"Vice Admiral Mo, I think I can still be saved! I think I'll definitely be able to help when the time comes."
"Tsk, wouldn't it have been fine if you'd been this sensible from the start? Don't worry, I'm actually pretty easygoing most of the time. Generally speaking, unless they're exceptionally vicious pirates, I can't be bothered to kill them. This world is rotten enough already."
"For a shut-in fatso like you who stays home playing with figurines, whether I kill you or not doesn't really matter. Since you're determined to help, as long as you perform well, I won't treat you unfairly."
Moria's eyes lit up at once. He had thought he would be thanking the heavens just for keeping his life, but he might even get a reward! Curious, he asked:
"Shihihihihi, cough cough... Vice Admiral Mo, our statuses are different. What benefits can you give me? Of course, I'm not questioning you. I'm just really curious!"
"Have you heard of the Shichibukai?"
"No. What's that?"
Moria obediently shook his head, utterly bewildered.
"To put it simply, the World Government selects several powerful pirates from the first half of the Grand Line and establishes the Shichibukai."
"The Navy revokes their bounties and stops pursuing them. These pirates can then plunder legally. As long as they don't do anything too outrageous, the World Government won't interfere with them."
Moria was truly overjoyed now. He was no fool; he could hear the implications hidden within those few words.
What did most pirates fear? First and foremost, being hunted down by powerful Navy officers. Second, challenges from ambitious rookie pirates. Third, bounty hunters lurking in the shadows.
Unless a pirate was overwhelmingly powerful, who could guarantee they would not be injured in battle? And who could guarantee some opportunist would not