—precisely the girl Galdino had tried to sell—and takes a small sip.
"And after joining the Black Cat, I felt this particularly strongly, but... the Revolutionary Army, you see—"
"—They're bad at making money."
The words "making money" make Tesoro react slightly.
In a sense, it's a term that points directly to his job.
"The Black Cat incorporates production capacity into organizational operations from the very beginning. The royal guard kids taught me various things, but before raising the Black Cat flag, working on various matters with the Vice Governor and Miss Robin was done with strong awareness of eventual production and economic transactions using those products, wasn't it-kane?"
"Yeah... come to think of it, we did various things."
He recalls life on the uninhabited island.
While training with Amis and others who were still raw recruits, they tanned hides from hunted beasts and dried meat and fish to preserve them as long as possible.
"In contrast, the Revolutionary Army's military talent is certainly splendid. Since their predecessor 'Freedom Fighters' days, they've captured countries plagued with rampant misgovernment while outnumbered. The source of their nimbleness concerns me somewhat-gane... Well, anyway."
The First Fleet Chief of Staff sets his cup—now one-third empty—on the table, carefully away from the map, and continues speaking.
"Despite this, they rarely strengthen connections between captured countries or establish trade routes between them. If resources are insufficient or excessive they'll exchange them, but basically economic connections remain almost untouched. Judging by the speed and tendency of their expansion, the main forces likely earn funds like mercenaries while fighting across various locations."
"...Ignorant of economic concepts?"
"I wouldn't go that far, but... they probably have almost no accumulated know-how. This is the major difference from the Black Cat-gane."
The tea with somewhat crude flavor—made from tea leaves that the "Death Teacher" Mihawk apparently tried cultivating on a nearby island—that one can probably only taste because this is the Black Cat organization, has a quite decent flavor.
If experience and improvements are added to cultivation and processing, this too could become a respectable product helping to fill the organization's coffers.
"They excel at utilizing resources at hand in terms of both forces and war results. But seeing how scattered the countries they capture are... you see-gane."
"High military capability, able to produce maximum results with limited resources, but still developing in resource management. ...I see, military. Former military."
Galdino nods in affirmation at Tesoro's words.
"Well, if we directly provide funds or provisions, they'd properly utilize them to expand their influence. ...That brings us to the problem of how to deliver those things-ka. ...Sorry, I analyzed with a knowing look, but we're back to square one-gane..."
"...Disguising a supply-laden ship as a shipwreck and letting it drift... no, even small boats are precious to us."
"We're even offering reinforcement modifications for ships at bargain prices using our craftsmen for those hoping to fish..."
The strategy Daz Bones presented isn't bad.
Not just forces, but making the World Government's most troublesome intelligence and scheming—non-military powers—focus on targets other than the Black Cat is extremely important.
"...Supporting currently fighting forces is impossible, but we might manage countries that have settled down."
More importantly, the Vice Governor voiced what he wants to do, and it definitely benefits the organization.
Making this realizable is precisely the job and duty of the man called Guild Tesoro.
The organization is about to move. They can't afford to waste time.
In this brief instant, a single strategy occurs to Tesoro's mind as he considers every possible means.
"Countries where revolution succeeded and settled will naturally need funds and supplies for reconstruction."
"Well, yeah... that's exactly like us-gane."
"Yes, we can't give supplies or funds. Naturally not military forces either."
"—So what we provide is a place and opportunity."
Tesoro pulls out a blank map of the entire West Blue and begins inscribing information while checking his always-carried notebook.
Information up to just before the war with the Navy—the positions of member nations where revolution succeeded.
"Limited to locations close to our sphere of influence, but how about expanding our patrol range to stabilize security in applicable sea areas?"
"Ah, I see... Reduce pressure from increasing pirates, making it easier to concentrate on reconstruction work like production and trade. That kind of strategy-kane."
