LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 103: Negotiation
A blade left untended will rust.
Constant training and sharpening one's skills – it was easy to say, but few could maintain such discipline.
Even amidst the pressures of daily duties, Kanata never neglected her training. Some of her crew members had grown stronger simply by training alongside her, while others, realizing the insurmountable gap between them and those who sought to become "Pirate King", had their spirits broken.
Today, as she finished her usual training regimen, showered, and returned to her room, George knocked on her door and presented her a strange letter.
"Finished with your training?"
"Yes. Who's the letter from? I don't recognize the seal."
"The World Government."
Kanata frowned. She couldn't imagine why the World Government would send her a letter at this juncture.
Assuming it was some kind of trouble, she snatched the letter from George, tearing it open carelessly.
A few simple pages. Considering it was a letter addressed to a pirate, she didn't expect any formal pleasantries… but the contents were still unexpected.
"Recommending me for the 'Seven Warlords of the Sea', huh? What a ridiculous system."
"What's that? Some scheme from the Celestial Dragons?"
"They're asking me to become the World Government's lapdog. It seems the Marines are finally feeling the strain of dealing with the ever-increasing number of pirates since Roger's execution."
Being appointed a Warlord meant being removed from the wanted list, having her bounty revoked, and gaining the right to plunder other pirates and non-affiliated nations.
In exchange, she would serve as a deterrent against the countless pirates who had emerged.
"Being recognized by the World Government now changes nothing. If they think they can control me with a collar, they're mistaken."
"Well, yeah. It's a bit late for that, don't you think?"
The Twilight Pirates were now a force to be reckoned with, capable of confronting the Marines head-on.
Being asked to "help suppress pirates because the World Government recognizes you now" felt more like an insult than a genuine offer.
However, the World Government seemed determined to recruit Kanata as a Warlord, even offering to waive the usual tribute payment and grant her official trading rights with affiliated nations.
They were willing to overlook the fact that she had killed a Celestial Dragon.
"Newgate and Linlin are hardly the type to negotiate with. It's not surprising they chose me, but…"
Even so, it was a reckless gamble. She had no interest in being the government's puppet. She was about to tear up the letter when a thought struck her.
"…Hmm. Maybe I can use this opportunity for some negotiation."
"Negotiation? Do you want something from them?"
"Nothing I need, but something that would be… convenient."
She contacted the number on the letter, reaching the World Government representative.
The representative, clearly nervous, answered her call. Kanata, without any preamble, demanded to speak with the Five Elders.
She knew someone with considerable authority had to be behind this elaborate scheme. It was most likely the Five Elders.
After a brief pause, the call was connected.
"I didn't expect to hear from you so soon, 'Witch'."
"Nice to meet you, Five Elders. I'm not interested in the 'Seven Warlords' position. If it wasn't for this opportunity, I would have thrown your letter away."
However, since the government was making such concessions, there was something she wanted to request.
"If you want me to become a Warlord, grant me passage through Mary Geoise."
On the other end of the Den Den Mushi, the Fsive Elders gasped.
Mary Geoise, the holy land, was accessible only to those recognized by the World Government.
The Red Line, the massive continent that divided the world, split the Grand Line in two, further separating the four seas by the Calm Belt.
For Kanata and her crew, the Calm Belt was an obstacle they could overcome with sufficient strength, and they could bypass the Red Line by traveling through Fish-Man Island.
But there were inevitably complications.
"Most of our trade is in the New World. We occasionally conduct business in the North Blue and West Blue, but rarely in Paradise, the South Blue, or the East Blue. I'm sure you understand why."
"…The Red Line."
They could use Fish-Man Island as a passage, but it was now under Whitebeard's control. It wasn't a route they could utilize easily. That's where Mary Geoise came in. It connected Paradise and the New World.
"You're hoping to stabilize the world's economy in this chaotic era, aren't you?"
