An Unacceptable Betrayal
An Unacceptable Betrayal
And the political significance of this matter did not lie there.
Take Luffy and his crew. They had fought their way through the Alabasta Kingdom, Drum Island, Fish-Man Island, the current Kingdom of Dressrosa, and even Wano Country later on.
The pattern was always the same: defeat the local evil regime, then set the country back on its original course.
But those nations were still member states of the World Government. Though they harbored resentment and misgivings toward it, they still could not survive independently outside the existing system. They had to rely on that system to ensure their safety and way of life.
But what was happening now?
Even if you pledged allegiance to the World Government and became one of its member states, one of the World Government's dogs could replace you under a false identity—and the World Government would know perfectly well what was happening...
This was no longer a conflict of ideals. It was a very direct struggle for power.
The Shichibukai were the dogs of the World Government's Navy. Doflamingo was the World Government's black glove. He had replaced a king, and the world had never known.
Could there be even more small nations that had already been replaced without anyone knowing?
Only now did everyone realize how terrifying the World Government was when it monopolized the power of public discourse. It could deafen your ears and blind your eyes, making you unaware of things that had been happening right under your nose for years!
Would I be next?
This was a question every ruler had to consider. Just as doctors considered their patients' injuries and police considered where criminals were, those in power naturally had to consider whether the World Government might quietly replace their authority.
That was