"Yes. Gradually stabilizing nations may provide aid to revolutionary forces in civil war. Well, we basically mustn't interfere with that, and must avoid contact from their side as much as possible."
Tesoro draws lines connecting the countries he marked.
Countries marked with ordinary black ink are those where revolution just succeeded; red marks indicate countries currently in civil war.
Nations both the World Government and the Black Cat must inevitably prioritize.
"Though initial action will be slow, stable islands will increase under the Revolutionary Army—a unified force—and recover production capacity. When that happens, they'll eventually pour those resources into Revolutionary Army-led civil wars."
"...As a result, revolutionary forces grow."
"If there's a problem, first we must make neighboring countries recognize us as not forces that would plunder."
"And when the Navy appears in our patrol waters, we must be prepared for skirmishes-gane..."
"We need to refine plans for that, but..."
How about it? Tesoro asks Daz.
From Daz's perspective, he sees no flaws.
If anything, he's concerned about increased soldier burdens accompanying patrol range expansion, but they should still do it.
Nearby stability directly benefits the Black Cat greatly.
Moreover, with the achievement of defeating an Admiral, if the Navy learns the Black Cat is patrolling, there's sufficient possibility they'll reduce warship activity range.
"Alright, let's go with that."
"Galdino has suppression duties, so I'll select patrol water candidates here. By this operation's end, I'll arrange to hold a meeting again including Lord Taki."
"Sorry, please do-gane. I have fleet departure preparations, and need to discuss that base capture with the Admiral—"
"Emergency! Excuse me, I need an audience with Black Cat executives! Emergency report!!"
At that moment, a shout that sends unpleasant premonitions down all three spines echoes.
Galdino, who must still leave, looks at Daz awkwardly.
"...Vice Governor, that voice just now..."
"I don't recognize it. But someone in a position to specifically come report inside the castle..."
"Capone Bege's soldiers, perhaps?"
Indeed, after waiting briefly, a black-suited, sunglasses-wearing man enters the conference room, escorted by royal guards on security duty.
At a glance he could be a Black Cat soldier, but he lacks the symbolic black cat embroidery.
"What happened? The royal guard let you through, so it seems to be an emergency."
"Y-yes. The thing is—many refugees are coming to Shamrock! To report that!"
Galdino frowns.
Black Cat soldiers wouldn't overlook enough ships to constitute "many."
Defense and patrol of Shamrock—the greatest base of the Black Cat and Bege Family—are no ordinary matters.
Still far from complete, but the defenses of this town—which could be called a prototype of the militarized trading port Kuro once aimed for—are near perfect.
"We haven't received reports of suspicious vessels?"
"Not ships. Many fishmen and mermaids are escaping through the sea. Possibly more still coming..."
Everyone's faces tighten with tension.
The fishman issue was an extremely delicate problem currently, with relocation applicants to Shamrock gradually increasing.
"You say escaping—are there injured?"
"Yes. Royal Guard member Mirei-san happened to be in Shamrock, so when we consulted her, she said she'd handle injured response and asked us to run here with the report."
Daz momentarily thinks "use a Den Den Mushi," but immediately reconsiders.
If information about large numbers of fishmen and mermaids—moreover injured ones who'd move somewhat sluggishly—were intercepted by the Mafia, there's no telling how much pressure would come.
"Galdino, when heading to Shamrock, please transport medical personnel and supplies together. Feel free to use carriages."
"Understood-gane. So, the numbers?"
The most important information.
Various matters change depending on that.
But the Family member asked this looks at a paper taken from his pocket over and over.
"Um, I confirmed multiple times so probably no mistake, but..."
"That... about four thousand people total... that's just the injured."
...
.....
"""—Fo.....!!!!!!!!????!!!?"""
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇
Having passed the first night since leaving that island, we continue our ship toward Fishman Island waters again—well, not really a pirate crew.
Besides me, only Marines and cooperators are here.
