The World Government's Secrets and Decision

Inside Shakky's Rip-off Bar on RG 13, Sabaody Archipelago.

Ryan and his group sat on the bar stools, listening to Shakky explain the overall state of the world. From time to time, they asked a question or two.

As time gradually passed and he learned more and more, Ryan's expression grew increasingly somber.

It had to be said that the World Government had its own advanced methods, considering it had stood unshaken for eight hundred years. In his view, the most important of these was the World Government's system.

To discuss the World Government's system, one first had to understand that, aside from a very small number of areas, the World Government did not actually rule any territory directly. Most regions were instead delegated to the more than 170 member countries under the World Government.

In his view, this choice had its pros and cons in equal measure. The advantage was that even if one, or even several, kingdoms rebelled, it would not affect the World Government's rule. Once the rebels succeeded, regardless of what they had originally intended, the overall situation of the world would still force them to recognize the World Government as supreme.

It was similar to the notion in ancient China that emperors were always right, while the ministers beneath them were merely corrupt officials who had deceived the emperor. However, the World Government's approach was a hundred times more sophisticated than that.

The disadvantage of this choice was that it left the World Government without any actual territory, creating the hidden danger of other countries joining forces to overthrow it.

The World Government had made preparations for that as well: suppressing the strength of the various countries, absorbing their resources, and establishing armed forces belonging solely to itself.

The World Government had done an excellent