Chapter 1135 - 669: Pirate Version of the World Government_2

"So, Sentomaru being so stubborn and not aligning with you at all, is it because you think you’re too assimilated with your surroundings, and don’t want the next generation to turn out the same way?"

Sage smiled and said, "However, his will is not bad. The will and courage to strike even at anyone is not something everyone can have. He’s been taught well enough."

Rather than saying Sentomaru joined him, it would be more accurate to say he came over out of respect for Vegapunk. In Sage’s eyes, this kind of guy also belongs to the driving force behind the growth of the younger generation, capable of growing into ’complete form’ beings.

He dared to take action against Sage.

He initially came over reluctantly, but he didn’t submit to Sage. At that time, because of the pirate raiding issue, this guy often broke into the Royal Palace to challenge him, saying that if he won, they would give up raiding and smuggling.

Although he doesn’t obey now, at least he’s willing to work. Currently, he is the Security Officer of the O’hara Main Island.

He doesn’t work for the pirates, but the prosperity and peace of O’hara was a sight he had never seen before. Sage simply let him distinguish; he would give Sentomaru the chance to challenge, but in return, he had to start taking responsibility for the island’s security issues.

It has to be mentioned, people trained by the Navy are indeed quite useful.

"Assimilated with surroundings..."

Kizaru chewed on the word, shook his head, smiled, and said no more.

"Why! Why!"

Uta, having been dazed for quite a while, finally came to her senses. Tears fell as she stared intently at Sage, "Aren’t you reputed never to deal with the weak? Also, that’s the Admiral! Being part of the Navy, why didn’t you stop it? Why!!"

"I can’t stop a disaster from doing its thing."

Kizaru pouted, "If I could stop him, he would’ve long been in Impel Down by now, though it’s useless. He’s someone who can single-handedly bust out of Impel Down. Even the supposedly unbeatable Magellan there suffered a setback."

"Moreover..."

A light reflected off Kizaru’s sunglasses. Under the glow, his usually smiling face appeared utterly merciless, and the words he spoke were even harsher:

"There are no member countries nearby. These people are from non-adhering countries outside the World Government’s jurisdiction. That means they have no human rights. Even if I want to follow the rules, there’s no choice."

"This is the sea!"

Sage grimly smiled and said, "A sea where romance, passion, cruelty, and chaos coexist! If you only think about having the first two and ignore the last two, there’s no way you can survive on the sea!"

The Navy protects people’s safety?

Of course!

That is the meaning of the Navy’s existence. No one can deny this matter. The Navy is the Navy, the Heavenly Celestial Dragons are the Heavenly Celestial Dragons. Their hunts are their own, but the highest authority happens to be the Navy’s gold sponsor.

The best the Navy can do is pretend to be blind. Under normal circumstances, they still protect the people’s safety.

When in the East Sea, Sage had seen the Navy, who indeed worked quite hard.

But it’s only within the boundaries set by the World Government.

They indeed guaranteed regional order, but as for other matters... that’s not their concern.

They don’t have the power to intervene in Kingdom affairs; their authority stems from the World Government and the money distributed, along with the naval power endorsed by each member country, but only to that extent. Those member countries paid money, expecting the Navy to protect their seas.

As for how they are internally...

It’s unheard of for someone who pays for protection to be bullied by those who collect the protection fee.

"No, it’s not right... It’s not like this. The world isn’t like this," Uta mumbled.

"The world is just like this!"

Sage laughed and said, "The World Government is the greatest overlord of today’s world. The Navy is its most formidable pirate crew."

"You can’t say that. We are more civilized than pirate crews. The Kings can determine the world’s direction every four years. Not only the Seven Warlords of the Sea, if the Navy Fleet Admiral doesn’t do well, he can also be voted out."

Kizaru said, "Compared to the barbaric way of collecting protection fees, we do quite a bit. Of course, not all pirates are like you, Sage. Governance also requires talent. Compared to your strength, it’s your governance talent that’s more noteworthy."

A normal pirate, even if they rise to the top like the Four Emperors, would still just collect protection fees, plant a flag, get protected, and avoid external interference. Nobody cares how they are internally, as long as they make regular deliveries.

Half of the current New Four Emperors do this too. Sage is unique. He truly governs, not relying on looting to benefit his base. Every place he governs undergoes earth-shattering changes.

This is why the World Government is willing to negotiate with Sage. Even without the Pluton matter, they would have negotiated sooner or later.

Instead of seeing Sage as a pirate, it’s more practical to view him as a heroic king capable of mobilizing his entire nation’s strength.

As for another...

"Yes, functioning just like the Cross Guild."

Sage laughed and said, "In a way, you are really similar. The sponsors provide support and decide the main task based on the support, while the Cross Guild takes responsibility for completing it."

"Old Sand and the others are equivalent to the pirate version of the Five Elders, completing tasks based on the sponsors’ demands and issuing them from below. As for Buggy, well that’s..."

"Sage!"

Kizaru suddenly interrupted, with a hint of seriousness on his usually smiling face, "I’d like a peaceful retirement. If it weren’t for a lack of a successor, I’d already have retired. But since there isn’t one now, at least let me hold on till retirement."

He was right, and because he was right, they couldn’t continue the conversation.

What Buggy represents, he didn’t want to know.

But there’s one thing, the Cross Guild truly makes the government apprehensive because structurally it’s the counterfeit pirate version of the World Government.

"Your successor?"

Sage laughed aloud, "What would that look like? Another guy pouting all day, appearing scary, usually calm, but ruthless once taking action? A middle-parted great sword master?"

However, after laughing for a while, he suddenly paused.

An image suddenly popped into his mind.

Have I seen it somewhere...

Otherwise, why would I have a vague impression of a middle-parted great sword master...

Ginny?

No, that seems to be Bear’s target.

But soon, he dismissed this sudden thought and continued laughing:

"What’s there not to say? Vegapunk has already mentioned it. Nine hundred years ago, there was a great kingdom and the first pirate in the world, Joyboy. Wasn’t the World Government established at that time? If you can’t face your history, why bother? Great strength is the foundation of governance. Would people deny current governance because of nine-hundred-year-old historical debts? Don’t be ridiculous."

"The Straw Hat is now also Joyboy, isn’t Buggy’s Cross Guild similar to the former World Government union? If one day your upper echelons get overthrown, will Buggy seize the fruits of victory? Hahaha, or will the Revolutionary Army reclaim the World Government and create a new order?"

Sage laughed loudly, "That would be too interesting! I’m waiting for the day One Piece is found, then I’ll see what history really is, is it a predestined cycle?"

"There’s a Harley Divine Scripture in Elbaf..."

Kizaru said, "Maybe you can go and observe, maybe there’ll be a different discovery."

"You know about this? You, as an Admiral, aren’t just a puppet of force. Your superiors treat you well."

Sage smiled a bit, then suddenly turned his gaze, looking at Uta, who was already wrapped in dark energy.

"I shouldn’t have had expectations... it’s my problem. From the start, I should have used my power to make you face punishment."

Uta muttered to herself with her head down, while pulling out a stack of pages from the Ancient Score.

"This is the final means, the ultimate power to fulfill my wish. Evildoers, you also need to face punishment! [TotMusica]!!"