Anyway, on this ship that should be called something like the Black Cat Pirates Detachment or Temporary Formation—
"Shameless!! Shameless ingrates!!! Rea~lly... How rotten can they be!? Both their heads and their character!!"
Hina was furious.
Truly, deeply furious.
Calm down, Miss Hina.
I understand that feeling to death—really to death, but.
"My, for Miss Hina to be this angry... did something happen?"
"Ah, Issho-san. Good morning."
"Yes, good morning. ...So?"
"With dawn, a letter arrived..."
"...A letter? To this ship?"
"Yes."
Tonight's watch duty was handled by Hina and me.
After dinner we took brief naps, then chatted with Hina—or rather, at Hina's request discussed land management and politics while greeting dawn—when the government's literal bat flew in.
"It was long with various writings, but... essentially an order from the government was delivered."
"...Kuro-san, could this content be—"
"Yes, cooperate with the government in exchange for erasing our crimes... well, yes."
"...No wonder Miss Hina is this angry."
Oh absolutely, she's incredibly furious.
Her non-stop volcano of anger won't cease.
The moment I read the essentially-an-order request aloud, she snatched it, ripped it to shreds, threw it in the sea, and has been like this almost constantly since.
"After repeatedly betraying us and even sending an Admiral, now they want cooperation—what kind of thick skin is that!? I'm irritated, I'm angry! Super mad! Hina's super mad!!"
Spaniel-kun. This morning's... no, Hina and I will sleep now. Make his favorite for lunch.
He liked kebabs, I recall.
We have plenty of meat and vegetables, and the dough is prepared, so no problem.
"In the first place, it's not actually 'cooperate with us' but 'help us'!! Why are they acting so high and mighty!!"
...
Yeah, I'll stand in the kitchen then too.
Among this group, I'm the only one who fully grasps his taste preferences.
Meat and vegetables aside... we properly stocked limes, right?
I'll confirm before sleeping.
"Well, leave it at that. They sent it to me... which is obviously that, but they probably sent letters elsewhere too."
"Elsewhere—to Black Cat people? That's absolutely impossible. I was with you for a while, and while recruits aside, the executive forces' loyalty to you was genuine."
"No, including that in a broader sense."
Spaniel-kun apparently noticed my gaze and secretly sent an OK sign from the shadows.
Really a good kid, Spaniel-kun.
If we can return to West Blue like this, he'll definitely get along with Toya.
Both are good at cooking, gentle natured, attentive, and good-looking—they'll both be popular with girls.
Toya-kun, just going out on patrol in the castle town makes the streets lively.
"They're probably issuing requests to pirates left and right. ...Well, they'll exclude Big Mom, Whitebeard, and those types since they can't handle them."
"Left and right!?"
Hina shows a surprised face, but... they'll do it.
Absolutely do it.
Rather, that's about the only move left to them.
"Nations will begin hiring pirates. Yeah, I'm certain about this. They'll definitely do it."
Actually, in the original story, nations and pirates did connect.
Like how the Goa Kingdom... I can't remember the name, had them set fire to that garbage mountain where Luffy and others were.
"What pirates hired to do is naturally shady business."
"Plundering other countries..."
"Right. While the government won't make issues of non-member nations, they want to avoid it becoming member nations sabotaging each other."
Well, there are mountains of problems beyond that... but somehow the World Government seems to be intentionally aiming for several things...
"So directly hire and manage pirates?"
"Additionally, the government wants forces. They superficially reconciled with the Navy once, but the kindling actually intensified."
"Because pirates will do anything if paid..."
"Yeah, even if individuals aren't much, gathered in numbers they're troublesome."
Large numbers naturally embolden them.
Nations in this world are often moderately sized island countries.
Just surrounding them with numbers would be effective.
"The government provides some operational funds and permits plundering. In exchange, they narrow plunder targets."
"Will they listen?"
