"Something new..."
After listening to Gawain's words, the Five Elders looked at each other and pondered deeply.
After a moment, the Elder of Diplomacy let out a long sigh.
"Logically speaking, what we hate most is new things."
Because new things always bring new ideas, and new ideas always run counter to old ideas and everything outdated!
However... considering the turmoil this sea has experienced over the past two decades, even if we don't like it, the Great Pirate Era has already brought too many new things.
So..."
The Elder of Diplomacy chuckled and nodded.
"Since you've already made your decision, why don't you try something new? Maybe it will have some unique effects."
Sitting in our position, you'll find that everything at hand is too complicated; moving one thing affects everything, making it difficult to make any changes.
As for you, I look forward to the day you challenge us, and then join us and become one of us.
But at least, we are still a long way from that day.
You have plenty of time to try, explore, and find and clarify the results you want.
Even if you make a tiny mistake during this process.
Firstly, we have time to correct those mistakes; secondly, we will gain experience and lessons learned from those mistakes.
You are just yourself now, and you're not so badly mistaken as we are, that you could cause irreversible consequences for our dominance of the entire world, right?
After saying that, the Elder of Diplomacy clapped his hands decisively.
"In short, we agree to your first request. As long as you have the ability to oversee and control the Shichibukai, we would be happy to see it happen."
Once you leave my office, we'll send Xiong to see you. Whether you can keep him or not is up to you.
Now, tell me your next request!
"My next request might seem more complicated compared to that of the Shichibukai."
Seniors, imagine if I were to become one of the Shichibukai, and be determined to use that power to influence the choices young people Four Blues make about their future.
My men clearly need a large enough space to do things that will get them published and attract the attention of young people.
Therefore, I need a batch of Eternal Pose!
"I see!"
The Elder of Military suddenly laughed.
"First they want to control the troops, then they start asking us for territory, right?"
Haha, that's great! I'm appreciating you more and more; your style is very similar to mine!
However, I find it difficult to agree to your request, because what you have asked me for is not a nautical chart, but Eternal Pose.
That means what you want isn't the relatively peaceful Four Blues, but the Grand Line, or even the New World.
After all, you don't need Eternal Pose to navigate the Four Blues!
After saying this, the Elder of Military shook his head thoughtfully and continued.
"I hope that when you start your business, you will try to focus on a relatively stable environment like Four Blues."
"Comparatively speaking, the Grand Line and the New World are far too complex; I'm worried you won't be able to handle them."
"Cough cough..."
Gawain quickly coughed lightly twice, interrupting the Elder of Military.
"Don't say that, senior. Please try to see things from my perspective."
My choice is the Grand Line.
From a stability perspective, the Grand Line is where the Navy is most concentrated, and also where CP is most deeply infiltrated, right?
And in terms of distance, this is also a place closer to you!
"That's true!"
The Elder of Diplomacy suddenly nodded and patted the Elder of Military on the shoulder.
"Little Gawain is right. The Grand Line is indeed a good place. Although it is still a bit chaotic here, it is still under our control."
And what a coincidence, isn't it? He chose the New World, while Gawain chose the Grand Line. For some reason, I'm starting to look forward to the future, haha!
As he smiled, the Elder of Diplomacy glanced at the others, who all nodded in agreement.
The Elder of Economy added with a smile.
"Gawain, I support your decision. The Grand Line can serve as your testing ground."
But first we must emphasize that we will only grant you the right to move freely along the Grand Line, but we will not explicitly hand over those lands to you!
As I said before, you are just Celestial Dragon, not the king of those lands, understand?
Whatever you want to do, don't put yourself in complete opposition to those Affiliated Nation.
The frog in the slowly boiling water dies peacefully. For the past seven hundred years, we have done a good job, increasing the number of Affiliated Nation from the initial two hundred and eighty to the current one hundred and seventy.
Many of these are new targets that joined later, like the Ryugu Kingdom.
In short, avoid instability, or at least allow only localized instability. Do you think you can do that?
"Seniors, if I said I didn't think I could do it, would you believe me?"
"Haha, that's right, your Conqueror's Haki has already told us what kind of person you are."
Go ahead and do it, as long as no country or island within 30% of the Grand Line raises a rebellious flag at the same time.
Then you won't be subject to our restrictions!
As for what kind of power or influence you possess?
We don't care about those things.
Even if you become completely stronger than us in the future, or even if you kill us with your own hands.
"But aren't the Celestial Dragon still rule everything?"
"Certainly!"
Gawain smiled and nodded, then looked around and continued.
"So, since the seniors have already agreed to my first two plans, I shouldn't keep the final plan a secret any longer."
I want to restart the Sea Train project, first connecting the islands I reach with rails and trains, to verify the actual feasibility of the Sea Train.
"Oh, is that so? No wonder!"
The Elder of Military quickly smiled and said...
"We received a call from Sabaody Island earlier, saying that a male Merfolk was secretly hiding in the hold of your ship."
The Merfolk's name is Dan. After investigation, it turns out he's the younger brother of the Tom. He says he's the boatman you invited to be in charge of the Sea Train project.
As for why he hid, he felt he had offended you, so he was hesitant to meet you, which caused him to miss the opportunity to disembark...
It's good that you brought this up, otherwise I would have thought he was just a liar, a vicious thug who infiltrated your ship to cause trouble.
To save face for you, I almost ordered the CP members to hang him.
After all, I thought you'd been tricked into joining the group by someone else, and someone as confident as you would probably feel terrible if something went wrong...
"This...?"
Listening to the Elder of Military's words, Gawain couldn't help but roll his eyes slightly.
Gawain did know about Dan's activities on the ship, but he just wanted to keep Dan's temper in check since Gawain was hiding so seriously.
Unexpectedly, this incident Merfolk Dan to the brink of death.
But...
Gawain pursed his lips and seized the opportunity to speak.
"Senior, I specifically left instructions that I would be taking that ship to continue my voyage later."
Even so, my ship still couldn't escape your search. Your actions sadden me, my seniors!
"Haha, alright, alright, so how are we old folks supposed to make up for your sadness?"
Upon hearing this, the Elder of Military burst into laughter and stood up.
"How about I give you the knife? Aren't you practicing?"
You can have the knife, but please don't ask us for money!
The reason we don't popularize the Sea Train is because neither the Tom nor his disciples are trustworthy, and most scholars on this vast ocean are not yet worthy of our trust!
We have the blueprints for the Sea Train, and we originally planned to wait until the era had turned a page and the hatred of the previous era had been gradually forgotten before conducting a large-scale trial of the Sea Train.
After all, those automated machines are never controlled by us, but by their creators and maintainers. We will never allow people we don't trust to create them!
As for you, whatever, we can trust you.
If you want to do it, then go for it, as long as you're sure they're trustworthy!
But don't put on that pitiful act. We don't buy it. We have no money, absolutely no money.
"To make the Sea Train' a large-scale operation, it would require far more than tens of trillions of Beli. No, absolutely not. Go find a way out yourself at sea!"
"Haha, you've seen through me. Since that's the case, then I'll do as you say and figure out a way myself!"
However, my seniors must not withhold my pension.
I'm already under so much pressure!