Ships passing through Mary Geoise were usually abandoned. However, Kanata could establish bases on both sides, facilitating the transportation of goods, and even people if necessary.
While it was an expensive method, requiring time for application and resources for shipbuilding, it would significantly reduce travel costs, potentially increasing trade volume.
The only problem was – allowing pirates to set foot on Mary Geoise.
"You're asking us to grant a pirate passage through Mary Geoise? For a measly economic benefit?"
"Increased tax revenue translates to more money for your Heavenly Tribute. It's not a bad deal for the Celestial Dragons who spend money recklessly."
"The purpose of the Warlords is to suppress pirates. The economy will recover naturally."
"You're being naive. This is a sea where you encounter pirates everywhere you go. Few merchant ships can travel safely, even with armed escorts."
Trade routes were disrupted, and goods were becoming scarce as fear of pirates spread – the world's economy was steadily collapsing. Even the World Government's authority was being undermined.
Kanata was suggesting the Warlords system was a necessary measure to address this problem.
"…We'll consider it."
"Take your time. I'm not asking for an immediate decision – And this is not a request, but a warning. Even if I become a Warlord, I won't hesitate to act if a Celestial Dragon crosses me again. You should keep those fools in check."
"…We'll… see what we can do."
After giving them her Den Den Mushi number, Kanata ended the call.
George, who had been listening, chuckled, shaking his head.
"…They'll never accept those terms."
"It doesn't matter. I had no intention of becoming a Warlord anyway."
She hadn't planned on accepting the offer from the beginning. She had simply used the opportunity to make an outrageous request.
By setting impossible conditions, she would avoid any further negotiation attempts. There was no need for pointless discussions.
While the Golden Lion Pirates were in disarray, several of their executives were still unaccounted for.
Their strategist, Dr. Indigo, and "Red Cannon" Lucien were missing, and Kanata hadn't bothered searching for them.
They had already captured two of the Grand Dukes, Apsu and Lelampargo, and considered the remaining Golden Lion Pirates to be no threat without Shiki.
The two were confined in a cell, their hands and feet bound by Seastone chains, unable to exert their full strength. They had been imprisoned for a while, and Apsu was starting to feel the effects of inactivity.
Then, one day…
"…What's that? A raid?"
Being imprisoned near the coast meant they could occasionally hear the commotion of pirates attacking.
Most were easily subdued at the harbor, but the pirates today seemed to be putting up a good fight, the sounds of battle growing closer.
"Is this… the prison?"
"Perfect! The "Witch" must have her enemies locked up here! Free them!"
The invading pirates searched the area, finding the keys and opening Apsu and Lelampargo's cell.
They even had Seastone keys, freeing the two from their restraints. Apsu relished the feeling of liberation after being imprisoned for so long.
"…It's been a while since I've felt the fresh air. How are you feeling, Leila?"
"Uu… not bad."
The pirates who had freed them were badly injured, but they still seemed determined to fight.
"You guys were captured by "Witch", weren't you? That woman, she… she killed our comrades! Help us!"
"I'm afraid I'm not interested in joining your little rebellion."
"What?! We just freed you, you–"
"Be quiet. You think I would entrust my life to someone who can't even comprehend the difference in our strength?"
Chains, materialized from Apsu's hand, pierced through the two pirates, who were then tossed aside.
Apsu and Lelampargo left the cell, heading outside. The harbor was still in chaos from the pirate attack. Apsu, sensing an opportunity, used his Observation Haki to assess the situation – their numbers weren't that high.
He spoke to Lelampargo.
"We need to leave, Leila. Now, before she arrives."
"Yes."
They dodged the cannon fire from the harbor defenses, quickly commandeering one of the pirate ships and setting sail.
The ship wasn't that large, so they could manage it even with just the two of them.
"Hey! That's the Grand Dukes! What are they doing out here?!"
"They escaped! Send a message to Boss! Quickly!"
"We're going, Leila. We need to leave this sea before she arrives."