"The possibility of being attacked by armed warships disappears. Moreover, they're not told not to plunder at all. Plus, with many countries departing from the World Government, they won't lack prey to target."
"...Possibility of non-member nations hiring pirates to clash?"
"That's partly to eliminate that. Only the World Government side can reliably provide money and definitely reduce danger."
If anything, I'm concerned how much the World Government—whose controlled territory definitely decreased—intends to pay to hire pirates...
To hire enough to affect the situation inevitably requires considerable numbers.
Did the original Warlords submit part of their plunder? I don't remember those details.
...Still.
(Is Sengoku-san alright? Hasn't he collapsed from stress and overwork? Isn't he coughing blood?)
He's undoubtedly struggling to confirm whether Marines defected, and actually wants to somehow persuade Marines who did defect... amid all that, the pirate incorporation policy likely proceeding.
...Marine backlash will intensify further.
Whether the inside unifies before persuading the outside...
If they struggle with internal control, the government will see them as unreliable without the Navy and put even more effort into incorporating pirates.
Seeing that, Marines will accumulate further dissatisfaction...
What is this Möbius death loop?
I seriously can't think of a strategy to stop it.
If we could string up some Celestial Dragons as examples, I could formulate a strategy...
If we dawdle, the government will place pirate forces as the mainstay and begin eliminating capable Admirals to削削 削 drain their strength.
Literally begin placing pirates as military replacements.
"The government may actually want to rebuild the Navy from zero."
"After doing whatever they pleased..."
"That's precisely why."
If only the concept of noblesse oblige remained somewhat alive among Celestial Dragons, interference from our side wouldn't have been impossible...
They're nothing but consumers through and through.
No, consumers are normally producers simultaneously, and it's not a word that should be used so derisively...
These special exceptions where that doesn't apply are truly hopeless.
"Truly, the world is heading toward troubled times..."
"Absolutely."
Oh, you'll definitely get dragged in, Issho.
From here on it's a world of violence and domination.
Someone as strong as you will inevitably get involved in some hell no matter how you struggle.
"If one could intoxicate themselves on violence, it might be paradise, but..."
"Can't you intoxicate yourself, Kuro-san?"
"I'm the type who gets more intoxicated watching from a distance than drinking in the midst of a festival."
Really.
I've always been bad at drinking with crowds.
Sake drunk casually with a few close friends I know well was always most delicious.
"Heh heh. Then places like this might let you drink tastier sake."
Saying that, Issho produces a sake bottle and two cups from somewhere and pours the contents.
"I heard you had no time to rest before reaching that island and since departing. A nightcap before bed."
"...True enough."
Not bad.
Fortunately the Marines are capable. While combat aside, there's no anxiety about navigation.
Which means my real work starts from when we reach the point Lilin mentioned and begin dive preparations.
Putting some sake in my system and letting my body rest well here would be good.
"My. Drinking boldly right before Marines' eyes—good nerve, huh?"
"I'm a pirate."
For Issho, perhaps a post-waking drink?
After lightly clinking cups, I gulp down the contents.
Lukewarm, but still a liquid with moderate sweetness and spiciness flows down my throat, faint alcohol passing through my nose.
Oh. Since it's a sake bottle I thought so, but yeah, rice wine.
The kind of sake Mihawk would like.
"...Come to think of it, you were a pirate."
"How many times have you forgotten while being together this much?"
"I forget precisely because we're together. Cut it out already."
Why am I being scolded!?
Ah, hey, return the cup—why are you drinking, Marine!?
"Cough, cough...!!"
See, you choked. Because you're not used to drinking...
"Cough...! Mm. You drink this stuff so calmly."
"Why did you put it in your mouth in the first place?"
"...Because you looked like you were enjoying it... maybe."
Are you a child!?
...
You ARE a child!! Hey, spit it out!!
I'm a pirate so whatever, but you're a Marine!!
Agh, don't kick my shin! What are you protesting!?
***
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