"Yes."
They deflected the cannon fire from the harbor, forcing the remaining pirates on board to obey their orders. In the pirate world, strength was everything.
Those who didn't comply would simply be thrown overboard.
Perhaps realizing who they were dealing with, the remaining pirates reluctantly steered the ship away from Hachinosu.
"…We're safe for now, I think."
Kanata had spared their lives, hoping to recruit them, but it had backfired.
They needed to find a safe haven and resupply. They had to ensure the survival of the remaining executives for when Shiki returned.
…However…
"It was surprisingly easy to escape… Security was always lax, but I didn't realize it was this bad."
The location of the prison was also too close to the harbor.
It was as if she had intended for them to escape… Then, he dismissed the thought. Kanata had no reason to intentionally let them go.
Their priority was to find Lucien and the others.
They couldn't afford to die here.
***
"…Was it really a good idea to let them escape?"
"It doesn't matter. Lelampargo is… well, Lelampargo. But Apsu is intelligent. He won't do anything reckless."
Kanata had anticipated the possibility of them escaping, so she hadn't been concerned.
Junshi simply replied "I see", sipping his tea in Kanata's room.
"Besides, we have their Vivre Cards. We can find them whenever we want."
She held up the Vivre Cards, each bearing Apsu and Lelampargo's names.
She hadn't intended to kill them. Imprisoning them would have been more trouble than it was worth. It was more convenient to let them roam free and utilize them for other purposes.
Her primary concern was Shiki's escape. She knew that Lucien and Apsu, being intelligent individuals, wouldn't cause any major problems for now. They could be safely ignored.
She simply needed to know their location.
"I understand you're concerned about Shiki escaping, but he's imprisoned in Impel Down. Do you really think it's possible?"
"Kaido has been captured and escaped countless times. If that idiot can do it, there's no reason Shiki can't."
While Kaido had only escaped from prison ships, and hadn't been imprisoned in Impel Down, Kanata was convinced he would find a way to break out, brute force or otherwise.
Shiki was a veteran pirate who had rampaged through the seas since Rocks' era. Kanata was convinced he would eventually escape, no matter how reckless the attempt.
And when that happened, she had to eliminate him.
"We have to crush all remnants of Rocks' legacy… He left behind such a troublesome mess."
She refused to acknowledge the man she had never met as her father, but they were undeniably related.
The actions of Octavia and Rocks were now impacting Kanata's life. She had to clean up their mess.
Newgate, Linlin, Kaido – she had to eliminate them all.
No matter the cost.
"…I don't care who I fight, as long as they're strong. Who's next?"
"No more assassinations for now. The times are changing. They'll eliminate themselves."
Junshi's recent task had been to eliminate Kanata's enemies, those who posed a threat to her organization.
However, things had calmed down.
Most of those who possessed some strength and opposed Kanata were gone, and those who remained would likely destroy themselves through their own actions.
Increased pirate activity also led to higher prices. It was easier to make money this way than to expand their trade routes and increase manpower.
Becoming a Warlord and suppressing other pirates would only harm their business.
It was a ruthless strategy, but such was the way of pirates.
"Money alone doesn't solve everything, but it's always useful."
"Indeed. What are you using the funds for?"
"Caterina's been taking most of it lately, using it for her research. It's paying off, though… Hmm?"
The Den Den Mushi rang.
Calls to this room were always screened. They were connected only after being answered in another room.
"It's me."
"Sorry to interrupt. It's a call from the World Government…"
"Connect me."
It had to be the Five Elders, calling about the Warlord proposal. She already knew the outcome, though. She leaned back in her chair, ready to end the conversation quickly.
"It's me."
"Five Elders. It's about the Warlords."
"Yes – Rejoice. We've decided to grant you passage through Mary Geoise. With certain conditions, of course."
"Huh?"
Kanata, in a rare display of surprise, stared blankly at the Den Den Mushi.